Built in 1873, the Town Hall Centre for the Performing Arts has been used in a number of capacities over the years. Originally the Township Office, it has also been a theatre, roller skating rink, movie house, fire station and ladies undergarment factory.
In 1973 a group of dedicated residents persuaded the Township Council to lease the abandoned building for 99 years at $1.00 a year rather than destroy it for a parking lot and the Town Hall was again reverted to a theatre. A stage was added but otherwise the hall was virtually maintained in its historic state for two decades.
It became evident that the demand for the hall was outgrowing its capacity and plans were initiated for major renovations that maintained the historic integrity but fulfilled the modern needs of kitchen facilities, air conditioning, sloped theatre floor and comfortable seating, dressing rooms, backstage area and stage wings and most importantly, making the building fully accessible with lift and washrooms. The $1.2 million expansion and renovations took approximately 6 years in the planning, fundraising and building. This was made possible through the generosity of the public along with Provincial, Federal and Municipal grants and a Municipal loan.
In the fall of 2004, the newly renovated building was officially opened in grand style with an opening Gala starring pianist Michael Kaeshammer and emcee Sylvia Mina. Things looked doubtful just 24 hours before the opening but the dedicated volunteers on the Town Hall Board rolled up their sleeves and had the hall ready and sparkling clean for the Gala.
The Town Hall 1873 Centre for the Performing Arts is increasingly popular for Anniversaries, Weddings and meetings as well as performances by outside groups and individuals as well as our resident musical, musical theatre and dramatic groups. The Arts and Entertainment Scene is awakened in Scugog and now with the introduction for summer theatre, Town Hall 1873 is taking its place as "The" Centre for the Performing Arts in Durham Region.