The Orleans Municipal Building

The site of the Orleans Municipal Building, on Maple Street, has been home to two major landmarks at various points in the history of the village. First, it was the location of the Orleans Opera House, which was built in 1905. The Opera House was the entertainment center for the village in the early 1900s. It featured traveling minstrel shows, local and traveling theater productions, and even showings of early silent films. People came from nearby towns to access the many different types of activities that the Opera House offered.

Sadly, a fire ignited inside the Opera House in 1929, and the building was completely destroyed, despite the best efforts of the local fire department. However, the village decided to rebuild the structure, although this time they chose to construct a brick building to help avoid future fires. The new building was finished in 1930 and named the Orleans Municipal Building. The upstairs area still featured a theater that could be used for entertainment purposes, but the downstairs offered additional spaces for meetings and other activities.

Today, the theater area is used as a production space by local schools and theater companies, while the downstairs is home to the Orleans Department of Water and Electric offices. There is also a hall and kitchen area that can be rented by the public for special events.