1891 Fredonia Opera House

The opening of the Opera House in April 1891 was a gala affair at which smartly dressed guests from throughout the region were treated to a rousing performance of Josephine, Empress of the French. The evening also was the realization of a dream for Village officials whose plans for an imposing municipal building overlooking Barker Commons had, from the beginning, included an Opera House. This was a dream shared by many late 19th-century communities where it was felt that, with the coming of the railroads, their relatively isolated citizens could now have access to performing arts and other events formerly available only in major cities.