Star Theatre (Argyle, Wisconsin) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Star Theatre
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 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Location | 200 S. State St., Argyle, Wisconsin |
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| Built | 1878 |
| Architect | Alanson Partridge |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000154 |
| Added to NRHP | November 7, 1980 |
The Star Theatre, also known as Partridge Hall, is a special building in Argyle, Wisconsin. It was built way back in 1878. Over the years, it has been many things: a shop, a place for meetings, and even a movie theater! This historic building is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This list helps protect buildings that are important to American history.
Contents
The Star Theatre's Story
Built by Alanson Partridge
The Star Theatre was first built by a carpenter named Alanson Partridge. He moved to Wisconsin from New York in 1856. In 1878, he built the first part of the building. His carpentry shop was on the first floor. Above it was a big hall.
This hall was called Partridge Hall. People could rent it for many different events. It was used for:
- Meetings
- Dances
- Community meals
Alanson Partridge even hosted some events himself, like a Christmas Ball. He would use "barkers" (people who shout to get attention) in the streets to tell everyone about his events. He believed in the temperance movement, which meant he did not allow alcohol at his events. After 1881, he added another part to the building.
Building Features
The building has two floors. It is made of wood and covered with clapboards, which are long, thin boards. Most of the windows have a cool curved shape at the top. The front of the building, called the east gable, has a special bell-shaped decoration. Inside, the big hall on the second floor had a stage for performances.
A Community Hub
In 1908, Alanson Partridge sold his hall to a group called the Modern Woodmen of America. This group continued to rent out the hall. It stayed a very important place for the community. Many different activities happened there, such as:
- Important meetings
- School proms
- Lectures
- Roller skating parties
- Basketball games
From Hall to Movie Theater
In 1920, the hall got a new name: the Star Theatre. This was when it started showing movies! First, it showed silent films, which had no sound. Later, it showed "talkies," which were movies with sound.
What Happened Next?
The movies stopped playing at the Star Theatre in 1945. After that, the building was empty for a while. For a short time, it was even used as a hatchery, a place where baby chickens hatch. Around 1980, the building was fixed up and restored. Today, it holds shops and a restaurant, continuing its long history as a part of the Argyle community.
