Property Record
116 S MAIN ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Masonic Temple Building |
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| Other Name: | Temple Theatre Building |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 29386 |
| Location (Address): | 116 S MAIN ST |
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| County: | Vernon |
| City: | Viroqua |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
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| Year Built: | 1921 |
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| Additions: | 1931 |
| Survey Date: | 1995 |
| Historic Use: | theater |
| Architectural Style: | Neoclassical/Beaux Arts |
| Structural System: | Steel Frame |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | A.E. Parkinson and Bernard Dockendorff; Anderson and Lindstrom; Parkinson and Dockendorff |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Masonic Temple Building |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 12/1/2000 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 7/14/2000 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. This fine two-story multi-purpose Neo-Classical Revival style building was built between 1921 and 1922 to house the Masonic Temple lodge hall in its second story and the Temple Theatre and two retail stores in its first story and in the theatre wing that is located behind the main block. The building was designed by Parkinson & Dockendorff of La Crosse and the general contractors were Anderson & Lindstrom of Minneapolis/St. Paul. National Register Information System Reference # 03000669 1995- "This large, excellent, two-story multi-purpose Neo-Classical Revival style building was built between 1921 and 1922 to house the Masonic Temple lodge hall in its second floor and the Temple Theatre and two retail stores in its first story and in the theatre wing that is located behind it. The main block is 110-feet-deep x 60-feet-wide and its main facade faces east onto Main Street. Historic photos show that the appearance of this facade has changed very little since it was built, the only changes (and they are slight) having been to the two storefronts that flank the asymmetrically placed and recessed main entrance. The rest of the facade, with its distinctively arched second story window surrounds is in almost totally original condition. The theatre portion of this two-use building is accessed through the lobby in the main block, but it is housed in its own rectilinear plan 110-feet-deep x 60-feet-wide wing, which is situated directly behind the main block. This theatre is still in very original condition (the theatre was remodelled in 1930), but it is currently unused and is awaiting restoration. The Temple Theatre and Masonic Temple building is the work of Parkinson & Dockendorff of La Crosse. The building has also been the subject of a favorable informal opinion from the SHPO as to its potential NRHP eligibility based on both its architecture and its history and it was surveyed by the SHPO in 1976." - "USH 14 Transportation Study ", WisDOT ID #1646-07-00, Prepared by Timothy F Heggland (1995). National Register/State Register Listing Name Viroqua Downtown Historic District National Register Listing Date 7-17-2003 State Register Listing Date 04-11-2003 Survey Classification Contributing Survey Evaluation Listed in NRHP |
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| Bibliographic References: | Vernon County Censor. June 28, 1922, special Masonic Temple dedication issue (illustrated). Vernon County Heritage. Viroqua: Vernon County Historical Society, 1994, pp. 98-99, 148. Broadcast Censor 7/20/1989. LaFarge-Viola Epitaph News 4/21/1994, 9/1/1994. Viroqua Vernon County Broadcaster Censor 7/7/1994, 9/22/1994, 7/27/1995, 9/14/1995, 11/2/1995, 6/13/1996. Take a Walk on Main Street: Historic Walking Tours in Wisconsin's Main Street Communities, Wisconsin Main Street Program, 1998. Viroqua Vernon County Broadcaster 7/27/2000. Gays Mills-Soldiers Grove Crawford Co. Independent 5/31/2001. Zalewski, June. #28;Main Street meandering: Historic Walking Tour in Viroqua, Wisconsin.#29; Wisconsin Humanities Commission, 1990. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |