Total Pageviews

Search This Blog

October 10, 2017

ca. 1870 Empire Opera House aka Empire Hall, North Holden Street, Held 600 people, Speech by Sen. George Graham Vest, As Recalled by Thomas Crittenden, Governor of Missouri

When Francis M. Cockrell was elected United States Senator the first time, Warrensburg gave him a rousing reception at Empire Hall, to which place he was escorted by his home town band. 
Empire Hall 206 North Holden St. ,Warrensburg, MO
Colonel Elliott introduced the new Senator and Senator Cockrell responded in a memorable speech.  When returning from the residence of Mr. Cockrell, 

The WPA Guide to Missouri: The Show-Me State Link

where the band had escorted the Senator, Mr. Kauffman, who played the bass horn in the band, opposite the (Market Street M.E.) Methodist church, 
Market Street M.E. Church, Warrensburg
(115 block area of E. Market)
stepped accidentally upon a loose board in the old wooden sidewalk and the opposite end of the board flew up, tripping Lon West and causing him to fall forward several paces, his instrument going several feet in advance of him.  Mr. West was an adept at swearing with whom few could compete and none equal, and Mr. Kauffman states that he outdid himself that evening as he gathered himself together and began to search for his horn.

July 3, 1883
Statewide Prohibition Convention - Empire Hall, Warrensburg- Night Session
At the evening session last night to hear C. P. Johnson, of St. Louis. His speech was full of convincing arguments and striking illustrations and was listened to with marked attention.  Every one of his bearers could not help being impressed with his earnestness and his devotion to the cause for which he spoke.  It was a masterly effort.
Harry Miner's American Dramatic Director, 1884
Empire Opera House, Warrensburg, Mo

American Dramatic Directory, 1884 - Warrensburg, 5,000 pop., Railroad Missouri Pacific. Empire Opera House, McFarland & Gear, managers; seating capacity, 600; rental, one night $15; license, $5; share also.  Size of stage 18x48; fair stock, scenery, hill poster, Capt. Thnrher. Newspapers: Journal Democrat (Fri.) Standard (Thurs)...
Hotels: Simmons, regular rates $2 (special also) Eads, Jacobs.

Empire Hall - Drug Store Downstairs 1885

- January 29, 1878 The Goldens are advertised to appear at Empire Hall Monday night.  They play the grand sensational drama, entitled “Divorce”, and they no doubt will be greeted with a crowded house.
- January 29, 1878 The sharpshooters had a masquerade ball, at Empire Hall, on Thursday night.  It was a grand affair and numerously attended.  The fashion reporter of the NEWS gives some of the toilets.  Here is one as found in the columns of that enterprising journal.  
- January 29, 1878 “Miss Z. The dear blonde wore a pair of No. 6 half-mourning shoes and darned hose, a valuable cashmere night cap, trimmed with colored elite amphibious honi soit.  The demitrain was looped with side-track switches and more antique shoe strings”
- Dec 2, 1879, The ladies of the Old School Presbyterian Church gave an oyster supper at Empire Hall, Tuesday night, last, which was a most enjoyable affair.
- Dec 2, 1879, The interior of Empire Hall now presents a neat and attractive appearance.  First-class troupe will find this a good show town with a good hall.
- Dec. 5, 1882, The skating rink is the “big card” at Empire Hall.  Large numbers attend the afternoon and night meetings.
- Dec. 5, 1882, Roller skates are the rage at present, and the noise in Empire Hall awakens those sleeping in the cemetery.
- April 17 1883, Charles A. Gardner and company will play ”Karl” at Empire Hall on the 17th.
- Dec. 31, 1885 New Year's Eve Party Empire Hall with 300 Guests

BALL MASQUE
The Quarry City Dancing Club’s Efforts Toward Merry Making.
Some weeks ago cards on invitation most beautifully printed on white satin were sent out by the Quarry City dancing club, for a masquerade ball New Years eve at Warrensburg, MO and in response nearly 300 guests assembled at Empire Hall in that city spent a most delightful evening.  Fine music was rendered by five skilled musicians and the dance program consisted of the latest and most fashionable dances.  The grand march presented a most attractive appearance made up as it was, of the most beautiful and grotesque figures, and after the march broke up into a quadrille, the sight was equally as attractive.  At midnight a supper was handsomely served by  the old Jacob’s restaurant, the menu being made up of meats, salads, cakes, fruits, coffee, etc, of the most delicious kind.  Many strangers were present from neighboring cities, Sedalia, being represented by the following gentlemen: Messrs, Will Guenther and Will Ellis, costumed as “English Dudes”; Will Ramsey, as an “English swell”; Ed Ken as as “winker”; and Frank Hughes, as a “West Point cadet”; Mr. Tom Courtney was also present but unmasked.
Warrensburg, 200 block of North Holden, 
ca. 1890
Among those from Holden were Misses Sade and Cora Johnson, attired as “Italien Girls;” Peter Waumeter, “Clowns;” and several others appropriately costumed.  Others present were David Yankee as a “page;”, W. Williams “confederate soldier”; H. Landiers, “farmer;” E. N. Johnson “dude;” E. Nathan, “Turk;”, Edgar Hughes “yankee”; C. Williams, “French soldier;” C. Ruffin, “cowboy;” G. Williams, “prinece;” A. Meyers, “gladiator:” Ben Harris, “band man;” B. F. Ross, “military man;” R. J. Gladden, “English soldier;”, Sam Spiece, “German soldier;” O. H. Simpson, “Highlander;”, Turner Hornbuckle, “English Dude,” Will Clarke “CadetL;” H. Clark “Soldier”, T. Robins, Clown”, W. Beasley, “hermit”, H. H. Logan, “Falstaff”,  G. Cord and J. Thornton, “Siamese Twins”, E. Hyrack, “Sailor”, W. E. Ashton, Peck’s Bad Boy”, Miss Emma Zick, “Queen of Hearts”, Nellie Duffield, “pack of cards”, Mollie Bruce, “Topsy”, Pet Baile, “Italian girl”,  "Ella Harris, "Snowflake;" Lizzie Harrison and Fannie Plessner, "school girls;" Jessie Rogers, -'jockey," Nannie Bedford, beautiful as an "angel;" Blanche Jordan, "Drunkard;" Jessie Middleton, "Nell coming thro' the rye;" Nellie Shockey, a first-rate "cat," Fannie Montgomery, "Scotch girl:" Sue Waggoner, "Night" .Many others were in costume but the list is too long to give, suffice it to say that all took their characters well, and not until the unmasking were many recognized. The whole affair was a complete success and the guests made many praiseworthy comments on the managers. The Bazoo extends thanks to Misses Kate Shockey and Nannie Bedford and Messrs. Simpson and Cooke for favors rendered and hopes the club will live to give another masquerade.
Old Empire Opera House, Hall  Large Building in the Middle on Left Warrensburg, MO ca 1945
 Empire Opera House, Hall Warrensburg, Large Building on the Right, in the Middle  North Holden Street 1938

Holden Street is named after Nathaniel B. Holden. He was born on March 10, 1810 in Indiana. It was after he moved to Missouri that he became a well known person. He was a teacher in the winter of 1839-1840. He was then a newspaper editor and a surveyor. 

He served in the House of Representatives from 1844-1846 and again from 1852-1853. He was a landowner all the time

Major N. B. Holden

Warrensburg stared the Civil War in the face as both sides had large practicing military factions. Major Holden became a casualty of this country-wide crisis as he was assassinated in the middle of the night. His tombstone reads, “Assassinated at his residence, in Warrensburg, at 1:00 A.M.”

ca 1945-46? In Front of the Old Empire Opera House, Warrensburg, MO
Russell Brothers Clothing Co. 206 North Holden.  The Empire Opera House was above it.
Empire Opera House, 206 North Holden, Warrensburg, MO  4th from right   ca 1920

Rundle Drug Store Link 204 N. Holden.


204-206 N. Holden St. (Harris, Harris, and Gilbert Attorneys at Law) Non-contributing Building Photos 6, 8 c. 1870, alt. c.1980 The three-story two-part commercial block has brick cladding and a flat roof. A projecting brick stringcourse and terra cotta tile coping ornament the cornice. The primary (east) elevation has seven bays; the upper-story fenestration defines the bays. The first story storefronts on the north and south halves of the first story have non-historic brick infill; a non-historic wood door pierces the center of the first story. Paired, glazed wood doors flanked by display windows fill the north storefront; a non-historic wood pierces the south end of the south storefront. Fabric awnings shade the storefronts and door. two-over-two double-hung round-arch windows with stone sills fill the second story bays; fixed, multi-light round arch windows with stone sills fill the third story bays. Businesses housed in this building included a drugstore (1895), Clark’s Ice Cream Factory (1913), Rundle Drugstore (1931-1958) and a shoe store (1963-1972) at 204 N. Holden, and Russell Brother’s Clothing (1931-1972) at 206 N. Holden. Alterations to the primary façade of the building such as the brick veneer infill and storefront reconfiguration compromise its integrity and its ability to communicate its historic function and the era in which it was constructed, rendering it non-contributing. 

No comments: