The Opera House, St. Marys

Description

Media Type

Image

Item Type

Postcards

Description

This image is one in a series of postcards from the Reg Near collection. Originally the building was built in 1880 by the St. Marys Lodge of the Independent Order of Oddfellows, and designed by local architect and member of the Oddfellows, Silas Weekes. The original block housed three stores on the ground level, a concert hall on the second floor, and the Oddfellows temple occupied the top floor. Sir John A. Macdonald spoke in the Opera House in 1891 during his last political campaign, and local musician Nora Clench played her violin there on numerous occasions. Due to declining membership and other factors the Oddfellows were unable to pay off the original mortgage on the Opera House, thus they had to sell the building in 1904. In 1907, G. Carter Son & Co. bought the Opera House, and in 1919 the entire block was converted into a flour mill. In 1987-88 the Opera House was restored to its present state.

Notes

Condition: Excellent - Some discolouration around edges.

Inscriptions

"The Opera House, St. Marys, Ontario Colin McQuirk, '80"

Dimensions

Width: 14 cm
Height: 8.9 cm

Image Dimensions

Image Width: 14cm
Image Height: 8.9cm

Subject(s)

Opera houses

Personal Name(s)

Near, Reg.

Local identifier

RN6_114

Collection

Reg Near Postcards

Language of Item

English

Geographic Coverage

St. Marys

Ontario, Canada

Latitude: 43.25009 Longitude: -81.13304

Donor

Reg Near

Copyright Statement

Copyright status unknown. Responsibility for determining the copyright status and any use rests exclusively with the user.

Recommended Citation

"The Opera House, St. Marys." St. Marys Museum, RN6_114.

Location of Original

R. Lorne Eedy Archives

Terms of Use

Reproduction of digital objects is restricted to fair use for personal research or study; any other use must be done with permission of copyright holder. As per request of donors on behalf of Reg Near, the original collection is to remain in the St. Marys Museum building and kept in the archival vault at all times. Retrieval from the vault is allowed for viewing under supervision of St. Marys Museum staff only.

Reproduction Notes