The old downtown courthouse building became vacant early in 1911 when the new one was occupied. The building, no longer of use, was advertised for sale by the County Commissioners with the provision that the building had to be moved from the site. The bid of $1600 by John Bruening of the Wyard Township family for the structure, not including the heating plant, was accepted. The building was moved during the summer of 1911 to a lot on First Street South next to the Buchanan warehouse (Lots 2 and 3, Block 27 of the Original Townsite). The second floor courtroom became the auditorium with a stage and a seating capacity of about 200. The lower floor with most of the partitions removed and a new hardwood floor installed became a skating rink which did not open until November 1912.
An advertisement in the December 12, 1911, Independent announced the opening of the Bruening Opera House on December 15: "Madame Sherry to open new Opera House December 15. The company to present the tuneful show here is said to be as good as any on the road producing the celebrated opera. Remember a few seasons ago 'Every Little Movement Has a Meaning All Its Own' was originally sung and given popularity in the Madame Sherry original production in New York City. A strong chorus is carried by the company." The admission was the previously unheard of price of $2.00.
During 1912 shows continued at about a biweekly rate with a few showings of motion pictures. After the Buchanan Opera House was destroyed by fire in December 1912 it became the only theater in town for a while. The presentation of plays, minstrel shows and vaudeville and the like continued in 1913 with George Tabraham as manager. He had previously been the proprietor of a harness shop. Late that year J.A. "Happy" Abrahamson took over the management in April 1913 and was in charge until 1915 when he became associated with the local electric generating plant.
During 1914 and 1915 the newly opened motion picture theater, The Grand, began to compete with the Opera House and road shows became fewer and farther between. The last performance noted took place on Saturday night, October 31, 1914, when the Western Music Company's "The Tango Girl, " a "big fun show" played. The next issue of the Record reported: "The Tango Girl show at the Opera House last week was about as bad as a show can be, but the company is trying to make a living so we will not be too hard on them." The vaudeville acts at the Grand in conjunction with the two‑ and three‑reel films were at this time sufficient to supply the audience's need for live entertainment.
The roller skating rink on the lower level was moved to the upper floor when the lower was rented to the Carrington Steam Laundry managed by C. S. Holiday. The manager, Bill Jack, tore out the stage and the Bruening Opera House was no more. Dances were held in the hall occasionally for a year or so. In the early 1920's the hall served as a temporary basketball court for the high school before Ewen Hall was built on the school grounds. The laundry, operated by E.A. Johnson remained in the old courthouse building until 1943 when he remodeled it into apartments.
Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 422