Charles Thompson Memorial Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Charles Thompson Memorial Hall
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Charles Thompson Memorial Hall viewed from the northeast
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 Location in Minneapolis–Saint Paul
Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1824 Marshall Avenue, Saint Paul, Minnesota |
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| Area | 0.46 acres (0.19 ha) |
| Built | 1916 |
| Architect | Olof Hanson |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical |
| NRHP reference No. | 11000949 |
| Added to NRHP | December 22, 2011 |
The Charles Thompson Memorial Hall is a special historic building in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It was built in 1916 and was the first social club in the entire country made just for deaf people. This hall is important because it helped deaf people in Minnesota connect, socialize, and work together to make their lives better. It's even listed on the National Register of Historic Places because of its unique design and its role in social history.
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How the Hall Began
The idea for the Charles Thompson Memorial Hall started a long time ago, in 1896. This was at a meeting for the Minnesota Association of the Deaf in Faribault, Minnesota. At this meeting, Charles Thompson met Margaret Brooks. Charles came from a rich family in Saint Paul, and Margaret's family had moved to Minnesota from Scotland. They fell in love, got married, and lived in Saint Paul. They also had a lake home in Alexandria, Minnesota.
A Dream for the Deaf Community
Charles and Margaret Thompson both really wanted to help deaf people connect more. They used their homes in and around the Twin Cities as places for deaf and hard-of-hearing Minnesotans to gather. People would meet, camp, and eat together. So many deaf campers came to their home on Lake Darling that they even built special cabins there.
Building a Special Place
Charles Thompson passed away in 1915. Margaret Thompson wanted to honor him and his dream. She used the money she inherited to build a special clubhouse for Minnesota's deaf community. She hired Olof Hanson, a famous architect who was also deaf, to design the building.
Back in the early 1900s, it was hard for deaf, deafblind, and hard-of-hearing people to find places to meet. So, this new clubhouse was a big deal! In 1916, at the opening ceremony, Margaret Thompson placed the first stone, called a cornerstone. About 500 people watched. She also announced that the building and a large amount of money (about $45,000, which would be like over $1.2 million today) would be managed by a group of trustees. This made sure the club would always be free for all deaf people in Minnesota to use, no matter their beliefs.
What the Hall Looked Like
The Charles Thompson Memorial Hall was designed to be very welcoming and useful. It had a big main hall for meetings and events. There was also a bowling alley, a social room, and a dance floor made of maple wood. It even had a special play area for children.
Designed for Communication
The building had many large windows and high ceilings. This was done to let in lots of light, so that American Sign Language (ASL) signs could be seen clearly and easily. On some nights, new movies were shown on a curtain on the stage. These movies even had closed captioning, which was very advanced for the time!
History of the Hall
The Minnesota Association of the Deaf has used the Charles Thompson Memorial Hall often since 1917. They hold their big meetings there every two years. In 1957, the hall started its own newsletter, called The Thompson Hall Newsletter. Later, in 2002, it became the Minnesota Deaf Newsletter. This newsletter shared news about events at the hall, updates from the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf, local deaf sports teams, and other important information for the deaf, deafblind, and hard-of-hearing community.
Celebrating Milestones
The clubhouse has reached many important moments in recent years. The Charles Thompson Memorial Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011. Then, in 2016, members celebrated the hall's 100th birthday!
Even though there have been challenges, the Charles Thompson Memorial Hall continues to be a very important place. It shows how much deaf, deafblind, and hard-of-hearing Minnesotans have worked together for over a century.
Gallery
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Grandfather clock
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Auditorium
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Pool table
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Interior doorway with signing art
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Stairwell and water fountain
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Porch restoration in 2024
See also
