Reed Opera House and McCornack Block Addition facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Reed Opera House and McCornack Block Addition
|
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
Reed Opera House
|
|
| Location | 189 and 177 Liberty Street, NE Salem, Oregon |
|---|---|
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1869 |
| Architect | Rhodes, G.W. |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Part of | Salem Downtown State Street – Commercial Street Historic District (ID01001067) |
| NRHP reference No. | 78002302 |
| Added to NRHP | March 8, 1978 |
The Reed Opera House is a famous old building in downtown Salem, Oregon. It's also known as The Reed Opera House and McCornack Block Addition. Since it first opened on September 27, 1870, it has been a place for shows and a shopping center. This building, made of brick in the Italianate style, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. This means it's an important historical site.
Contents
Building the Reed Opera House
Construction of the Reed Opera House started in 1869 and finished in 1870. G. W. Rhodes was the architect who designed it. A man named Cyrus Adams Reed built the opera house. He had a deal with the State of Oregon. The plan was for the building to hold the state's government offices. This included the Oregon State Legislature, the Oregon Supreme Court, and the Oregon State Library.
However, during construction, new state leaders decided not to use the building for government offices. Since the building was almost done, Reed changed his plans. He added seven shops on the ground floor. The second and third floors became an opera house. Any extra space was used for a hotel.
A Hub for Entertainment
The Reed Opera House officially opened with a big party. It was the first official event for Oregon Governor La Fayette Grover. The building quickly became the main spot for fun and social events in Salem. It hosted many different activities. People came to see traveling plays and opera groups. Political meetings and community events also took place there.
Many famous people visited the Reed Opera House. These included local star Hallie Parrish Hinges. The artist and cartoonist Thomas Nast also appeared. Other notable visitors were Susan B. Anthony, Mark Twain, and two presidents: Rutherford B. Hayes and Benjamin Harrison. Even John Philip Sousa's famous band performed there.
Changes Over the Years
On April 20, 1900, the Reed Opera House theater closed. A new, more modern theater called the Grand Theater had opened nearby. The Grand Theater had better features and an entrance right on the ground floor.
Soon after, Joseph Meyers and Sons took over the property. They turned the old theater and most of the shops into a department store. In 1902, another building was added next to the Reed Opera House. This new part was two stories tall and held a furniture store. In 1920, Miller's Department Store bought both buildings and used them for their business.
The Reed's Modern Era
Miller's Department Store stayed in the buildings until 1976. Then, a realtor named Coburn Grabenhorst Sr. and architects Phil Settecase and Howard Smith bought them. They spent about $1,000,000 to update the buildings. This gave the Reed Opera House its current look.
The updated Reed Opera House featured many small shops and restaurants. These were located on different levels, including the lower level, first floor, mezzanine, and second floor. The Reed did very well for a while. However, a large mall was built nearby in the late 1980s. This caused financial problems for the Reed. Because of these difficulties, the buildings were given back to the bank that helped pay for the updates. In 1993, Bourne Properties bought the Reed Opera House.
In 2003, Roger Yost bought the Reed Opera House from Bourne Properties. He used to be a marketing leader for a company called Jantzen Apparel. Since owning the Reed, he has worked to expand the building. He also wants to bring back some of its original features. He spent $50,000 to remodel what is now called the Trinity Ballroom and its kitchen. He also updated the elevators for $175,000.
Yost also spent $180,000 to rebuild parts of the original roof design. This included the pediment, corona, and brackets. He won a $100,000 prize from a contest by Salem's Urban Renewal agency. This prize helped him with the restoration work. Besides remodeling, Yost added old advertisements for Jantzen Swimwear, his former employer, throughout the public areas of the Reed.
