The Village Squire, 1981-09, Page 8by Elaine Townshend
Shakespearean tragedies, travelling
minstrel shows and local talent nights- all
were showcased in the magnificent St.
Marys Opera House from 1880 to 1920.
The Opera House began in 1878 as the
dream of the Oddfellows- 1.O.O.F. Lodge
36. They wanted to build a meeting hall
that would surpass all other Oddfellow
Halls in the Dominion. In 1880. their
dream became reality, and for the next
forty years St. Marys Opera House was
the focal point of fine architecture and
entertainment in The Stone Town.
Total cost of the three-storey structure
was $22,000, a handsome sum in those
days. The Style was Gothic Revival. and
cut limestone was taken from the nearby
quarries. The opera house was flanked by
two lower limestone buildings. the Hutton
Blocks, erected in the 1860 s. They formed
one of the most impressive "stone rows"
in Ontario.
The ground floor of the opera house
contained space for three commercial
establishments. Through the years, these
included the Salvation Army, the Chinese
laundry. a CPR station, Stillman's Cream-
ery. an undertaking establishment owned
by S.M. Sutton. and a china. organ.
sewing machine and second-hand furni-
ture shop run by Charlie Copeland. an
auctioneer and caretaker.
On the top floor. the Twenty-eight Perth
Battalion Militia stored equipment, and
the Oddfellows met in lavish meeting
rooms.
Unfortunately, the location did not lend
itself to the successful business ventures
that the Oddfellows had anticipated. The
lodge encountered financial problems and
was forced to sell the building in 1904 for a
mere $10.000. The new owners were
Church and Watt Ltd., harness and
saddlery manufacturers. They agreed to
use only the first and third floors. leaving
the second -floor auditorium intact.
Church and Watt Ltd., kept their word; in
fact. the music hall outlasted the saddlery
and harness company which declared
bankruptcy in 1907.
TLivugh all the fineli.i,.: t., m !::e
PG. 8 VILLAGE SQUIRE/SEPTEMBER 1981