The Mount Joy Hall was built in 1896. It was built as a multipurpose building with community events and entertainment as its main focus. In the mid-20th century, the first floor was a store, the second floor was a performance hall for traveling entertainers, and moving pictures were shown too. The third floor was used by lodges and fraternal organizations. The basement had a restaurant and a pool hall.
There were nine secret societies in Mount Joy in 1894 and the town’s population was less than 2000. The nine organizations at that time were the Masons, Odd Fellows, the Red Men, Hermit Castle, Aurelia Council, General Cameron Council, Cove Lodge, Lieutenant David H Nissley Post 478 and the Sons of Veterans (Civil War). Out of all of these organizations only one still exists is the the Masons. The Free Masons represent the oldest organization in the world with their origin dating back to the 16th century.
Men joined lodges for two main reasons. One was that by paying weekly dues, funds became available to pay the widow of a lodge member when he died. The other reason was to have a social connection and something to do.
According to the old local newspapers the first moving pictures were shown in Mount Joy in 1902 at the Mount Joy Hall. Sound came to the movies in 1929. Prior to that silent movies were always accompanied by piano playing. In 1931 the price of admission to the Mount Joy Theater in the Hall was 10 cents for children and 25 cents for adults. There were dances with live music, even some boxing matches, along with many other functions in the Hall.
Today 128 years after The Hall was built for the Mount Joy Community, it is still a busy place with Paula’s School of Baton Practicing there!