OPERA HOUSE

Civic pride and necessity led to the erection of many fine small-town opera houses, public halls and fraternal-lodge auditoriums from the 1860s to 1890s. They were the gathering place for any event requiring seating for a few hundred to a thousand or more, such as high-school graduations, town celebrations, touring lecturers, stage plays, performers, and even the occasional opera. Some later became venues to show silent movies.

Often the halls were nothing more than a flat, ballroom-like space with a small stage, not quite as spacious as modern auditoriums and theaters. It was common for them to be up a steep flight of stairs on the top floor above retail storefronts, town government offices, or lodge rooms for groups such as the Freemasons or the Oddfellows.

Uniontown was no exception, with an opera house located on the upper level of what is now the Masonic building. Other small towns sprinkled around Western Pennsylvania—Brownsville, Connellsville, Mercer, Greenville, Sharon, and Sharpsville to name a few—had such opera houses, as did small cities in many other states.

The Grand Opera House, on the corner of Pittsburgh and Peter Streets was built in 1882. Its grand opening was held on April 30, 1883 with Joseph Jefferson playing one of his favorite roles, Rip Van Winkle. It was three-stories tall when built but a fourth floor was added later. When you look at the building today you can see the evidence of the tall arched windows (now bricked over.) J. V. Thompson, when planning his skyscraper, the First National Bank, wanted to acquire the Grand Opera House but the owners refused to sell at the price he wanted to pay.

When we think of opera houses, when tend to think of music but other events, including prize fights were seen. The original Veriscope picture of the Corbett-Fitzsimmons was viewed on October 12, 1897 but many people said the pictures were hard on their eyes. But all reportedly were delighted with the wonderful motion pictures. In 1893 new lights were installed.

Harry Beeson, a direct descendant of the founders of Uniontown, was one of the managers.

In July of 1924, fire swept through the Grand Opera House extensively destroying two shops on the street level. In the same year the old hall underwent a $70,000 renovation to transform the space into the current Masonic Hall.