Downtown Enid History
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  • Old Hammer

211 E Broadway, Enid, OK

2/12/2015

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Picture
Schiller Hall (The Old Opera House)

“Enid had no opera house, but along in the late nineties (1890’s), a scheme was broached to build “Schiller Hall”, now known as the old opera house, on the East Broadway. The money to build Schiller Hall was raised by selling shares, by subscription, by lottery, or any other old way. It was a hard pull, but at last success crowned the efforts, and Enid was ready to welcome theatrical troupes, opera singers, or any other old thing that offered amusement”. 

This was one of the original brick buildings finished 9/11/1899 pushed by Rick Messall , the young man who built the first business, The Enid Bottling Works, in Enid, O.T. after the Run in 1893. He donated the land and organized the fundraising.

In October 1899, the basement was leased for a roller rink. The rink was called “Alhambra Skating Ring”. The original intent for the basement was a gymnasium for the Sons of Herman.

From 1903 to 1907 the High School Meet upstairs. Five recitation rooms and an assembly room were provided in these quarters. The partitions swayed back and forth and the dust sifted in through the windows. Show troops practiced in the afternoons dividing the attention of the student body with their study and recitations. The play grounds were in the streets and the flag fights were held on the roof of an adjoining black-smith shop. The Enid Daily Eagle Vol. 10. No 60, Ed 1 Thursday May 25, 1911 (Article refers to a winding staircase in the building.) Marquis James went to High School in the building.

In 1906 the “Opera House” was improved to seat 1600. It became the Stater Theatre. Vaudeville performed here.

1907 to 1912 Oklahoma National Guard Machine Gun Platoon was upstairs and the Armory in the basement.

December 19, 1909 moving pictures of the Ed Adamson/Jim Downing Wrestling match were filmed here. 

In 1910, the building was owned by the Enid Club. It was foreclosed on by S.T. Goltry

March 5, 1911 Cherokee High School Beat Enid in a basketball game on the second floor.
Picture
In 1915 Enid Transfer and Storage Co moved storage rooms and offices to Building.

In 1920 George Emrick had auto machinery and implements in the basement.
Picture
1994




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    Previously 


    1899
    Schiller Hall

    1907 - 1912 

    Upstairs - Oklahoma National Guard Machine Gun Platoon 
    Basement - Armory
     
    1915 
    Enid Transfer and Storage Co storage moved rooms and offices
    to building

    1922 
    Freeman Hardware Company

    DeViney Furniture

    1984
    Marquis Furniture

    Currently

    Broadway Exchange
    Thank you to:
    John Greven of Broadway Exchange for photos and history for this building

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Downtown Enid History

Photos and memories of Downtown Enid, Oklahoma
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