Corinthian Hall (Rochester, New York)
Meeting hall in Rochester, New York, 1849–1898
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Corinthian Hall was a meeting hall in Rochester, New York, that was the site of significant speeches and other events. It was built in 1849 and was destroyed by a fire in 1898.
Structure
Corinthian Hall, built in 1849, was a prominent location in Rochester, New York for lectures, concerts, plays, balls, parties and fairs.[1] Susan B. Anthony, who spoke for many years in lecture halls across the country, said that Corinthian Hall, "at the time of its erection was the most magnificent auditorium west of the Hudson."[2]
The hall was located on the top floor of a building designed by architect Henry Searle and built by William A. Reynolds. The building was just north of the Reynolds Arcade, also built by William Reynolds.[3]
Most people entered the building through the Reynolds Arcade, which was located on the site of what today is a newer building, also called Reynolds Arcade, at 16 East Main Street. That entrance was near two sites of historical interest. Directly across the street was the office of the North Star, the abolitionist newspaper operated by Frederick Douglass. On their way through the arcade, patrons of Corinthian Hall passed by the headquarters of Western Union, a rapidly growing telegraph company.[4][5]
The building was constructed for the Rochester Athenaeum and Mechanics Association, which later developed into the Rochester Institute of Technology.[6] The building housed the association's 5000-volume library.[7] Retail establishments and a volunteer fire company were on the first floor.[3]
In 1879, Corinthian Hall was remodeled and named the Academy of Music. In 1884, a second gallery was added to bring the seating capacity up to sixteen hundred. In 1898, it was destroyed by fire.[8] The short street where the hall was located is now called Corinthian Street.[6]
