June 19, 1976

The Courier-Times

By Carolyn Hiatt

On July 18, a five-year-long dream will become a reality for Dick and Vicki Willis and those who share their dream. That day, an open house will be held at Guyer Opera House in Lewisville.

The Opera House, built in 1902, was the scene of many touring shows, vaudeville productions, medicine shows, graduations, gun shows and home talent shows. It is believed the last production held in the building was in 1942.

Now, through the efforts of the Willis couple and others, the building will be restored and refurbished to accommodate theater productions, a lecture series, children’s theater, film festivals, card parties and style shows.

In earlier times, the opera house served as the cultural and social center for towns such as Lewisville, Straughn and Knightstown. "Part of the reason for restoring the Guyer Opera House is because it the only restorable one capable of producing modern theater in Henry County," says Willis. "We want to restore not only a building, but the idea of family type entertainment at reasonable prices."

Title of the group which is behind the restoration process is Raintree County Opera House Guild, Inc., a non-profit organization with board members from various professions. Membership in the Guild is a $25 donation, which entitles the donator to one share of historical preservation.

Projected cost of the restoration is $35,000 and price of the building, which is owned by Mr. and Mrs. Tony Peyton of Lewisville, is $15,000. The Guild members will apply for matching funds through one of the many funding programs, once the membership drive is under way.

"Members may aid in the restoration of the building," says Willis, "by donating time or by giving gifts other than money, for instance an air conditioning unit has already been donated." And funds donated may be spent for a specific purpose if the donor wishes, Willis says.

Much of the success of the restoration group thus far has hinged on the fact that the building was used for a theater only, and this was important when he Administrative Building Council of Indiana granted a permit for restoration.

The gaslight atmosphere of the theater will be restored as much as possible, while modernizing to meet the fire marshal’s specifications. For one thing, the ceiling tin must be removed and the materials fireproofed during the process. The original curtain which is still hanging cannot be repaired and used, but attempts are under way to have a duplicate for the new theater.

Gaslights will be replaced with electric lights, and a glass company has agreed to copy the original globes.

To begin the project, the Guild must hire a licensed contractor and a licensed architect. Volunteers who can handle phases of remodeling will augment the services of these professionals.

The project is planned in four phases. Opening; restoring the lobby and exterior; completing restoration of theater and production area, and constructing the two-story scene and prop structure in back of the opera house.

The Guyer Opera House has a colorful background, according to Willis. "The theater was the scene of a tragedy," he says. During one of the gun shows, a bullet ricocheted into the audience killing a young boy. And in another glimpse of the building’s history, it is reported that at one point in time, when the theater was not doing well financially, William Bartlett booked a vaudeville show entitled Fanny Hill’s Girls and displayed a poster of high kickers in tights on a billboard across the street from a grocery store. That incident is reported to have given the opera house an unfavorable reputation with residents.

Currently there are twelve board members assisting with planning and development of te project. Willis, Chrysler High School speech and drama teacher is serving as president pro tem; Juanita Rucker is secretary pro tem; Dick’s wife, Vicki, also is on the board; Caroline Peyton, as are Lewisville businesswoman Leland Atkinson, Lewisville banker; Jerry Barr, formerly of New Castle, now of Greensburg; Janet Bush, Knightstown; George Hall, Knightstown businessman; Kathryn Hall, Lewisville; Tom Saunders, Franklin Township Trustee; Charles Brown, New Castle attorney; Richard Ratliff, junior high school teacher; and Jean Morris, New Caslte, Mark Stamper, Middletown attorney and Larry Horney, Ball State professor.