The Newark Opera House was built in 1885 for David Caskey. Between the years of 1885 and 1925, approximately, the building was the site of live theater and music, in addition to movies, in Newark. Theater productions took place on the second floor of this structure in the public hall. The hall was also the location of the town's first nickelodeon, a local attraction which had the distinction of showing movies to both black and white Newark residents. A 1881 Sanborn Insurance Survey Map shows the Opera House as a three story building with a general store and barber shop on the first floor, a public hall and dwelling on the second floor, and additional dwelling space on the third floor. A 1907 edition of the same map indicates this building with an added fourth story. It is possible that the mansard roof was a later building addition, constructed at the turn of the century.
Throughout the early 1900's the Opera House was occupied by a bank, a post office and a general store, with a multi-purpose hall was located on the second floor and a lodge room on the third. Today the building continues to be utilized by both businesses and apartment tenants.
The building appears to be in very good condition. It is currently occupied by a few businesses on the first floor with residential apartments above.