Rhoads+Opera+House

Rhoads Opera House was built in 1885. Dr. Thomas Rhoads, a local physician, had it built and named after himself. The building had a bank and hardware store on the first floor. The second floor had an auditorium, called the Opera House, and the third floor was dressing rooms. Over the years this auditorium held plays, all kinds of productions, and even lectures. On the nights of January 13th & 14th in 1908 members of St. John's Lutheran Church had a church performance of "The Scottish Reformation".

Mrs. Harriet Monroe of Washington D.C. wrote the script. She often wrote scripts based on religious historical events and staged them in local churches. Mrs. Monroe provided the script, costumes, and lecturer while the church was to provide the actors. Both the church and Mrs. Monroe split the profits.


 * Activity**: In pairs, use a Venn Diagram compare and contrast the two photographs of Rhoads Opera House. Look at how the building has changed in the past 100 years and how it still is the same. After students are done analyzing both photographs and filling out their Venn Diagrams, share as a class.

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