Sheboygan Municipal Auditorium and Armory facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sheboygan Municipal Auditorium and Armory |
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| Former names | Sheboygan National Guard Armory and Auditorium |
| Alternative names | The Sheboygan Armory |
| General information | |
| Status | Demolished |
| Type | Auditorium and Armory |
| Architectural style | Streamline Moderne |
| Address | 516 Broughton Drive Sheboygan, Wisconsin 53081 |
| Country |  United States |
| Coordinates | 43°45′01″N 87°42′19″W / 43.75028°N 87.70528°W |
| Construction started | January 1941 |
| Completed | May 22, 1942 |
| Inaugurated | July 4, 1942 |
| Demolished | July-November 2020 |
| Cost | $204,000 |
| Owner | City of Sheboygan |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 3 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Edgar A. Stubenrauch |
| Main contractor | Works Progress Administration |
| Other information | |
| Seating capacity | Basketball: 3,160 Wrestling: 3,690 Concerts: 3,680 |
The Sheboygan Municipal Auditorium and Armory, often called The Armory, was a large indoor building in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. It was built in 1941 in a cool, modern style called Streamline Moderne. The building was 52,000 square feet and could hold many people. It was a Works Progress Administration project, which was a government program that created jobs during a tough economic time. The Armory was recognized for its importance in 2019 when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
History of The Armory
The Sheboygan Armory was designed by a local architect named Edgar Stubenrauch. It was built in 1941 as part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The WPA was a program started by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935. It helped people find jobs by building many important structures across the country.
WPA Projects in Sheboygan
The Sheboygan Armory was one of many buildings constructed by the WPA. Other local projects included the Sheboygan County Courthouse, the city's main post office, and several school buildings. The WPA built over 116,000 buildings in total, helping communities grow.
Original Purpose and Design
The Armory was first meant to be a home for the Wisconsin Army National Guard's 32nd Division. It had special lockers and vaults to store military equipment like guns. The building was made mostly of strong concrete.
A Place for Sports and Events
The Armory quickly became a popular spot for many different events. From 1942 to 1951, it was the home court for the National Basketball Association's Sheboygan Redskins. It also hosted high school basketball games and fun events like circuses. Later, it became a place for blood drives and Hmong New Year celebrations for the city's Hmong American community.
Future Plans and Spaceport Sheboygan
Over the years, there were many ideas for what to do with the Armory. In 1989, there were talks about turning it into a conference center for a new hotel. Later, in 2005, plans were made to turn it into a $17 million Spaceport Sheboygan Space & Science Center. This project aimed to bring more tourism and aerospace education to the area.
In 2010, the city agreed to let the Great Lakes Aerospace Science and Education Center use the Armory. Spaceport Sheboygan opened there in 2011. However, Spaceport Sheboygan moved to a new location in 2013. The Armory building was eventually taken down between July and November 2020.
Notable Events and Entertainment
The Armory was a very important place for many people in Sheboygan. It hosted the NBA's Sheboygan Redskins from 1942 to 1951. It was also the site of exciting basketball games between local high schools, Central/South High and North High, until 2006.
Community Gatherings
Many different events that shaped generations of Sheboygan residents happened at the Armory. These included basketball games for Lakeland College, Boy Scout events, and the Rockets for Schools program. The building also hosted the Hmong Festival, the Festival of Trees, and job fairs.
Famous Visitors
The Armory also welcomed many nationally known entertainers. People came to see All Star Wrestling, Golden Gloves boxing, and the famous Harlem Globetrotters. Music fans enjoyed concerts by Hank Williams Jr. and Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show. Even famous TV host Johnny Carson performed there, along with various circuses.
Demolition of The Armory
In 2009, a group called the Sheboygan Armory Foundation was created. Their goal was to save the building from being torn down. They became a non-profit organization in 2013 when plans for demolition became public.
Efforts to Save the Building
In 2014, the City of Sheboygan asked for ideas from developers to give the Armory a new life. The Armory Foundation offered to work with the city to find grants and volunteers to help restore the building. However, another company suggested tearing down the Armory to build new housing. They said the building was too old and expensive to fix for a new use.
Later in 2014, the city announced plans to sell the Armory to the Sailing Education Association of Sheboygan (SEAS) for just one dollar. SEAS planned to demolish the Armory and build their headquarters there.
A Temporary Pause
In January 2015, city committees met to decide if the Armory was important enough to save. They voted to mark it as a "preferred preserved significant building." This decision put a 90-day hold on any demolition permits. This gave people time to find other ways to save the building.
However, in March 2015, SEAS decided not to demolish the Armory. Instead, they bought another building nearby for their headquarters.
Final Demolition Decision
In September 2017, the city again asked for new ideas for the Armory site. Several proposals came in, with some wanting to redevelop the site and others wanting to reuse the building.
In April 2020, after working with historical groups, the city decided to allow the demolition. They made a plan to save historical items from the Armory and create a documentary about its history. On July 13, 2020, Sheboygan Mayor Mike Vandersteen announced that the Armory would be torn down. The work began that week and finished in November.
