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Concordia Opera House

1862

Concordia Society formed in 1862 under direction of Max Gaebler. Gaebler served for many years served as musical director of the Concordia Musical Society.

John Keck also helped to organize the Concordia Society.

1874

In 1874 a German singing group, the Concordia Music Society, purchased and named Concordia Island. The society had been formed in 1862 under direction of Mr. Gaebler. Concordia Island served as a host to many saengerfests, music festivals in which most of the singing organizations of the state would take part. Local citizens held picnics and heard frequent band concerts on Concordia Island. Unions, clubs, and trade guilds from throughout the state rented the island for annual gatherings.

Concordia members landscaped the island, planting many trees and shrubs of various varieties, some of which are mature trees today. Members constructed numerous buildings including a beautiful central pavilion. The island was graced with one of the first fountains in this area. Located in front of the pavilion, it sent sprays of water splashing into a circular basin in the center of which stood an ornamental statue. A secluded water tank kept the fountain at play, while a windmill pumped water into the giant container. It also had a circular bandstand with beer, candy and ice cream sales on ground level and quarters for musicians on the second floor.

1888

Concordia Opera House was constructed in 1888. Is the current home of the Watertown Elks Lodge.

1900s

Watertown Daily Times, 09 10 2007

During the early 1900s, the Concordia building housed two theaters - the Empire and the Colonial - which featured both film and vaudeville acts.

The performers in the opera house circuit would change wardrobes in the attic of the building because the area next to the stage was too small. The actors may have also slept in the attic between shows.

In three sections in the attic, some of those actors carved their names into the roof. 1905, 1906 and 1907 is when they had painted their names and dates.

1900c

E J Brandt was president of the Concordia Musical Society.

1903

11 17 Lecture on Charlemagne . . . the bowling was source of some annoyance WDT

1916

The Elks Lodge purchased the old Concordia Opera House on Jan. 5, 1916.