Pemberville in Wood County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Pemberville Town Hall and Opera House
Photographed By Craig Doda, December 4, 2021
1. Pemberville Town Hall and Opera House Marker
Completed in 1892 at the height of the region's oil boom, the Pemberville Town Hall followed a late-1800s municipal trend to house many civic functions under one roof. The fire station, jail, and council chambers occupied the ground level, while the entire second floor hosted a public auditorium, or "opera house," that seated 250. The 1897 debut of The Mikado featured new electric lighting. The ornate Opera House was the center of Pemberville's social activities for decades, hosting dances, plays, socials, graduation ceremonies, political meetings, lectures, and husking bees. Traveling companies performed concerts, vaudeville, minstrel, and medicine shows. Following World War II the Opera House fell into disuse. It was restored in 1999 to both its former grandeur and its place in Pemberville's cultural life.
Erected 2001 by The Ohio Bicentennial Commission, The Longaberger Company, Village of Pemberville, Pemberville Freedom Area Historical Society, and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 12-87.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Government & Politics • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1892.
Location.
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Rodinghausen Point (here, next to this marker); Captain Elihu H. Mason (within shouting distance of this marker); This Cross (approx. 0.2 miles away); Pemberville (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Pemberville (approx. ¼ mile away); Freedom Post 183 WWI Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Freedom Post 183 (approx. 0.3 miles away); Freedom Post 183 WWII & Korea Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pemberville.
Also see . . .
1. Van Tassel's History of Pemberville. Rootsweb entry (Submitted on March 27, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Pemberville Opera House. Pemberville Freedom Area Historical Society website entry:
For information on the Pemberville Opera House including current programming and history visit this site! (Submitted on September 25, 2012, by Carol A Bailey of Pemberville, Ohio.)
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 13, 2010
2. Pemberville Town Hall and Opera House & Marker
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., March 13, 2010
3. Pemberville Town Hall and Opera House Cornerstone
Photographed By Craig Doda, December 4, 2021
4. Pemberville Town Hall and Opera House
Credits. This page was last revised on July 25, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 27, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,049 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 5, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 2, 3. submitted on March 27, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 4. submitted on December 5, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio.
