The Next Act: Auditorium to become Community Hub
- 48 minutes ago
- 1 min read
by Trinity Gruenberg
The auditorium of the historic Eagle Bend School used to be the heart of the community, hosting everything from basketball games and school plays to large funerals. Despite its current state of disrepair—with broken glass, mold, and signs of vandalism—a dedicated group of locals is working to restore it as a multi-purpose community and arts center, alongside the new housing to help rejuvenate the area.
“We want the auditorium restored to its original beauty. We don’t want to just cover it up and create a new building,” said Jay Eckel.
The Eagle Bend school complex was built in three phases by architect E.F. Broomhall: the main school building in 1942, the auditorium/gymnasium in 1952, and the agriculture building in 1962. When it opened, the auditorium was state-of-the-art for a rural community, featuring a large gym floor, a full stage, an orchestra pit, and excellent acoustics.
“With a full crowd, we often didn’t need microphones. The actors never were mic’d for plays,” Eckel recalled.
The auditorium’s design was so effective that even years later, artists considered it as a potential recording studio.
A fire in the early 1970s led to significant changes. Stage lighting overheated and damaged the auditorium’s large windows, prompting updates that included blocking in the windows and replacing ceiling tiles.
“Originally, it was supposed to have chandelier-style lighting and beautiful Art Deco designs on the walls, but that didn’t happen,” Eckel noted...
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