Lewiston in Androscoggin County, Maine — The American Northeast (New England)

Music Hall

Lewiston, Maine

— The Museum in the Streets® —

Music Hall Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 11, 2021

1. Music Hall Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

After a fire destroyed several stores in 1877, leading citizens, among them Congressman William P. Frye, decided to construct "the best opera house east of Boston." The offerings featured travelling stock companies, minstrels, drama, and melodrama. Shows ranged from opera to less elevated fare such as Jeff the Boxing Kangaroo. During the vaudeville era, the manager's wife sat where she could signal someone to drop the curtain if she felt censorship was needed. Music Hall was in business until the early 1930s, but was still used occasionally for shows by drama clubs and for high school graduations. The interior was gutted in the early 1960s to create storage space for a hardware store. Converted to house the Lewiston District Court, it is now the scene of other sorts of drama.

Après un incendie et la destruction de plusieurs magasins en 1877, des notables dont le représentant au Congrès William P. Frye, décident de construire « le plus bel opéra à l'est de Boston ». Des troupes itinérantes y proposent variétés, drames et mélodrames. Les spectactacles vont de l'opéra à des manifestations plu poulaires comme Jeff le Kangourou Baarreur. À l'époque de vaudeville, la femme du gérant choisit un siége d'où elle peut faire signe de baisser le rideau en cas de scènes trop osées. La salle reste ouverte jusqu'au début des années 1930. Elle arbite alors quelques spectacles amateurs et le remises de diplômes de lycée. Au début des années 1960, l'intérieur est démoli et devient un lieu de stockage pour une quincaillerie. Le bâtiment abrite aujourd'hui le Tribunal du District de Lewiston où se jouent des drames d'un tout autre genre.

Erected 2019

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by The Museum in the Streets®. (Marker Number L5.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Government & Politics • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the The Museum in the Streets: Auburn-Lewiston, Maine series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1877.

Location. 44° 5.841′ N, 70° 13.05′ W. Marker is in Lewiston, Maine, in Androscoggin County. It is on Lisbon Street (Maine Route 196) 0.2 miles north of Ash Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 71 Lisbon St, Lewiston ME 04240, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Northeast

and in New England.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Lewiston, Maine (a few steps from this marker); Chief Justice Armand A. Dufresne Jr. Plaza (a few steps from this marker); Peck's Department Store / Le Grand Magasin Peck

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 11, 2021

2. Music Hall Marker

(about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Haymarket Square / La Place du Marché des Fourrages (about 700 feet away); Veterans Memorial Park / Le Parc des Vétérans (approx. 0.2 miles away); Veterans Memorial Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); Early Industry / Les Débuts de L'Industrie (approx. 0.2 miles away); Gold Star Families Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lewiston.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 17, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 17, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 596 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 17, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.