As I dig into Bellevue history in my spare hours, I discover what any amateur historian with a love of historic architecture does: urban renewal often means erasing that which can never be recovered. With its considerable stock of pre-WWII-era homes and 19th Century buildings spread along the Avenue and throughout the neighborhood, Bellevue isn't exempt from the questionable decisions of mid-century urban planners. Much like Cincinnati, some places only endure in cobbled-together newspaper clippings and memories of our oldest citizens, much to the dismay of everyone with an appreciation of the tangible past.

How I came upon Balke's Opera House, I do not remember. However, after I learned of it, I could hardly get it out of my head. The three-story structure once stood at the southeast corner of Berry and Fairfield Avenue. Two images of the opera house can be found online; one looks to be older, with the title "BELLEVUE TOWN HALL" scrawled underneath it. The other appears to be newer, with "K of P and BALKE'S OPERA HOUSE" beneath it. Note: the "K of P" refers to "Knights of Pythias."

Information is surprisingly scarce on Balke's. After searching the Enquirer and Post archives for stories about the building, it appears to suffer from my least favorite issue—it just wasn't overly newsworthy in its time. Having no access to the Kentucky Times-Star or Post, I couldn't look up information for myself and have to rely on amateur websites with compiled information.

The building appears to have been constructed in 1884. Cincinnati businessman Julius Balke apparently funded its construction and imagined it as a multi-purpose building with offices and a large event space. Because it housed Police and Fire operations in its eastern wing, and because it hosted city offices and city events in the second-floor auditorium, it was referred to as Bellevue Town Hall for a time.

Theatrical performances, boxing matches, high school graduations, celebrations for WWI veterans, and many other events took place inside the building. Based on what few details I gleaned from reading about Balke's, it appears to have been the preferred venue for indoor communal gatherings.

In 1912, the city moved out of the building and into a new location on Taylor Avenue. By 1920, the Caldwell Overall Co. had moved in, transforming Balke's into a garment factory. Their stay was short-lived as they sold the building to the local FOE, the Blue Grass Aerie of Eagles No. 964, a mere four years after purchasing Balke's.

The city moved its offices out of Balke’s Opera House to 348 Taylor Avenue in 1912. This is what the building looks like today.

Caldwell Overall Co. ad in the Cincinnati Enquirer, July 1922

That's more or less the last leg of Balke's history, as far as I've read. It became known as "Eagle Hall" for its remaining 40 years under the FOE ownership. By the early 1960s, the Eagles moved, and their present-day location is on Frank Benke Way. Balke's Opera House was demolished in 1964. Gravett's Auto Body shop stands in its place today.

Below is a comparison of what that spot looked like when the building still stood and what it looks like today. Notice the building on the right side of the frame—164 Fairfield Avenue. Its quoins, window moldings, and cornice are clearly visible in both photos, as is Berry Avenue's gradual upward slope.

It’s hard to stomach looking at Gravett’s knowing what once stood before it. With Berry Avenue acting as the tail end of the red carpet into Bellevue along Fairfield Avenue, one can imagine how Balke’s must’ve improved a newcomer’s first impression of our city.

Instead of Balke’s Opera House, we have Gravett’s Auto Body. As seen on Kodak Ultramax 35mm film in July, 2020.

SOURCES:

“Balke Opera House” on USGenWebsites.org. Info compiled from “Pieces of the Past” by Jim Reis

“Bellevue Street Scenes” on NKYViews.com