Today in Wheeling History: February 5--The Grand Opening of this second Washington Hall took place on February 5, 1878, with a performance of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" (1878).
The original Washington Hall in Wheeling, West Virginia, was incorporated on March 22, 1850, and the Gothic Revival style building opened at the northeast corner of 12th and Market Streets on November 26, 1853. After hosting the first Wheeling Convention from May 13-15, 1861, a pivotal event leading to West Virginia statehood, the original structure was destroyed by fire on November 30, 1875. A new Washington Hall with a Grand Opera House in the Ruskinian Gothic style was constructed on the site in 1877. The Grand Opening of this second Washington Hall took place on February 5, 1878, with a performance of "Uncle Tom's Cabin". In 1911, architect Frederick Faris remodeled the building into the Classical style Laconia Building that stands on the site today.
To learn more: (http://tinyurl.com/59ccukbs) (http://tinyurl.com/jt3cfx8y)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV
The original Washington Hall in Wheeling, West Virginia, was incorporated on March 22, 1850, and the Gothic Revival style building opened at the northeast corner of 12th and Market Streets on November 26, 1853. After hosting the first Wheeling Convention from May 13-15, 1861, a pivotal event leading to West Virginia statehood, the original structure was destroyed by fire on November 30, 1875. A new Washington Hall with a Grand Opera House in the Ruskinian Gothic style was constructed on the site in 1877. The Grand Opening of this second Washington Hall took place on February 5, 1878, with a performance of "Uncle Tom's Cabin". In 1911, architect Frederick Faris remodeled the building into the Classical style Laconia Building that stands on the site today.
To learn more: (http://tinyurl.com/59ccukbs) (http://tinyurl.com/jt3cfx8y)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV
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