The Bells Opera House

Every summer during the 4^th of July weekend there is a huge festival in uptown Hillsboro. Start-up country music stars fill the line up on stage as hundreds of people fill the cross streets of US 50 and US 62. This is the Festival of the Bells named after C.S. Bell and the Bells Opera House.

Although the Festival of the Bells has its own history, the Bells Opera House is a staple in the local history of Hillsboro, OH.  

As one of the most famous structures in Hillsboro, the Bells Opera House was listed on the National Register for Historic Places in 1980.  The Opera House was built in 1895 and was gifted to the City of Hillsboro by Charles S. bell who locally manufactured steel alloy bells. The Opera House its-self was in use from 1895 to 1936. The street level provided space for local shops and is still used in that current capacity today. The second and third floors housed the theater area and the bell tower capped off the structure.    

The town of Hillsboro was looking for a community theater that could house dramatic productions, concerts, and other gatherings of the arts. The Bells Opera House opened its doors in November 1895 with “Friends” a comedy-drama by Edward Milton Royle. Many productions hit the stage at the Opera House from opening night to the final curtain in 1936. Not only did the Bells Opera House provide a place of entertainment it also served the community, hosting several graduation exercises for the county high schools as well as Hillsboro High School.  

Like many opera house around the country the Bells Opera house became obsolete as the automobile made travel more accessible and motion pictures turned more ticket sales than onstage productions. With the completion of the new Hillsboro High School and its copious auditorium and gym the need for the Opera House for graduation and school place ceased. The Bells Opera House closed its doors in 1936 as the seating was tore out and put in other locations across the county.

The Bells Opera House received a breath of new life when current Mayor of Hillsboro Drew Hastings purchased the building in 2006 and has been renovating the historic building ever since. One day the doors of the Bells Opera House may open again.