The original playhouse, built in 1897, was unique in the idea that a county seat should have a town hall that would house both the Town Council meetings and those community and cultural events that knit together any small community and make the long winter nights bearable.
Georgetown in the 1880’s had been the fortunate recipient of an island sandstone courthouse designed by the Island architect, William Critchlow Harris. It was only natural then to turn to him to design a town hall on the corner of the square. Fortunately, a small theatre was included in the plans, with a hand-carved proscenium, two matching doors on either side; and a raked floor that was not so steep that it prevented dancing when the chairs were stacked away. The council chamber was built over the stage and reached by long winding stairs that no doubt tried the stubborn nature of citizens wishing to bring matters before the town fathers.
We know from diaries that the hall was built in 1897 and that two years later a train being improperly shunted on the tracks across the street leapt the road and crashed into the hall, almost killing William Cherry, who was plastered against the west wall. In compensation the railroad installed a large and ornate window to fill the hole left by the train. Local enthusiasts raised the money to buy a painted roll-drop curtain, back stage cycloramas and six wings that, when reversed, gave players an extra sylvan glade or living room for background. These drops were used until the late 1940’s.
Both professional, and semi-professional, touring groups came to Georgetown as part of the New England-Maritime circuit, playing out of trunks and picking up locals for bit parts. A Georgetown amateur society was formed and joined the growing ranks of local players on the island who toured church halls and community centres. In the first world war the town hall was used as the mess for departing servicemen waiting to go overseas. Photos exist showing women of the town “spinning and knitting for the soldiers,” seated on the steps of the town hall. Major Temple Macdonald, a leading light in the building of the hall, did not return from that war.
