Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
H. C. Sprague was the second stage manager for the Tabor Opera House. He lived in Leadville, Colorado for approximately five years, from 1879 to 1884. Only Sprague’s home address changed over the course of this time, although he was absent from the City Directory in 1879 and 1882. In 1880, Sprague was first listed in the directory, working as a bill poster and lodging at 312 W. 6th.
Although there were many men named Harry C. Sprague living in the United States during the late-nineteenth century, I think that I tracked down the right one.
Harold “Harry” C. Sprague was born on Feb. 2, 1861 in Ohio, the son of Charles Sprague and Jane Sommers, both born in 1835. Charles worked as a carpenter his entire life, a trade that was passed down to his sons. Charles and Jane married in 1855 and celebrated the birth of seven children: John E. (1858-1947), Harry C. (b. 1861), Emma J. (b. 1866), Florence (b. 1867), and Cornelia (b. 1869), Ida (1874-1913) and Belle C. (b.?). Their first child, John, was born in Toronto, with the remained children born in Ohio. The 1860 US Federal Census listed Charles, Jane and their infant son living in Youngstown, Ohio, with Charles still working as a carpenter. By 1870, the US Federal Census recorded that the Sprague Family was living in Youngstown, Ohio, due west of Akron, Ohio.
The “Leadville Daily Herald” included many articles that mentioned Harry Sprague during his time in town, providing a little insight into his life and career there. Ironically, it was Colorado newspapers that provided the greatest insight into this elusive personality.
In 1881, Harry C. Sprague was listed in the city directory as a “stageman” at the Tabor Opera House, likely a misprint for “stage man,” a directory abbreviation for stage manager. That year, Allen T. Wells Jr. was listed as the general manager of the Opera House. Sprague would have been in charge of the backstage area.
On August 23, 1882, a newspaper article initially brought Sprague into the public during the Tabor Opera House’s stage renovation. The article reported, “Of the stage there will be a change for the better in regard to scenery, scene shifting and drop curtains. Those ridiculous hitches in scene shifting that have heretofore occurred on one or two occasions will no longer take place. An experienced stage man has been secured in the person of Mr. H. C. Sprague, who has had extensive experience in the east, and was in Leadville before, in the early days. All these improvements will take until about the first of September to execute. As soon as the house is in perfect order, say about the fourth of September, J. Rial’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin troupe will commence an engagement of three nights” (“Leadville Daily Herald,” August 23, 1882).
Sprague was an instant success, and by Sept. 6, 1882, the “Leadville Daily Herald” reported, “Mention must also be made of the clock-work precision in the shifting of scenes, and upon inquiry as to the cause of the surprise, it was learned that Mr. Harry C. Sprague had returned” (Leadville Daily Herald, Sept 6, 1882).
Even 1883, Sprague was still credited with his stage settings used by the Goodwin Company during their visit that fall. On November 1, 1883 “Stage Manager Sprague, of the Tabor opera house, deserves favorable mention for his stage settings during the Goodwin season. All three of his pieces performed were carefully and handsomely mounted” (Leadville Daily Herald, Nov. 1, 1883, page 1). The scenery was credited specifically to Sprague, suggesting that he built and painted the pieces. It is important to remember that stage managers were also expected to paint scenes in smaller venues with minimal staff. If a scenic artist was not available to paint a scene for an upcoming production, that responsibility may fall to a backstage manager, such a Sprague. Sprague would continue a painting career after his stay in Leadville.
By 1884, Sprague was living at 202 W. 6th and in 1885 at 121 E. 7th. He seemed to have stay in an area home to other theatre professionals at this time. In 1884, Sprague is again listed as stage manager of the Tabor Opera House, but now residing at 202 W. 6th.
Sprague was also mentioned again in regard to the 1884 appearance of the Frank Mayo company at the Tabor Opera House. Their play was “Davy Crockett” and newspapers noted, “The cast is excellent, and with the stage settings even upon the comparatively limited quarters of our opera house, it makes one of the strongest combinations and one of the most attractive plays ever seen in Leadville…Great credit is due Mr. Harry Sprague, the stage manager for the admirable manner in which the stage was set last evening, which compared favorably with any theatre in the east” (Leadville Daily Herald, Feb. 1, 1884).
One of the more interesting events with a specific mention of Sprague was Leadville’s Jewish Festival in 1884. Three hundred people participated in the event that year. An article published in the “Leadville Daily Herald” announced, “The Purim Bal Masque a Brilliant Social Success Last Evening.” The article continued to describe the event with special mention of Sprague: “The most brilliant social event of the season and one that has kept society on the qui vive for a month past culminated last evening. City Hall was a blaze of light and in this connection a thousand thanks should be tendered to Harry C. Sprague the Stage manager of the opera house for the excellence of the calcium lights which cast a most pleasant light on the parti colored costumes” (Leadville Daily Herald, 12 March 1884).
The next month, the Tabor Opera House featured Mr. and Mrs. Knight in “Baron Rudolph.” On April 5, 1884, the “Leadville Daily Herald” reported, “The stage setting was admirable and reflects much credit to Mr. Harry C. Sprague, whose work was made easier from the fact that Messrs. Monheimer Bros. kindly donated the rugs, draperies, etc. which were so much admired.”(Leadville Daily Herald, April 5, 1884). As with many shows, stage managers were responsible for acquiring the items identified on each show’s prop lists, send to each venue ahead of every touring production.
By summer 1884, Sprague was again credited for his contribution to an upcoming production of “’Patience.’ On June 22, the “Leadville Daily Herald” reported, “One of the attractive events of the coming seek will be the opera of ‘Patience,’ to be given at the Tabor Opera House tomorrow evening. Everything is now is readiness for the most perfect amateur entertainment ever given in Leadville. The costumes have been imported expressly for the occasion, and are marvels of the costumers art. The solo parts and choruses have been drilling for weeks, while Mr. Cragg, and his efficient stage manager Mr. Sprague, have exhausted their ingenuity and good taste in the matter of stage setting. The indications point to a crowded house and a grand success is assured, both from a musical and social standpoint.”
Unrelated to any theatre events, Sprague was listed with a group of individuals helped feed a stray dog in 1884. That summer Sprague contributed 25 cents to help feed “Bum,” a local mutt described as “the sad-eyed decrepit looking canine, who seems to belong to nobody in particular, but lavishes his licks impartially upon all the members of the gambling fraternity in town” (Leadville Daily Herald, June 3, 1884).
The last mention that I have located of Sprague’s time in Leadville was connected with a children’s operetta at the Tabor Opera House. On October 30, 1884 the “Leadville Daily Herald” reported, “Mr. Moody, assisted by Mr. Sprague, the regular stage manager of the house, had charge of the stage. Under their able supervision everything worked as smoothly as clockwork.” After this, Sprague fades from print in Leadville.
By 1885, Willie Moon was listed as the asst. stage manager at the Opera House, living at 121 E. 7th, but Sprague was no longer in the city directory in 1885. It is likely that Moon was already working as an assistant in 1884. Sprague leaves Colorado at this point, and here is what I have tracked down about his return to the east.
Sprague left Leadville for Chicago, where he was married the following year. On Jan. 27, 1886 he married Sarah L. Lacy. At this time, Sprague transitioned to primarily working as a scenic artist, being listed as a “painter” in directories for the remainder of his life. This becomes more complex as there were multiple individuals with the last name of Sprague working in the theatre industry at this time, both as painters and carpenters. By 1889, the Harry and Sarah Sprague moved to Indianapolis, Indian, where Harry continued to work as a painter. Harry C. Sprague was listed as a painter in the 1889 Indianapolis directory, living at 175 Riverside avenue. Sadly, in 1891, his wife Sarah passed away and was buried in Crown Hill cemetery. Nothing is known of the circumstances surrounding her death, but considering that she was young and the couple newly married, it is possible that she died in childbirth. At some point after the death of his wife, Harry returned to Illinois.
It remains unclear as to why Harry returned to Chicago, whether it was to mourn the loss of his wife or care for his aging parents. Regardless, Harry was living with his parents in 1900, He was 40 yrs. old. and still working as a painter. He was the only adult child of the couple living home; they were now listed as retired, each 65 yrs. old. By 1910, Harry’s mother had passed away. Both Harry and his father moved in with his sister Ida and her family, the Kirbys. The 1910 US Federal Census provides a little insight into this extended family living in Chicago. Ida’s husband Phillip was a manager at a metal works factory. Harry’s occupation was listed as a salesman, but with no specific industry. Harry was also listed as widower. Harry’s sister Ida passed away a few years later. In 1913, her obituary stated, “KIRBY – Ida E. Kirby, nee Sprague, 7736 S. May St., beloved wife of Phillip A Kirby, mother of Charles J. and Jennie C., daughter of Charles A. Sprague, sister of H. C. Sprague, John E., Florence G., and Belle C. Youngstown [O.], Elora [Ont.] and New Jersey papers copy. Funeral Wednesday, Dec. 31. Burial at Greenwood cemetery” (Chicago Tribune, 30 Dec. 1913, page 15).
I have yet to discover when Harry’s father passed, or he left Chicago. Sprague appears to have disappeared from print for the next two decades, but eventually ended up in painting in the Philadelphia area. His older brother also lived in the area. Harry C. Sprague passed away on March 9, 1933 at the age of 72 yrs. His obituary, reported, “Harry C. Sprague, aged 73, of Philadelphia, a retired painter, died in that city yesterday. He is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Florence Hults of Vineland and Mrs. Milton McGargle of Madison and a brother, John Sprague, of Philadelphia. Mrs. Charles Stickert of Vineland is a niece of the deceased. Funeral service will be held Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock with burial in Siloam Cemetery” (“The Daily Journal” Vineland, NJ, 10 March 1933, page 3).
At the time of his passing, Harry’s burial expenses were paid by Mrs. Harry A. Brown of 1250 South 45th Street and Mr. Wilcox of 1427 Catharine Street, both in Philadelphia. It seemed odd to me that it was not a family member who took responsibility for the body.
I have just started to look at possibilities of who Mrs. Henry A. Brown or Mr. Wilcox might have been. Interestingly, Harry A. brown was a Chicago artist, working in the city the same year that Sprague returned and met his future wife – 1885.
To be continued…
