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Tibbits Opera House is the second-oldest theatre in Michigan, having been built in 1882. Rich in history and ambiance, even today the theatre offers theatre-goers nearly perfect acoustics, an intimate 499-seat setting, and a fine array of performances throughout the year. Barton S. Tibbits originally built the opera house with wisdom and vision. The aim was high art, timeless architecture, excellent acoustics, splendid furnishing and the finest of entertainment. Tibbits put Coldwater on the map as one of the few small cities in the nation with a social and cultural center of such grandeur. Thanks to the forward-thinking individuals who saved the opera house from destruction in the 1960s, the citizens of Branch County still have the opportunity to experience the opera house and the cultural activities valued so highly by its early residents. ==Building the theatre== Because Coldwater was on the main railway between Detroit and Chicago, news traveled from cities where entertainment and cultural activities were already well established. As an area with plenty of lakes and forested parks, Coldwater also attracted city folk as a resort destination.〔Gillespie, Carolyn L. "A History of the Tibbits Opera House, 1882–1904", June 1975, pg. 12.〕 In 1882, when the theatre was built, Coldwater was a day's trip from either Detroit or Chicago, which resulted in Coldwater's becoming a natural stopping point for visitors and theatre performers traveling the byway. Accordingly, Coldwater residents developed a strong interest in art, culture and literature. Barton S. Tibbits, the mayor of Coldwater at the time, accepted a challenge to build an opera house in Coldwater. Art Gallery owner H.C. Lewis first proposed that he and Tibbits fund and build an opera house in response to pressure from local newspapers with each man raising $8,000 for the venture, but Lewis soon backed down.〔Gillespie, pg. 15.〕 Tibbits forged ahead alone, declaring he would "build an opera house if it 'bust' my factory", referring to his cigar business in town.〔''Coldwater Republican'', November 8, 1881.〕 At the dedication of the theatre, Tibbits offered two reasons for building the theatre. To a gathered audience, he said, "Through two motives I was stimulated to make this investment. The first was to erect a monument to my memory that every man, woman and child in Coldwater would appreciate. Second, I would show the unhappy dissatisfied portion of our community that I was not selfish, but ready and willing to do anything in my power to beautify and ornament our city. The old time worn saying that Coldwater is behind the times, and has no respectable place of amusement, tonight passes into oblivion, and with more pleasure than I am able to express I present for your inspection this evening a theatre unequaled in any city the size of Coldwater."〔''Coldwater Republican'', "Theatre Dedication", 22 September 1882.〕 The ''Coldwater Republican'' had this to say about Tibbits' efforts: "For a long time a serious need has been felt in our city for a first-class place of amusement. Although Coldwater is the home of so many wealthy citizens, no one has seemed to possess sufficient courage to embark in so hazardous an undertaking until Mr. B. S. Tibbits, with his accustomed energy and "push" which has accomplished so much in other directions, took the matter in hand and put into execution the hopes and wishes of those who, although acknowledging the need, dared not venture to undertake so great a responsibility, and the result is a beautiful building, an ornament to our city of which we may justly be proud, and an honor to Mr. Tibbits that will endure after the curtain has fallen on the last act in the drama of his life."〔''Coldwater Republican'', 19 September 1882.〕Although later in life he considered the marvelous opera house his financial downfall, his prophetic words that his gift to the community would make his name well known far beyond his time as one of Coldwater's generous patriarchs has surely come to pass. Tibbits himself was described by one later owner of Tibbits, Dennis Vanes, as "the greatest 'pusher' in Michigan." He added, "Mr. Tibbits was a hustler by nature, broad minded and liberal and always ready to help the needy and suffering. He was outspoken in his sentiments and sometimes gave offense where none was intended."〔''Coldwater Daily Reporter'', 1920.〕 Barton was the son of Allen Tibbits, one of Coldwater's founders. After returning to Coldwater after the Civil War to start his tobacco and cigar business, Tibbits found himself involved in a variety of local projects and buildings "including the skating rink, cart factory, and oil stove industry. He even purchased a number of steamboats to navigate the local lakes."〔Gillespie, pg. 16–17.〕 According to Tibbits himself, the opera house was one of the costliest projects of his career. He stated, "I attribute to this enterprise the Opera House my downfall, and the sacrifice of a business, which had I been selfish, would today have made me a millionaire."〔 Indeed, the venture broke Tibbits financially by the end of his life. Tibbits hired Mortimer Smith, designer of the Detroit Grand Opera House to manifest his vision. The ''Coldwater Republican'', the newspaper of the time, declared "the beautiful theatre will be second to none in the state except in size." The site chosen for the theatre was a plot of land on S. Hanchett street, just off the city's busiest street, Chicago Street, and nearby one of Tibbit's own cigar factories. Coldwater itself was known for its manufacture of cigars and horse breeding.〔Gillespie, pg. 12.〕 Excavation began Wednesday, November 23, 1881, and the theatre opened almost a year later, September 21, 1882. In the opinion of the ''Coldwater Republican'', Tibbits Opera House was "one of the safest and most stable structures in Southern Michigan."〔 Tibbits Opera House greeted its first opening night audience on September 21, 1882. After parking their horses and buggies at the Livery Stable, theatre patrons, dressed in their finest, entered the town's new treasure under the gaze of a gathered crowd. They were welcomed by Barton S. Tibbits, and then ushered into the seating area. Behind the closed curtain, actors and crew waited to present ''Maid of Arran''. After remarks by local dignitaries, Tibbits was summoned onstage with "tumultuous applause." According to the ''Coldwater Republican'', the performance wasn't as impressive as the opera house. "The song and dance might have been omitted with advantage" sums up the newspaper's account. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Tibbits Opera House」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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