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Back to the Present

A MID-1880s PHOTO of Tully’s Drug Store and Opera House, then at the northwest corner of Central Avenue and Cyclops Street in Florence, Wis. The photograph was likely taken by Jorgen Johansen Eskil, a photographer who operated his studio in Florence beginning in 1883 and moved to Iron Mountain in 1891. (Photo provided by the Florence County Historical Museum)

FLORENCE, Wis. — This week’s Back to the Present, provided by the Florence County Historical Museum, is an early view of the northwest corner of Central Avenue and Cyclops Street in Florence.

First is a mid-1880s photo of Tully’s Drug Store and Opera House.

The photograph was likely taken by Jorgen Johansen Eskil, a photographer who operated his studio in Florence beginning in 1883 and moved to Iron Mountain in 1891.

Second is a photograph of the Tully’s opera house in 1896, taken by Charles Simpson, county surveyor.

Many programs and activities took place in the large structure, including several high school graduations.

A PHOTOGRAPH OF the Tully’s opera house in Florence, Wis., in 1896, taken by Charles Simpson, county surveyor. (Photo provided by the Florence County Historical Museum)

After the original opera house came down, it left three empty lots on the corner later purchased by Matt and Emaline Meress, who opened Matt’s Tavern in 1941.

Matt’s Tavern was featured in the March 12 edition of The Daily News.

The lot now is home to the Tavern on Central, shown in the third photo.

AFTER THE ORIGINAL opera house came down, it left three empty lots on the corner later purchased by Matt and Emaline Meress, who opened Matt’s Tavern in 1941. The lot now is home to the Tavern on Central. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News file photo)

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