Grace Notes

The Historic Claremont Opera House

JO SHUTE

Upper Valley Baroque will perform our “Baroque Celebrations” program at Claremont Opera House on Sunday, October 27 at 3:00 pm.  COH is an outstanding historic venue with great acoustics, welcoming hosts, and ample free parking in the center of Claremont’s historic district. 

Claremont Opera House was designed by architect and Dartmouth College graduate Charles A. Rich and built by local Claremont Architect Hira Beckwith. It was built in 1897 for the cost of $62,000, 

Many of the construction materials for the edifice came from the New England area. The foundation was built of Green Mountain Rock and the base was dressed in Connecticut River Brownstone from Springfield, MA. On the major part of the exterior are nearly one million Lebanon bricks.

In the early 1900s, the Opera House was the entertainment center for the area. Longtime manager Harry Eaton brought in plays, musicals, vaudeville minstrel shows, and films. In 1906, Sousa’s Band of Fifty, with three soloists, appeared in a Saturday matinee.

But over time, the Opera House saw less use, and in 1963 it closed its doors. The city contemplated removing the auditorium in favor of a more modern building for the city offices and the District Court. But in 1972, a Restoration Committee was formed and a year later the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. By 1975, funds were raised to hire an architect and the Opera House celebrated its grand re-opening on May 26, 1979.

The ground floor now houses city offices, with the Opera House above. The concert hall seats more than 700 people and has preserved much of the original ornate detail.

Note to UVB concertgoers:  COH does have an elevator, but you may enjoy walking up a beautifully-preserved grand staircase (and another for seats in the Balcony).