Leyco Real Estate awarded historic preservation award

CHPT teases 2027 entertainment season

COLUMBUS — The Columbus Histor ic Preservat ion Trust awarded the 2026 Laura Ann Rau Historic Preservation Award to Kim Johnson and Currie Luedecke with Leyco Real Estate for their work on the Gegenworth Building and teased the return of entertainment to the Stafford Opera House during its 12th annual history forum “Echoes of the Opera House,” Monday, Oct. 26.

The Laura Ann Rau Historic Preservation Award honors an individual, organization or project that advances the preservation of Columbus’ historical and architectural heritage. CHPT Interim President Julie Prause presented the award to Johnson and Luedecke for restoring and bringing business back to the historic Gegenworth Building next to AL&M Building Supplies on Highway 90.

“Half of the building is now a beautiful salon, and the other half of the building is still available for lease,” Johnson said. “…We’ve had some people that have approached us, but we’re very picky about what we bring to Columbus, to downtown. We want to make sure it fits and it fits the building.”

Johnson referred to Blend Hair Salon, operated by KJ Guentert and Charlsie Atteberry, which held its grand opening on Sept. 18. Guentert and Atteberry kept and restored the old bar top from City Café.

Johnson added that she and Luedecke restored the Gegenworth sign underneath the Kay Klauber Candies sign.

The building’s history spans back around two centuries. Luedecke said George Gegenworth constructed the building in the mid to late 1800s and operated a grocer and liquor store in the space with his son George Jr. for 66 years. After that, many cafes, a pool hall, an auto parts store and other businesses occupied the space.

ENTERTAINMENT RETURNS CHPT Executive Director Leslie Kinnear teased the return of entertainment to the Stafford Opera House in 2027. The season lineup will be announced in November with tickets on sale starting Dec. 1.

“I know many of you are curious about the work upstairs, and I’m so happy to report that the grand hall is truly taking shape,” Kinnear said.

Kinnear reported that the bathroom ti le has been installed with fixtures in progress. The new retractable wall is being fabricated, and the new stage curtain is on order. The new 350 chairs have arrived and are actively being used in the Buddy Rau Room.

ECHOES OF THE OPERA HOUSE The history forum returned this year with guest speakers Elvera Kahlich and her daughters Elizabeth Lauzon and Frances Lancaster. Kahlich’s father A.W. Willrodt owned the Stafford Opera House in the late 1940s and 1950s during the Columbus oil boom when the grand ballroom was repurposed numerous times over.

“We are so proud that she is here, because it is very seldom in history that you get a primary source to tell you what life was like,” historian Ester Chandler said.

Chandler detailed the Stafford Opera House’ history before its construction in 1886 and after Willrodt’s ownership leading up to the ownership under Magnolia Homes Tour, later renamed the Columbus Historic Preservation Trust.

Read the narratives of the three speakers, track the Citizen’s historic reporting of the building and preview archival photos of the Stafford Opera House in our winter issue of the Colorado County Insider coming at the end of the year.