Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
A new opera house was built at the Boston & Lowell Station in Lawrence, Massachusetts, in 1881. In 1887 and 1892 Henry C. Tryon painted scenery for the venue.
On May 27, 1881, a special dispatch from the “Boston Post” announced the opening of a new opera house in Lawrence, Massachusetts (page 2). The venue opened to the public with a performance of “Jane Eyre” by Maggie Mitchell and her company. The opera house was described in detail:
“The theatre is one of the largest and finest in New England outside Boston. It is located over the head house of the new passenger station at the terminus of the Lawrence branch of the Lowell Railroad, and ad the building was planned with reference to the theatre, as well as the station, there is nothing incongruous in the combination of the two. The front of the building on Essex Street, is one of the most ornamental in the city. Two broad staircases lead from the street entrances at either end of the street front to a roomy lobby, which extends around three sides of the auditorium. The latter is clearly oval in shape, 100×85 feet, and 60 feet in height with an oval dome, elegantly frescoed. There is one balcony, a handsome affair, and two private boxes on either side of the proscenium arch. All the woodwork is of polished ash, and the general tone of the decoration is high and cheerful. The seating capacity is something over 1,560, and such is the incline of the floors that every seat is a good one. The seats are folding chairs, which have unique contrivances for holding hats. The stage, which would be a credit to any metropolitan theatre, is 92×52 feet, with a curtain opening 38 feet wide. It is fitted with all the modern appliances and conveniences, and the dressing rooms are perfect little boudoirs. There is a fine stock of scenery, and the lighting is so arranged as to be easily controlled. Exits are numerous from both stage and auditorium and a panic would seem to be an impossibility. The architect, Mr. Chas. T. Emerson of Lawrence, may well be proud of his work. T. J. Cates was the mason, Gregg and Severance the carpenters, and Stillman and Nichol the plumbers and gas fitters, while the frescoing and tinting is the work of Mr. W. S. Brazier of Boston. The idea of constructing this opera house in connection with the station originated with the late Hon. Hocum Hosford, and it is deeply regrated that he did not live to see the finished work.”
Interestingly, there was no mention of the scenery or the scenic artist until 1887. This was uncommon for the period, as the scenery for the stage was highlighted at the opening, with special mention of the artist and his reputation.
On August 27, 1887, the “New York Clipper” announced:
“Lawrence. – The Opera-house opens the Fall and Winter Season Aug 22.…During the Summer the house has been thoroughly renovated, painted and new carpets added, while six new scenes have been painted by Henry C. Tryon of New York.”
Tryon returned to the venue two years later, again refurbishing some scenes and repainting other.
On July 23, 1892, the “New York Clipper” reported:
“Lawrence.-At the Opera House all is business with Manager Grant who intends to add some new features in connection with the stage and scenery. Henry C. Tryon, of the Bowdin [sic.] Square Theatre, Boston, is painting and retouching the scenes and flies, and everything will be in readiness for the opening Aug. 10, when “The Dazzler” will be the attraction” (July 23, 1892, page 312).
Four days after the article was published, Tryon passed away in relative obscurity on July 27, 1892. Newspapers announcements simple stated: “Scenic-Artist Henry C. Tryon died at Lawrence, Mass.” (Pittsfield Sun, 4 Aug. 1892, page 6).
Much information pertaining to the Lawrence Opera house has faded from history. The venue closed in 1928 and was sold less than a decade later. In 1937, the 105,000 sq. ft. parcel of land that formerly housed the old Lawrence Opera House and the old Boston and Lowell Railroad dept was sold for $250,000 to Louis M Eidam and Joseph Ganem and Bay Street Merchants National Bank (The Boston Globe, 20 October 1937, page 2).
To be continued…
