The Central City Opera House opened in 1878. It was built with funds generated by the Gilpin County Opera House Association. Capital stock in the association was sold in 1882 and consisted of 800 shares at $10 per share. The first president (1882-1888) of the association was David C. Collier (1832-1898), owner and editor of the Central City Daily Register, Superintendent of Schools and Gilpin County Judge. The second president (1888-1890) was J.H. Potter; followed by William O. McFarlane (1890); and Peter B. McFarlane (1902). In the 1880s and 1890s, W.C. Fullerton, Gilpin County Court Judge, began acquiring blocks of stock in the association that were later transferred to Horace Hale and Peter B. McFarlane. Horace Hale (1833-1901), Superintendent of Public Education in the Territory of Colo., and second President of the University of Colo., also acquired a large block of stock in the association. He later too, transferred his stock holdings, so that by 1914, Peter B. McFarlane (1829-1840), his wife, Marie McFarlane and their son, George M. McFarlane gained control of the approximately 800 shares of opera house stock.
From the description of Gilpin County Opera House Association stock certificates, 1882-1914 [manuscript]. (Denver Public Library). WorldCat record id: 758692202
