National Register of Historic Places

Stafford Bank and Opera House

Columbus, Colorado County, Texas
Listed
May 7, 1973
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
73002276

About this property

The Stafford Opera House, originally the R. E. Stafford Bank and Opera House, is a historic building at 425 Spring Street in Columbus, Texas, United States. It was built in 1886 by cattleman and businessman Robert E. Stafford (born 1834- died 1890). It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is also a Texas Historic Landmark. A plaque commemorates its history. The first show it hosted was "As in a Looking Glass" starring Lillian Russell. Magician Harry Houdini was another famous performer who appeared at the theater. An example of Second Empire architecture, bank and dry goods store were on the first floor and the theater on the second. Architect Nicholas Joseph Clayton of Galveston designed it. A brick building, it is decorated with articulated arched windows and polychromatic brick patterning. It was bought and used as a Ford dealership. It also was used as an arena for basketball games and boxing matches as well as a roller skating rink. During World War II, private apartments were built in the theater area upstairs. The building was purchased in the early 1970s by a preservation group and restored over the next 18 years. It was rededicated in 1990. Stafford built a home next door to the building the year it was built, 1886. The John Stafford House owned by his brother and business partner was also listed on the National Register until it burned in 1994.

Location

Columbus, Colorado County, Texas
29.70603, -96.54025

Categories

ARCHITECTUREPERFORMING ARTS
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Colorado County Courthouse
Industrial
0 mi
Harrison-Hastedt House
Industrial
0.2 mi
State Highway 3 Bridge at the Colorado River
Industrial
0.3 mi
Colorado County Courthouse Historic District
Listed
0.6 mi
Eagle Lake Commercial Historic District
Listed
14.8 mi

Questions about this property

When was Stafford Bank and Opera House listed on the National Register?

Stafford Bank and Opera House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 7, 1973.

What type of historic resource is Stafford Bank and Opera House?

Stafford Bank and Opera House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Stafford Bank and Opera House?

The period of significance for Stafford Bank and Opera House is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Stafford Bank and Opera House?

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