When the Mantorville Opera House began in 1918, no one truly recognized its future significance. However, after facing the effects of a changing nation and many years of neglect, the building slowly fell into disrepair. Under the burden of looming roof repairs and several other needs, the city decided to deed the decrepit building to the emerging Mantorville Restoration Association. Immediately recognizing the building's historical value, members of MRA quickly began their rehabilitation efforts. Following a careful restoration of the roof, utilities, and a specially refurbished interior, the Opera House has returned to its original glory, where it now serves as a space for rent and the Mantorville Theater Company's year-round plays. Its story reveals but one of the Mantorville Restoration Association's many efforts to promote, preserve, and protect the history and culture of Mantorville's historic district.
Before progressing this mission through annual events and fundraisers, the MRA began as a humble group of changemakers hoping to spark interest in local historical sites. Since their first meeting at a crowded cafe in 1963, membership exploded with a second meeting of 250 people and the purchase of the original Restoration House. With the hope of preserving the downtown area's integrity, they became a part of the National Register of Historic Places and further expanded preservation efforts. Mantorville's historic district began in 1974 with five new properties centered around Main and 5th Street. To better inform community members of their efforts, the association's monthly paper updates members on progress while sharing insights into the 24 structures as old as 1850.
Even before the buildings received new signs in 2021, their illustrious past stood out to members, tenants, citizens, and visitors for their well-known ghost stories and history. As a result, a large chunk of the board's budget lies in restoration projects like improving the Greek Revival House, tuck-pointing the basement of the Opera House, roofing the Normal School, cleaning up flood damages, and much more. Guided tours set up through the organization's website are a big part of this economic growth, helping to attract tourists drawn in by their intriguing tales. When asked to comment on these structures, Vice President Chris Pluto emphasized the vast historical and present differences in their scope. Despite these distinctions, each building closely works with each other and the Dodge County Historical Society to reflect its living history and support community members.
Chris Pluto: "We first purchased the Restoration House to serve as a museum. The log house, meanwhile, acts as a working building for the brewery. Functions of a one-room schoolhouse are highlighted by the Normal School's interior. Before it was demolished, we saved the Greek Revival House and transformed it into an event area. Meanwhile, the Opera House manages the Mantorville Theater Company and the gambling side of things. Finally, income generated by Hawk Horvath's ghost adventures in the Carriage House and other buildings supports events, civic assistance, and playground equipment."
Funding these ventures requires more community interaction than one might expect. Alongside its many annual events and fundraisers, members rely on charitable gambling approved by MGCB regulations, generous donations, and further involvement in the community. To spark mutual change, the MRA funds local high school scholarships and the widely celebrated "National Night Out" event. Going through the restoration committee's yearly calendar, the town kicks off its year with its annual Mulligan Stew at the Hubbel House. While supporting a good cause, community members gather here for cocktails, wine, stew, and a live auction whose funds go directly toward supporting Mantorville's preservation. Though weekly raffles and bingos make a difference, much of their funding derives from charitable gambling operations featured at the Mantorville Saloon, Harold's Club, and Dodge Center's Plaza Morena.
To utilize the beautiful downtown of Mantorville, the association hosts its annual Stagecoach Days from June 24th to the 26th. It's unlikely that the Victorian frontier era promoted by this three-day spectacle would shine without the surrounding area. Meanwhile, the regionally renowned Marigold Days occur every weekend after Labor Day. What initially began as a flower show to promote marigolds has transformed into one of southern Minnesota's most attended festivals, in which people will soon gather for its 60th anniversary to enjoy food, flowers, and flea markets on September 6th and 7th. Like Mulligan Stew, the Merry Hour caps off an eventful year with drinks, hors d'oeuvres, and a live auction of holiday decor. One of the only year-round drivers behind the city's economic growth has been the Mantorville Theater Company, which hosts its melodramas, musicals, and comedies in the historic Opera House.
Although the building has mostly returned to its former glory, over a century of damage has taken its toll on the roof. Temporary fixes may have stifled the damage caused by recent storms, but replacing the structure's rock, top layer, patching, and rubber will likely cost the board around $50,000. Generating so much funding is only possible through the Mantorville Restoration Association's events, charitable raffles and gambling, and the generous donations of sponsors and individuals. Whenever community members attend events like the Marigold Days, play pull tabs at the saloon, or participate in weekly bingo nights, they actively help preserve what would have been a near-forgotten history. Beyond their restoration projects, this income allows the non-profit to pay taxes and rent, give their accountants and employees wages, and fund more games and events. Preserving the history of Mantorville or any town is a communal effort- not just a corporate one.
