Danbury Iowa History

The Opera House

Danbury, Liston Township

The Opera House, Danbury
1912
The Danbury Opera House, now known as Dana Hall.

Danbury Main Street had a new look after all the building that had been done between 1910 and 1912. Mayor Charley Seibold and his councilmen decided that the town needed a new place for entertainment. The Braig Hall had been used for everything, recitals and school plays included.

The council and mayor decided to ask for donations from the town’s citizen’s. They estimated that the building would cost $6,000. $4,500 was raised and the Opera House Company was organized. Directors chosen were: President, Charley Seibold; Vice President, J H Crilly; Secretary, W E Schuyler; and Directors, George G Braig, J C Rhode, and M D Cord. The building cost $7,000 and was built by C F Mayer of Humboldt. It was to be finished by June 15, 1913. The first entertainment planned was a home talent play on August 27, 1913. Mr C E Johnson was hired as manager. He was to take care of the building, and schedule all entertainment. In 1920 the schools were given permission to use the hall for basketball. It was used for that purpose until 1929 when the new school and gymnasium were built.

The Opera House was sold to the Carlson-Frum Post of the American Legion in about 1951. The floor was torn out and the basement made deeper so the floor could be put in at ground level. It is now called the Dana Hall.

During the era between 1912 and 1920 Main Street changed. George Braig sold his implement business to Maurice Colbert in 1914, his hardware business to Andy and Leo Matt in 1919, and also his store to a group of farmers. William Boeshe of Omaha came to manage the store. Dick Colbert bought the Crippen Meat Market in 1919 when he returned from service in World War I, the Reimer brothers, Antone, Peter and Joe, bought the Kueny Brothers’ garage and car dealership. The Barry Brothers built a new brick building in 1915 after they started to sell cars. Doc and Virginia Folkins bought the Derksen Bakery, Jack Evans, a barber came to town.

Danbury like all towns had many organizations. A Business Men’s Association was organized in 1903, and reorganized in 1919 to the Danbury Community Club. The Knights of Columbus council was established in 1915, and then again in 1940. The Farmers Union was organized in 1919. The American Legion and the Auxiliary was organized in 1920 after World War I. the Danbury Women’s Club was formed in 1949 and joined the General Federation of Women’s Clubs the same year. Paul Stevens started a town band in 1924. The St Rita Court of the Lady Foresters organized in 1921.

Danbury’s population decreased during these years from 1935 to 1945. People were ‘hard up’ because of the depression, failure of crops, and politics. Many young married men left with the families for California where they hoped to get work. World War II found many of the young men in service, and some never returned to Danbury to live after the war. Danbury was far ahead of most towns its size as the streets were paved and there was a water and sewer system. Danbury is a friendly town.

If Danbury was ever well known for any one thing it is a basketball. Since the first teams were formed in the early 1900s, Danbury people have loved basketball. In 1932 the boys’ St Patrick’s Academy team won the district Diocesan tournament in Chicago. Members of the team were: Earl Fitzpatrick, Charles McLaughlin, LeRoy Barry, Jack Colbert, Joe Barry, Paul Gahan, Eugene ‘Mick’ McGarrity, and Guy Johnson. The Danbury Public school went to the district tournaments many times, but it wasn’t until 1945 that the ‘Little Maroons’ of Danbury went to the state tournament. Superintendent Wayne Beery was the coach. They won 32 games and lost only 3 during the entire basketball season. Members of the team were: Richard ‘Dick’ Reicks, Jack Barry, Elton Tuttle, Kendall ‘Skip’ Sexton, and George Schuyler. Substitutes were: Chuck Swanger, Charles Brady, Tom Jensen, Dick Petersen, Earl Pierce, and Donald Schimmer.

The 1946-47 boys’ team went to state tournament at the Field House in Iowa City. The best teams in the state played in the state tournament regardless of the size of the school. There were no classes in state competition. Players on the team in 1946-47 were Dick Reicks, Dick Petersen, Elton Tuttle, Charles Swanger and Kendall ‘Skip’ Sexton. This outstanding team lost only one game out of 35 games played, and the game lost was the final game in the State Tournament. They lost to Sioux City Central by a score of 29 to 27, and to the team that won first in the State.
Cheerleaders for 1946 were Betty Ahlwardt, Betty Oberreuter, and Kathleen Granter. Cheerleaders for 1947 were Beverly Reicks, Betty Ahlwardt and Mary Lou Schrank.

Woodbury County Coordinator