STOUGHTON — There was a time when pigeons, raccoons and bats lived above the ceiling of the Stoughton Opera House.
Tom Jeffris, founder and president of the Jeffris Family Foundation, offered a challenge grant for the renovation of the Stoughton Opera House in 1997. Seen here in front of the original fire curtain on the stage of the opera house, Jeffris' foundation has funded almost 100 projects in Wisconsin and the Midwest, including the opera house, which reopened in 2001.
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The historic Al. Ringling Theatre received a $513,000 challenge grant in 2013 from the Jeffris Family Foundation for a major restoration project. Work in the 1915 theater in downtown Baraboo included improved heating and air conditioning, electrical, plumbing, restoration of the inside hall, box seating area, gallery lounge and the "Ladies Retiring Room."
Among the projects partially funded by the Jeffris Family Foundation is the study where Lew Wallace wrote "Ben-Hur" in Crawfordsville, Indiana.
In 2014, the Union Depot in Keokuk, Iowa, received a $330,000 challenge grant from the Jeffris Foundation with the stipulation that another $660,000 was raised. In 2020, Jeffris offered up a second grant of $275,000 if another $550,000 was raised for the building, designed by the famed Chicago architectural firm Burnham and Root.
Matt Paulson, assistant manager at the Cana Island Light Station in Door County, raises the flag in fall 2020. The station underwent a $2.5 million restoration funded in part by the Jeffris Family Foundation.
Even in the rain, the restored Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Seth Peterson Cottage, seen here in 2022, is a striking presence at Mirror Lake State Park. A three-year restoration of the building was finished in June 1992 with help from matching grants from the Jeffris Family Foundation.
Potosi Brewery was founded in 1852 and at its peak was the fifth-largest brewery in Wisconsin. The brewery ceased operations and closed its doors in 1970, but after extensive renovation funded in part by the Jeffris Family Foundation is now home to the National Brewery Museum.
Tom Jeffris is seen here outside his Janesville home that was constructed in 1927 by Russell Parker, whose father founded Parker Pen in 1888. Jeffris grew up in the home after Parker died and his widow, Elanor Parker married Bruce Jeffris. Tom Jeffris was the couple's lone child but he had two step-siblings.
A conservator works inside the Gen. Lew Wallace Study in Crawfordsville, Indiana. In 2013, the Jeffris Family Foundation awarded a $100,000 challenge grant for the study's restoration with the understanding that the community would raise another $200,000 by 2015.
Stoughton Opera House events coordinator Christina Dollhausen, left, with Tom Jeffris on the stage of the opera house that is also home to a grand piano.
One of the latest projects for the Jeffris Family Foundation is the Mathias Ham House in Dubuque, Iowa. The foundation offered up a $270,000 challenge grant in 2021 that required the community to raise $540,000.
Stoughton Opera House events coordinator Christina Dollhausen and director Bill Brehm in the historic theater in Stoughton. In the 1980s there was talk of demolishing the building but it has been restored and is now home to concerts, plays and other events.
Tom Jeffris at the Stoughton Opera House. “It’s really terrible what we’ve done, generally as a nation, in tearing down things," said Jeffris, whose foundation has helped preserve landmarks throughout the Midwest.
Photos: Tom Jeffris and the works of his Jeffris Family Foundation
Tom Jeffris, founder and president of the Jeffris Family Foundation, pictured at the Stoughton Opera House in Stoughton, Wis. Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
Stoughton Opera House director Bill Brehm shows visitors a wall of markings from years past at the historic theater in Stoughton, Wis. Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
Stoughton Opera House events coordinator Christina Dollhausen, left, with Tom Jeffris on the stage of the opera house that is also home to a grand piano.
Stoughton Opera House events coordinator Christina Dollhausen and director Bill Brehm in the historic theater in Stoughton. In the 1980s there was talk of demolishing the building but it has been restored and is now home to concerts, plays and other events.
A chandelier hangs from the ceiling of the Stoughton Opera House in Stoughton, Wis. Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
Tom Jeffris, founder and president of the Jeffris Family Foundation, offered a challenge grant for the renovation of the Stoughton Opera House in 1997. Seen here in front of the original fire curtain on the stage of the opera house, Jeffris' foundation has funded almost 100 projects in Wisconsin and the Midwest, including the opera house, which reopened in 2001.
Parker Pen ceased operations in Janesville in 1999 but had a more than 100-year history in the city. Tom Jeffris worked in sales at the company for 15 years while his father, Bruce Jeffris, retired as chairman of the board in 1960.
Tom Jeffris, founder and president of the Jeffris Family Foundation, visits with Stoughton Opera House director bill Brehm at the historic entertainment venue in Stoughton, Wis. Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL
Tom Jeffris is seen here outside his Janesville home that was constructed in 1927 by Russell Parker, whose father founded Parker Pen in 1888. Jeffris grew up in the home after Parker died and his widow, Elanor Parker married Bruce Jeffris. Tom Jeffris was the couple's lone child but he had two step-siblings.
Tom Jeffris, president and co-founder of the Jeffris Family Foundation is seen here in the breakfast nook of his 1927 home in Janesville.
This photo from 1907 shows the Keokuk Union Depot in Keokuk, Iowa.
The Keokuk Union Depot was in disrepair but has undergone a complete restoration that concluded in November.
The restored Keokuk Union Depot was constructed in 1890 and 1891.
The Keokuk Union Depot in Keokuk, Iowa.
This photo taken earlier this year shows progress on the restoration of the Keokuk Union Depot.
In 2014, the Union Depot in Keokuk, Iowa, received a $330,000 challenge grant from the Jeffris Foundation with the stipulation that another $660,000 was raised. In 2020, Jeffris offered up a second grant of $275,000 if another $550,000 was raised for the building, designed by the famed Chicago architectural firm Burnham and Root.
The Keoku
The Keokuk Union Depot in Keokuk, Iowa, had fallen into disrepair and in 2012 residents began organizing to preserve the structure for what would ultimately become a $2.5 million project that was completed last month. In 2014, Jeffris offered a $330,000 challenge grant with the stipulation that another $660,000 was raised. In 2020, Jeffris offered up a second grant of $275,000 if another $550,000 was raised for the building that was designed by the famed Chicago architectural firm Burnham and Root
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A conservator works inside the Gen. Lew Wallace Study in Crawfordsville, Indiana. In 2013, the Jeffris Family Foundation awarded a $100,000 challenge grant for the study's restoration with the understanding that the community would raise another $200,000 by 2015.
Among the projects partially funded by the Jeffris Family Foundation is the study where Lew Wallace wrote "Ben-Hur" in Crawfordsville, Indiana.
The Mathias ham House in Dubuque, Iowa.
The Mathias ham House in Dubuque, Iowa.
One of the latest projects for the Jeffris Family Foundation is the Mathias Ham House in Dubuque, Iowa. The foundation offered up a $270,000 challenge grant in 2021 that required the community to raise $540,000.
One of the latest projects for the Jeffris Family Foundation is the Mathias Ham House in Dubuque, Iowa. The foundation offered up a $270,000 challenge grant in 2021 that required the community to raise $540,000. Work on the $1.2 million restoration is scheduled to begin next month
The kitchen of the Mathias Ham House in Dubuque, Iowa. The Jeffris Family Foundation offered up a $270,000 challenge grant in 2021 that required the community to raise $540,000. Work on the $1.2 million restoration is scheduled to begin next month
The historic Al. Ringling Theatre received a $513,000 challenge grant in 2013 from the Jeffris Family Foundation for a major restoration project. Work in the 1915 theater in downtown Baraboo included improved heating and air conditioning, electrical, plumbing, restoration of the inside hall, box seating area, gallery lounge and the "Ladies Retiring Room."
Even in the rain, the restored Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Seth Peterson Cottage, seen here in 2022, is a striking presence at Mirror Lake State Park. A three-year restoration of the building was finished in June 1992 with help from matching grants from the Jeffris Family Foundation.
Matt Paulson, assistant manager at the Cana Island Light Station in Door County, raises the flag in fall 2020. The station underwent a $2.5 million restoration funded in part by the Jeffris Family Foundation.
Potosi Brewery was founded in 1852 and at its peak was the fifth-largest brewery in Wisconsin. The brewery ceased operations and closed its doors in 1970, but after extensive renovation funded in part by the Jeffris Family Foundation is now home to the National Brewery Museum.
