Cedarville Opera House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Cedarville Opera House
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Front and southern side of the opera house
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 78 N. Main St., Cedarville, Ohio |
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| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1888 |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 84003697 |
| Added to NRHP | February 9, 1984 |
The Cedarville Opera House is a historic theater building in the village of Cedarville, Ohio, United States. It was built in 1888 on Main Street in downtown Cedarville. Since it was built, it has been a very important part of community life.
A Building with Many Uses
The opera house was built using brick and some stone. Its style is called Romanesque Revival. This means it looks a bit like old Roman buildings with rounded arches.
This two-and-a-half-story building has been used for many things. Besides being a place for performing arts, it also held offices for Cedarville's mayor and village council. It even had the village jail, the fire department, and the police department. The waterworks office and the township trustees' office were also once located here.
A Hub for the Community
Back when the Cedarville Opera House was built, opera houses were super important. They were the main social centers in rural Ohio towns. People didn't have many other places to gather.
The opera house was a meeting spot for many events. These included traveling vaudeville shows, political meetings, and musical performances. It was also where graduation ceremonies often took place.
The first floor of the building has always been used for offices. Because of this, public events were usually held on the second floor. This second floor has changed very little over the years. It is one of the best-preserved historic performance halls in Ohio.
A Historic Landmark
In 1984, the Cedarville Opera House was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important historical sites in the United States. It was listed because of its unique architecture and its big role in local history.
The Cedarville Opera House is one of two properties in Cedarville on this list. It is also one of two opera houses in Greene County on the list. The other opera house is the Jamestown Opera House.
