Submitted by the staff of the Orillia Museum of Art & History (OMAH)
In the early days of the village of Orillia, the town, or town councillors, decided that it would be in the town’s best interest to construct a building to serve as town hall.
After much discussion, and likely many arguments, the location was decided upon, and there it still stands at 1 West St. N. Or does it?
If images of the original town hall survive, this author cannot find them. Although, in the collection of the Orillia Museum of Art & History, there are 12 nails which offer a hint at that long-gone building.
All of these nails are constructed in a similar fashion, most likely by a local blacksmith. Each is made from iron and has been stamped flat into a square head at the top. Some are bent, showing their use in the construction.
These simple items give a clear insight into the first town hall in Orillia. Referred to frequently as a “shed” with an accompanying lock-up, the town was bound to outgrow it quickly.
The small building sufficed from 1874 to 1877, but it was quickly decided that the expanding population required something grander. After engaging an architect from Toronto, the new town hall and now the Orillia Opera House was completed in 1895.
Many photos of this iteration of the site survive, along with parts of the original structure. A fire in 1915 destroyed much of the local landmark and was rebuilt slightly differently. Other alterations have been made to add another theatre where the council chambers were for a period of time and install a larger entrance area.
If you happen to have more information about the first town hall of Orillia, send an email to [email protected] to help us collect more about the history of our town.
Next week we will feature another object from the OMAH collection that showcases our local history.
