Universal Preservation Hall facts for kids
(2020)
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| Address | 25 Washington Street |
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| Location | Saratoga Springs, New York |
| Coordinates | 43°04′51″N 73°47′15″W / 43.080878°N 73.78742°W |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1871 |
| Renovated | in progress |
| Architect | Elbridge Boyden |
| Tenants | |
| Universal Baptist Church | |
The Universal Preservation Hall (UPH) is a special building in Saratoga Springs, New York. It's a place where people can enjoy arts and community events all year long. The Hall can hold up to 700 people and has a big, open room for different activities. It also has a worship space for the Universal Baptist Church, which is a church with a long history in the African-American community.
The building officially opened its doors on February 29, 2020. Before that, it was carefully restored and updated to become a modern performance and rental venue. Today, the Hall hosts many exciting events. You can find music concerts, theater shows, interesting talks, and even weddings there. It's also used for meetings, classes, and art exhibits.
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What is the History of Universal Preservation Hall?
The Universal Preservation Hall was built in 1871. It was first known as the First Methodist Episcopal Church. The building was designed by architects E. Boyden & Son. Many people say it is one of the best examples of High Victorian Gothic Revival architecture in the entire country.
How Was the Hall Designed?
The architect, Elbridge Boyden, used ideas from German and Italian Gothic styles. He used rose-colored bricks and light Ohio sandstone. This created a beautiful contrast. The sandstone highlights the pointed Gothic arches around the doors and windows. He also used horizontal bands of sandstone to connect the whole building.
Inside, two grand staircases made of walnut and ash wood lead upstairs. These stairs go to the main theater room. The ceiling of this room is very high, about forty-five feet above the floor. There is also a balcony that wraps around three sides of the auditorium. When it's used, the balcony can seat 200 people.
All the supports for the balcony and the ceiling beams have Gothic arches. These arches match the tall, colorful stained-glass windows in the room. These windows were inspired by the famous Tiffany glass style. The building also has a tall bell tower. This tower is the tallest structure in Saratoga Springs. Inside the tower is a huge 3,000-pound bell. This bell was made by the Meneely bell foundries in nearby Troy, New York.
Who Used the Hall in the Past?
The Hall was first built for the Methodist church to hold their big yearly meetings. Over the years, many important people visited the Hall. These included politicians and activists like William Jennings Bryan, Henry Ward Beecher, and Frederick Douglass. Senator Edgar T. Brackett and President William Howard Taft also spoke there.
In 1976, the Methodists sold the building to the Universal Baptist Church. The church used it for many years. However, the building started to get old and unsafe. In 2000, it was declared unsafe and had to be closed.
How Was the Hall Saved?
In 1999, people from Saratoga Springs and members of the Baptist Church worked together. They wanted to save the Hall from falling apart. They formed a partnership to rebuild it. Their plan was to make it a center for performances and events. They also wanted to create a separate worship space for the Baptists inside the building. The new church area for the Baptist Church was finished in 2004. Church services are held there every Sunday.
Since the rebuilding started, many people have given money to help. Organizations like The New York Landmarks Conservancy and the State of New York have also supported the project. The City of Saratoga Springs, the Adirondack Trust Company, and The Swyer Foundation also helped. In 2006, the Universal Preservation Hall was named an "Official Project" of Save America’s Treasures. This program gave the Hall almost $200,000 from the U.S. Federal Government.
When Did the Restoration Begin?
Jeff Pfeil, Tom Lewis, and Reverend Dr. Minnie Burns led the repair efforts. Serious work began in 2003. The old wooden beams were badly damaged by water. They were replaced with strong new steel structures. The floor of the balcony was also rebuilt. The ceiling supports in the main auditorium were fixed using old building methods and tools. Over two tons of old waste were removed from the building.
In 2015, the restoration team joined forces with the Proctors Collaborative. This group had successfully saved Proctor's Theatre in Schenectady, New York. This partnership helped to improve the Hall's lighting and sound systems. In 2018, work began to add an entrance that follows ADA rules. This makes the building easier for everyone to access.
On February 29, 2020, the Hall officially reopened. The famous singer Rosanne Cash and her band performed. It was a special night to celebrate UPH as a modern performing arts venue.
Images for kids
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UPH exterior
