‘Best kept secret:’ Hayesville Opera House turns 140 years old in 2026

HAYESVILLE — It’s a big year for birthdays.

America will celebrate its 250th birthday July 4. The Hayesville Opera House — one of the “best kept secrets in Ashland County” as described by Dave Roepke — is celebrating its 140th year of existence in 2026.

Construction for the opera house began in 1885, according to Roepke. Citizens of Hayesville approved its construction by a vote of 100 to 13 on April 14, 1884, during a special election.

Roepke said the total cost for the building at the time was $4,852.20. Bids for the construction were opened August 6, 1885 and local contractor Samuel Craig was awarded the contract to build the opera house at a cost of $4,100.

Craig began construction in October 1885, he said during an interview with Ashland Source near the end of April. The two-story brick building was finished on April 26, 1886, when the operetta “Genevieve” was presented on the opera house stage.

Today, the village owns the opera house and the Hayesville Opera House Restoration Board handles operations. Roepke is the board president. The venue provides affordable family entertainment, including movies, plays and concerts.

“Each weekend we’ll do a different feature (movie),” Roepke said. “We do mostly movies and occasionally a live show.”

Groups of students occasionally take field trips to the opera house to learn about its history, he said.

Keeping Hayesville history alive

Pieces of the opera house’s history are — literally — written on the walls. Performers and entertainers throughout the years would leave their signature on the walls backstage. It’s clearly visible that open spaces became more difficult to leave a mark as years passed.

Roepke said actors often signed the walls for good luck.

Old stage backdrops still remain arranged backstage, mostly obstructed from the view of seating in the opera house by the more modern movie screen.

“We’re just very glad that it’s still here,” Roepke said. “It’s a very unique facility.”

Throughout its history, the opera house has served as the location of the annual Hayesville Memorial Day program and was also used by the Vermillion Academy, a former local high school, to present both school plays as well as graduation ceremonies, according to Roepke.

Some of the first silent movies in the area were also shown in the opera house. Its one of the few theatres to be found along the Lincoln Highway, which runs in front of the opera house, Roepke said.

It also houses an abundance of general Hayesville history documents and photographs, along with history of Vermillion Township.

A select amount of architectural features found in the opera house today are original to the building, Roepke said, including its 200 seats with hat racks under the seats. The ticket board, a small section of original wallpaper and gas light fixtures also remain.

Roepke has been involved with the Hayesville Opera House for about 25 years. He said it’s about serving the good of the community.

“It’s all about the things that get left behind,” he said.