Collinsville, IL 62234 or the FB donation button. The Miner's Institute Building was built in 1918 by the local coal mining unions, as a labor temple. The keystone was laid by the Kirtch Architectural firm on October 12, 1917. Each miner donated 1% of his salary for one year to the construction of the building. Total construction costs were about $90,000, in comparison a three bedroom home at the
time was $3000-$4000. The building was utilized by the unions as a "home away from home". Meetings, entertainment, dances, relaxation and a place to bring their families, this was the place you came to be with your friends and co-workers. In fact, the Miner's shut down one other theatre and an opera house in town, because other unions would only support the Miner's. Over the years, Miner's hosted High School Graduations, Dairyman's conventions and other such events of the day, in addition to the occasional movies being shown in the auditorium. Built in the "vaudeville" style, the auditorium hosted several traveling troupes as well. Bloomer Amusements bought the building from the Miner's Unions in the mid-late 60's and operated the building as a 2nd run movie theatre until it closed it's doors in 1984. Placed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 and under the ownership of the Miner's Institute Foundation, years of neglect came to an end. The early MIF board prevented further deterioration and entered into a holding pattern. In 2009 the Collinsville Area Recreation District (CARD) took ownership and embarked upon a multi-phase renovation plan. After the first phase of renovation was completed in 2011, costing over $1 million, a newly elected CARD board voted to cease the project and return the building to its previous owner, the non-profit Miner’s Institute Foundation. The Miner’s is currently working hard to raise the necessary funds to complete renovations on the theatre. We are proud that the building is back in use. For information about how you can be involved or become a member of the Miner’s Institute Foundation, please message us!
