Pulford Opera House, Savanna, Illinois
Image by myoldpostcards
A view of the Pulford Opera House on the 300 block of Main St. in downtown Savanna. Constructed in 1905, the 115-year-old structure was built by Savanna millionaire Bothwell Pulford (1852-1905), known at the time as the richest man in Savanna.
Opera houses such as the Pulford played an important role in small towns from the end of the Civil War up until the 1930s. Opera houses were rarely used exclusively for theatrical performances. Rather, these buildings were a part of the fabric of the community and were used for anything and everything that a large indoor space could provide for. A typical layout for opera houses had the first floor reserved for commercial space, and the second and third floors for a performance or meeting space. Opera houses can still be found in many small towns today, but many of the buildings I’ve come across have fallen into disuse and/or are in poor condition.
The Pulford Opera House is now an antique mall that offers ghost tours. Which brings us back to Bothwell Pulford. As story goes, Mrs. Pulford was giving too much attention to an attorney, Daniel Berry, whose office was located in Pulford’s opera house. As Berry arrived for work one morning, he was shot dead while unlocking his office door. While it was never proven that Pulford pulled the trigger, Pulford took his own life just three days after Berry’s murder. A reporter asked a question concerning the whereabouts of Pulford’s gun. Pulford didn’t like the question, and went home and killed himself.
Savanna is a river town located along the banks of The Mississippi River and picturesque bluffs of Carroll County in Northwestern Illinois. Settled in 1828 by explorers from Galena, Savanna is one of the oldest towns in Illinois. The town began as a Steamboat stop for runs between Galena and St. Louis, and grew as a logging, shipping and, eventually, as a Railroad hub. In 1917, the U.S. Army constructed the Savanna Army Depot just north of town. From WWII thru Vietnam, Savanna Army Depot served as a munitions maintenance and storage facility for traditional, chemical, and nuclear weapons. The Savanna Army Depot closed in 2000.
Located on the Great River Road, the city is trying to become more of a weekend destination, like nearby Galena. The city’s business district is full of buildings dating to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. New ornamental lighting has been installed to complement the century-old buildings.
While the distinction of being the seat of Carroll County belongs to nearby Mount Carroll, Savanna is Carroll County’s largest city (2019 population est. 2,717). It also is the only place in all of Carroll County where you will find a stoplight.
