Belton Opera House

In the days before movies and television, famous orators, Chautauqua players, and traveling troupes of actors and actresses came to the Belton Opera House to present their lectures, melodramas, and magic arts. Belton boasted two opera houses, the second of which was called The Grand and was described as “one of the most elegant structures in the South.”

Built of native Bell County limestone, the Belton Opera House cost $12,000 and opened for performances on October 4, 1895 at the southeast corner of the Courthouse Square. The Grand had a somewhat checkered past. Each floor of the opera house was built by a different person, and before it was completed, the project went broke. The leader of the Woman’s Commonwealth of Belton (Sanctified Sisters), Martha McWhirter, came to the rescue by donating funds to finish the opera house. Her name appeared on its cornerstone.

Tragedy struck during the night on February 18, 1905 when The Grand was laid waste by fire. The opera house occupied the upper floor while law offices were located on the ground floor. The fire was so fierce that it threatened the entire block as well as other buildings on the courthouse square. Originating in one of the ground floor storage rooms, the fire destroyed the entire structure in less than thirty minutes. The adjoining building was demolished when an opera house wall fell. Some residences several blocks away caught fire from flying embers. Losses for the following businesses were reported: Belton Opera House Company ($10,000); Belton Trust & Loan Company ($800); James E. Ferguson law library ($2,000); D. R. Pendleton law library ($500); Pendleton & Ferguson ($5,000); Pendleton, Ferguson & Durrett law office ($200); and E. C. Clabaugh office ($200).

In December 1908, the First Christian Church acquired the property from D. R. and Julia Pendleton for $5,100. Prior to its purchase by the church, the building housed Misstrot's Dry Goods Store on the first floor. While the building was being extensively remodeled in 1910, the congregation worshipped in the District Courtroom on the third floor of the courthouse. The sanctuary was built with a balcony on three sides and large plate glass windows made up the whole front wall of the church. Worship services began in 1910 and continue today. 

On December 1, 1942, officials from Camp Hood and representatives from the Salvation Army dedicated the new Belton USO Center located in the church building. Major General A. D. Bruce, commander of Camp Hood, was the principal speaker. Under construction for several months, the center featured a large auditorium, lounge, reading room, and a balcony area for writing and games. It was anticipated that the center would care for hundreds of soldiers who came to Belton from Camp Hood.

Belton Loses Its Opera House, The Fort Worth Record and Register. February 19, 1905. Accessed April 2nd 2020.

Belton Opens Modern USO Soldier Center, The Austin American-Statesman. December 2, 1942. Accessed April 2nd 2020.

Limmer, Jr., E. A. Story of Bell County, Texas. Austin, TX. : Eakin Press, 1998.