Marlin Opera House
Historic Brookville
Silas J. Marlin returned home to Brookville after the Civil War. Using his fortune made in the lumber industry, he began building the Marlin Opera House Block in the spring of 1883. Today the building includes retail spaces and offices, but it also contains a hidden gem of Brookville, an elaborate theater on the second and third floors, high above Main Street.
The Marlin Opera House only operated from 1886 to about 1904. During this time, traveling groups performed upon its stage. In the late 1800's, these theater productions were one of the few forms of entertainment available. In addition to performances, the Marlin Opera House hosted Brookville High School's graduation ceremony.
With the emergence of the motion picture at the end of the 19th century, the success of live entertainment was starting to fade, and Marlin's Opera House would only survive to see a twenty-year career.
Remarkably the Opera House remains in fantastic condition today. Its intricate, hand-painted details on the walls are still vibrant, a few of the original seats remain, and a grand, gas-lit chandelier hangs above as a reminder of the theater's historic elegance.
The facility could host 900 people in its three sections of seating. Two of these were located on the floor, and the third was located in a balcony. These sections, much like today,
this page online
[Photo captions, clockwise from top left, read]
• Silas J. Marlin
• Ticket Stubs from Each Section of Seating
• Historic Knapp Photograph, circa 1900
• Before (top) & After Removal of Seats
• Cast Photo of an Unknown Production at the Marlin Opera House, circa 1890
Erected by Historic Brookville, Inc., Jeff Co History Center, Brookville Area Chamber, Jeff Co Hotel Tax Cmte, DCNR, PA Lumber Heritage Region, and PA Great Outdoors.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1883.
Location. 41° 9.641′ N, 79° 4.85′ W. Marker is in Brookville, Pennsylvania, in Jefferson County. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street (U.S. 322) and Diamond Alley, on the left when traveling east on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 256 Main Street, Brookville PA 15825, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. American & Commercial Hotels (a few steps from this marker); Rodgers-Canning-McKinley Block (a few steps from this marker); Marlin Opera House Block (within shouting distance of this marker); Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Korean and Vietnam Wars Memorial (within
Also see . . .
1. Brookville PA National Register Historic District Nomination. (Submitted on July 11, 2021, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Borough of Brookville PA: History. (Submitted on July 11, 2021, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 11, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 11, 2021, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 225 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 11, 2021, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
