Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
On January 30, 1883, “The Salt Lake Herald” reported, “Mr. Spencer Tryon is a brother and pupil of Henry C. Tyron, the artist of the Salt Lake Theatre. He is very talented, and although scarcely more than a boy in years, he has produced some very fine work here and at the Tabor Grand Opera” (page 8). At the time, Spencer was twenty years old.
Like his older brother, Spencer changed his last name from Hoornbeck to Tryon when he began working as a scenic artist. To learn more about Henry B. Hoornbeck’s name change to Henry C. Tryon, visit: https://drypigment.net2020/10/16/tales-from-a-scenic-artist-and-scholar-part-1092-henry-b-hoornbeck-and-henry-c-tryon-1847-1892/ Their brother William Hoornbeck also adopted the last name of Tryon while living with Henry C. in 1878.
In 1870, Spencer was living with his mother, Ann M. Hoornbeck, and two brothers (Henry and Dell) at 384 Lake Street. This was the last year that Henry Hoornbeck (later Henry C. Tryon) was listed in directories under his birth name. Mrs. Hoornbeck and her children had moved to Chicago after the death of her husband in 1864. Like Henry, Spencer was educated in Chicago public schools.
The earliest mention of Spencer working as a scenic artist is in 1882. At the time, he was listed as his older brother’s assistant and painting scenery for a hall in Springville, Utah. On Dec. 13, 1882, the “Deseret News” reported, “Not only is the intention to have this model theatrical hall up to the times in point of architectural construction, by the scenery is to be of the very best description. With this object in view Mr. D. C. Johnson, who takes a leading part in the management has secured the services of Mr. H. C. Tryon and Mr. Alfred Lambourne. The latter accompanied by Mr. Spencer Tryon – Mr. H. C. Tryon’s assistant – left for Springville to-day, to begin the work, and Mr. Tryon will follow in a few days. The institution will have thirteen scenes complete, with sidewings, etc., and an appropriate drop curtain. The fact that Messrs. Tryon and Lambourne will do the painting is a guaranty [sic.] that the scenes will be of the most excellent description” (page 15). The venue was described as “a genuine opera house in a theatrical hall. The extent of the stage from the footlights to the back is twenty-five feet, besides dressing and other rooms in the rear. The height of the stage from the floor to the rigging apparatus is twenty-two feet.”
The three artists were also credited with painting railroad scene a month later. Of the setting, the “Salt Lake Herald” reported, “A. Railroad Scene in ‘Forbidden Fruit.’ A feature in the performance, on Monday night, which was not scene in the original production, will be the grand office scene, just painted by Mr. H. C. Tryon, Mr. W. C. Morris and Mr. Spencer Tryon, and now shown for the first time, represent the waiting room for the Pennsylvania Central Railroad. A number of gentlemen who saw the artists at work on the scene consider it one of the finest efforts the painters have yet made. It will be seen in act II, of “Forbidden Fruit” (Salt Lake Herald, 26 Jan. 1883, page 8). A later article stated, “The railroad scene painted by Mr. W. C. Morris, of Salt Lake City, and Mr. Spencer Tryon – and displayed last night for the first time in “Forbidden Fruit” – called forth a well-deserved round of applause. It was excellently painted, being full of character, and although (from the nature of the subject) without any pretense of color, was beauty owing to its truth and solidity.” The “Deseret News: reported, “The office of the P.C.R.R.. a new interior scene, painted by the Tryon Brothers and W. C. Morris, Esq., will be exhibited for the first time” (26 Jan 1883, page 3).
On January 27, 1883, the “Deseret News” reported that the new office scene for “Forbidden Fruit” was by Mr. W. C. Morris and Mr. Spencer Tryon” (page 3).
By the spring of 1883, the Tryon brothers were back working at the Salt Lake Theatre. Interestingly, Spencer was erroneously listed as his older brother’s manager on the project. On May 31, 1883, “The Salt Lake Herald” reported, “Henry C. Tryon and his manager, Spencer Tryon, are still industriously engaged. At present, Mr. Tryon is working on one or two special scenes for Lawrence Barratt [sic.], when he appears at the Theatre in ‘Francisca.’ The borders and wood scenes are all finished, and there is any amount of new scenes which have never yet been in use, and which, if occasion came, would show how well stocked the Theatre is even now, when the work is far from finished” (page 10). Spencer would soon be left alone in Salt lake City, without his older brother’s countenance.
On September 17, 1883 the “Deseret News” published a farewell letter to Henry C. Tryon: “Good Bye – Mr. Henry Tryon, the skillful scenic artist, leaves for the East to-morrow. Beside his remarkable talent he is the fortunate possessor of a genial disposition and a mind remarkably free from that species of petty jealously by which otherwise capable men too often dim the lustre of their capacities. He has made numerous friends here whose best wishes he carries with him. Good bye” (page 3).
I have to wonder what was worse for Spencer; living in his famous brother’s shadow or painting at the same venue renowned for your brother’s artwork. Regardless, Spencer remained in Salt Lake City area for at least another year after his brother’s departure in 1883. For a while, he worked at the Salt Lake Theatre, but soon began working at the venue’s competitor – the Walker Opera House.
In 1884 Spencer was working, and sleeping, at the Walker Opera House. The Walker Opera House was located on the south side of 200 South Street between Main and West Temple streets. Unfortunately, the venue caught fire one night as Spencer slept inside. On October 16, 1884, “The Salt Lake Herald” headlined “A Narrow Escape. The Opera House Barely Saved from Destruction” (page 8).
The article continued:
“On Wednesday morning at about 4 o’clock, Nightwatchman Henry Heath in passing the Walker Opera House noticed that the glass windows of Evans & Spencer’s gun store wore a peculiar color. On looking closer he perceived the appearance was caused by the store being full of smoke, Hastily running down stairs to the saloon owned by Mr. A. G. Bechtol, he saw that its interior was also black with smoke, With all possible dispatch he hurried to the rear of the building and awoke Dave McElroy and Spencer Tryon, who were sleeping in the Opera House, rigging the hose from under the stage and in the parquette circle, and going to the rear door of the saloon himself, and upon bursting open the door he was almost stifled by the smoke, but throwing himself upon his face, with a hose in each hand, he turned a stream of water upon the ice chest and billiard table, from whence the flames were issuing. With the assistance of Messrs. McElroy and Tryon the fire was gotten under control before the fire brigade was summoned. The firemen made good time to the scene, but were not needed.” Interestingly, the 1884 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map provides a basic floor plan for the building. The two-store front were occupied by an ammunition shop and a confectionary. Records indicate that the scenery on stage was non-combustible; this means treatment with a product considered to be a flame retardant. Layout (https://utahtheaters.info/Theater/Facts/250/Walker-Opera-House).
After Spencer’s near miss at the Walker Opera House, he seems to fade away from published history. Spencer remained out of the spotlight for the remainder of his life, unlike his older brother who continued to receive recognition at theatres across the country. I have yet to uncovered any mention of either Spencer Tryon or Spencer Hornbeck between 1885 and 1890. By 1891, however, he was back in Chicago and listed in the city directory, having resumed his birth name of “Spencer Hoornbeck.” Interestingly, 1891 is the same year that the Walker Opera House burned down.
The 1891, the Chicago City Directory listed, “Hoornbeck, Spencer, painter, h. 621 N. Stephenson (P).” Within the next year, both his mother and his brother Henry would pass. At the time of Ann M. Hoornbeck’s passing, she was 68 years old and living with a son in Pullman, Illinois. Her internment was at Sandusky, Ohio, next to her husband. Sandusky was also the birthplace of their children.
By 1900, Spencer was again working under the name Tryon. The 1900 US Federal Census listed Spencer Tryon as boarding at 128 Throop Street in Chicago, working as a paper hanger and painter. Ten years later, he was still working in the same capacity and living alone, lodging a boarding house on Wabash in Chicago. Spencer passed away in 1912 at the age of 49 yrs. old. His older brother Henry had been only 45 yrs. old when he died the decade before. At the time of Spencer’s death, he was listed as a painter, boarding at 19 E. 18th Street in Chicago. The next day, Spencer was buried at Mt. Greenwood cemetery.
Just like his mother Ann and older brother Henry, Spencer exited this world without fanfare or any published remembrances. I have to wonder if he had any loved ones to mourn his passing.
To be continued…
