Orillia Opera House
Orillia Opera House is a historic building home to local opera company and was home to Orillia City Council as City Hall from 1895 to 1997.
History
The Richardsonian Romanesque building was built in 1895 to replace the first permanent town hall built in 1874 to house town council and local jail.
The original structure was designed by Toronto architecture firm Gordon & Helliwell and completed in 1895.[1]
1915 Fire
A fire in 1915 destroyed much of the building and was rebuilt (with plans from Burke, Horwood and White)less the south tower when it re-opened in 1917.[2]
1958 to Present
A new front entrance was completed in 1958 and Orillia City Council vacated in 1997 and Orillia Opera became the sole tenant in the building.
Interior
The building's interior consisted for a Council chambers, 905 seat auditorium, city hall offices, library, market stalls and jail.[3]