The Portland daily press., 1895-05-06
Dan. S
y
:'Sarsapari|| :
IAN OPERA HOUSE IN A DAY.
The Brick Structure All Finished in Time
for the Evening Performance.
(Spokane Spokesman. }


For some months past the people of
Colfax have heard wild rumors Of the
intention of the band to erect an opera
house some time in the near future, but
TO three persons outside of that organ
ization suspected until yesterday morn
ing that there had been any definite
shape 10 their many plans; but now the
institution is an astonishing reality and
of which the city will be proud for many
years to come.
On Wednesday night there seemed to
be something wrong with the electric
light plant, and the streets were in total
darkness. Inquiries were answered with
the intelligence that the engine was out
of order and the plant could not be oper-
ated. The people were satisfied with.
this reply und but little comment was
made. Now it seems to have been part
OF plot on the part of the band to hide
their scheme Street louugers had no
ticed for several days the beginning and
progress upon the work of putting in the
foundation of the new building on the
Codd and Stravens lots north of the
First National Bank, and in the last few
days Immense piles of brick and lime
had been hauled to the street in front of
the place, but it caused little suspicion.
Soon after it got thoroughly dark We'd
nesday night force of about seventy
i've men were brought in from Spokane
ON freight train, and, unloading near
the Main street bridge. armed with hods
and troWels, marched to the place and
silently began the work of laying the
brick upon the new building. AS that
side of the street was obstructed and
night dark one no one passed near the
hI1f1 in nd w n
cred. Stealthily the men passed up and
down and along the walls and rapidly
they spIang upward through the night.
BY daylight the outside walls were fin
ished, and before anyone was astir on
the streets yesterday morning the scaff-
olding was taken down, and there stood
in magnificent elegance the proudest
opera house in the Northwest.
Men, women and children thronged
down the street dumb with astonishment
and admiration. 1t seemed that nothing
short of magic could have erected such
structure without causing suspicion of
what was going on.
Just before daylight the masons
finished their work and silently depart
ed while their places were filed with
as many carpenters, plumbers, decor
ators, painters, etc., and all day the
work went noiselessly on inside the
walls. The heavily curuained windows
ana CLOSELY fastened doors were beSleQed
all day by anxious people, but revealed
nothing. AT 10 O'Clock bill poster,
armed with a paste brush, came down
the street, and stopping in front of the
building, put up bills announcing that
the Colfax Dramatic Company would
star their old time favorites, George J.
Joyce, W. J. Bryant, and c. E. Irwin in
the drama "Hick'ry Franz" at the Col
fax Opera House. Last night when the
announcement was recognized by the
anxious and excited crowd, long cheer
of approval went up. The good news
spread like wildfire, and when, at 73O
last night, the building was thrown
open, the streets were crowded from the
Coltax hotel to the Court House.
Marshal Mackay had to call out his en-.
tire force of one other man besides him
self to maintain order. The jam at the
box Office was almost suffocating, but
the crowd was served and seated in the
beautiful and capacious auditorium by
$50, and the curtain rose amid thunder
ing applause. which was repeated at in
tervals all through the evening. When
the curtain had fallen on the last act,
and the villain was finally and securely
dead, the audience would not be pacified
until the act had been thrice repeated
for their benefit