ELKHORN — The City of Elkhorn has been awarded a $300,000 Capital Campaign Challenge Grant from the Jeffris Family Foundation to support the restoration of its historic band shell, one of Wisconsin’s most architecturally and acoustically significant outdoor performance structures.
The Elkhorn Band Shell was selected as one of only three projects nationwide to receive a 2025 award and will celebrate its 100th anniversary season in 2026.
“This is a great project, especially because it is so near the home base of our foundation,” said Tom Jeffris of the Janesville-based Jeffris Family Foundation.
Originally constructed in the Elkhorn town square and dedicated on August 11, 1926, the band shell was funded through a $5,000 contribution from instrument manufacturer Frank Holton and the Elkhorn Kiwanis Club. Designed by Phoenix-based architect George Pheby, the structure incorporates spruce and redwood—materials typically found in high-quality musical instruments—to achieve exceptional acoustic performance. At the time of its construction, the design was considered revolutionary. Of the five band shells known to have been built using Pheby’s design, the Elkhorn Band Shell is the only intact example remaining in the world.
In 1962, the band shell was relocated to Sunset Park on Elkhorn’s west side to accommodate construction of the Walworth County Government Center. It remains an active cultural venue and a prominent community landmark, located near the city pool and Recreation Center.
The band shell is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and recently received an upgraded designation from the Wisconsin State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), moving from “Locally Significant” cultural status to “State-Level” architectural significance. This designation followed specialized acoustic research conducted by Restoric, LLC, confirming the structure’s rare and exceptional sound quality. The Elkhorn Band Shell is now the only band shell in Wisconsin with state-level recognition and one of just 21 similarly recognized band shells nationwide, alongside venues such as the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles and the Naumburg Bandshell in New York City’s Central Park.
Mayor Tim Shiroda emphasized the broader importance of the project. “For nearly 100 years, the Elkhorn Band Shell has been a place where people come together for music, performance, and community,” Shiroda said. “This recognition affirms its importance not just locally, but within Wisconsin’s architectural and cultural history. We are grateful to the Jeffris Family Foundation for helping ensure its preservation.”
Under the terms of the Capital Campaign Challenge Grant, the City of Elkhorn has three years to raise $600,000 locally. If the fundraising goal is met, the Jeffris Family Foundation will release its $300,000 grant to match the City’s own $300,000 municipal contribution. The total restoration project is estimated at $1.2 million and must be completed by 2030.
“The band shell is a piece of living history,” Shiroda added. “It continues to host free public concerts, performances, and community events each year. Restoration will allow expanded use while protecting the structure for future generations.”
The Jeffris Family Foundation was established in 1979 by Bruce and Eleanor Jeffris and their son, Tom. The foundation supports the preservation of architecturally and historically significant properties throughout the Upper Midwest that hold state-level or national designation on the National Register of Historic Places. Past Wisconsin grant recipients include the Al. Ringling Theatre in Baraboo, the Kenosha County Courthouse, Cana Island Lighthouse in Baileys Harbor, and the Potosi Brewery.
More information about the Elkhorn Band Shell restoration project, including ways to contribute, is available at www.elkhornbandshell.com or by contacting City of Elkhorn Recreation Director Karl Sorvick at (262) 741-5114.