Virtual Tour For many years Poughkeepsie High School held its graduations at the Opera House. Local musical groups performed, including the Symphony Society. The Poughkeepsie Lyceum held an annual series of lectures. Speakers included Mark Twain. Charles Hickok, owner of Hickok Music Co., presented classical musicians, including Polish patriot and pianist Paderewski - America's first classical heart throb! A Vassar College student fainted at one of his performances. Mr. Hickok also presented the Boston Symphony Orchestra at least three times. A student wrote later in his life that when he talked to Hickok the day after a performance and asked if the orchestra could play next year, Hickok replied "Next year? I lost more money this time than ever before. I lost over five hundred dollars.... People won't support me to the extent of buying the two-fifty seats. You might think the town was poverty-struck!"   BACK          NEXT   top of page