Cohoes Music Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Cohoes Music Hall
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| Location | 58 Remsen Street Cohoes, NY |
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| Built | 1874 |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000527 |
| Added to NRHP | 1971 |
The Cohoes Music Hall is a historic building in Cohoes, New York, United States. It is a four-story building made of brick. The Music Hall was built in 1874. It is a great example of the Second Empire architectural style. Many people think it has one of the most beautiful fronts in Cohoes.
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A Special Place in History
In 1971, the Cohoes Music Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes important places across the country. Later, in 1984, the Music Hall became part of the Downtown Cohoes Historic District. This means it is a key building in that historic area.
After being fixed up, the Music Hall started having shows again in the 1970s. It is now one of the oldest music halls still used in the United States. It also works as the city's visitor center, helping people learn about Cohoes.
What the Building Looks Like
The Music Hall is a large building, nine sections wide and six sections deep. It is built with brick, and some rows of limestone are mixed in. Limestone is also used around the windows.
The roof is a special type called a mansard roof, which is common for Second Empire buildings. It has decorative brick chimneys. Below the roof, there is a fancy edge called a cornice with brackets. The front of the building, facing the street, has green marble at the bottom. This makes it very decorative and unique for a building of its style in Cohoes.
Inside, on the third and fourth floors, there is a theater with 375 seats. It also has a balcony for more seating. Many of the original decorations and furniture are still there.
The Story of Cohoes Music Hall
How It Was Built
Two local businessmen, James Masten and William Acheson, decided to build the Music Hall in 1874. Masten owned a newspaper, and Acheson was a miller. They hired a company called Nichols and Halcott from nearby Albany to design and build it. The project cost $60,000. The Music Hall opened with a play called London Assurance.
Early Years and Famous Visitors
To earn extra money, the owners rented out the ground floors to stores and other businesses. The local post office was one of the first renters. A few years later, the city's library rented space on the second floor.
In 1878, James Masten sold his share of the building. He thought there were too many theaters in the area. Many famous performers came to the Music Hall over the years. These included Sarah Bernhardt, Buffalo Bill Cody, George M. Cohan, Jimmy Durante, Lillian Russell, John Philip Sousa, and General Tom Thumb. Even Cohoes native Eva Tanguay performed there.
Changes Over Time
In 1880, the First National Bank moved into the first floor. By 1905, the bank owned the entire building. They even put their name on the top of the building. The bank closed the theater after finding that one of the roof supports was weak.
By the mid-1900s, Cohoes was changing. Its textile factories and the Erie Canal were not as busy. The Music Hall started to fall apart and was not used much. In 1969, the city bought the building for just $1. It was almost torn down before it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
A big project to fix up the Music Hall began. It reopened in 1975, a year after its 100th birthday. The first show was another performance of London Assurance.
The Music Hall Today
Since the early 2000s, different groups have managed the Cohoes Music Hall. These include CR Productions and Albany's Palace Performing Arts Center.
Today, the street-level area of the Music Hall is the city's visitor center. It has displays about the history of the textile industry in Cohoes. You can also find information about other historic sites and fun places to visit in the area.
The Playhouse Stage Company now manages the Cohoes Music Hall. They put on musical theater shows there. The venue also hosts many other events. These include live music concerts, stand-up comedy, and other performing arts shows. It is also used for community events.
