Built in 1879, the Tabor Opera House is undergoing a $15 million rehabilitation. Photo courtesy Craig Hensel
Historic Tabor Opera House Responds Swiftly to Building Incident
At 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 23, first responders were dispatched to the historic Tabor Opera House on Harrison Avenue following reports of brick pieces falling onto the sidewalk. The Leadville Fire Department, Sheriff’s Office, City Police, Community Planning and Development Department, and Public Works quickly mobilized to the scene.
They successfully rerouted traffic, and barricaded the sidewalk below to protect bystanders. Then they gently removed additional loose debris and bird nesting under the tin cornice flashing on the southwest corner of the building to stabilize the area.
The Fire Department has recommended a temporary, multi-day closure of the sidewalk, bike lane, and northbound lane of Harrison Avenue until the Tabor Opera House Preservation Foundation (TOHPF) can bring in architecture and engineering experts to further evaluate and stabilize the corner. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident.
“We are very grateful that no one was injured, and thankful that the fundraising for repairing this area of the building was already teed up for this coming construction season,” said TOHHPF Executive Director Sarah Dae.
In fact, the TOHPF had already raised funds and released an Invitation for Bid (IFB) package 24-001 to seek bids from contractors to restore the cornice and underlying brickwork this summer. Work is scheduled to begin in June 2024.
The Tabor Opera House was built in 1879. Then, as now, it was/is a much-needed cultural and community center. Yet this elegant building, deemed a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, has been endangered by nearly a century and a half of long winters in North America’s highest-elevation city. It has now embarked on a multi-year, $15 million rehabilitation
Over the past four years, construction at the Tabor Opera House has successfully secured and rehabilitated more than 95 percent of the brickwork on all four sides of the building, with the only exception being the brickwork under the cornice. These phases have also restored the ghost signs (murals) and all the historic windows on the second and third stories.
This summer’s scope of work will focus on restoring the bricks under the cornice and the cornice itself. Next summer, the work will continue to restore the balcony over the storefronts and the West storefront framing and windows. This combined phase of work over two summers will complete the exterior repairs to the “envelope” of the nationally landmarked building.
“This incident is an important reminder to us of the fragility of Leadville’s historic buildings,” added Dae. “[there is] the urgent necessity to continue to rapidly fundraise and complete all phases of rehabilitation, so these cultural and historic assets don’t fall apart and disappear forever.”
Following this, the TOHPF Board will focus on fundraising over $25 million to restore the interior, including the theater, ballroom, storefronts, offices, stairways, balcony, and backstage, as well as bring in modern utilities, plumbing, HVAC, and an elevator.
The Tabor Opera House Preservation Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates the Tabor Opera House. It is tasked with leading its rehabilitation, partnering with the City of Leadville, which owns the building. Together, they are working to revitalize the historic Tabor Opera House for a diverse and inclusive audience.
For more information or to support the restoration efforts, visit https://taboroperahouse.org/get-involved or contact Sarah Dae at Sarah@taboroperahouse.org 719-486-8409. Learn more at www.taboroperahouse.org and on Facebook at @taboroperafoundation.
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