Two long time residents of Seneca Florist Shop below

Below is a drawing of the Grand Old Opera from 1896 Courier Democrat of 1896 after the tornado of that date.  This building stood where Seneca Florist stands today.

GRAND OPERA HOUSE (Grand Army Hall)  The Opera House was believed to have been built in 1884 by the Old Soldier Association. Many men assisted in the venture, but they still owed about $1000 on it which they were unable to pay.  The Martin Lumber Co. had to take the property on its bill for materials. Then several men in the community contributed $100 each and formed the Seneca Opera Co.  They kept the building open for rental,  to stock companies for plays, and it was used a great deal for dances and political meetings.  It was, in fact, the old town hall. The Opera House was equipped with an abundance of scenery and all stage paraphernalia, lighted by electricity and gas, and had a seating  capacity for a 1000 people.  All of this and the building were destroyed by the great tornado of May 17, 1896. The hall was laid flat at an estimated loss of $10,000".

 Picture and article was taken from the Citizens State Bank Centennial Booklet of 1994

Information is that the Grand Opera House was destroyed and the steeple of the Methodist Church was laying in the street as well as the steeple of the Universal Church.   Every Church in the city was damaged and the Catholic Church was damaged to the  extent it had been reported it would have to be rebuilt from the foundation up however I believe this did not happen.

This  building had stood on the south side of main at 710 main where the Seneca Florist is today (year 2004).