The History of the Opera House Concluded

In the 1930s street festivals were held in front of the P.O.S. of A. Hall as we then called it. These festivals involved the usual eating stands, games of chance, bingo, games of skill (baseball throw etc.) that are around today. The only difference was the entertainment available for the event. Oh they had polka German OmmPahPah bands, hillbilly acts, etc. on the stage outside (which was often just the steps to go in the Opera House/P.O.S. of A. Hall), and sometimes inside the hall, but they had contests, boxing, wrestling and talent shows in the hall whereby local boys and girls could try their manhood or exhibit their talents, whichever applied.

After the POS of A dissolved, the Rescue Hose Company made a firehall of this building, and once again many fun events were available in it. There were slot machines, punch boards, a pool table, card tables, and other amusement devises to entice and please any member. You had to be a member or go in with a member, but this presented no problem. Many a rainy afternoon was spent in fun and games in the “firehall”. What memories all, the banquets, the movies, the sporting events, the pool and other games of later years. Even in the Golden Era of comic books and radio, and onward into early TV, the firehall had an attraction for amusement and entertainment that ranked very highly in our town and even in a wider area of Western Snyder County.

Summary: History of THE BEAVERTOWN OPERA HOUSE COMPANY

In 1869 a group from Beavertown decided it was high time Beavertown have some culture. So they had constructed on Center Street a two story wood-frame building, with a stage, dressing rooms, orchestra pit, sloping floor with two aisles, a cloak room, alcove, and all other necessary items to stage opera, plays and vaudeville (which came later). On the second floor, there were meeting rooms for community organizations, and rehearsal halls, as well as storage for the stage props and costumes. When the railroad came to Beavertown, many shows were able to come to Beavertown, and even Jerome Kern tried out some of his world famous operettas at the “Opera House”. Many community and school plays were presented here as well.

We will resume placing photos in this History Corner starting next month!