Ingersoll lecture ad

Ingersoll lecture ad

Local newspaper ad promoting Ingersoll's upcoming lecture on February 26, 1885. Recovered from microform by Doug Schiffer.

Breese Opera House

Breese Opera House

Early photograph of the Breese Opera House as it appeared during William Breese's full ownership. Note signage for his furniture store, apparently on the second floor. The opera house/auditorium occupied the third floor; note the extra-tall windows. Image courtesy Chenango County Historian's Office.

Breese building on town square

Breese building on town square

This undated postcard image shows the Norwich town square with the Opera House building visible through the trees. Note that the opera house bears third-floor signage not present in the previous image. (Only the word "OPERA" is visible through the trees.) Image courtesy Chenango County Historian's Office.

Post Office

Post Office

This undated postcard shows the Post Office branch that took over the storefront to the left of the Opera House entrance beginning in 1888. It continued to occupy the building until 1932. Image courtesy Chenango County Historian's Office.

1908 Postcard View

1908 Postcard View

This image from a postcard sent on May 24, 1908, shows the Opera House building across the town square. The full third-floor "OPERA HOUSE" signage is visible. Image courtesy Chenango County Historian's Office.

Opera House Building Today

Opera House Building Today

Upper stories of the Breese Opera House building as it appears today. A "MASONIC TEMPLE" marker stone can be seen above the center windows on the third floor. This stone is not present in earlier photos, showing that the Temple's tenancy in the building started later than 1908.

Opera House, 3/4 View

Opera House, 3/4 View

Oblique view of the Opera House building as it appears today. At right can be seen a portion of First Baptist Church (1845), another contributing building of the Chenango County Courthouse District.

Detail View of Lower Floors

Detail View of Lower Floors

Closer view of the Opera House building today. Upstairs apartments are accessed through the door at center (red awning). Retail spaces flank the entrance to either side. The "MASONIC TEMPLE" stone is clearly visible at top.

Associated Historical Events

Sign Up for our Newsletter

Follow our sponsor on