Digital Bob Archive

The Juneau Opera House, which existed at Second and Seward Streets for more than 70 years - with a variety of names - was removed from the scene on April 23, 1959, as the result of a spectacular fire. The National Bank of Alaska Building stands on the site today.

The Opera House was built in 1887 as a theater with attached bar - or perhaps as a bar with an attached theater. It was, in fact, a multi-purpose building and entertainment center. Over the years it sheltered such diverse activities as boxing and wrestling matches, a variety of theatrical productions including vaudeville, moving picture shows, at least one high school commencement, sessions of the U.S. District Court including the first Grand Jury deliberations in Juneau, political conventions and rallies, church services, charity benefits, band concerts, gambling games and, in all probability, some activities that are best not mentioned. In 1913 the Opera House was one of the places considered for the first session of the Alaska Territorial Legislature, but that honor went to the Elks Hall.

On February 6, 1897, the building was extensively damaged by fire which threatened for a time to destroy not only it but some adjoining buildings. The local fire department, which at that time, before there was a municipal government, was entirely a volunteer organization, managed to save enough of the building so that, with a new roof and one new wall, it could reopen as a theater and bar with a restaurant on the lower floor.

Many years later, in March 1934, another fire broke out in Bing's Cafe on the lower floor of what was then known as the Winn Building, but no extensive damage was done. It became the Hixon Building in 1942 and it was at 11:32 p.m. on April 23, 1959, when the alarm sounded for what proved to be the old building's final fire.

The fire started in the back of Reblyn's, a women's clothing store owned by Marilyn Rew, and quickly spread to other business places including Belou's Shoe Store, owned by Lou Hudson; Dick Garrison's Radio and TV which also housed Ned Kestor's Record Shop; and to Belle's Cafe, owned by Howard and Belle Dilge. They had just completed a $12,000 remodeling of the restaurant.

Some 60 firemen from both sides of the Gastineau Channel fought the blaze for five hours under the direction of Assistant Chief Roy Noland. Chief Minard Mill was out of town. There was great concern for keeping the fire from spreading to the adjoining Valentine Building. The offices of the Alaska Federal Savings & Loan Association were in the Valentine Building and closest to the Opera House and some of the records were moved out when it was feared the blaze might spread.

The old building had been patched up and remodeled many times over the years and the upper floor had been cut up into rooms for rent. It was a nightmare for the firefighters but they finally extinguished the blaze before the building burned to the ground. However, the walls bulged and leaned and the old landmark was obviously beyond repair.