Schieffelin Hall
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Schieffelin Hall
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Schieffelin Hall
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| Location | 215 N 5th St., Tombstone, Arizona |
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| Coordinates | 31°42′48.621″N 110°3′57.8478″W / 31.71350583°N 110.066068833°WCoordinates: 31°42′48.621″N 110°3′57.8478″W / 31.71350583°N 110.066068833°W |
| Built | 1881 |
| Architect | unknown; conceived and built by Albert Schieffelin and William Harwood |
| Architectural style | Adobe construction |
| Part of | Tombstone Historic District (#66000171) |
| Designated NHLDCP | July 4, 1961 |
Schieffelin Hall is a building from the American Old West in Tombstone, Arizona Territory, the largest standing adobe structure still existent in the United States southwest. It was built in 1881 by Albert Schieffelin, brother of Tombstone founder Ed Schieffelin, and William Harwood as a first class opera house, theater, recital hall, and a meeting place for Tombstone citizens.
When the hall opened on the corner of Fremont and Fourth Streets in June 8, 1881, it seated 450 on the floor and 125 more in the gallery. The stage drop curtain was painted with a scene from Colorado and was considered a work of art. The building was the center for city entertainment and social events in Tombstone with formal balls and theatrical performances. When it opened, it was "the largest, most elaborate theater between El Paso, Texas and San Francisco, California." The first play, Tom Taylor’s five-act drama, The Ticket-of-Leave Man, was staged on September 15, 1881. The Hall was scorched by a large fire that burned many blocks in 1882.
Schieffelin, his brother Ed, and their mining engineer partner Richard Gird formed a partnership, shaking hands on a three-way deal that was never put down on paper. The company they formed, the Tombstone Gold and Silver Mining Company, held title to the claims and worked the mines. They brought in two big strikes, the Lucky Cuss and the Tough Nut. The company produced millions of dollars of wealth for the three owners.
Along with the other claims, the three men owned a piece of the Grand Central mining claim which they shared with Hank Williams and John Oliver. The Schieffelin called their claim The Contention because of the many harsh words and legal fights over the legality of Williams and Oliver's claim. In early 1880, Gird lined up buyers for their interest in the Contention which they sold for $10,000. It would later yield millions in silver. They also sold a half-interest in the Lucky Cuss, and the other half turned into a steady stream of money. Later in 1880, Al and Ed Schieffelin sold their two-thirds interest in the Tough Nut for $1 million each to capitalists from Philadelphia, and sometime later Gird sold his one-third interest for the same amount. Al Schieffelin used a portion of his wealth to build Schieffelin Hall.
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Wikipedia