Smyrna Opera House - Smyrna, DE - Victorian Style Architecture on Waymarking.com

Photos taken on 19 January 2022. According to the NRHP nomination form specific type of Victorian architecture of this structure is second Empire-style.

The plaque says, "In the spring of 1869, the Commissioners of Smyrna approved a plan to erect a Town Hall. Responding to the long-held desire of the citizens for a venue for public gatherings, architect Richard Mitchell designed the building to include a “hall” on the second floor. Ground was broken on July 15, 1869, and the building was opened the following spring. For many years it was the center of the community’s civic and social activities. Often attracting large crowds from long distances, the building’s “Opera House” provided a wide variety of entertainment including plays, lectures, music, and dancing. Many persons of national prominence appeared. Abolitionist and civil rights pioneer Frederick Douglass spoke here in 1880, and William Jennings Bryan addressed supporters during his campaign for U. S. President in 1900. In later years the second floor was used for showing motion pictures. The completion of a new Town Hall in 1976 and the subsequent relocation of town police resulted in the library’s expansion on the first floor. Restoration of the building was undertaken by the Smyrna Clayton Heritage Association in 1998, and the Opera House was formally reopened in 2003. The property is listed in the National Register of Historic Places."

Taken from the NRHP nomination form, 101-109 S. Main Street - built 1869, "Old Town Hall;" 2-story, 5-bay, brick structure laid in common bond; tall round-arch windows on second floor with engaged brick pilasters and battlemented corbelled cornice; first floor - office parts; originally a 3-story structure, it housed council chambers, police headquarters, library, fire company, hall and Masonic Temple; was built is second Empire-style; fire in 1948 led to removal of third floor and complete remodelling; the town hall was once turned into an opera house; today, it houses several town offices."

Public/Private: Public Tours Available?: Yes Year Built: 1870 Web Address: Not listed

Visit Instructions:

Category Visiting Requirements

An original photo is necessary to log a visit in this category along with a description of the visit. No extra visit requirements are allowed by the waymarker.

Recent Visits/Logs:

There are no logs for this waymark yet.