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. You can find it at 25 Washington Street. It is a place for arts and community events all year long. The main hall can hold up to 700 people. It also has a big, open room for community gatherings. The building is also home to the Universal Baptist Church. This church has a long history, especially for African-American people.
The building officially opened on February 29, 2020. Before that, it was carefully restored and made ready for performances. It is also a great place to rent for events. The Hall hosts many different activities. These include music concerts, theater shows, and interesting talks. People also use it for weddings, meetings, classes, and art exhibits.
Contents
History of Universal Preservation Hall
The Universal Preservation Hall was built in 1871. It was first known as the First Methodist Episcopal Church. The famous architects E. Boyden & Son designed it. Many people say it is one of the best examples of High Victorian Gothic style in the entire country.
Building Design and Features
Elbridge Boyden, one of the architects, 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 45 feet above the floor. There is also a balcony that wraps around three sides of the auditorium. When used, this 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. These windows were inspired by the famous Tiffany glass style. The building also has a tall bell tower. It is the tallest structure in Saratoga Springs. Inside the tower is a 3,000-pound bell. This bell was made by the Meneely bell foundries in nearby Troy, New York.
Past Events and Community Efforts
The Hall was first built for the Methodist church's yearly regional meeting. Over the years, it hosted many important people. These included politicians like William Jennings Bryan and President William Howard Taft. Famous activists like Henry Ward Beecher and Frederick Douglass also spoke there.
In 1976, the Methodist church sold the building. The Universal Baptist Church bought it and used it for their services. However, the building started to fall apart. By 2000, it was in such bad shape that it was declared unsafe.
In 1999, people from Saratoga Springs joined with members of the Baptist Church. They wanted to save the Hall from collapsing. They worked together 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 Baptist church inside the building. The new church sanctuary was finished in 2004. Church services are still held there every Sunday.
Restoration and Reopening
The reconstruction project received many generous gifts. Local people donated money to start the work. Other groups also helped. These included The New York Landmarks Conservancy and the State of New York. The City of Saratoga Springs, the Adirondack Trust Company, and The Swyer Foundation also gave support. The Universal Baptist Church and The Saratoga Foundation also contributed.
In 2006, the Universal Preservation Hall became an "Official Project" of Save America’s Treasures. This program helps protect important historical places. The Hall received almost $200,000 from the U.S. Federal Government.
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 rebuilt. The ceiling supports in the main auditorium were also fixed. Workers used old building methods and tools from the 1800s. They removed over two tons of waste from the building during this process.
In 2015, the restoration team partnered with the Proctors Collaborative. This group had successfully saved Proctor's Theatre in Schenectady, New York. This partnership helped with further upgrades. In 2018, work began to improve the hall's lighting and sound systems. They also added an entrance that follows ADA rules. This makes the building easier for everyone to access.
On February 29, 2020, the Universal Preservation Hall officially reopened. The famous singer Rosanne Cash performed with her band. It was a special night to celebrate the Hall becoming a modern performing arts venue.
