The Opera House
Hayford Hall was built between 1866 and 1868 by Axel Hayford, a local contractor and businessman. It housed businesses on the lower level and a ballroom/theater with a balcony on the second level. Renamed the Belfast Opera House in 1883, it was the social center of Belfast. Entertainment included fancy dress balls, concerts, orators, amateur and professional theater, and public meetings. The first movies were shown here when the building was among the first in Belfast to add electric power (photo c. 1910).
Inset:
The Haraden Block (diagonally across) built in 1850 by merchant John Haraden, was originally two stories and was later enlarged. In 1911, the fledgling telephone company occupied it with offices and a switchboard serving 2,000 customers.
Marker is at the intersection of Church Street and Beaver Street, on the left on Church Street.
Courtesy hmdb.org
