Stanly Enterprise: February 28, 1907 

    F.E. Starnes is contemplating the erection of a new brick building with upstairs hall or club room. 

    Stanly Enterprise  May 23, 1907

    Messrs F.E. Starnes and D.F. Parker have purchased 25 feet frontage on Main Street, in addition to

    that purchased sometime ago , and they will soon erect a two-story brick building, adjoining the P.J.

    Honeycutt & Co.'s store.

    Stanly Enterprise: July 11, 1907:        NEW BRICK BLOCK

    Messrs F.E. Starnes and D.F. Parker and J.C. Parker have united in the erection of a handsome

    brick building to adjoin the Smith & Biles building now occupied by P.J. Honeycutt & Co., on 

    Main Street.

    The building is to be two stories, covering 50 x 80 feet.  The lower floor will be finished for store

    rooms, using the crane and patent front, with solid plate glass joined by metal clasps.  The second

    floor will be finished for an opera house, a thing much needed in our little city for various public

    gatherings.

    The contract has been awarded to L.A. Moody, and the work will be prosecuted just as fast as

    material and labor can be applied.  

    Thus it will be seen that Albemarle continues to grow.   

    August 3, 1907:       Deed stating sale of lot now occupied by Opera House from R.L. Smith and

    H.F. Biles to D.F. Parker and his son in law, F.E. Starnes. (Third partner J.C. Parker, brother of D.F.

    not mentioned on lease).  

Original Owners of the Albemarle Opera House Building

F.E Starnes                          D.F. Parker                        J.C. Parker

Pictures courtesy of Patricia Starnes Bramlett

    Stanly Enterprise: June 25, 1908

    The seats are being placed in the opera house, which with the new curtains to be provided, will make

    it quite a handsome interior and a distinct credit to the town.  

    The large Crane's patent plate glass front for the Parker-Starnes building has arrived and the finishing

    touches are fast being put on.  The New York Dry Goods Store, under management of A.N. Dry will

    occupy and Mr. Starnes the other. 

    May 1908 - December 1913       From mid-1908 to the end of 1913, the Opera House was used for

                                                     traveling vaudeville and minstrel shows.   (see Events and Shows)

    1914- 1916                In 1914 Mssrs. L.O. Parker and J.C. Bostian leased the Opera House space

                                    for use as a moving picture theater.

Ode Parker

Picture courtesy of Lewis Parker Bramlett

    September-December 1916      While the new building for the Alameda Movie Theatre was being

                                                     completed, the Opera House was used temporarily for the shows.

    1919 - Approx 1929                  The Opera House was rented to P.J. Honeycutt: Furniture and

                                                    Undertaking to be used as extra storage space. 

   (According to Sanborn Fire Insurance maps the Opera House was still being used as an annex for the undertaking business as late as 1929)

    Early 30's to late 50's               The Opera House was leased to the City for storage.

    Late 50's to present                The space is currently being used for storage by the owners.