Centerville in Hickman County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Olympic Opera House Building

— Historic Downtown Centerville —

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, January 4, 2025

1. Olympic Opera House Building marker

Inscription.
Around 1904, John Burchard built this grand two-story brick building that he called the Olympic Opera House. The first floor held retail space and the second floor was, at different times, a skating rink, a theater, city hall, and a basketball court. One of the first stores on the lower floor was Racket's General Merchandise, followed by Adair Furniture, Henley Furniture, Lambert's Electric, Tennessee Electric Power, Security Bank, Regal Theater, Meriwether Lewis Electric, Farm Bureau, Dollar General, Breece's Barber, Trophy Case, Centerville Jeweler, The Farmhouse, and many others. Bates & Bates Law, established in 1871, moved upstairs in 1946, under ownership of Douglas and Alonzo Bates. In 1996, the building was renamed the Bates Building. Hickman County News was published in the basement in the 1930s. Farmhouse Cellar, an event space, opened in the basement around 2005 and was later renamed Molly's Place.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1904.

Location. 35° 46.711′ N, 87° 28.047′ W. Marker is in Centerville, Tennessee, in Hickman County. It is on West Public Square, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 409 W Public Square, Centerville TN 37033, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Middle Tennessee

and in the Highland Rim.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Old Hickory House Hotel Building (here, next to this marker); Hickman County Chamber of Commerce Building (a few steps from this marker); Little Hands Children's Shop Building (a few steps from this marker); Minnie Pearl (a few steps from this marker); Haynes Building (a few steps from this marker); Liberty Pharmacy (within shouting distance of this marker); Former site of R.M. Clagett family home (within shouting distance of this marker); Hickman County Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Centerville.

Olympic Opera House Building marker (on column in the middle of the photo) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, January 4, 2025

2. Olympic Opera House Building marker (on column in the middle of the photo)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 12, 2025, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 413 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 21, 2025, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.