A Look Into the History of the
Historic Miner's Institute
Historic Miner's Institute
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The Miner's Institute Building was built in 1918 by the local coal mining
unions, as a labor temple. The keystone was laid by the Kirtch
Architectural firm on October 12, 1917. Each miner donated 1% of his
salary for one year to the construction of the building. Total construction
costs were $139,000, in comparison a three bedroom home at the time
was $3000-$4000. The building was utilized by the unions as a "home
away from home". Meetings, entertainment, dances, relaxation and a
place to bring their families, this was the place you came to be with your
friends and co-workers. In fact, the Miner's shut down one other theatre
and an opera house in town, because other unions would only support
the Miner's.
Over the years, Miner's hosted High School Graduations, Dairyman's
conventions and other such events of the day, in addition to the
occasional movies being shown in the auditorium. Built in the
"vaudeville" style, the auditorium hosted several traveling troupes as well.
Bloomer Amusements bought the building from the Miner's Unions in the
mid-late 60's and operated the building as a 2nd run movie theatre until
it closed it's doors in 1984.
Placed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 and under
the ownership of the Miner's Institute Foundation, years of neglect came
to an end. The early MIF board prevented further deterioration and
entered into a holding pattern. The current MIF Board has obtained a
Historic Structure Report, a kind of "road map" for restoration and is
moving forward to obtain funding for the approximate 10 million dollar
restoration.
unions, as a labor temple. The keystone was laid by the Kirtch
Architectural firm on October 12, 1917. Each miner donated 1% of his
salary for one year to the construction of the building. Total construction
costs were $139,000, in comparison a three bedroom home at the time
was $3000-$4000. The building was utilized by the unions as a "home
away from home". Meetings, entertainment, dances, relaxation and a
place to bring their families, this was the place you came to be with your
friends and co-workers. In fact, the Miner's shut down one other theatre
and an opera house in town, because other unions would only support
the Miner's.
Over the years, Miner's hosted High School Graduations, Dairyman's
conventions and other such events of the day, in addition to the
occasional movies being shown in the auditorium. Built in the
"vaudeville" style, the auditorium hosted several traveling troupes as well.
Bloomer Amusements bought the building from the Miner's Unions in the
mid-late 60's and operated the building as a 2nd run movie theatre until
it closed it's doors in 1984.
Placed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 and under
the ownership of the Miner's Institute Foundation, years of neglect came
to an end. The early MIF board prevented further deterioration and
entered into a holding pattern. The current MIF Board has obtained a
Historic Structure Report, a kind of "road map" for restoration and is
moving forward to obtain funding for the approximate 10 million dollar
restoration.