Postcard Memories is a weekly series of historic postcard views and photos submitted by Marcel Rousseau.
Some were previously published by the Orillia Museum of Art and History and in the book Postcard Memories Orillia.
On a Friday night in July of 1915, a large explosion was heard at the back of the Opera House. A fierce fire started on the stage and quickly consumed the scenery.
The fire was well established by the time the fireman arrived a few minutes later. The building burned out of control for two hours before it gave any sign of abating. The loss to the town was estimated to be $25,000 to $30,000, of which $19,000 was covered by insurance.
The Opera House was rebuilt within two years at a cost of close to $60,000 but without the original square tower that had been on the south side of the building.
These scarce photos were taken the next morning and show the shell of the building with the firemen pouring water on the smouldering ruins.
