The Mitchell Opera House, lovingly revived in 2015 but steeped in history since 1906, is the community's go-to spot for all things entertainment. The Mitchell Opera house is a historic structure that was built in 1906 and was originally known as County Hall and was used for political and other community meetings. President Garfield, spoke there on October 21, 1907. In 1919 the building began to be called the Opera House and was used for live Vaudeville acts, first run movies of the time, class plays, and high school commencements. At the time, entertainers would come to Mitchell by train to appear on the stage. The Opera House was a stop on the famous B.F. Keith Vaudeville circuit. In 1930 the entertainment venue closed and the building became used as a home for fire trucks and equipment. In the 1950’s, a portion of the building was used as a “teen canteen” for after ballgame gatherings of Mitchell’s youth. In the 1960’s the building became Mitchell City Hall and housed the offices of the Mayor, Clerk, Water Department, City Judge, and the Police Department. Upon Construction of the new City Hall in 1981, the building sat unused and in dis-repair until Doug Hartzell and the Hartzell family took the initiative to re-open the Opera House. In 1981, the Opera House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In the fall of 1985, the Opera House was-opened. From 1985 to 2012, occasional shows took place at the Opera House, but had since been left empty. In October of 2014, the City of Mitchell deeded the building to Hoosier Uplands Economic Development Corporation for the purpose of renovations and continuation of the tradition of quality entertainment and community pride. The Mitchell Opera House 1906 will re-open in July of 2015 and will host weekly shows!
