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The great fire of Oulu in 1822 destroyed the town hall which left, the town's
administration dispersed into premises rented from the inhabitants. A superb
new town hall was acquired on Torikatu street in 1894 when the town purchased a
building which was originally a trade house. The building served as the town
hall until 1942.
Seurahuone was the centre of the town's entertainment scene during the early
decades of the 20th century. Dances were held at the assembly hall and after the
renovations made in the 1920's, the hall was occasionally used by a theatre
company as well. After the war the theatre settled in the building more
permanently, until the assembly hall was converted into a theatre hall and the
City Theatre started to play there.
The company which owned the destroyed Seurahuone started to build a new
building in 1884. The new neo-Renaissance-style hotel and restaurant was
designed by Johan Erik Stenberg. The town needed an assembly hall and became a
shareholder in the company with profits generated by the town distillery and
dog-licences. The town's precondition was that the building should have an
assembly hall which the town could use free of charge for its festive occasions.
During the Second World War the town rented the hotel rooms to the Ministry
of Defence for military use. A provisioning unit of the Lotta Svärd organisation
operated a canteen in the restaurant. From the summer 1942, the building housed
the office of the local German commander in chief.
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