The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-09-11

ieclly adapted 20 the purpose for which il
was erected, being large and convenient in
iernaIlyr AID eXternslly finely ornamcnied.
! Places Of Amusement.
THE OPERA HOUSE
While Ottawa Of late years has by nc
means been deficient IN handsome and costly
public aud private buildings, it remained for
the enterprise developed in 1915 to eclipse
al! former efforts Ia the neW and elegant
Opera House
This structure, which is OF brick, is very
large and graceful in design and finish, at
the same time Possessing Oil air OF great
so!idi.y, which indeed !. due TO It's heavy
walls. II Is not exactly one building, but
really two, finished IN the same general style
Of architecture
The front on Jackson street is l52 feet
long; the depth on the eastern sidc, al alley,
no. The eastern 50 feet Of this l52 feet that
front ON Jackson street, by 10 feet deep, is
the Opera House proper. The front of the
opera House is beautifully ornamented. A
balcony over the large entrance doors, with
glass globe covered gas jets, affords seats for
the band and gives beautiful light to the
front Of the buildings aud surrounding OBJ
jects. Catering whichever OF the wide doors
you choose, you discover 8 conveniently ar
ranged ticket otiee. in hall which affords
considerable standing space, convenient in
time Of rush. Two stairwsys to the gallery
lead from this hail Another wide entrance
passed and you are If the Opera Hall itself,
which is in usssl forn-p4rtly circular the
stage occupying the south end, 80 feet in
depth and 60 feet wide. The distance to the
ceiling is 40 feet The stage possesses every
modern convenience Of any value. The ma
chluery IS as nearly perfect as ingenuity can
make it. The scenery WAS painted OF great
expense TO Messrs. Colwell, Clark & Co., the
builders, by the distinguished artist Mr..
Joseph Piggott, la,9 OF the Academy Of Music,
Chicago, who is one Of The GeS scene paint
ers in this country. The scenes consist Of
over a hundred different parts, so that any
play almost that ever was written can be pre-
sented
The grand auditorium Itself is gorgeously
beautiful when lighted. In the center of the
dome, over the parquette, distance Of forty
FIVE feet. is a grand chandelier with 10 gas
jets. under large reflector. Around the
walls and on the sides of the front of
the stage are fifty jets. These, with the
thirty foot l!gais, thro% brilliant flood
Of illumination Upon tue entire scene. Over
the boxes are sts,uary, two pieces over each,
one representing cupid with dagger as
tragedy, aEd another cupid with harp, as
music.
The parquette and dress circle are seated
with folding iron chars, all elegantly up
holstered with red morocco, and are very
A. the sides, just In front Of the stage, are
two.splendJdly decorated private boxes, orna.
meated with damssk and lace curtains, and
supplied with rich furniture.
The ceiling IS maguihcently frescoed in
stage scenes snd portraits Of renowned poets
and play writers, among them Sir Walter
Scott, Schiller, Shakespeare, DC. There are
also various female figures, and all in All ii
is extremely beautiful. The house will seat
about 900 people
The means Of ingrees and exit are excel
lent, being through five large double doors,
in front and NTO in the rear. The gallery is
well seated and from every part Of the house
there IS q good view Of the stage. In word,
the New Opera House, in its interior and
exterior, is hard 10 beat anywhere. John
Dillon pronounced II the gem of the vest
that lie "never was in a more complete thea
tie in his life"
The large building in front is equally TO
be admired with the Opera House, being of
the same design. 1t has front Of 60 feet
IN La sale street by 80 on Jackson street.
II contains the Ottawa Savings Bank aud
Simon Bros double store on the first floor :;
in tle second, private offices, club rooms,
&c, and in the third story two large halls
with suitable anterooms, one for the Masonic
and the other for the Odd Fellows Lodges.
In the basement 10 Nitckell's dining hall.
The building cost about 100000, and was
put up by Nessrs Colweil, Clark & Co.,
and builders, who are also owners.
Of the properly. The whole structure was
erected IN about four months time.
TURNER HALL.
This is no the second public hall in style,
he new opera house leading. 1t Is of frame.
vide entssnee. Ills 40 by 100 feet, 3 stories
nigt, aRd VIII seat 900 people. The stage Is
Rents for $50 per night. During the week of
ne state fair it will be occupied by the Susan
Denim dramatic combination. Under the
main hall are private rooms for the Turner
society, billiard rooms and bar, run by Mar
in keia, aud VI tae rear large room, 30 by
10 with twenty-five fsot ceiling Il gymna-
'jum, provided With oil the apparatus pecu.
lar 10 such 40 Institution.
The Turner soeiety pGnbers % members.
The officers are Pres. Jacob Gaul, Secy. ia.
;OD Chris,man, Treas. Louis Hess. II was
organized in 1856, is ia fiour,shing condition
md il coRPo~c Of msay of our best German
;iIizrns
Next door north Of ard separated from
Turner Hall by Fiddiu's flower garten, one
IF the prettest in the clty,is
Private Dwellings and Business Structures.
PRTTATB DWELLINGS.
Thorn ora n uurrbpr Cf cborp,ip Nj roc,