Delphi Opera House key to downtown

DELPHI, Ind. (WLFI) - A 147 year old building on the courthouse square in Delphi could become the focus of downtown revitalization. It's the Assion-Ruffing Building, which has been partially restored by the Delphi Preservation Society.

Now the Society is hoping to restore an Opera House in the same building, which hasn't seen use since 1914.

Built in 1862, the Assion-Ruffing Building had fallen on hard times by the time it fell into the hands of the Delphi Preservation Society.

But working from the ground floor up the Society is bringing new life to the building, and downtown Delphi. The Opera House Gallery opened in June, hosting local artists Rena Brouwer, Terry Lacy, and Alan McConnell.

"It is fabulous," Brouwer said.  "We've had great response, and I couldn't be happier."

Preservation Society president Greg Norman sees the work on the building as the lynchpin to overall downtown renovation.

"With the Canal Center downt the road about ten blocks away, and if we can get this to the position that we want it to be, we think we can make Delphi kind of a destination," Norman said.

While the ground floor of the building is renovated, the third floor is a work in progress.

"It's still 1914 up there," Norman said, referring to the Delphi Opera House, which hasn't seen use in nearly 100 years. The society has renovation plans for the Opera House, but is still trying to secure $2.5 million in funding.

"The plan is to preserve that 1914 feeling, but also make it usable today," Norman said.

The Preservation Society's Anita Werling said plans call for a new roof and renovations including a new lobby, elevators, and restrooms. They hope the Opera House will become a venue for weddings, reunions, performances, and more.

"We know the arts, performing arts and visual arts, are just a wonderful draw, and of course, the architectural heritage that we have, the rich number of buildings that have survived, give us a great heritage, and that architectural heritage will be another way of drawing tourists to the area," Werling said.

The Delphi Opera House once hosted the likes of James Whitcomb Riley, who performed there at least six times. The facility has been used just once since 1914. But the Preservation Society hopes to breath new life into it, and downtown Delphi, again.

In October, the original silent film Phantom of the Opera will be shown in the Opera House.

Tours of the opera house will be conducted as part of the Carroll County Old Settlers Association meeting, which began August 5.