Ward Memorial Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Ward Memorial Hall
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Ward Memorial Hall
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| Location | 5000 West National Avenue, Milwaukee Soldiers Home, Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
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| Built | 1882 |
| Architect | Henry C. Koch |
| Architectural style | High Victorian Gothic Revival, Romanesque Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 84003748 |
| Added to NRHP | September 6, 1984 |
Ward Memorial Hall is an old theater building from the 1880s. It is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as part of the Milwaukee Soldiers Home complex. This complex was a special place for soldiers who had served their country.
The building is known as Building No. 41. It is on the land of what is now the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center. In 1984, this 900-seat theater was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This was done to help save and fix up the building.
History of Ward Memorial Hall
Ward Memorial Hall was built between 1881 and 1882. This was a time when the Milwaukee Soldiers Home was growing. It was originally called the National Asylum for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. Before this hall was built, plays and shows were held in the chapel of the main building.
A famous architect from Milwaukee, Henry C. Koch, designed Ward Memorial Hall. He used styles called High Victorian Gothic Revival and Romanesque Revival. The building had a theater, a store, a restaurant, and even a train station! This mix of uses was planned to meet the needs of the soldiers living there. The building also has a wide porch that wraps around three sides.
Ward Memorial Hall is one of the oldest theaters in Wisconsin. The theater's ceiling once had beautiful paintings called "Renaissance style" frescoes. These were designed by J. H. Harding. Later, a new ceiling was put in, covering these paintings, but they are still there underneath. In 1888, a large stained glass window was added. It showed General U. S. Grant on his horse. This window was a gift from the Grand Army of the Republic.
Over time, some of the building's functions changed. The train station, post office, and store moved to other buildings. This allowed the theater space to get bigger. In 1898, the theater was completely changed. It got a sloped floor, a balcony, and special boxes next to the stage. More fire exits were also added for safety.
This hall was a popular place for entertainment for the soldiers. It hosted lectures, concerts, and different types of shows. Many famous performers came to Ward Memorial Hall. These included Will Rogers, Sophie Tucker, Ethel Merman, Nat King Cole, Liberace, Bob Hope, and Burns and Allen. After World War II, fewer veterans used the theater.
Efforts to Save the Hall
From 1981 to 1992, a local theater group called the Milwaukee Players used the hall. They held rehearsals and had offices there. In the early 1980s, groups like the Soldiers Home Foundation started raising money. They wanted to fix up the theater.
Liberace, a famous performer from Milwaukee, even offered some help. He had performed at the theater when he was young in the 1920s. He would visit the veterans with his mother.
However, the fundraising efforts did not raise enough money. Today, Ward Memorial Hall is empty. The building is getting worse because water is getting inside and there is no climate control.
Ward Memorial Hall is now on a special list. The National Trust for Historic Preservation lists it as one of the 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. This means it is very important to save this historic building.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Soldiers' Home Reef
- National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers
- National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, Northwestern Branch
