Village Squire, 1980-03, Page 5The balcony and the Opera House auditorium. Shows of every the building's grand opening in October 1880 to 1919 when work
description, dances and political meetings were held here from began on remodelling the auditorium into a mill house.
the Opera House
This important St. Marys building spent more than 50 years as a flour mill.
Can it be restored to its original grandeur?
BY ELAINE TOWNSHEND
In 1878, the Oddfellows of St. Marys decided to build a new
meeting hall that would surpass all other Oddfellow Halls in the
dominion. They wanted the building to have space for
commercial shops and a theatre as well as a lodge hall. Soon
after the official opening on October 6, 1880, the "Opera House"
became the focal point of social life in St. Marys and area.
The impressive stone edifice enjoyed several years in the
limelight; then suffered through years of change of ownership,
change of purpose and drastic alterations that would have
destroyed a lesser structure. Now in its 100th year, the vacant
Opera House is still recognized as one of the most important
buildings in "The Stone Town," if not in all of Western Ontario,
because of its historic architecture. Thanks to the resurgence of
Canadian pride in our heritage and the interest of the current
owners of the Opera House as well as local residents, the Opera
House has a chance to once again become the focal point of the
community.
In a recent story in the St. Marys Journal -Argus, reporter
Donal O'Connor noted no expense was spared in construction of
the building and the final cost to the Oddfellows was $22,000. -
an enormous investment in those days.
The Oddfellows purchased property near the soutl.west edge
of town on Water Street about half a block from main street
VILLAGE SQUIRE/MARCH 1980 PG. 3