I was invited over to Collinsville two Saturdays ago by Mike and Tami Springer, two residents who are working with others to restore and reopen the historic Miner’s Institute, a longtime institution in the city’s downtown. Work is in progress to raise money to reopen the building; see the website here. The building is already in an excellent state of preservation, but still needs some critical upgrades. They are seeking donations to finish up the renovation, and if readers could help, that would be great.
The exterior makes the two major functions of the building obvious; in the center is the entrance to the grand theater, and to the right is the entrance to the Miners’ Union offices on the second floor.
The detail of the miners above the office door is one of the highlights of the building.
The theater is spectacular, with much of the original paint scheme preserved or restored.
Upstairs, reached from the side door, is the ballroom that was once the center of Collinsville’s social life. Let’s help to make the building a center of the city again.
This was a movie theater from the mid 60s until 1984.
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/21917
This entry (and comments) for the nearby Will Rogers theater suggests the Miner’s was movie house as early as the 1930s.
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/6198
The statues of the two miners used to have gas-powered lights in their helmets.
Wow – “spectacular” is not an overstatement!
Thanks – particularly for the interior shots!
The Miner’s is indeed an amazing building. I saw my sister in a play there back in 2008 and was in awe of that interior. I have heard rumors over the years about how it is going to have to be torn down, so I’m happy to hear that there are people who really want to save it. It is pretty much a jewel in Collinsville’s downtown area.
It is a great looking building given it’s almost 100 year age! You can also donate to Miners cause at http://www.rally.org/MinersTheatre
Follow the restoration efforts or find out how you can get involved at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Miners-Theatre/323538627656323 and https://twitter.com/MinersTheatre!
In the 60’s I saw all the Elvis Presley movies there.
Those are great memories and the pictures brought them all back.