Columbia in Maury County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Bethel House Hotel / The Princess Theatre
1882 - 1949
Photographed By Bill Pfingsten, September 23, 2019
1. Bethel House Hotel Marker
Inscription.
Bethel House Hotel, also, The Princess Theatre.
Bethel House Hotel. On this site stood the stately, historic Bethel House Hotel, built by W. D. Bethel. Construction was the commercial center of Columbia. The first floor was devoted to stores, restaurants and offices. The second floor held a ballroom, meeting rooms, and offices. The third floor held the lodging accommodations, with the whole being quite ornate and upscale. In 1949 a fire started in the adjacent Princess Theatre, which destroyed both structures.,
The Princess Theatre 1882-1949. The Princess Theatre was originally built as the Grand Opera House in 1882. It seated up to 500 patrons and hosted a constant circuit of live acts and plays. Vaudeville, comedy, animal acts and Shakespearean plays were performed on stage. In 1918 the theatre was remodeled for the showing of movies as well. Barnum and Bailey, Gene Autry, and Buffalo Bill's Wild West are among the notables that performed here. In 1949 a fire started backstage and destroyed the theatre and the adjacent Bethel House Hotel.
Bethel House Hotel
On this site stood the stately, historic Bethel House Hotel, built by W. D. Bethel. Construction was the commercial center of Columbia. The first floor was devoted to stores, restaurants and offices. The second floor held a ballroom, meeting rooms, and offices. The third floor held the lodging accommodations, with the whole being quite ornate and upscale. In 1949 a fire started in the adjacent Princess Theatre, which destroyed both structures.
The Princess Theatre
1882-1949
The Princess Theatre was originally built as the Grand Opera House in 1882. It seated up to 500 patrons and hosted a constant circuit of live acts and plays. Vaudeville, comedy, animal acts and Shakespearean plays were performed on stage. In 1918 the theatre was remodeled for the showing of movies as well. Barnum & Bailey, Gene Autry, and Buffalo Bill's Wild West are among the notables that performed here. In 1949 a fire started backstage and destroyed the theatre and the adjacent Bethel House Hotel.
Erected by City of Columbia, Tennessee.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1882.
Location. 35° 36.91′ N, 87° 2.161′
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W. Marker is in Columbia, Tennessee, in Maury County. Marker is on West 7th Street (Business U.S. 412) west of South Garden Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 W 7th St, Columbia TN 38401, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 6, 2020
2. The Princess Theatre Marker
Photographed By Darren Jefferson Clay, January 1, 2021
3. Bethel House Hotel Marker
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 6, 2020
4. The Princess Theatre Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 1, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 8, 2019, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 971 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on October 8, 2019, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 2. submitted on June 10, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 3. submitted on January 1, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. 4. submitted on June 10, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
