Fire Damaged Columbia Music Hall
Fire Damaged Columbia Music Hall Save Email Print
Posted: 2:08 PM Nov 11, 2007
 Last Updated: 6:06 PM Nov 13, 2007
 Reporter: Bryant Somerville
Email Address: bryant.somerville@wsaz.com
20 comments
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Portsmouth, Ohio residents lost a community landmark Sunday.

The Columbia Music Hall was gutted after an early morning fire.

Firefighters from 4 different departments battled the flames starting around 3 a.m.

The building is well over 60 years old and a staple in the city.

No other buildings suffered any fire damage, but the neighboring Royal Lounge did endure some water damage.
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Posted by: Emily on Nov 13, 2007 at 10:34 AM
Thank you for all of your support! We couldn't have done anything without you.
Posted by: so sad on Nov 13, 2007 at 05:03 AM
Thats terriable but my friends from the band Gypzy roze got to play the last day it was standing...aong with pour the coal..it ws so pretty there..and just a comfortable place to be...I sure hope it'll be rebuilt
Posted by: tony on Nov 12, 2007 at 08:56 PM
On behalf of Pour The Coal we as a band are very appreciative that we had the opportunity to have been lucky enough to play at this historical venue. It will be sad if something is not done to rebuild this landmark. It was nice to have somewhere for our kids and young adults to see bands without having to travel to Huntington, Charleston, Columbus and the bigger cities. We hope that we will not be the last band to get to play on that stage. We hope that the people and the city of Portsmouth will work on bringing things for the youth and young adults to do in the near future.
Posted by: Nick F. on Nov 12, 2007 at 07:18 PM
I only went there once to see my brother play with the band, "The Underdogs" and this was when it was first opened again this year. The inside was beautiful, and they were just geeting completed with the first major part of the renovation. It was beautiful, and I hope they can rebuild it.
Posted by: Michael on Nov 12, 2007 at 05:46 PM
i can t believe that the Columbia is gone that's the landmark! I do pray that they'll maybe renovated it or put in a new one because people love it.
Posted by: resident on Nov 12, 2007 at 01:58 PM
If the facade could be saved, a modern, multi-screen movie theater could be built in its place and would be a great addition to the business/bar district.
Posted by: Jerry on Nov 12, 2007 at 11:41 AM
I worked there in the "60's".That was my first part time job after school.This was a very busy place in the 60's and 70's.Also I also worked there when the Argross sisters reopened the orginal Columbia Threatre and was very sucessful and enjoyed working very much with them
Posted by: Cheryl on Nov 12, 2007 at 10:50 AM
How sad! I used to go there to watch movies years ago. My son was just there to watch Pour the Coal...finally a place for our young adults to enjoy... now its gone...Portsmount really needed a place like that I hope they can rebuild.
Posted by: CATHY on Nov 12, 2007 at 10:24 AM
We went to a concert there a few weeks ago. It was so beautiful. We really hope that they rebuild.Our daughters boyfriend plays in the band Waiting the fall and they want to do a benifit concert to try and help.
Posted by: Nick on Nov 12, 2007 at 08:44 AM
It's definitely a blow to the community, not just because of it's historic value but for the teens in the area. Before the Columbia opened I had to travel to Huntington, Cincinnati, or even Columbus. It's just a disappointing loss.
Posted by: Sherri on Nov 12, 2007 at 08:29 AM
My prayers go out to the Scott family. The Columbia was a dream that had endowered 7 years of blood, sweat and tears and since opening in January 2007 the dream had began to come to life and the year 2008 was sure to offer a great future. I intend to support them in keeping this dream a reality..... we have so many talent musicians in our area and the Scott family treated them all like STARS. The Columbia was built in 1910 with a dream for family entertainment and the Scott family had continued that dream by saving it from destruction in 2000. I will be praying for this family and offer my support to continue the dream.
Posted by: TaNaya on Nov 12, 2007 at 08:09 AM
It is very sad to see such a beautiful bulding destroyed, my friends and i really enjoyed haveing a concert venue right in our "backyards". I took my son to his first concert there. hopefully we can all pull together as a community and save what is left of this beautiful place.
Posted by: PongJi on Nov 11, 2007 at 08:20 PM
It is indeed a shame to lose this historical landmark. It was the last remaining theater of the old Columbia Pictures chain from the early 1900s. The current owners restored and upgraded it through much work and expense, not to mention excessive legal red tape from the local government. I saw countless movies in that building in my youth, and even had the pleasure of performing music on their stage this year. The Portsmouth area has lost one big piece of the puzzle when it comes to providing more of a "college town" atmosphere for students of SSU (one of Portsmouth's last remaining resources). Here's hoping that the city "leaders" will pull their heads back out into the sunlight and fill in the void left by the Columbia Music Hall. It will be missed.
Posted by: Brian on Nov 11, 2007 at 07:54 PM
It is horrible to lose the Columbia Music Hall. This was one of the best things to happen to Portsmouth. I always had a good time at the concerts I went to. Also, this was a historical place for many people in this town especially for my father, when he was younger he always to watch movies there. This town needs to build another music hall in its place, to honor the historical Columbia Music Hall.
Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 11, 2007 at 07:26 PM
mainstream hair salon also had water and smoke damage!
Posted by: Cris on Nov 11, 2007 at 07:00 PM
I never got to go but I wish I had. Someone had been asking me to go for a long while and I never got the chance. Now I really regret it.
Posted by: Claudette Ferguson on Nov 11, 2007 at 06:12 PM
Copy and paste this address in your URL address bar for online photo album: http://www.flickr.com/photos/curlyraye/sets/72157602349099794/ This is a devastating blow to the native residents of Portsmouth. The local fire deparment personnel were excellent.
Posted by: Brian on Nov 11, 2007 at 05:52 PM
Very sad, especially since I attended a show there last night. Another landmark gone. Hopefully the City of Portsmouth will step in and attempt to save this structure.
Posted by: Melissa on Nov 11, 2007 at 05:36 PM
The music hall was the best thing that happend to Portsmouth.It was a place for kids who loved music to go and have fun.Me and a few friends will try to raise money to help them get back up on there feet.I loved that place , i hate to see it go .
Posted by: Brittany on Nov 11, 2007 at 05:18 PM
It's sad to lose the columbia music hall/theater. I was just there thursday [11/8/07] to see a concert and that was my first time ever being in there and it was beautiful inside. But my mother went there when it was the columbia theater to watch movies. It was a great looking place, even on the outside and inside.
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