Boyertown in Berks County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Rhoads Opera House Fire

1. Rhoads Opera House Fire Marker

Inscription. A disastrous fire destroyed the theater that stood at Philadelphia Ave. & Washington St. on Jan. 13, 1908. It claimed 170 Victims, many buried here, due to overcrowding, poorly designed and unmarked exits, and inadequate fire escapes. The tragedy prompted the Pa. General Assembly to enact fire safety laws and improve construction and inspection standards, making public buildings safer and influencing similar legislation in other states.

Erected 2008 by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Events. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) series list. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1827.

Location. 40° 20.08′ N, 75° 38.552′ W. Marker is in Boyertown, Pennsylvania, in Berks County. It is on W. Philadelphia Avenue. Marker is at Fairview Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Boyertown PA 19512, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania and specifically in Pennsylvania Dutch Country.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Jeremiah Sweinhart and Successors (approx. 0.2 miles away); Carl A. Spaatz (approx. 0.2 miles away); Boyertown Burial Casket Company (approx. ¼ mile away); Bahr's Mill (approx.

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0.9 miles away); Colebrookdale Furnace (approx. one mile away); New Hanover Lutheran Church (approx. 4.1 miles away); Falkner Swamp Reformed Church (approx. 4.2 miles away); Thomas Rutter (approx. 4.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Boyertown.

Also see . . .
1. Rhoads Opera House Fire. ExplorePAHistory.com (Submitted on November 30, 2011, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.)

2. MarkerQuest - Rhoads Opera House Fire. (Submitted on October 12, 2023, by Laura Klotz of Northampton, Pennsylvania.)

The marker's position on Philadelphia Avenue image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Laura Klotz, September 26, 2024

2. The marker's position on Philadelphia Avenue

Memorial to the unidentified victims of the fire (reverse) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Laura Klotz, September 26, 2024

3. Memorial to the unidentified victims of the fire (reverse)

Memorial to the unidentified victims of the fire (obverse) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Laura Klotz, September 26, 2024

4. Memorial to the unidentified victims of the fire (obverse)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 4, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 9, 2011, by Vicki Raifsnider of Robesonia, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,304 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 9, 2011, by Vicki Raifsnider of Robesonia, Pennsylvania. 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 1, 2024, by Laura Klotz of Northampton, Pennsylvania. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Photos of the present site, the memorial plaque & a distant shot of the marker. • Can you help?