Goss Opera House will be recognized at Acts of Excellence event

The Acts of Excellence program, sponsored by Sanford Health, connects us with individuals and organizations who are building a culture of excellence in South Dakota, one act at a time. Please join us and area inductees to celebrate this Act of Excellence on Thursday, April 15th, 2021, from 4:30 to 6:00 pm CT at the Lake Area Tech College, Event Center Level 4, in Watertown South Dakota..

Restoration of Goss Opera House an Act of Historic Preservation

Through the generosity of donors and the hard work of the Watertown community, the decade-long project to restore the 130-year-old Goss Opera House to its rightful place as a community centerpiece is nearing completion. 

The renovation project, begun in 2008, was scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2020. More than $2.85 million has been committed to the project, a noble effort to preserve and restore for future generations, as an essential community-center project. Windows on the 130-year-old building have been replaced, the heating and cooling system were upgraded, and a roof replacement was completed. Leaders of the renovation say the building gradually fell out of favor as it deteriorated, but the upgrades should bring it back to a place of prominence for the greater Watertown community. 

A combination of businesses and special events such as concerts and performances is envisioned. “We want this to be a community space,’’ Missy Sinner, executive director of Friends of the Goss, recently said in a story in the Watertown Public Opinion. “The work is going really smoothly.’’ South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has called the Goss a cultural landmark. “This place is super special,’’ she said.