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Gold discovered in the Black Hills on French Creek near the present city of
Custer by Ross and McKay, two miners attached to General Custer's Military Expedition.
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On April 9, Manuel Brothers, Moses and Fred, together with Hank Harney, discovered a
ledge; an out-cropping of ore termed a "lead" (pronounced "leed"),
in what is now the Open Cut. They named their claim "Homestake" and the mining
camp, which soon leaped to life, took the name of Lead City.
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The U.S. Census listed the 1,440-citizen community of Lead, S.D. as a
town. By 1900 the number of residents had grown to 6,212 and then to 8,392 in 1910, making it the
second largest city in South Dakota. It was also the most prosperous with the best wages, constant
employment for the town's skilled mechanics, minors and laborers,
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Phoebe Apperson Hearst, with the help of Thomas J. Grier,
Superintendent of Homstake, conceived the idea of the Homestake Opera House and Recreation
Building with the idea that both would be presented to the citizens of Lead as a gift from
Homestake.
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On Monday, August 31st, final touches were put on the Opera House and adjoining Recreation Building.
The eagerly awaited grand opening in the beautiful new Opera House was performed by the Sheehan English
Opera Company led by Joseph F. Sheehan, "American's Greatest Tenor."
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During its early years the Opera House provided a variety of entertainment for the public,
and one of the forms especially popular with the men was wrestling.
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In late September, the Opera House played an unforeseen role in the tragic Spanish influenza epidemic.
Beginning in the Rapid City area, the disease quickly spread throughout the Black Hills communities,
forcing the Health Department to place a closing ban on all theatres and churches.
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Homestake moved the Christ Episcopal Church
brick by brick to its present location, where it was reassembled complete with a new bell tower.
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On October 8th, the Opera House stage was the scene of a
10-round boxing match between Billy Papke of Sacramento, California and Billy Foster of
Fort Worth, Texas.
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Lead got its start in the Black Hills during the Gold Rush of
1876 when Thomas Carey crossed Gold Run Creek from his Deadwood diggings and, upon finding
a good placer claim on Gold Run, told his fellow miners that things looked even better
"across the divide". There was another stampede, albeit a short one, across the creek
to the new camp, which first was called Washington.
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In June of 1877, George Hearst sent L.D. Kellogg, an experienced
practical miner, to investigate claims of new gold discoveries. After a brief investigation,
Kellogg optioned the Homestake and Golden Star Claims for $70,000.
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Phoebe Apperson Hearst, the widow of California senator George Hearst and
humanitarian, presented a library and established a kindergarten, one of the earliest west of the
Mississippi. It was her sincere belief that "money should be used for the good of
mankind"
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In early July, workmen began sinking test pits in the lot to
determine the foundation that would be used during construction.
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Vaudeville and stock companies began to perform in the Opera House.
One of the more popular groups on the road show circuit was that of Clint and Bessie Robbins.
The Robbins show had actors in their casts who later won fame in larger circuits.
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World War I greatly influenced entertainment at the Opera House,
as patriotic rallies and special benefits began to be scheduled along with the regular movies
and other live entertainment.
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By January conditions had improved and churches and theatres
were reopened. Thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, the Homestake Opera House opened its
doors to the public on Monday, January 27th.
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The Hearst Mercantile Company Store opened its doors to the public.
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