www.victoriaplayhousepetrolia.com

Credit: Daytripping

Victoria Hall – A Jewel In A 19 th Century Setting By: Carol Graham

When Sir John A McDonald came to Petrolia in 1887, the crowd of 2000 met him at the Central (roller skating) Rink. The prosperous oil town did not have any other suitable buildings. At the time, the town hall was a two-storey wood building, opposite the railway station (library). That year the construction of a new town hall was approved, on condition that it contain an opera house. One of the top architects of the day, George F. Durand of London, Ontario was contacted. Two years and $35,000 later, Victoria Hall was opened on January 18, 1889. It housed a fire department and town council offices on the main floor, an ornate opera house on the second floor and the jail cells located in the basement. The opera house became the new home to the famous Petrolia Assemblies, held 3 or 4 times a year, where the notables of the town gathered in their finery to watch touring theatrical shows, dance to famous bands and hear public lectures and poetry. A favourite was the witty businessman “Tip” Corey who often wrote poems to commemorate local events. As the decades passed, the fire department and police moved into their own buildings. The opera house fell silent and suffered years of neglect. In 1969, a teacher approached council with the idea of turning the old opera house into a community center. Although the cleanup was completed the community center never materialized. However, it sparked an interest in resurrecting the opera house as a theatre. After a major overhaul costing approximately $250,000, the theatre was slowly renovated. The final renovation was completed in 1984 with the new clock tower being hoisted into place. Victoria Hall was once more the jewel in this 19th Century setting with an active theatre. After celebrating it’s one hundredth birthday, tragedy struck. In the early morning hours of January 25, 1989, fire broke out. The century old wood of the ornate staircase and decorative interior quickly caught fire. It is said that the bell in the clock tower rang once before crashing through the burning building. Photos of the fire are in two books located in the lobby of Victoria Hall. The community was devastated by the tremendous loss. Discussions about rebuilding Victoria Hall divided the town. The end result however, was a new interior with the original shell. Rising from the ashes, is a historic landmark providing air conditioning, elevator access, and other modern amenities. Visitors today can enjoy can still enjoy the famed acoustics of the opera house despite the revamped interior. Look for the beehive in the brickwork near the main entrance, which signified the ‘beehive’ of activity within the opulent structure.

http://www.victoriaplayhousepetrolia.com/

As much as Victoria Hall is a historical, heritage site and integral to the historical record of the area it houses an outstanding theatre whose performances Tourism Sarnia Lambton encourages you to experience.