LB2007.1.109560

LB2007.1.109560

1948, Maine, Belfast, Street "Hayford Block, Church and Beaver Streets, 1866-68. The first section was built in 1866 at Church and Beaver Streets and the second section in 1868 on Church Street. The Hayford Block was built on Church Street 1866-68 by local contractor, Axel Hayford. There were retail stores on the ground level and offices on the second floor. In the back section was Hayford Hall, later renamed as the Opera House, which occupied two upper levels. In her will. wealthy young Belfast resident and owner of the Hayford Block, Emma Lena Peirce provided that on her husband's 55th birthday in 1913, the Hayford Block could be sold and the proceeds would be donated to build sorely needed new schools. Larrabee Brothers (formerly Wright & Larrabee) Plumbing and Heating Appliance Showroom (Hotpoint Appliances) was located on the Beaver Street side of the building at the time of this photo. The plumbing and heating shop was located at the far end of the Church Street side of the building and later became the first tenant in the new Airport Industrial Park in 1988. Thomas W. Lothrop, Jr. DDM had his dentist's office above Larrabee Brothers. Thomas W. Lothrop Jr., D.M.D. (1900-1989) was born in Evansville, Indiana and moved to Belfast in 1907. He attended local schools and graduated from Harvard Medical / Dental School in 1924. He returned to Belfast and practiced dentistry for 41 years. He was a WW2 veteran serving as a Lieutenant Commander in the USNR. Dr. Lothrop was head dentist of the dental clinic at Great Lakes Naval Base in Waukegan, Ill. He was a member of the Anah Temple Shrine and served as President of the Penobscot Dental Society. His wife, Idres died in 2007 at the age of 100. The Opera House was used for a variety of entertainments including plays, operas, fairs, formal dinners, club meetings, public gatherings and dances. Its seating capacity was 1,300 and it had a stage, a large balcony and ample floor space. Roller skating was introduced in 1882 and the first basketball game in Belfast was held there in 1904. Between Dr. Lothrop's office and the Opera House was City Job Print, owned by George Robertson. Robertson ran the Boys Cub and later the Boys Congress from 1928 until his death in 1937. It afforded opportunities for boys too young or unskilled to make a team. He rented rooms next door in the Opera House to provide space where boys could meet and plan hikes and other adventures. "George's Boys" as they were called, climbed Mt. Katahdin, explored local woods and streams and learned about the outdoors. So inspirational was the unassuming Robertson that the city named the Robertson School off Miller Street after him, in 1951. He eventually sold the business to Harold Kelley, one of his employees. To the right of the Opera House, Campbell's Dry Goods Store was located and next to that Ray & Ola's Sweet Shop (Ray & Ola Ryan)