Although it was not regarded as a theatre per se over one hundred years ago, the structure which housed Liberty Hall earlier occupied the same spot where J.D. Bowersock created the first opera house for Lawrence in 1882. It did serve for public assembly in the early years of the burgeoning town of Lawrence. History’s license dating from the ancient stone stages would certainly include meeting halls in the category of theatres which Webster defines as, “The locality where events take place.”

The very first building on this site, a small frame structure, was erected in 1854, the year Lawrence was founded. It served as a hardware store for the firm of Allen and Gillmore mainly until a new tenant joined in to share the space, the "Herald of Freedom" [newspaper]. A history of Kansas and Douglas County describes the one and a half story building as sided with green cottonwood boards, sixteen to twenty inches wide. The newspapers first issue, printed in Lawrence January 1,1855, also marked one of the firsts for the state.

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Naturally, with Lawrence the recognized freestate capital of Kansas, the "Herald of Freedom"’s editorial policies concurred. Because of this badge of infamy, Sheriff Jones, Marshal Titus and their pro-slavery marauders from Lecompton, the slave capital of Kansas, must have enjoyed a particular glee in setting the torch to it May 21,1856, also to the Kansas Freestate paper and the Freestate Hotel, predecessor to the Eldridge Hotel, which of course was to suffer a similar fate at the hands of Quantrell some seven years later. To complete the newspapers destruction, their type and [Page 8] equipment was scattered over the streets of Lawrence and thrown into the river.

From its ashes a new building sprouted soon thereafter where the "Herald of Freedom" had operated. Samuel Edwin Poole erected a two story brick building. Its spacious second floor became the first sizeable public meeting place in Lawrence and gained the name of Liberty Hall. Such oratorical speakers as the fiery New York tribune editor, Horace Greenley and noted clergyman, Henry Ward Beecher spoke there. Both were noted for their anti-slavery views.

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After the great massacre of Lawrence, August 21, 1863, the Liberty Hall, if it was destroyed, must have been rebuilt or at least restored eventually. The writer was unable to find much information as to the lighter moments, which were understandingly sparse in a town recovering from such a wholesale destruction and slaughter for almost the next decade.

However, an advertisement in a newspaper for the Liberty Hall stated that on Sunday April 31, 1882, an evening performance was billed as The Miller Brothers in “Spiritualism.” Evidentally the . . .Kansas Blue Law, which was to be repealed in 1932, had as yet to be legislated. Looking back still further in the Daily Journal, the writer was to discover how really cosmopolitan was the taste of Lawrence [Page 9] audiences. Advertised for one night only, Friday, April 21, 1882, was the one man show of Oscar Wilde who will deliver and address at the above hall (Liberty Hall), “the English Renaissance.” Reserved seats, one dollar.

Excerpts, pages 7-9, from One Hundred Years of Lawrence Theatres, by Emory Frank Scott. Published here with permission.