ABOVE: A look inside the Fairmont Opera House. While this picture was taken more than a year ago, the space looks the same as fundraising is still ongoing before needed repairs can be made to the historic theater.

FAIRMONT– It’s been just over two years since the Fairmont Opera House (FOH) announced it would need to limit operations while necessary roof repairs were made, and December will mark two years since the historic theater has been closed to the public while money is fundraised for said repairs. However, the end of 2025 also marks the deadline for the required $4 million to be raised before the facility will have to permanently close.

While the past two years have been filled with a mix of dread and determination, Executive Director Blake Potthoff has one main message to give.

“We’re still here,” he said. “I think that’s the biggest thing. We’re still very much alive.”

Potthoff is still working full-time, which he’s been asked about a lot, but instead of lining up and advertising for shows, he’s been researching and applying for grants and forming partnerships with other organizations to help spread word of the Opera House’s needs.

Of course the biggest thing they need is money. When the Opera House launched its Capital Campaign in July 2024, it was shared that $4 million was required. Since then, donations both big and small have been coming in.

“We closed a $25,000 match in memory of Dennis Turner,” Potthoff said of a long-time Opera House supporter.

As a result of the one-to-one match, $50,000 was raised for the Opera House.

Potthoff noted that Give to the Max Day is also coming up on Nov. 20 and he hopes that people consider giving to the Opera House and its project at that time.

“We also have the Stop the Hate, Save the Stage partnership with Natalie Flaherty, too,” Potthoff said.

Flaherty’s admiration for Anne Frank, coupled with a desire to spread kindness, prompted her to hand out bracelets on Halloween in 2023. Since then, her mission has taken off and reached others not just around the country but around the globe.

As part of Stop the Hate, Save the Stage, this Sunday Oct. 19, youth theatre participants, alumni, producers and directors are asked to come to the Opera House for a tour. Some filming and interviews will be done during this time.

“We’re trying to lean into this youth movement. It’s an important place for a lot of people and youth who feel that they might not fit in elsewhere,” Potthoff said. “We want to highlight that and show the community and each other that it’s a really important and impactful place and if we lose it, some people lose a home and a place where they feel safe.”

As for other partnerships, D & S Trophies is selling merchandise that’s based off of the mural that Visit Fairmont had a hand in placing on the side of the Opera House.

“They gave us a check already for over 50 different items that have been ordered. We got $5 for every one of those items. They’re cool shirts, too. Al Hurney did a great job with the mural,” Potthoff said.

Another has been an art walk with local artist Caroline Porter which raised money through registrations. Porter will have an upcoming event, painting to preserve the legacy, on Nov. 15 at Graffiti Corner.

Recently, Janet Eckles took it upon herself to create a documentary in an effort to help the word about all that the Opera House provides to the community and why it should be saved.

“Most of that, I didn’t know it was happening. She just did it,” Potthoff said. “She talked to Ellen Germain, Brittany (Hartman) with Visit Fairmont and a professor from MSU that does preservation work.”

Getting the word out beyond the Martin County area has been a goal of the Opera House and its Board of Directors.

“How do you share out information because our network is only so big,” Potthoff said.

Board Member Jane Reiman added, “We’ve benefitted from Fairmont people and the area people but we have to get it out beyond that and broaden the pool that we can get funds from.”

However, the local community has certainly shown its support. Of the $1 million raised so far, Potthoff said 99.9 percent is from Minnesota and 99.3 percent is from Martin County.

“That’s really significant. That’s the most this organization has raised in this time frame in its history, but everyone knows somebody who knows somebody who knows somebody who has too much money and we need to get to them,” Potthoff said.

Grant opportunities have also been extensively looked into.

“Blake has applied for numerous, numerous grants, but some of them are pretty restrictive,” explained Reiman.

One that was applied for was the 2025 Minnesota Legacy Bill, which listed seven organizations for a $2 million grant pool. One of them was the Fairmont Opera House. Potthoff said they submitted the pre-application and just this past week submitted the official application.

“It’s extremely competitive, even though it’s just seven organizations. None of that money is guaranteed, but we have just as good a chance as any organization,” Potthoff said.

The Fairmont Opera House has a request for grant funds in to the local Schmeeckle Foundation, which it will hear about in November.

Potthoff said they’re also waiting to hear back about the Minnesota Historical Society’s Commemorative Statues, Memorials and Historical Preservation grant program.

“We’ll hear about that in December– good, bad or otherwise,” he said.

Best case scenario, both of those grant funds will come through, but even if they do, the Opera House will still be short of its goal.

While they’re hopeful, there really is no sugarcoating the severity of the situation.

“We will run out of money and we will have to close,” said Reiman.

One of the biggest expenses the Opera House had recently been facing was the scaffolding that’s holding up the trusses and the roof.

“It was costing us $11,000 a month to rent but the board made a decision earlier this year to purchase that equipment,” Potthoff said.

Reiman explained that the board did so as a cost-savings measure.

However, they still have ongoing operational expenses including heating, cooling, payroll and insurance.

“Our insurance jumped significantly because the building is unoccupied. It went up by three times,” Potthoff said.

Nonetheless the organization has continued its fundraising efforts through all seasons the past two years.

“To have reasonable certainty to start the project, we need $3 million and one of the keys of that is the architectural plans and getting those done and that’s about a $160,000 or $170,000 expense just to give us the guidelines of what to do to fix the building. That’s the next most pressing thing we have to do to start the project,” Potthoff said.

Reiman said she’s been asked by people what happens to the money if they don’t do the project. She suggested people make a pledge as those won’t be called in until the work is about to start.

“If you feel uneasy about that situation, don’t. Go ahead and pledge and we’ll call the money in when we start the project,” Reiman said.

Potthoff suggested that people stay on the lookout for additional partnerships or campaigns. He also said anyone can send an email, call or stop into their office if they have questions.

“We’re working everyday to raise money and we have some smaller programming things coming up. We’re very optimistic that we can make things work,” Reiman said.

“We believe it’s going to happen. We’re going to do it. It’s a difficult thing, but it’s not impossible,” Potthoff said.

Find more information, and ways to donate, at fairmontoperahouse.org.