Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-06-04
A 100000 OPERA HOUSE.
ONE OF THE PROBABILITIES FOR
BURLINGTON NEXT YEAR.
Tho Pottery PROPERTY on Pearl street the
Proposed sito--High Insurance Rates
on tho Howard Opera House
and JtsContents.

The erection Of another opera house
that will DO an improvement on the only
one the city now has Is almost an assured
fact and the Improvement OF the old pNs-
terry property as the site Will not only
enhance the value of property in that
vicinity, but the erection OF the building
as contemplated will add one more struc-
ture to the architectural beauty of the
city, which is destined to reach large
population. A Free Press reporter called
last evening on Mr.. j. b. Cosgrlff, one OF
the projectors OF the enterprise, and he
said:
II thought a new opera house is n re-
quirement and that the people need 1t and
as there are n great many people who
reside hero for pleasure only they arc
not slow to appreciate anything that will
facilitate their means of enjoyment. The
opera house in Pittsburgh Is much bet
ter than the one here and Bennington
boasts Of an opera house away ahead of
the one in Burlington and for these rca-
sons I am inclined to believe the i'm
provement Is necessary. 1t rests. of course
with the people Of Burlington to say
whether they will have new opera
house and whether the new one shall be
a great Improvement upon the one now
used. The plans for the building are not
completed, but It is our intention to do
justice TO Burlington and erect n build
ing that will add to the beauty of tho
city"
The building will cost 100000 and will
have n frontage on Pearl street OF 105
feet with a depth of about 200 feet. Tho
stage entrance will be on st. Paul street
and the main entrance from Pearl street
will be one of beauty, with n large corr
rider. As no definite plans have been
made for thc erection of tho building, tho
seating capacity of the house could not
be asccrtaincd, yet it is safe to state that
1t will be double to the seating capacity OF
the opera house on Bank street.
Tho gentlemen interested in the enter
prise are Messrs J. y. Cosgrff. A. T..
Richardson and W. b. McKillip, who pur-
chased the property on the northwest cor
ner Of Pearl and Church streets last
week for the sum of 1880. The Masons
have an option on this corner which OK
pires June Is. and the opera house project
rests somewhat upon tho decision f'the
Masons next week relative to the construc-
ton Of the temple on this corner. Messrs,
Cosgriff, Richardson and McKillip pur-
chased the corner with a view OF Offering
1t to the Masons for the same price they
paid for It. II is sincerely hoped that the
decision will be in the affirmative thus
giving to the city not only two magnificent
pieces OF architecture. but thereby en-
HANGING the value Of property and at the
say,e time benefit the playgoers by giving
more suitable DldCp lot flJb9l
1he pottery property will not be clear
I'd until after next January, rs stated in
The Free Press a few weeks ago, and the
hailding will be commenced soon after
wards.
The decision OF the Masons is anxiously
awaited, as their tomple, which will cost
not less than $4,000, If they decide to
build there, will not only give to the city
q building to be proud of, but insure the
ERECTION of another structure equally
ssautiful and something very much
e.eded.
THE HOWARD OPERA HOUSE.
The Howard Opera Isouse, which was
lor many years the finest opera house In
northern New England. was begun In No
vomber, 1877, and was opened by the
strakosch Opera company in Lucia de
Lammormoor on the evening OF February
"a, 1879, n little more than II years ago.
The building was subquently given by
Mr. John =. Howard. the builder, to the
Home for Destitute Children which insti-
tuition now derives the revenue from II.
Its stores are still among the finest in the
city. All of the merchants occupying II
have required more room, from time 10
time, and their needs have been met In
various ways, without cutting into the
opera house proper, which has many
times been found to be too small
insurance companies REGARD tHeHtTtS as
dangerous risks, principally on account
OF the infammablc nature OF the scenery,
and the rate on the Howard Opera House
and It's contents has steadily risen from
So cents in 1879 to over 81 In 1926. The four
business concerns occupying the building
carry insurance on their stocks amount
Ing to about coo and the building it.
self is insured for about s65 900, Insurance
Inspector Fessenden, who adjusted the
rates in this city last fall. estimated that
the occupants OF the building could save
$500 In insurance premiums II the scenery
were removed and the hall closed. This
is more than the Home gets for the hall
and with the present high rates the mcr-
chants could well afford TO lease the build
ing and shut up everything above theiv
stores. But Manager Walkers lease has
three years TO nun and It would be neces-
sary to make some arrangement with him
before such a step could be taken. II an
other opera house, in the management OF
which he had an interest were constructed
on Pearl street or somewhere else in the
city, he would undoubtedly be willing TO
enter into such an arrangement The To-
cation OF the building is so favorable that
the upper portion would rent very readily
for other purposes, even II the merchants
occupying it did not desire it all for their
own use.
HC, ALL YE DISSATISFIED.