Wagner Opera House/First Methodist Church

[Add Intro re: locating a church in the middle of downtown, surrounded by shops, saloons, etc.] Even though the building on the corner of Main Street and Merritt is still referred to as the Wagner Opera House, it was only ever an opera house by intent. The building’s construction began after the first Wagner’s Opera House burned down in May 1874. Owner William Wagner attempted to bounce back quickly, but tragedy struck again just two months later. Oshkosh suffered another devastating fire in July 1874 that damaged Wagner’s partially rebuilt opera house. Wagner attempted to rebuild again but ultimately sold the remnants of his building to the First Methodist Church congregation. [TBC]