City has long history supporting quality of life projects
By Joanne Fox Journal staff writer | Posted: Sunday, April 15, 2007
Two Sioux City historians believe that communities have an obligation to boost culture to benefit their citizens.
And sometimes, that goes beyond being a cheerleader to imposing taxes to enhance the quality of life.
"A city's primary responsibility is leadership," said Richard Poole, chair of the Briar Cliff University theater department and writer of several histories on entertainment in Siouxland. "Economic development is important but quality of life has to be maintained as well."
"Much of the idea of government involvement came about during the New Deal," said Matt Anderson, archivist with the Pearl Street Research Center. "People took the position that those achievements were positive examples of what government could do to enhance the quality of life."
It was the introduction of the railroad to the community that brought individuals to Siouxland. That in combination with steamboat trade suddenly put Sioux City on the map.
"It was a revolutionary period in that time," Poole said. "What would happen is that road shows in New York, Philadelphia and Charleston would perform in the fall and winter and early spring, then shut down in the summer and go on the road. Sioux City was one of the logical stops across country."
"We were viewed as a Gateway to the West," Anderson noted. "We were more important at that time than Omaha, Kansas City or Denver."
In 1870, the Academy of Music was privately funded and established at Fourth and Pierce Streets. About the same time, early Sioux City entrepreneur Frank Peavey opened the Peavey Grand Opera House as an site to bring amateur theater to Siouxland.
"It was viewed as a place to have more sophisticated performers," said Anderson. "For example, Susan B. Anthony spoke there. Oscar Wilde appeared there."
"But it was more than that," Poole clarified. "Religious services were held there as well as balls; but it's primary attraction was that it was on the New York theatrical circuit."
The Peavey Grand was roughly on the site of today's Convention Center, but faced Fourth Street, with Jones Street to its west. It was one of the largest and most elaborate opera houses in this part of country. Some of the most famous actors of the day performed there: Edwin Booth (older brother of John Wilkes Booth), Joe Jefferson, Maude Adams and Sarah Bernhardt, among others. It burned in 1931.
Although taxpayers were not impacted by these two private enterprises, they were very much supported by the Chamber of Commerce, Poole observed.
The combination of the railroad and a real boom time in Sioux City in the 1880s continued into the 20th century. Poole pointed out that there was a population increase of more than 800 percent in the decade between 1880 (population 7,500) and 1890 (population 50,000). Buffalo Bill appeared in his Wild West Show; the circus was a staple every year; summer stock companies performed in Riverside Park; traveling dime museums surfaced.
Another addition to Sioux City's culture was the Corn Palace, the result of a bountiful harvest season in 1887.
"It was a great draw and again, the Chamber of Commerce sold it as a tourist destination," Poole said. "In addition to celebrating corn, poems, plays and races were held there."
The fortunes of Sioux City began to dim after the economic panic of 1893. So did the future of the Corn Palace. A sixth was planned but never materialized. In the end, it was economic recession and the flood of 1892 that killed them.
Just prior to the Great Depression, the Orpheum Theatre at 528 Pierce St. was built in 1927 by Sioux City financier/businessman Arthur Sanford and designed by nationally known theatrer architects Rapp & Rapp to provide affordable vaudeville entertainment. Its history took it through being a movie theater to an unused facility to restoration to its earlier grandeur in 2001.
In addition to the cultural aspects, Sioux City residents showed how they loved their sports. The all-American sport of baseball runs through three centuries of Sioux City history. In the 1890s the Packers, the Huskers, the Redbirds and the Sioux City Ghosts, which was an all-black team that barnstormed the country, all took to the diamond. The Sioux City Soos baseball team started playing in 1947, until disbanding in 1961. The Explorers celebrate their 15th anniversary this year.
The Eagles Hockey team, a predecessor of the Metros and the Musketeers, played in the early 1960s. Arena football took the gridiron in 2001 with the addition of the Sioux City Bandits.
"People take for granted all that we have to offer in Sioux City, be it the sports or the museum or the art center," Anderson said.
"Actually, a place like Sioux City with its infrastructure and size shouldn't warrant the number of things to do like the Orpheum and the Tyson Events Center," he added. "Other cities of similar size don't have those amenities."
"It was a place, and still is a place, that the opportunities are there and industrious individuals can reach out and grab them," Poole noted.
And sometimes, that goes beyond being a cheerleader to imposing taxes to enhance the quality of life.
"A city's primary responsibility is leadership," said Richard Poole, chair of the Briar Cliff University theater department and writer of several histories on entertainment in Siouxland. "Economic development is important but quality of life has to be maintained as well."
"Much of the idea of government involvement came about during the New Deal," said Matt Anderson, archivist with the Pearl Street Research Center. "People took the position that those achievements were positive examples of what government could do to enhance the quality of life."
It was the introduction of the railroad to the community that brought individuals to Siouxland. That in combination with steamboat trade suddenly put Sioux City on the map.
"It was a revolutionary period in that time," Poole said. "What would happen is that road shows in New York, Philadelphia and Charleston would perform in the fall and winter and early spring, then shut down in the summer and go on the road. Sioux City was one of the logical stops across country."
"We were viewed as a Gateway to the West," Anderson noted. "We were more important at that time than Omaha, Kansas City or Denver."
In 1870, the Academy of Music was privately funded and established at Fourth and Pierce Streets. About the same time, early Sioux City entrepreneur Frank Peavey opened the Peavey Grand Opera House as an site to bring amateur theater to Siouxland.
"It was viewed as a place to have more sophisticated performers," said Anderson. "For example, Susan B. Anthony spoke there. Oscar Wilde appeared there."
"But it was more than that," Poole clarified. "Religious services were held there as well as balls; but it's primary attraction was that it was on the New York theatrical circuit."
The Peavey Grand was roughly on the site of today's Convention Center, but faced Fourth Street, with Jones Street to its west. It was one of the largest and most elaborate opera houses in this part of country. Some of the most famous actors of the day performed there: Edwin Booth (older brother of John Wilkes Booth), Joe Jefferson, Maude Adams and Sarah Bernhardt, among others. It burned in 1931.
Although taxpayers were not impacted by these two private enterprises, they were very much supported by the Chamber of Commerce, Poole observed.
The combination of the railroad and a real boom time in Sioux City in the 1880s continued into the 20th century. Poole pointed out that there was a population increase of more than 800 percent in the decade between 1880 (population 7,500) and 1890 (population 50,000). Buffalo Bill appeared in his Wild West Show; the circus was a staple every year; summer stock companies performed in Riverside Park; traveling dime museums surfaced.
Another addition to Sioux City's culture was the Corn Palace, the result of a bountiful harvest season in 1887.
"It was a great draw and again, the Chamber of Commerce sold it as a tourist destination," Poole said. "In addition to celebrating corn, poems, plays and races were held there."
The fortunes of Sioux City began to dim after the economic panic of 1893. So did the future of the Corn Palace. A sixth was planned but never materialized. In the end, it was economic recession and the flood of 1892 that killed them.
Just prior to the Great Depression, the Orpheum Theatre at 528 Pierce St. was built in 1927 by Sioux City financier/businessman Arthur Sanford and designed by nationally known theatrer architects Rapp & Rapp to provide affordable vaudeville entertainment. Its history took it through being a movie theater to an unused facility to restoration to its earlier grandeur in 2001.
In addition to the cultural aspects, Sioux City residents showed how they loved their sports. The all-American sport of baseball runs through three centuries of Sioux City history. In the 1890s the Packers, the Huskers, the Redbirds and the Sioux City Ghosts, which was an all-black team that barnstormed the country, all took to the diamond. The Sioux City Soos baseball team started playing in 1947, until disbanding in 1961. The Explorers celebrate their 15th anniversary this year.
The Eagles Hockey team, a predecessor of the Metros and the Musketeers, played in the early 1960s. Arena football took the gridiron in 2001 with the addition of the Sioux City Bandits.
"People take for granted all that we have to offer in Sioux City, be it the sports or the museum or the art center," Anderson said.
"Actually, a place like Sioux City with its infrastructure and size shouldn't warrant the number of things to do like the Orpheum and the Tyson Events Center," he added. "Other cities of similar size don't have those amenities."
"It was a place, and still is a place, that the opportunities are there and industrious individuals can reach out and grab them," Poole noted.
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mc wrote on Apr 15, 2007 10:46 PM:
Bill wrote on Apr 15, 2007 4:03 PM: