Powell Opera House
Story
The original Powell Opera House was constructed by Arthur Powell as a three-story brick building in 1904. The opera house, which purportedly had seating for 750, hosted a variety of performances until it was destroyed by a fire in 1907. In 1910, it was rebuilt as a two-story office building, utilizing the remains of the original structure, with businesses on the first floor and the opera house on the second. It began showing “talkies” in 1930; however, when a new movie theater opened in 1936, it closed its doors and has remained shuttered ever since.
Threat
The space has never been reopened to the public. While the original seating was removed, much of the building remains largely intact. Today, the space is used for storage and, after nearly 90 years of neglect, it shows significant signs of deterioration. With the community’s interest in revitalizing downtown Blakely, locals are advocating for the rehabilitation of the opera house rather than its redevelopment, hoping to preserve its historic character for future generations.
Disclaimer: The Georgia Trust does not own nor has any direct involvement with this historic site. The Trust’s involvement is limited to listing it on our Places in Peril list to bring awareness to it.
Photos by Cynthia L Jennings
