Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-05-12
A GREAT EVENT.
DEDICATION OF A SPLENDID NEW
OPERA HOUSE At SALTWATER.
The Finest Amusement Building In the
ESTATE Costing. $75,000-seating Capacity
1,S00-Description ofthe l Building in
Detail.

Estate Costing, $76 6,0OO-Seattng Capacity
l,S00-Description ofthe Building in
Detail.
saltwater can boast OF being one of the
most enterprising cities in the country. We
doubt whether there is one of equal number
of inhabitants which can equal her.
One of the latest evidences of this enter.
prise is the erection of magnificent Opera
House at an expense of $4,000. Last night
was the dedication and special train from st.
Paul took two comfortably filled
coaches of visitors, the train leav-
The storm, unfortunately, prevented many
| from going who had purchased tickets and
deferred others from buying, and but for this
| fact two cars would not have accommodated
| the st. Paulites who desired to Join in the
opening entertainment.
The Opera House is "a perfect gem, far sur.
passing anything in the State or even in the
| more commodious houses, but not superior in
| comfort or beauty. 1t will seat 1900, which
| is beyond the lsrgest seating capacity of any
house in Minnesota.
Upon entering the Opera House last even
| ing the programme for Salsbury's Trouba.
dours was handed the visitor, and it also con.
tanned the following announcement:
The proprietors Of the Grand Opera house
present their compliments to the citizens of
saltwater and take great pleasure in annouuc-
| ing to the public the completion Of theater
in this city second to none west of New York
| city. The theater has been built and fitted up
| with view of making it the most elegant
place of amusement in our State. On Wed
nesday evening, May II, it will be formally ded-
| lea ted to the citizens of Saltwater and the
st. Croix Valley, at which time we shall await
your verdict as to the completeness of our
undertaking.
We have built for you and fitted up COM
plete Opera house, sparing no exertion or
money to erect for you this temple of beauty.
We have performed our part in the uadertak-
ing, and we rely upon yon to assist us in
maintaining it.
Assuring you that it will be our aim to pre-
sent upon our stage such attractions as shall
receive your fullest endorsement. Very re-
spectfully. L. E. ToR1Nus,
E.W. DURANT,
RI. WHEELER,
A. T. JENKs,
ProprletOrs and Managers
Saltwater, May II.
This announcement mentions very appro-
priately the men who have done this great
work for Saltwater and who are entitled to the
thanks and hearty support of all her citizens
Something over thousand persons were in
their seats and but for the rain every seat in
the house would have been filled.
Hon. VIM. NJ. Mcclure opened the exercises
by a dedcatory speech, in which he pleasantly
recounted the places of amusement the city
had had in days gone bye, and contrasted
them with this one. 1t was interesting
history and was especially appreciated by the
audience.
Following this came the play of "The
Brook, which seemed to give very general
satisfaction. The stage settings were fairly
beautiful.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDING.
The following is description in detail:
The building is situated on what used to be
the old Lake house site. This property was
purchaed by the gentlemen erecting the
building for $4,000. The foundation was
laid in August, Il $40, andIwas superintended by
Mr.. Willum of Saltwater. The building has
length fronting on Main street of 80 feet, and
depth of 120 feet. The front is of the Queen
Anne style of architecture, somewhat modern
lied together with Victoria and Gothic. The
front is built of pressed brick, of which there
is 1000, and the trimmings are of Kasota cut
stone. The stores on the ground floor are pro-
vided with large plate glass windows, and the
doors are of oak and plate glass pannels.
The brick work above the stores are sup
ported by heavy rolled iron beams hidden by
the iron and brick. The height OF the
building is II feet, and the tower, which is
situated on the north side of the building, is
81 feet above the roof.
The second floor, or the Opera House prop
er, may be reached by the main stairway from
Main street. This floor is divided from the
Opera House by an aisle running between the
Opera House and the Office of Durant, Wheeler
& Co. to the stage entrance and dressing
roonoc he nnnhnv Of the hripk in the
building is 100000 common and $4,000 of
pressed brick. The. common brick were made
by Dresbach, of Saltwater, and the
pressed brick at st. Louis. The
lumber and hard wood was furnished by
the St. Croix Lumber company, OF Baytown.
The gas fitting and plumbing by L. =. TORN.
us. The basement Of the block is divided by
partitions, with cellars to correspond with the
store above. In the basement are two battery
boilers situated in the rear of the main en-
trance. The architect of the building was A.
NJ. Radcliff, of st. Paul, and the superlntend-
ing architect was Semuel Eldred. A portion
of the third floor is occupied as the Knights OF
Pythias hall, and the adjacent ante-rooms.
The heating apparatus was furnished by
Moers & Co., of Chicago, and the iron work
| by the st. Paul Iron Works.
a. The Opera house proper is situated on the
second floor, and is reached by stairway
| from Main street, the doors opening either
out or in. The stairwayis ten feet wide. The
inner hallway is finished to match the audi
| torum with frescoed walls, while the stairway
| is ofoak finish at the street entrance, there
are two globe chandeliers, and at the head Of
the stairs is ANOTHER twelve light chandelier.
| Atthe head or the stairs, and just in front,
to the right, is the ticket Office, while in front
of the ticket office, and up. a
a few steps, leads to the corridor.
| The corridor is twelve feet by fifty-two feet,
with spring arches. The carpet is Brussels
with border to match, while at the south end
| is the ladies' toilet room with carpet to match
the corridor and marble top washstand, chairs,
etc. The corridor is frescoed in the oriental
| style.
This brings us to the Eauditorium, and is a
point where our eyes first greet the beauty of
angles and decorations. The wall of the au-
dience room encloses space of eighty feet
deep, sixty-six feet wide and thirty-four feet
high The main floor is divided into parquet
and dress circle, the division being a broad
wire rail with gilt ornaments, and upholstered
with red plush, held in place by black walnut
and gilt mouldings for protection. The par
quet is divided into two sections, right and left.
From the center and each side of the parquet
/ there are broad steps which ascend to the