Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-07
FOR AN OPERA HOUSE
RUMOR THAT MAJOR GINTER PRO-
POSES TO ERECT ONE.
PROPERTY ADJOINING THE JEFFERSON
Two Lots Purchased Which May
Serve ms Site for Playhouse
or nm Elegant BnlI-Room-RemOva
for Engines and Boilers.

The rumor which has obtained for some
months to the effect that Major Lewis
Ginter contemplated the erection Of an
elegant opera-house in the nelghborhood
OF the Jefferson was given color yester-
day when II became known that he had
purchased the two parcels of land imme-
diately adjoining the hotel on Main street.
For long time-in fact, ever since the
Jefferson was completed-there has been
considerable quiet talk about a proposed
opera-house in that neighborhood. and II
was generally understood that Major Gin
ter was considering the advsability Of
erecting one. 1t would certainly be a
great thing for Richmond, and would
prove boon to the hotel
In a quiet sort of way Major Glnter
has been seeking for some time TO secure
the property adjoining the hotel. and sue
ceeded In December in purchasing the
fats Immediately east of the hotel, and
the residence, No. l02 west Main street.
adjoining them. The former property was
sold to him by Mr.. T. c. Williams, Jr..
for a consideration OF $500 and the
latter by Mrs. Matte l.. Richardson for
400. Both transactions were made
through Mr.. n. w. Bowe. the real estate
agent. and the deeds were recorded in
the Chancery Court yesterday.
HE WOULD NOT TALK.
Major Ginter was asked last night what
disposition he would make of the property.
but he declined TO say. He would
not, however, deny that he purposed
erecting a theatre thereon, nor would any
Of those interested i'm the deal. Ii may
be- though. that he has no such idea
II has been great source of regret to
Major Ginter ever since the Jefferson
was thrown open, that he had not had
included within the walls Of that palatial
hostelry a ballroom or public hall. and
1t is possible that he purposes utilizing
the property just acquired for the con-
stiuction of such a building II was de-
monstrated last summer that the engines
and furnaces beneath the Jefferson were
badly located, as the heat generated by
them made some parts of the building
near the Main-street entrance un-
comfortably warm, and it is likely that
Major Ginter has in view the removal of
the machinery from beneath the hotel
to the basement of whatever building he
may erect.
ACCOMPLISH A THREEFOLD OBJECT
This might well be accomplished If the
opera-house were built, and as the great
problem in all amusement-houses is how
to heat them sufficiently. the heat from
the machinery would not be a disadvan-
tage there. Then. too, the opera-house
would not be used much in summer time.
and a little too much heat would not
hurt.
In fact, if Major Ginter builds the
opera-house, which now at least seems
probable, he can move the machinery
from the Jefferson, thereby cooling that
building, and can also. If he desires. con-
struct a ballroom i'm the theatre build
ing.
1t is believed that Major Ginter would
like TO secure the property, No. 100 west
Main street, on which is located General
Peyton Wise's residence. but as yet no
offer has been made for it,