The Cotaco Opera House

​The Cotaco Opera house was located in the “New Decatur”/Albany Downtown.  Its name was derived from the first name of “Morgan” County—originally, “Cotaco County. 

In 1889 and 1890, a number of prominent local and Northern industrialist individuals joined together to build an “opera house” for Downtown New Decatur.  This was a time of tremendous growth for both Decatur and New Decatur, sometimes nicknamed “The Twin Cities”. 

In that day an opera house was used for much more than opera presentations such as would be true today.  Instead, it was a multi-use facility for live theater, live music and a public hall for meetings and entertainment gatherings.  All great cities of the day had one or more opera houses.   

This building still stands at the address of 115 Johnston Street in Decatur, AL and currently houses a large boutique, The Carriage House, a restaurant, Curry’s, and professional offices.  It is believed to be the oldest intact opera house remaining in Alabama. 
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The original cost of the building was at least $75,000 based on the public and private stock investments which was an enormous sum of money for the day.  This building is also sometimes called “The Masonic Building” as it was the home of Rising Sun Lodge No. 29 of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons from 1934 until the current lodge on Bank Street was built.