Masonic Temple and Ormont Theater

Above: circa 1910

The Masonic Temple opened in 1910 at 506/508 Main Street between Prospect Street and Ashland Avenue, diagonally across from the Halsted Street/Main Street intersection; it was also the known as The Lyceum (a lyceum is a public hall designed for lectures or concerts) in addition to housing the Masonic Hope Lodge and other Masonic lodges. The Lyceum became a movie theater by about May 6, 1916.

Below: circa 1918

In a 1932 city directory the building is still referred to as The Lyceum (under "moving pictures"), but became The Ormont Movie Theater at the end of 1931.  Around that time, a new entrance building was added between the original building and the Main Street sidewalk along with an Ormont Theater marquee. 

Below: circa 1930's

Although the building wasn't constructed until about 1910, announcements of it started appearing in 1902.

Below: From the 1937/38 film almanac

Below: 1949

Below: 1957 ad from Bloomfield newspaper

Below: 1959

Above: 1979 photo courtesy of Bobby Cole

Doddtown in East Orange

Above: looking west on Dodd Street across the Dodd/Prospect intersection

Below: the NW corner of the Dodd/Prospect intersection on a 1911 Sanborn insurance map

Below: looking north across the Dodd/Prospect intersection

Above and below (1930): The East Orange Station on the Erie RR was near the intersection of Dodd St and Prospect St

Below: Brighton Avenue station of the Erie RR (1930 photo)

                Above: looking west on Dodd St across its intersection with North Park St

Below: Postcard postmarked 1908. The photo is looking north along North Park Street from the NE corner of North Park and Dodd.

Above: looking west along Dodd Street where Franklin Avenue (now named Cleveland Terrace) and Fulton Avenue (now, Colonial Terrace) meet Dodd Street; Franklin School would be to photographer's left

Below: the above intersection on a 1911 map

Below: looking east toward Brighton Avenue bridge over 2nd River; Orange branch of Erie Railroad runs alongside river on left; Saint Paul's Church, later known as Holy Name Catholic Church is on right; postcard says"Hamburg Avenue" instead of Brighton, but no mention of a Hamburg Avenue can be seen on maps going back as far as 1895.

Below: the brick building is the public library; the southern end of Watsessing Park is out of view to the right

Below: Ferry Methodist Episcopal Church at the NW corner of  Dodd Street and Cottage Place 

East Orange Homes in the Early 20th Century

Above: 44 South Munn Avenue, east side of Munn near the Chesnut Street intersection; It was the home of Winthrop Eugene Scarritt and was known as the "House of the White Lions."

Below: This home at 64 South Munn Avenue was called "The Beeches" and was the home of David S Walton. In 1921 it became Walton Hall, the home of the International Baptist Seminary.

Above: view is looking at the SW corner of North Arlington Avenue (to left) and Park Avenue (to right)

Below: NW corner of Central Avenue and South Munn Avenue; location is now site of East Orange General Hospital

Above: west side of North Arlington Avenue between William Street and Summit Street

Elmwood School Neighborhood

Above: Eppirt Street

Annie Oakley (1860-1926) and her husband Frank E. Butler (1852-1926) lived at 22 Eppirt Street (a few houses south of Central Avenue) between 1905 and 1908