Clayton Opera House is Built
Per plans drawn up by the Town of Clayton, the Clayton Opera House cornerstone was set in August 1903 and the building completed in July 1904. It was built on the corner of Water Street (now Riverside Drive) and Merrick Street, on the site of the once thriving Johnston Shipyard where the famous steamer St. Lawrence was built. The hall’s architect was Frank T. Lent and its builder, George Kenyon. The building was powered and heated by steam from a pumping station across the street.
The town built the Opera House at a cost of $15,000. Town officials made arrangements with members of the local Masonic Lodge to pay for the cost of the roof, provided the Masons could use the third floor for their meetings; they remained in the space for another ninety years. Also, local businessman Holland B. Dewey agreed to finish the basement in exchange for a long-term lease on the space to house his furniture and undertaking business.A Performance Hall is Born
The Clayton Opera House has always been home to the performing arts. In August 1905, summer resident May Irwin and her troupe from New York City presented the play Mrs. Black is Back. The performance filled the house with almost 1,000 people, the largest number ever to attend a performance there. In addition to May Irwin, the Opera House hosted other Broadway stars including James Hackett, William Danforth, Lillian Russell and Lester Vail. Local talent also took the stage, including the Clayton Band, the Darou Minstrels, Solar’s Orchestra and the Kings and Queens of Rhythm.
The Opera House contains a stately performance hall with balcony on its first and second floors, and a large ballroom and meeting room on its third floor. Though many such opera houses were constructed at the turn of the 20th century, only a few remain today. Over the decades the Opera House has hosted many events, including plays, exhibitions and medicine shows. It had a regular seating capacity of 750, making it the largest performance hall in Jefferson County at the turn of the century. Scenery pieces from the Ackerman Studio in New York City were kept in the basement, which also housed five dressing rooms.Also a Community Center
The Opera House was also referred to as Town Hall because it was used for a variety of community functions, such as commencement exercises and the annual Firemen’s Ball, as well as Youth Club and Radio Club activities. In the 1920s, the Clayton High School, located where the Clayton Municipal Building is today and too small to handle extra-curricular activities, used the main floor of the Opera House as a basketball court by suspending baskets from the stage and the opposite balcony.
Several Museums Begin at the Opera House Site
Three museums, the Antique Boat Museum, the Thousand Islands Arts Center – home of the Handweaving Museum, and the Thousand Islands Museum, originated at the Opera House site. Since their inception, the three museums have grown, becoming independent, thriving, significant institutions receiving state and national support.Its Second Century - A Time for Revival
By the turn of the 21st century, the overall functionality of the Opera House was greatly reduced. It was without heating and air-conditioning, sufficient bathrooms, a sound system or comfortable seating. Yet, even though with time the original luster and functionality of the hall had greatly diminished, its intrinsic potential for becoming a major cultural and community center in the Thousand Islands region remained. Enthusiasm ran high when the Town of Clayton and the Thousand Islands Performing Arts Fund (TIPAF – a not-for-profit organization dedicated to fostering the performing arts) agreed that they would collaborate in a revival of the Clayton Opera House….both the building and its programming.Revival of the Clayton Opera House
In 2001, the Thousand Islands Museum moved to new quarters on James Street, paving the way for the revival of the Clayton Opera House as a performing arts and community center. In 2002, the Thousand Islands Performing Arts Fund (TIPAF), at the request of the Town of Clayton, sponsored new programming for the summer seasons at the Opera House. Early performances included the Bolshoi Orchestra String Quartet, the Summer Festival Orchestra of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Jeff Tyzik, and the U. S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins. Popularity of the Opera House’s summer programming spread, and TIPAF saw increased ticket sales in each of its 2004, 2005 and 2006 seasons. Additionally, the community and regional artists began to see the stately hall with excellent acoustics as a desired venue for events and concerts outside the TIPAF season.
In 2004, TIPAF commenced the Centennial Campaign to Renovate the Clayton Opera House, a broadly supported $3.2 million project, to once again establish the venue as a year-round performing arts and community center.The Partnership
In 2003, the Town of Clayton and TIPAF established an important public/private partnership to oversee the management and renovation of the Opera House. Pursuant to this understanding, TIPAF became responsible for managing the ongoing operations of the Opera House and for raising funds for the renovation work. The Town maintained ownership and responsibility for maintenance, repairs and utilities.Renovation
Upstate Construction from East Syracuse, Northern Mechanicals from Norwood, Hyde-Stone Mechanical Contractors from Watertown, S&L Electric from Colton and Davis-Ulmer Sprinkler Company from Liverpool, NY served as the contractors on the renovation project. The renovation included exterior improvements, heating and air-conditioning systems, an elevator, major electrical and plumbing upgrades, new bathrooms, state and federal access and egress compliance and third floor improvements. Also included is an addition to the back of the building needed to house mechanicals, a “green room” for performers and dressing rooms. The venue also gained new stage curtains, lighting and rigging, a new sound system and an transformed interior. The total cost of the project was $3.25 million. Thanks to the generosity of over 450 contributors, the Centennial Campaign to Renovate the Clayton Opera House was successfully completed in 2007 and the renovation was able to be accomplished according to plan.Today
The Clayton Opera House is now a year-round center for performances and community events. In 2009, more than 170 events ranging from small business meetings to sold-out rock concerts took place in the hall. Each year, the diversity of events and the number of people who visit and use the space continues to grow. TIPAF is proud to serve as the managers of this fine facility and we look forward to seeing you in the audience!
