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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1974-05-23, Page 13M, 77MVNM1111�Tl rX 7-77,77"-77 77 rwk,'9#q_,'c sm, Amop 1p ewn�, Im C ampagnp, niq,_. rhs'te0od,,-w*0', 'h rht th,,,e5. When •-we $to rt looking into $v.4forth's past we - -to struck by the fast that much has changed aid yet sd much Is still the same. In 1877 Seaforth's population was about What'it is now, just under 2,500. Main Street had suffered a serious fire -in September '167.0 and both std of the street were 'being., rebuilt with new brick sfores. Seafortli was very much 4 frontier farming town in 1877. Main Street was of mud, and wooden boardwalks form 'd the � f�r? between stores. 'it side%% wasn't until 1879 that the town fathers got around to making it illegal for cows . to wander the stteets. Their by-law 'threatened that "all bovines running at large will be put in, the pound". Rough LOOKING UP AT CARDNO'S HALI.'— The next tiMe you are walking downMailn Street take a look up at the ornate brick building tower ihA't Wsl�Uru� RECOGNIZE ANYONE -7. Plays produced. by local directed by Miss M. E. Turnbull.,the cast shown 'on In the fairly rough and tumble andH ,n top qf' a i It atmosphere or Seaforth in 1§77 five res on the west side of the street. The building �'�ck itha no's Ha dilt as an organizations were popular features in Cardno'"all the Cardno Hall stage included (left) (Standing) and in the bustle and bustle of 6pat-4 and theatre house in 1877 by Alexander Cardno, (Staff Photo) Gordon Rennie, Alice Daly, X: 1. McLean, Helen . and, as a. rule played to packed houses for two and reconstruction following the fire a -three nights. Several hundred reserved seats were rcher, John C. Crich, Murray Savauge, Ed. year earlier, one far sighted min length of back -stage decorated with fading far superior to, any halls around McKe' dances runs the whole su r1or sold for each performance and in most cases were Daly, Margaret Crich, George Crich, Mary Jackson in Seafort4 took the time to plan the 'main- room . An arched paintings on the walls ' . "Don't ere. n fact Hall is the old out days in advance. Typical was the .(seated) Janet ' Cl uff, - Sally Wood, -Margaret with imagination a building that doorway provides 4.ccess between mark on the walls" says one sign, b t auditorium in town. would make his name familiar to'.,,' the two rooms. surrounded by the autogniplis of presentation of '.'Here Comes the Bride by the Armstrong and Helen, Lane. everyone who has lived here When it was fi�st opened the long gone actors and stage hab&.. Seaforth. Collegiate Alumni Assorlation'which was since, except perhaps the current hall , was lit with gasolin I e f loui.rish re Kitthon veneration. chandeliers-, says John! Cardno, a If Cardno's Hall were ever to The man who took a. chance grandson of Alexander - and John Cardno also pints opt tif'e flourish again it would make a present owner of the hall.' A %all's --kitchep, �3� )if perfect home for It little theatre :mSeaforth growing and on I i4st "a big couple of the old lamps ar stilfin which - looks group or as a community concert' itizens needing and wanting a empty room, w ic -oncert hall was Alexander the building and Mr. rdno inefficidnt by today's, standard hall. Cardno. His fine brick building, pointed them out during cent becau it's not , directly.. -- it's a shame that a magnificent tout- of the hail that conn in called variously Cardno's Concert As ect d4to the 'din"g room. auditorium like Cardno's Hall lies e t a lot o Seaforth's cultural centre. "Theri� used to be a bigAitchen empty an unused Hall and Ca�diio's Opera Hall opened in December 1877. Fora 'it to range along that wall",. Mr. money is needed to'restore. An apron stage runs the small town in the 1870's CArdno's length of the north wall and a. Cardno says. •its former glory. John Cardno H411 -painted curtain with a says he has no plans for the ball in. ggl provided Seaforth and. hand lake sce 'The biggest crowd I ever MR11 district with access to the plays, romantic emember seeing in the hall,", the near future. 'advertising from Seaforth -says John Cardno "was -during Grants. are available fiom. strel shows opera companies; mini and lectures that usually could be merchants of the early 1900'6 Sills the dirty thirffbg. Local people put government organizations such as and"Murdie,' Henderson Rotos,. on- a talent show and a -'cities. seen only in the u s the Ontario Heritage Foundation -four to refurbish old buildings. Most Pichard Co.) stillhangs where t crowded in, for three or came down on thousands of local nights". of the government grants though,, ww� For more than fifty years after and traVelling performances. That thirties crowd were are qnly, available for, publicly 'i'N Alexander built Cardno's Hall it Pieces of the scenery that a" probably the children and owned buildings.' was home to amateur nights, Michigan. Srtist painted in 1878 grandchildren - of those' who Alexander. Cardno, who died in travelling theatre groups,, are still around backstage. The crowded Cardno's - Hall on 1892 at the age of 89, - woiild 8eqforth Collegiate -Alumni artist, according to an early Openhig Night, December 15, probably be pleased to' see "his 3 W a popular 'place 1_", , VA Dances, silent rdovie, shows, Expositor, painted eight different 187-T. The hall was christened that famous, hall as d the floor' -After all the man who piano recitals ind Christm scenery bdckgrounds. night when -the walls an again. concerts. of the Stage were -sprinkled with made Cardno'sRail also helped After the second world 'war the .,The rock sparkling champigne by Mayor to establish the' town. When in forth Coleman and' Mr. M -.Hayes Alexander Cardno died the use of Cardno's Hall as a centre of Earlyl)laygeierb . P the - community declined. to limit thp"catrical viewing to who paid tribute to the building's expositor said in his obituary: Regulations about fire escapes' The Rock, Landscape, Woods, "elegance and convenience"..' "He was a good business man and wiring in -public buildings Street, Kitchen, Bedroom, Prison . eardno's Hall,, is still the being shrewd and far seeing and became more stringent and it was, and.. PiTiour. tven a list of the biggest auditorium in the area being -of a ­somewhat. speculative easier than before to go to the sets available conjures up visions (with -the exception of the arenas) turn, he was always. ready for'a cities for entertainment. TV came' of what early' audiences were seating at least 600 people. Th 'deal in anything from a farm to a alonW.the fiflies too and CitiZeriS most interested in'--,- the hasics_ se who heard concefts and.plays steer or pig and was very THE &ORY THAT WAS'�-John Cardno shows a watermarked stage e curtain. The pillars. on the right' ever here stayed away from all love, crime, household tragedy there say that the acoustics are sticcessful. portion of an old I movie poster that st arias against ' 11 provide support' f6r. the clock. tower bn top of , the kinds of organized entertainment and comedy. in Favour of watching the tube in The proportions of the hall are e,mail of Qardno's Hall, The stage in,the centre of. building, Mr., Cardno says. The door at right leads to their own livingroom. graceful and all the detail work --- (Staff Photo) shig,rooms. that a ''wooden an toot 'tts'old baCkstarge'arlid two dres' Thig'79'b6w it happened' d pragter Wdfdiiigs, gilt -te long M'alh-'rooffi of the hall still ha's --- those who is 'like nothing that is w built *h6.1e generationpaint were born after the, war or moved these ) days. The hall is practically r 11110C town in the la 'empty now but until Mr. Cardno' m to e have a missed the,glorSh, that was solo them a few years ago, 400 Ca"rednTis Hall: Thqy may have guristock chairs, ochre coloured 4 heard,hoftthe hall but they don't with hand painted black k it still exists or have no stencilling which provided N idea where it IS. seating for many audiences were Most', people in town and there. Long , benches . -which tourists ' passing through have matched the gunstock chairs lined 72--- noticed the old Victorian clock the walls of the hall. Those that tower on the west side of Main haven't been sold, mainly the­ Street.'Under the clock ', which very long ones, are stqcked in a Vials pia until the post Office' was built in corner of the dining room. 1913 was the main time piece in The walls of the main room of •town is Cardno's Hall. the. hall were somewhat dayiYaged by water when part of the roof Huge room W ! 1�§,.blown off by a storm in the' q AL#t:9JL,&U.&&-_i A' A The Hall is a huge" roorn- early'1960's. elk, stores on Backstage, two trap doors running above five brick . Main Street. The main part of the provide entry to under the stage hall, with a stage at one end and a where John Cardno's so' KendS R;DraLE' balcony or gallery (where 'the- found a - variety � ofcigarette- AIDS chaperones used to sit) at the packages and gum wrappers from other, is 90 feet long and 45 feet the turn of the eentury and, wide. A dining room where bW- et' earlier., suppers were served prior- to Two, dressing rooms are R F1 KMK !OLD LOVE SEAT — Nobody knows whether it was a, " prop for a.pl,ay or part of the hall's furnishings but CLOSE UP ON THE CURTAIN On each side of G, - this old love seat ,.now, sits forlorn backstagq, at. THROUG14--THtSDOOR —SeAforth insurance man the hand painted scene in the centre of the, stage Caedno's Hall. A poster advertising Scott Bros. John Card 4>�s a trap door; one of two on,.the curtain at Cardno's Hall several turn of the century I pianos and organs, sits on the love seat. (Staff Photo) -stage of Cardno's Hall which were part of the plot of Seaforth business people advertised their wares. many•a play in the days when travelling theatrical companies played regularily in Seaforth. Photols. (Ertaff.Photo) mall 01 10 .by y a LIZ'. rt it .7 M 0 Story by• v 4L4 j5d, FROM LONG AGO AUDIENCES — Old cigarette, J REAR GALt-6RY In'thls gallery or balcony along the South wall of Cardno's Hall, Susan candy and gum wrappers, dropped under the HOT PEANUTS —This little stove, painted red with "the chaperones and elderly' ladies used to sit and watch the dances and. parties. A Cardno's Hall stage by generations of actors and gold lettering, was the peanut vendor's headquarters few pieces of furniture and household effbcts are stored irr the hall.- The benches at r a0diences are tacked up- in a bit of a display at In the days when Cardno's Hall hosted all kinds of. left are the type that originally lined the whole room., In the corner at left is one of Cardno's Hall. Many of the brands, Turret rri Tuxedo shows. ."I can rdmebigr that It had a brags top on the gas lights that originally lit the wholO building. (Staff Photo) White and Old Gold'are no longer made. (Staff Photo) It", John Cardno says. (Staff Photo)