On This Date in Minnesota History: February 19

February 19, 1895 – Fire broke out at 5 this afternoon in the ladies dressing room of the St. Cloud opera house, and completely destroyed the building. The flames soon got into the roof, where the firemen could not fight it. It burned with terrific rapidity, and in less than two hours there was nothing left but a pile of smoldering ruins. The north wall of the building fell on a two-story house that stood close by and badly damaged it, although the firemen prevented the destruction by fire. The Wilson Theater Company, which was playing St. Cloud this week, saved all its scenery. The loss was $10,000.

St. Paul Daily Globe; “Theater Burns Up. St. Cloud Opera House Completely Destroyed at 5 O’Clock Yesterday. Company Saves Scenery.”; Feb. 19, 1895; p. 1.

St. Cloud Opera House

http://sctimesapps.com/news/thennow/pages/operahouse.php

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