The computer-generated transcript of this page:
hall was considered "a very fine audience room." Earlier plans to use the first floor as a cooperage were discarded in favor of employing the area as a "Supper Room." First use of the hall was apparently for a Masonic Reunion on February 25, 1868, followed by a Masquerade Ball given by the Bachelor's Social club, March 4.
Near the end of May, 1868, it was announced Walter W. Wilkison had sold Military Hall to Charles S. slauson for $20,000. slauson immediately contracted with Van Horn & Son to install seats in the hall which could "comfortable seat 1,000 persons." With typical civic pride, the paper felt the structure would "at once take front rank among the public halls of this County, and be a credit and ornament as well as a great convenience to (the) growing village." The hall was renamed "Music Hall," but shortly thereafter "numerous friends of Mr. slauson prevailed on him to christen it 'Slauson's Hall'..."
The hall was formally dedicated on the evening of June 30, 1868. Entertainment "consisted of strawberries and cream." A .25 admission charge was donated by Mr. slauson to the Female Guardian Society to aid Middletown, 's poor.
The first theatrical production in the hall was July 11, 1868, presentation of "The Maniac's Revenge," which was noted to be a drama in two acts, followed by E.H. Brink's recitation of the poem "Sheridon's Ride." Entertainment concluded with "the laughable force of 'Jumbo Jum'." General admission was .35; reserved seats .50.
During the late 1800's, the hall was acquired by the Rev. Charles M. Winchester for use as the Free Christian Church, also known as Winchester Hall. While the high School on Academy Avenue was being built, students from the old Wallkill Academy attended classes in the building from September 1595 until June 1897. During this time, it was referred to ss "Winchester University."
By the early 1900's building was known as "Linden Hall." Movies were shown in Linden Hall as early as 1907. Known by a Variety of names, the building had a numb course of its' 112 years. It was torn down in late May, 1980, to expand the Municipal Parking lot on Courtland St. The hall stood to the left of the Linden Avenue entrance to the parking lot.
BULL'S OPERA HOUSE
While both Gothic and slauson Halls had been built as multi-purpose auditoriums, Bull's Opera House ("named after the elaborate tendency of the times") was the first building in Middletown constructed primarily as a theatre. The building still stands at 23-27 West Main Street.
An old house which had "long been an eyesore" was demolished in