This Week in Odessa History

Early in the last century, Odessa had an opera house, and live opera occasionally played there.

There are no known photographs of the interior of the opera house, and little is recorded about its decor, acoustics, stage and other amenities of the building. It was a frame structure which - like so many other buildings in downtown Odessa early in the century - was destroyed by fire in 1917.

The opera house stood on the south side of the middle of the block on First Avenue between Division and Alder streets, about where the Odessa Trading Company’s office today is located.

The Odessa Record reported that the building burned because someone had left a lighted cigarette on the floor. The building belonged to the Odessa Concert Band, most of whose members were away serving in World War I, and as there were no funds it was decided not to rebuild.

But earlier in the century, the opera house had occasionally reverberated with the sound of opera, such as it may have been. Here is a report, a review if you will, of an opera performance in Odessa, appearing in the April 19, 1912, issue of The Record:

A packed house greeted the LeBrun Grand Opera Company at the Opera House Wednesday evening, when the company appeared here in a program of grand opera under the auspices of the Odessa Commercial Club.

It was the fifth and last number of the club Lyceum course for the season. Parts of one act from “Martha” and three acts from “Il Trovatore” were sung by the company, and the audience showed its appreciation by frequent applause.

Madame LeBrun possesses a very sweet voice, and the singing of the tenor, Fritz Huttman, placed him in high favor with the audience. Miss Baer made a deep impression upon her listeners when she appeared as the Gypsy woman in the closing scene of “Il Trovatore.” She sang her lines with much feeling, her rich contralto voice being well suited to the part.

Mr. Dean, the baritone, also proved himself a good actor and sang his lines with telling effect.

The costumes worn were rich and beautiful, and the silver spangled gown worn by madame LeBrun in the first act of “Il Trovatore” was greatly admired. Many brilliant diamonds sparkled from her ears, throat, arms and hands, adding much splendor to the scene.

As was expected, the LeBrun company proved a strong attraction, and the paid admissions totalled an amount nearly sufficient to make up the deficit of the Commercial Club’s Lyceum course fund, leaving only a few dollars to be paid out of the club’s general fund.

100 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

May 3, 1912

It has been left to the principals of the accredited high schools of the state to decide upon the questions for debate next and the principals will vote upon the seven questions submitted by the State Board of Education. The questions are:

1. Should the State of Washington adopt the single tax?

2. Should the constitution of the U.S. be amended by providing for a presidential term of eight years and limiting the number of terms to one?

3. Should Congress establish a general parcels post system?

4. Should Alaska be made a territory immediately?

5. Should the U.S. government own and operate the telegraph?

6. Should the U.S. dispose of non-continental territory?

75 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

May 6, 1937

A Safeway store will be opened in Odessa during the next week it was revealed this week when workmen started unloading materials and erecting shelving in the former Strate Furniture store rooms.

Odessa’s housing problem is growing more acute with each day. At the present time there are six definite renters seeking houses. With each day comes new reports of properties being sold within the city, depriving renters of the home they have been occupying. There are no vacant houses without tenants ready to move in.

25 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

May 7, 1987

After two years of second place among B schools at the Washington State Apple Blossom parade in Wenatchee, the Odessa High School marching band brought home the first-place award after last Saturday’s appearance.

Music director Gordon Neale said his bandsmen, led by drum major Tawyna Goetz, “braved elements of rain and the reminders of the Appaloosa Horse Club to ‘best’ Brewster, to which Odessa played ‘second fiddle’ the past two years.”

10 Years Ago

From The Odessa Record

May 2, 2002

The Odessa Police Department will switch from a 2 3/4-man force to two officers on duty for 80 hours a week.

Odessa Police Chief Joe Mueller told the Council that a department with two officers working 40 hours a week and a third for 32 hours a week can’t be sustained under the present budget.

The 10th annual Odessa Spring Fling Quilt Show, sponsored by Fronen Steppdecker, Odessa’s Quilt Club, was attended by an estimate 300 people.

The 19th Ducks Unlimited banquet drew members from as far away as Seattle to Yuma, Ariz.