Menominee Opera House gets restoration grant

The city of Menominee will be getting $45,000 to restore the historic Menominee Opera House as part of a recent round of historic preservation funding.

The money is coming from the federal Historic Preservation Fund through a program granting funds to local governments to restore historic buildings like the opera house, built in 1902 in the town's historic Waterfront District. It's been the focus of local restoration efforts for years, and this latest grant funding, administrated through the city and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, will help the opera house become a functional performing arts center for the area.

The $45,000 will go toward rehabilitating the opera house's mansard roof and installing decorative brickwork on the upper courses of the south façade of the building.

Menominee was one of four Michigan towns to receive grant funding, which requires the communities to become certified as local governments committed to preserving their historic and cultural resources. The others are downstate Allegan, Ypsilanti and Mount Clemens, which will get funding for restoring a library, a railroad station and historic signage.

In order to receive the status as certified local governments, the municipalities had to enact a historic preservation ordinance, form a historic district commission, and maintain ongoing surveys and designation of historic properties, as well as holding public education efforts. Matching funding from local public or private donors also is a requirement for the grants.

"We are pleased to support the preservation efforts of Allegan, Menominee, Mount Clemens, and Ypsilanti," says State Historic Preservation Officer Brian Conway. "By taking the step to become certified local governments these cities have committed to identify historic resources in their communities and take steps to preserve them."

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Brian Conway, Michigan State Housing Development Authority