Dr Woodchucks Antique Emporium

The 40' x 70' Opera House, on the second floor of Dr Woochucks, is available for rental for dances, meetings, receptions or any type of get-together. Fee is a function of the the number of people attending, the time frame and the organization. School and youth activity rates are lower than for businesses. To obtain a price quote, please contact us at 815-858-2548 or email us at:                      mailto:drwoodchucks@jcwifi.com


A User Agreement must be signed at the time of rental reservation.

The Opera House is located on the second floor of Dr Woodchuck's and was originally added by James Allan in 1876. Over the past 100 years it has been used for Chautauqua's, dances, home talent plays, school graduations and church festivals. As years went by, added to this were skating parties, movies and basketball games.

Unfortunately use discontinued around 1940 and the opera house fell into disrepair. In 2005 we began the renovation. The wainscotting was repaired on several ceilings and walls, floors had to be reboarded due to rain damage, the waincotting was entirely sanded to remove 100 years of dust, grime and pigeon droppings and all ceilings and walls were shellacked to a warm glow. Chandeliers and sconce lighting was added, the old cob shed and feed mill was removed and a stage built in the original location.

After rebuilding the stairs and deck to the second floor, a 15' bar, authenticated to be from one of Al Capone's speakeasy in Wakefields in Cicero, was installed on the west end. Bar sink, back bar, electric and water have all been added. The floor was sanded and sealed to ready it for dancing and parties. Over half of the 18 original windows (each window has two 4' windows for opening on both top and bottom) have been replaced with the intention to complete in 2008. The original ticket booth remains intact - loving care is still in process!