The abandoned Garman Opera House in Bellefonte, Penn. (Matthew Christopher)

The Garman Opera House, once home to vaudeville when it opened in 1890, is now nothing but a pile of bricks after it was demolished in January of this year.

But photographer and urban explorer Matthew Christopher was able to capture photos of the abandoned Victorian-era theater in Bellefonte, Penn. before it was torn down.

Christopher says the theater, the restaurant in its basement and the hotel next door, were overwhelmingly covered in mold when he went to visit it.

“The mold itself was the most memorable and frightening thing about the Garman,” he told weather.com. “It smelled horrible and even with a respirator it was a huge relief to get away from it at the end of the day. The white mold had also made its way through the floors, walls and ceilings and had almost entirely engulfed the Italian restaurant La Bella Trattoria in the basement of the Garman.”

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When the Garman Theater opened it saw performances from many popular acts, including Houdini, according to the Bellefonte Historical Historical and Cultural Association. The theater closed in 1961, but was renovated and reopened in the mid-90s. In 2006, a restaurant was opened in the basement and guest rooms and suites were opened in the expanded rear of the theater. But the Do-De Hotel was completely destroyed in a fire in 2012 – which also damaged the upper floor of the Opera House.

After the fire the entire section remained vacant. Many members of the community rallied around getting the theater restored, but developers decided the damage to the interior was too great and it was demolished in January 2014.

“While the Garman Opera House was mostly undamaged by the fire, the roof was compromised in areas,” said Christopher. “Water was able to seep into the theater and without air circulation or sunshine, it became a very moist and damp environment that was ideal for mold to thrive in.”

Christopher had been interested in photographing the Garman Opera House for “several years.” So, when he was notified that the developer was allowing limited access to show the some community members how badly damaged the interiors were he was able to take photos before it was gone.

“I am always interested in abandoned and historic properties, particularly ones like this that have a strong significance to the community and are endangered.”

To see more of Christopher’s work visit his website or Facebook page.