Silvercreek Township in Jamestown in Greene County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Opera House
Jamestown, Ohio
— Dedicated on December 31st, 1889, January 1st and 2nd, 1890 —
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 27, 2024
1. The Opera House Marker
Inscription.
The Opera House of Late Victorian Architecture was built in 1889 by Jamestown Village and Silvercreek Township. After recovering from the 1884 cyclone, Jamestown became a thriving community served by the Detroit Toledo and Ironton Railroad. Realizing the need for a centralized meeting place, the township and village purchased lot No. 12 on the corner of N. Limestone and E. Xenia Streets. With John W. McLean as architect, Matthew Moorman and Sons' low bid of $11,454.00 won the building contract. Work began on June 12, 1889 and was completed in December. The Opera House was the center of community activities until the Silvercreek Centralized School opened in 1937. The upstairs auditorium hosted school functions, church services, music concerts, education seminars, sound and silent movies (with piano accompaniment by area residents), and traveling medicine shows. At various times the downstairs housed government offices, a shoe factory, a gun shop, barbershop, post office, police station, jail fire department and library. , Silvercreek Township became the sole owner of the building in January, 2001. , The renovation effort is supported by the Silvercreek Township Trustees, Jamestown Area Historical Society, Greene County Commissioners, Greeneview Alumni Association, area businesses and service organizations, generous donors and the Ohio Arts and Sports Facilities Commission. ,
State of Ohio , Bob Taft, Governor . Doug White, President of the Ohio Senate . Larry Householder, Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives . Senator Steve Austria . Representative Merle Kearns.
The Opera House of Late Victorian Architecture was built in 1889
by Jamestown Village and Silvercreek Township. After recovering
from the 1884 cyclone, Jamestown became a thriving community
served by the Detroit Toledo & Ironton Railroad. Realizing the
need for a centralized meeting place, the township and village
purchased lot No. 12 on the corner of N. Limestone and E. Xenia
Streets. With John W. McLean as architect, Matthew Moorman &
Sons' low bid of $11,454.00 won the building contract. Work
began on June 12, 1889 and was completed in December. The
Opera House was the center of community activities until the
Silvercreek Centralized School opened in 1937. The upstairs
auditorium hosted school functions, church services, music
concerts, education seminars, sound and silent movies (with piano
accompaniment by area residents), and traveling medicine shows.
At various times the downstairs housed government offices, a shoe
factory, a gun shop, barbershop, post office, police station, jail
fire department and library.
Silvercreek Township became the sole owner of the building in
January, 2001.
The renovation effort is supported by the Silvercreek Township
Trustees, Jamestown Area Historical Society, Greene County
Commissioners, Greeneview Alumni Association, area businesses
and service organizations,
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generous donors and the Ohio Arts &
Sports Facilities Commission.
State of Ohio
Bob Taft, Governor • Doug White, President of the Ohio Senate • Larry Householder, Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives • Senator Steve Austria • Representative Merle Kearns
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places series list. A significant historical date for this entry is December 31, 1889.
Location. 39° 39.544′ N, 83° 44.08′ W. Marker is in Jamestown, Ohio, in Greene County. It is in Silvercreek Township. Marker is at the intersection of North Limestone Street (Ohio Route 72) and East Xenia Street, on the right when traveling north on North Limestone Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 19 N Limestone St, Jamestown OH 45335, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Also see . . . 1. Opera House History (PDF). On April 27, 1884, Jamestown suffered a devastating “cyclone” which damaged or completely destroyed practically every structure in the village. By 1889, Jamestown had for the most part recovered and had again become a thriving community of agricultural and commercial business activities. Elected officials began to see the need for a centralized meeting place so during the March 23, 1889 election, residents approved a $15,000 levy to build such a structure. (Jamestown Opera House) (Submitted on June 19, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
2. Jamestown Opera House (PDF). National Register nomination for the building, which was listed in 2007. (Prepared by Ted Sesslar, Jamestown Area Historical Society; and Lisa Rupple. Ohio Historic Preservation Office; via National Archives) (Submitted on June 19, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 27, 2024
3. The Opera House Marker
Featured marker is right of the center set of doors. The National Register plaque is at the right corner of the building.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 19, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 19, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 40 times since then. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on June 19, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.