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Brownville Concert Hall History
The Brownville Concert Hall first opened its doors on April 28, 1990. The present building is a merger of three distinct traditions. It rests upon the foundations of the Brownville Episcopal Church. The main body of the building itself was once the First Christian Church of Peru, Nebraska. The present improvements were based upon the use of the building prior to the July 22, 1991 fire.
In the mid 1800's, the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and 2nd Street was home not only to the Muir House, but also to two of Brownville's leading churches. One, the Brownville Episcopal Church, had closed by the summer of 1894.
The main auditorium was built in the summer of 1904 on 5th Street in Peru, Nebraska. Organized in 1896 and worshipping in the Peru Opera House until 1904 when Mr. Louis Fisher offered to pay half of the cost of erecting a church building. The congregation purchased the building of the Brownville St. Mary's Episcopal Church, which at that point had not been used for years.
The Episcopal Church building was dismantled and the material used, in large part, to build the new structure which opened for services in 1904. The Peru Christian Church ceased to operate in 1970. The backstage area was added during the 1998-90 restoration. The front of the Peru Church was remodeled slightly to change the two-level pulpit area into a concert stage. An elevator was added to accommodate the handicapped. The 1904 stained glass windows were restored.
The Brownville Concert Hall was officially dedicated as a concert hall on April 28, 1990 in a special ceremony where Dr. Charles Longsworth, President of the Colonial Williamsburg, was the principal speaker.
In July 1991, lightening struck the steeple and set the building ablaze. The Hall was rebuilt with work beginning in August 1991. The hall was reopened and offers exciting artists in this small Nebraska community.
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