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From: "B. Warner" <>
Subject: Restoration of Braun's Opera House/Hotel, Farmington, MO
Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2005 10:40:21 -0600 (CST)
References: <BAY3-DAV335EEC1082E03289595276A9970@phx.gbl>
In-Reply-To: <BAY3-DAV335EEC1082E03289595276A9970@phx.gbl>


The following very interesting article concerning recent restoration of a
building of historical significance formerly known as Baun's Hall, an
opera house/hotel located in Farmington, Missouri, was published in the
Daily Journal of St. Francois County on Sunday, January 9, 2005. Click on
link following article to view original article and wonderful old photo of
Braun's Hall taken sometime in the 1890's which includes Carl Braun along
with his following children: Mamie [Marie] Braun (died 1929); George Braun
(died 1971 at age 82); and Charles Braun (died 1987 at age 96). Any
information which is contained within within brackets ("[__]") was added
by me for informational purposes and was not contained in original
article.

-----------------------------------------------------------

OPENING A NEW CHAPTER IN HISTORY, by R. Jean

It was quietly falling apart.

It had been a vibrant opera house and hotel in the early part of the
1880s. It was a stop on the most famous and best plank road ever built -
the Farmington Plank Road that ran from Iron Mountain and Pilot Knob to
Ste. Genevieve, a distance of 42 miles.

The hotel was most likely built in 1884, a few years before historical
records indicate the county purchased the plank road in 1902.

The rich and the poor stopped at Braun's Hall for a welcome respite on
their journey, perhaps stabling their horses at the Lloyd & Mayberry
Livery Stable that old advertisements indicate was located behind it.
Civil War veterans often stayed at the hotel on their way to the Grand
Army of the Republic encampments that were held in St. Louis, a newspaper
article notes.

Braun's Hall pre-dated electric street lights, which were first turned on
in Farmington on Oct. 29, 1891, according to historical records. It was
also a silent witness to the hanging of Charles H. Hardin, hanged for the
bludgeon murder of Robert Ferguson near Indian Creek. As many as 5,000
people of the 13,822 people then living in the county attended what was
the last legal hanging. It took place across the street from the hotel.

The proprietor, Carl Braun, was a man who might seem to have it all. He
had built the hotel and what was Farmington's only opera house at the age
of 24 or 25. He married his wife, Elizabeth Mell that same year. They had
six children, two of whom passed away early in life. The others lived to
adult life.

It all seemed to have the makings of a happily ever after tale, but the
German immigrant did not have a happy end. He was given to occasional
drinking binges and, on the last, he drank a bottle of wood alcohol.
Authorities say that must have killed him.

The 45-year-old left behind him a wife and four children, according to a
newspaper obituary on file at the Farmington Library.

It was then July 12, 1900.

That same year the hotel was sold for $12,000, but it remained a hotel and
saloon for a few more years.

In 1908, the opera house, which Braun had seen as the crowning jewel of
his personal achievement, ceased. The building housed several businesses
since that time and went through a number of changes. Banks, pawn shops,
offices, a pharmacy.

Here was a treasure trove of some 120 years of history, but no one seemed
interested in making it shine.

It would take a lot of work to put her to rights again. Perhaps more work
than it was worth, if economic gain was the only consideration.

But when Herb Schwarz saw the building he saw more than just a business
venture. He saw just what he'd been searching for.

Schwarz had owned a restaurant in St. Louis, but city officials were
revamping the area and forced him to sell that business. Since then he had
been searching for something to take its place.

He'd looked at dozens of properties, some as far away as Virginia, but
here on a downtown street corner in Farmington was his match.

Schwarz explained that he believes the history of Farmington is rich
enough to attract tourists to the area, but only if enough people start
preserving it.

"St. Joseph has its Pony Express," Schwarz said. "Tourism is an active
going business there. Farmington history could be like that, too."

And so Schwarz went to work on Braun's old hall, rebuilding not just its
physical presence on main street, but also its historical presence.

For the physical part, it was going to be an expensive undertaking, and
Schwarz did not have a ready clientele lined up to inhabit the building.

The entire interior had to be gutted - work that would take a minimum of
six months. Follow that with the strict restoration required to preserve
the historical nature of the building and add another six or so months of
work.

To really do things right, Schwarz decided he would need the help of an
experienced architect, which he found in Victor Barrett, an architect in
St. Charles which has a number of historic buildings that have been
preserved.

He also obtained assistance from an individual named Debbie Sheals, who is
experienced at working with historical assessments for the state.

She helped him get everything in order for the state's tax credit
available for projects that restore economic vitality to historic
buildings.

The Missouri Historic Preservation Tax Credit aids in the redevelopment of
historic structures. Tax credits are issued for restorations certified by
the Missouri Department of Natural Resources State Historic Preservation
Office.

A business owner who restores an eligible property can qualify for up to
$25,000 in sellable state tax credits for every $100,000 spent. The owner
may also qualify for additional non-sellable federal tax credits.

With the help of the tax credit programs, Schwarz was able to do
everything the building needed and still put together an economically
viable project. With such a prime location, he soon had a few tenants to
charge up his business as well - the Oasis Book store and the Holy Grounds
coffee shop.

For the historical aspect, Schwarz has been following the threads of old
newspaper articles, advertisements and odd leads here and there. He
learned, for instance, that there is a sister building that is nearly a
twin in Ste. Genevieve, and he has been there to look it over. He and his
wife Pat have even talked to some of Braun's descendants.

Schwarz has also learned that several buildings in downtown Farmington
would qualify for the same tax credit program he has used to restore
Braun's Hall. He is hoping more people will take advantage of the program.
Anyone interested in more information can contact him at 573-562-2819.

"This was an interesting quest," Schwarz said. "What better use of your
time and money than to do something so worthwhile? Somebody had to start
it. I started it."
[End of Article]

URL to article:
<http://www.dailyjournalonline.com/articles/2005/01/09/community/news1.txt>;
http://www.dailyjournalonline.com/articles/2005/01/09/community/news1.txt

[Additional Information: According to obit of Elizabeth Mell Braun which
was published in the Lead Belt News of Flat River, Missouri, on February
16, 1940, she was daughter of Peter Mell and Sophia (Hoehn) Mell. She was
born June 2, 1854 and died Feb. 13, 1940. She and Carl Braun had six
children, namely: Johnny Braun, Lydia Braun, Marie Sophia (Mrs. Emil C.)
Schramm (a/k/a Mamie?), George Braun, Charles Peter Braun, and Fred Daniel
Braun. Fred was born 1892 and died 1953. Johnny and Lydia were children
who passed away early in life. Marie Braun was married to Emil C.
Schramm, son of Henry and Phillipina (nee Herter)Schramm. Elizabeth Braun
and most of her children are buried at St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery near
Farmington. Carl Braun is listed as being buried at Knights of Pythias
Cemetery, Farmington. The listing for Knights of Pythias cemetery indicate
that he was born Dec. 6, 1855 and died July 11, 1900. Also, according to
cemetery records for St. Paul Lutheran, there is an infant buried there
named Ida Dorette Braun born Dec. 30, 1894, died April 11, 1895, aged 3
months, daughter of Karl (sic) and Elizabeth Braun. I wonder if this is
possibly another child, or if Elizabeth's obit has name of child wrong and
Lydia should have been Ida? Anyone know?]




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