With the inception of the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1881, the need for more stage space in the Music Hall brought about the removal of the great organ, now in Methuen, in 1883. In 1900, it was Henry Lee Higginson’s intent to maintain Boston Music Hall as the name for the new building, since there were plans to demolish the old one to make way for a road. Since this didn’t happen, Higginson avoided confusion by naming the new venue Symphony Hall; however, if you look at the ends of the stair handrails in the Mass. Avenue lobby, you’ll notice silver plates engraved with the initials “BMH”.
The old building served the city well, and acoustics were reportedly excellent. Architect George Snell’s efforts were concentrated on the interior, and since the building was surrounded by other structures, the exterior was kept rather plain. The great fire of 1872, sparing
the Hall by one block, brought to attention a stark reality. With 3000 people involved, limited egress could have turned a fire emergency into an unimaginable disaster, especially with gas lighting used until the end of the nineteenth century. Under subsequent and present ownership, stringent city fire codes have certainly made this problem a thing of the past.
egress from the building could
With the inception of the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1881, the need for more stage space in the Music Hall brought about the removal of the great organ, now in Methuen, in 1883. In 1900, it was Henry Lee Higginson’s intent to maintain Boston Music Hall as the name for the new building, since there were plans to demolish the old one to make way for a road. Since this didn’t happen, Higginson avoided confusion by naming the new venue Symphony Hall; however, if you look at the ends of the stair handrails in the Mass. Avenue lobby, you’ll notice silver plates engraved with the initials “BMH”.
The old building served the city well, and acoustics were reportedly excellent. Architect George Snell’s efforts were concentrated on the interior, and since the building was surrounded by other structures, the exterior was kept rather plain. The great fire of 1872, sparing
the Hall by one block, brought to attention a stark reality. With 3000 people involved, limited egress could have turned a fire emergency into an unimaginable disaster, especially with gas lighting used until the end of the nineteenth century. Under subsequent and present ownership, stringent city fire codes have certainly made this problem a thing of the past.
egress from the building could