Columbus Hall, Orange, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Columbus Hall |
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Columbus Hall, Orange, New Jersey. Jeremiah O'Rourke, 1894.
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| General information | |
| Location | 455 White Street, Orange, New Jersey |
| Coordinates | 40°46′36″N 74°13′57″W / 40.77667°N 74.23250°W |
| Construction started | 1892 |
| Completed | 1894 |
| Owner | Archdiocese of Newark |
Columbus Hall is a historic building in Orange, New Jersey, USA. It was once home to both a school and a theatre. Jeremiah O'Rourke, a famous architect from Newark, designed the building.
The building was named to celebrate a big event: the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus arriving in the Americas. Construction began in 1892. The first stone was placed on April 9, 1893, by Bishop Winand Wigger of Newark. The building was finished in December 1894.
Columbus Hall is in a very noticeable spot in the city. It stands right across from St. John's Church, which O'Rourke also designed. For many years, Columbus Hall was mainly known as St. John's School. This school had been helping students learn since 1862.
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Building Design and Features
Columbus Hall was built in a style called Neo-Renaissance. This means it looks like buildings from the Renaissance period. The building is about 150 feet (46 meters) wide and 76 feet (23 meters) deep. It is made of light brown bricks with stone details. It also has fancy terra cotta decorations.
You reach the main entrance by climbing two stone staircases, one on each side. Above the windows and doors on the first floor, there are large stone arches. The middle arch, over the main entrance, has the words "Columbus Hall" carved into it.
The Dome and Statues
The building has a large dome on top. Originally, a huge golden statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus stood on the dome. It was about 25 feet (7.6 meters) tall and had its arms open wide. For many years, lights shone on the statue at night. This made it visible from miles away. Sadly, a strong windstorm knocked the statue over in September 2012. It was then removed.
A large bronze statue of Christopher Columbus also stood at the main entrance. This statue was there until about 1970. After it was damaged, a smaller marble statue replaced it.
The Theatre at Columbus Hall
The third and fourth floors of Columbus Hall held a large theatre. The stage was 70 feet (21 meters) wide and 25 feet (7.6 meters) deep. The theatre itself was 70 feet (21 meters) wide and 48 feet (15 meters) high.
The theatre had special balcony seating. People at the time praised it because the balconies hung from the roof. Strong iron rods, covered in brass, held them up. This meant there were no support poles to block the view for people in the main theatre area.
The theatre ceiling once had a big crystal chandelier. A dome, 28 feet (8.5 meters) across, topped the ceiling. The theatre could seat 1,150 people. It had everything needed for shows, including dressing rooms and stage settings. It even had gas-lit foot lamps. A special iron "fire-proof" curtain and a brick archway were also part of the design. The local fire department asked for the theatre to close around 1958.
St. John's School
Columbus Hall was built to be the home of St. John's Parish School. This school started in 1862. It taught children from kindergarten through 8th grade. For several decades, it also had a 9th-grade "commercial class."
The school was staffed by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth and the De LaSalle Christian Brothers. Columbus Hall had 19 classrooms. Sometimes, class sizes were as large as 65 students! It is thought that more than 60,000 students attended classes in Columbus Hall. The school closed in 2012, on its 150th anniversary.
Images for kids
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Postcard showing Columbus Hall (St. John's School) and the parish church, around 1935.
