Pocahontas County Opera House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Marlinton Opera House
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The Pocahontas County Opera House in Marlinton, West Virginia.
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 Location in West Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | Third Avenue, Marlinton, West Virginia |
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| Area | .125 acres (0.051 ha) |
| Built | 1907 |
| NRHP reference No. | 00000253 |
| Added to NRHP | March 24, 2000 |
The Pocahontas County Opera House is a historic theater and gathering place located in the town of Marlinton, West Virginia. Even though it's called an opera house, it hosts all kinds of performances and events. Over its long history, this building has been many things, including a newspaper office, a roller rink, and even a car dealership!
Today, the Opera House is a busy community center where people come together for shows, meetings, and celebrations. It is run by the Pocahontas County Opera House Foundation, a non-profit group that works to keep the building active and fun for everyone in Pocahontas County, West Virginia.
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History of the Opera House
The story of the Opera House is a big part of Marlinton's history. It has seen the town change from a busy industrial center to the community it is today.
A Grand Beginning
The main part of the Opera House was built in 1910 by a man named J. G. Tilton. He was a local businessman who owned a lumber company and published the Marlinton Messenger newspaper. At that time, Marlinton was a booming railroad town and a major center for the lumber business.
In its early years, the Opera House was a popular spot for entertainment. Traveling performance groups, some from as far away as New York City, would put on shows for the townspeople. The building was also used for many community events, like county fairs and basketball games. For a while, Tilton even printed his newspaper right inside the Opera House.
Changing Times
As the years went by, the economy in Marlinton changed, and the railroad became less important. J. G. Tilton eventually sold the building. For the rest of the 20th century, the Opera House was used for many different purposes. It served as a lumberyard where wood was sold, and later it was turned into a dealership that sold cars. The stage and seats were gone, and it no longer looked like a theater.
Restored to Glory
By 1991, the building was in bad shape. The Pocahontas County Historic Landmarks Commission, a group dedicated to saving important local buildings, bought the property. When they took it over, the Opera House didn't even have a floor or a stage.
Thanks to donations and support from the local community, the Commission was able to restore the building. In 1998, the restoration was complete, and the Pocahontas County Opera House Foundation was created to manage it. In 2021, the building got another update. The outside walls were patched up and given a fresh coat of paint by a company that specializes in working on historic buildings.
A Center for the Community Today
The Opera House is now a lively place once again. The Foundation organizes a performance season with many different types of music, from bluegrass and salsa to classical and jazz. There are also dance shows and plays.
Besides the performances, the building is a true community center. Local groups use it for dinners, meetings, and even square dances and weddings. The Foundation also hosts fun events like music jams and movie nights for everyone in the county to enjoy.
