The Armory Opera House

By Martin E. Nass

The Armory was constructed for the Iowa National Guard at 729-731 Second Street just after the Spanish American War, probably at the turn of the century in 1900. The cost of the building was listed as $25,000 in the Dec. 16, 1909 issue of the Webster City Journal. This building had a basement which was later converted to a gymnasium in May, 1907.

The first floor was the scene of many performances of opera, dramas, musicals using touring talent. In addition, many local groups used this stage to perform plays and musicals. At times, the school children would put on plays here, too. Capt. N. P. Hyatt was the guard commander in Webster City, and he arranged for the productions that were put on. The newspapers of 1906 - 1910 list many plays including "Ole Olson in Spiritland," "Knowles, the Hunchback," "The Maid and the Mummy," "A Ragged Hero," "Peck's Bad Boy,"and "We Are King." Miss Della Pringle, of Webster City, presented the first of a series of plays here on Jan 7-12, 1906. It is interesting to note that this entertainment house was closed during Lent each year.

The management of the Della Pringle Stock Company was taken over by Fred Bates on January 18, 1907. The new company was called the Emerald Stock Company, which commissioned acts for other opera houses in the area as well at the Armory Opera House. Company C of the National Guard even put on their own play here. "The Midnight Charge" was presented on March 29, 1907.

To help with the musical productions, a Victor Auxetophone was purchased by the Armory Opera House for $500 in May of 1907. "The horn and disk are on top of the cabinet which stands five feet high. An electric motor drives the bellows which propel the sound. The disks and needles are the same as used by other Victor machines. The machine has been on exhibit at the Teed Drug Store the past two days," according to the May 17, 1907 edition of the Freeman-Tribune.

"Madame Schuman-Heink to appear in Webster City at the Armory Opera House on Sept. 8, 1910. Reserve ticket sales are available at Teed's. All seats are $3.00," according to the Webster City Journal of Aug 21, 1910.