Columbia Hall - Hyde Square

I found the picture above in the Jamaicaplain.com photo gallery. The file is named "Columbia Hall Hyde Square", but note "Roxbury" under the picture. I believe that the building was torn down when the new Blessed Sacrament church was built, but don't hold me to it.



Bromley, George Washington; Bromley, Walter Scott, 1895 (copyright © 2000 by Cartography Associates)
David Rumsey Collection

Columbia Hall on Centre street



Boston Daily Globe May 19, 1893


Columbia Hall Dedicated. Parishioners of the Church of the Blessed Sacrament at Jamaica Plain Meet in New Quarters.


Columbia Hall, a new and elegant building connected with the church of the Blessed Sacrament, Jamaica Plain, was dedicated last evening under most auspicious circumstances and with appropriate exercises.

The building is at the corner of Centre and Creighton sts, and has a handsome frontage of 94 feet on Centre st, and is 41 feet deep. It is two stories high with a hip roof, and is built of wood. On the first floor are stores and the entrance to the hall is at the end near Creighton st.

Ascending one flight the hall is reached, which has a capacity of 600 with a gallery capable of holding 100 more. There are large windows on two sides of the hall and at one end is a fine stage.

The interior finish is in Georgia pine, and there are several exits front and back which afford every opportunity of emptying the hall. There is every facility for the holding of entertainments and it is also intended by the pastor Rev Arthur T. Connolly, to fit up a gymnasium in the hall. It will contain gymnastic apparatus which can easily be removed in case the hall is needed for other purposes.

On the upper floor is the banquet hall, which will seat 300, and equally well fitted out.

Last night the large hall was beautifully decorated for the opening exercises, and about 800 of the parishioners participated.

A reception and promenade concert took up the hour between 8 and 9 o'clock, and shortly after the latter hour the grand march was started, let by Floor Director Thomas Finneran and Miss Finneran, and followed by about 50 couples.

Immediately after the grand march Rev Arthur F. Connelly ascended the stage and made a short speech.

Dancing was then continued until midnight, with Thomas Finneran as floor director, and the following assistants; Messrs James Brandley, John J. Ryan, John J. McCarthy, M.W. O'Connell, Mark Mulvey and H.C. Cahill.

[a long list of aids and committee members followed]