The Texas Historian, Volume 43, Number 1, September 1982 Page: 2
30 p. : ill. ; 25 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Located along the west side of the square, the Graham Opera House occupied the
story above several small businesses. This photo was taken sometime in the early 1880s.ance play, Ten Nights in a Bar Room, with
performances both in Cranston Hall and the
courthouse. Incidental music to the play was
provided by the Denton String Band, one of
the local amateur groups. One might specu-
late that this is the group pictured in an early
photograph labeled "Denton's First Musical
Organization"-an ensemble of substantial
citizens playing eight violins, two cellos, bass
viol, flute, cornet, trombone, and piano.
The need for a public hall suitable for
many kinds of entertainment was first met
by the Graham Opera House, established in
the 1880s. Located midway along the west
side of the square, the hall occupied the sec-
ond story above a succession of small busi-
nesses-first Ben Key's tin shop, then several
dry goods stores. In spite of its impressive
name, the Graham Opera House was a hall
of modest size, seating no more than one
hundred people. But under the management
of its owners, George and Henry Fastorff, it
served as a popular entertainment center for
Dentonites. A dance card has been preserved
from a Grand Fourth of July Ball held there
in 1883, with music by Professor Lawrence
and his band, and from later that year there
is a program for "Varied Entertainment," per-
formed by the teachers and pupils from MissBass's School. The Graham Opera House was
still operating a decade later, for a ticket has
been preserved from a Grand Military Ball
given by the Owsley Rifles of Denton in De-
cember, 1892.
By the mid 1890s, there was a great need
for a larger hall to accommodate the growing
town. Then in 1894 a calamitous accident
occurred which was, in the long run, to prove
fortuitous for the people of Denton. During
the night of September 14, a bolt of lightning
struck the old courthouse, damaging it so
severely that it had to be condemned. The
wrecked courthouse was purchased by a
prominent Denton rancher, Captain William
Crow Wright, who arranged to have it dis-
mantled. From a series of deeds dated August
23-September 2, 1894, it can be seen that
Captain Wright purchased from the heirs of
Thomas Skinner the east half of Block 6, on
the northeast corner of the square, for the
sum of $750. It was not until October 5, 1897
that Wright, in partnership with J. T. Battorf
and J. P. Blount, obtained the west half of
Block 6 at a public auction for the much
larger price of $3,565. The following year
Battorf and Blount relinquished their shares
in the property to Wright for $2,400.
The building was constructed with a steel.""~"~.;~~';" ""'*"i~i~
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Texas State Historical Association. The Texas Historian, Volume 43, Number 1, September 1982, periodical, September 1982; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth391267/m1/4/: accessed June 3, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.