Opera House

The second floor of the Opera House was one large room with a stage beneath the east windows. It was the location of many plays and speeches. Among those delivering speeches in the building was William Jennings Bryan. The stairway to the opera house, sometimes called the Briggs Opera House, was in the gap between the buildings on the north.

Mr. A.C. McCorkle, Mr. A.J. Briggs, and Mr. James G. Meek had the building constructed in 1883 primarily to house their new Bank of Superior. On the corner coping the word “Superior” is still readable. The part missing above said, “Bank Of.” The bank lasted until 1895. It was re-organized in 1897 and nationalized.