Guyer Opera House, also known as Lewisville Public Hall, is a historic

theater Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actor, actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage. The p ...

and commercial building located at Lewisville,

Henry County, Indiana Henry County is a county located in east central Indiana, United States. As of 2020, the population was 48,914. The county seat and largest and only city is New Castle. Henry County is the main setting of the novel '' Raintree County'' by Ross ...

. It was built in 1902, and is a -story, brick building on a

limestone Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...

foundation and a gable roof. The front facade features a large

parapet A parapet is a barrier that is an extension of the wall at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony, walkway or other structure. The word comes ultimately from the Italian ''parapetto'' (''parare'' 'to cover/defend' and ''petto'' 'chest/breast'). Whe ...

and

cast iron Cast iron is a class of iron–carbon alloys with a carbon content more than 2%. Its usefulness derives from its relatively low melting temperature. The alloy constituents affect its color when fractured: white cast iron has carbide impuriti ...

storefronts. The theater space is located on the second floor; it closed in 1942. ''Note:'' This includes and Accompanying photographs. It was added to the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

in 1979. Built in 1901 and producing community theater in Henry County, Indiana since 1976, the Guyer Opera House is the only remaining gaslight-era theater and one of the most important historic buildings in Henry County. It was discovered in 1969 after lying low for more than 20 years, and preservation efforts have continued ever since then. The Guyer operates as a non-profit community civic theater. All volunteers graciously donate their time and energy toward tasks like the upkeep of the building, production of shows in the upstairs auditorium and Aurora Studio Theatre downstairs.

References

Churches completed in 1895 1832 establishments in Indiana Buildings and structures in Henry County, Indiana National Register of Historic Places in Henry County, Indiana Opera houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Indiana Romanesque Revival architecture in Indiana {{HenryCountyIN-NRHP-stub