Finally in 1988, after raising $105,000 in private donations, the clock tower was rebuilt. Stoughton citizens banded together and formed the “Friends of the Opera House” to raise the necessary funds, and the City Hall Restoration Committee was formed in 1983. They began repairs, but would not use tax money to restore the clock tower or the auditorium. In 1982, the city council made the decision to continue using the historic city hall as the center for local government. The clock tower became hazardous and had to be removed in 1961. The building was closed to the public in the 1950’s and fell into further disrepair. The harsh Midwestern winters caused leaks in the roof, and the balcony was eventually declared unsafe. However, half a century of Wisconsin weather took a toll on the building. Its location on the main thoroughfare, right in the heart of the city’s center of commerce made it truly a community center.

The historic city hall continued to serve the community for the next 50 years, hosting events from high school graduation ceremonies to political activist rallies. Despite the words on the exterior declaring the building as both city hall and library, the Library Board found the new city hall’s basement insufficient for their needs and moved to their own building, funded by Andrew Carnegie, less than a decade later in 1908.

They also wanted it to serve as the city’s cultural center, so they included an auditorium and space for the public library. Roe and other city council members wanted the city hall to be more than just the site of the local government.

The building’s facade reminds patrons of its history, reading “City Hall 1900 Library”. However, the building opened as the city hall, not an opera house. The Stoughton Opera House first opened on Februto the comedy The Doctor’s Warm Reception playing in the auditorium.

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