Pratt Event Center

The Haunting

The Pratt Event center consists of three adjoining buildings, all of which have been connected at different times in their history. All three buildings have been undergoing serious restoration efforts over the last 15 years. The owners have recently made the premises available for paranormal investigations.

The Day and Day Building 
The Day and Day building houses a Grand Army of the Republic meeting room where Civil War veterans from 3 Orleans County brigades and their descendants gathered for nearly five decades. Veterans climbed the three flights of stairs to meet in the room. The original embellishments proudly affixed to the walls 140 years ago are significant in their message: Loyalty, Fraternity and Charity. The entire third floor is in the process of restoration, using historic fabric including original doors and trims.

In the Day and Day building, you can feel the members’ presence even today; you are certain you are never alone. There is a strong sense of friendship and camaraderie forged by participating in the most brutal war of our nation’s history and the haunting memory of what they shared. Gaze through the door peep hole through which privileged members could spy upon the proceedings in the main room. There is often the feeling of a presence guarding and protecting the hallway access and stairwell leading to this historic meeting room. It is not a menacing presence but a watchful sentinel protecting the sacred memory of shared deeds and sacrifice.

The Grand Opera House/Pratt Opera Theater
You need to experience the Grand Opera House/ Pratt Opera Theater personally to appreciate the variety of emotions it invokes, with five decades plus in full operation, the wealthy in their finery in the box seats and farmers in their coveralls in the cheaper seats. There was no limit to the joy, excitement, anticipation, and laughter, as in the on-stage joyous marriage of actors Robert Sherman and the Dainty Miss Flo. There were also times of anger, resentment and disappointment, from personal disasters and the trauma of past tragic events occurring on stage. Perhaps you will feel that you have met the infamous John Pratt. Or his nephew still protecting the ticket booth? Or maybe the presence of the young lad stoking the coal stoves during the cold winter weather. Or possibly the faint tinkling of piano keys as the Prince of Entertainers once again looks fondly down upon the Erie Canal gently flowing under the unique Main Street lift bridge.

The Pratt Opera Theater was completed in 1890. The stage was significantly enlarged in 1902 when Pratt expanded into the alley immediately west of the parking lot, making this the largest stage between Buffalo and Rochester for many years. Originally, the opera house seated 800 people and had a horseshoe-shaped balcony. Four boxes survive as well as the orchestra pit directly below and in front of the stage. Pressed-metal fire lining was added to the stage in the 1902 remodeling, and it was common practice for the actors and crew to sign their names on the walls backstage.

The second floor contains the ticket window and dressing rooms. Gaze upon artifacts revealed in remodeling.  Search for the names of those you feel have revealed themselves to you. Remnants of original theatrical posters are evident on the brick walls of the green rooms. Photographs of the history of the building hang throughout the second floor. 

The Stone Building
The stone building predates the Day and Pratt Buildings: 1840 and 1860. The first floor consisted of 4 separate mercantile units and saloons, one of which led to the second-floor hotel rooms where actors stayed during productions. There are brothel rumors as well. The third floor’s layout evidences a dance floor or party room. One unique feature of this structure is hand-powered rope-driven elevator, currently operational!

Several groups have explored the area for paranormal activity, with them independently getting surprisingly similar information.

Contact:

114-120 North Main Street
Albion, NY 14411
P: 585-200-2400