1893

On Feb. 28, 1893, the Ossian Hall Company was organized with $3000 capital, representing 300 shares of stock at $10 a share.

M. J. Garter was elected president; L. A. Meyer, treasurer; F. J. Figge, sec'y; and A. O. Elvidge, general manager. Elvidge, I. H. DeGraff, A. E. Kenyon, F. W. Dessel, G. H. Blanchaine, R. W. Anderson, O. J. Thompson and W. A. Townsend were named to the first board of directors.

The Heck lot, measuring 50' X 150' on Main street, was purchased for $300. Andrew Lee's bid of $600 was accepted for the carpentry on the new building. Mr. Lee employed Stuart Oxley and E. F. Webster as his assistants.

The total cost of the project reached $5600. The seating capacity was listed as 700.

The new opera house was ready for a dance on the fourth of July in I893. Two hundred and twenty eight numbers were sold. An ice cream and lemonade stand was operated by W. A. Townsend and S. G. Oxley, and a supper was served on the stage by a group of Ossian ladies. Receipts totaled: tickets—$228, supper—$55, and stand—$42.45.

An athletic event was held the next month in the new hall. A wrestling match between J. F. Beardmore and Herb Headington was declared a draw. Headington was thrown from the stage into the orchestra area in the first fall, but he recovered and the draw was called when two hours and ten minutes had elapsed without another fall.

The official grand opening was held in October when the Warner Comedy Company played a three day stand. Twenty seven pieces of newly painted scenery were in place for this performance. General admission was 25¢, with reserved seats available at 35¢.

The funeral of Dr. Austin Pegg, Ossian's dedicated physician, was conducted by the local Masonic Lodge in the new hall in January of 1894. This service was described as the largest ever held in Winneshiek county with over 1000 mourners crowded into the Opera House and many more unable to gain entrance.

This hall became the center of the community's recreational activities. It was utilized for countless dances, plays, school activities and other social events.

The following schedule of rental fees was voted by the directors: dances—$10, political meetings—$10,school entertainments—$6, sociables—$8, and no charge for conventions.

The Opera House, presently owned by the Ossian Knights of Columbus, has been named to the National Register of Historic Places. It is described in their literature as: "A fine example of a small town opera house from the period of the