Property Record
224 MAIN ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | ROY, F. L., BUILDING |
|---|---|
| Other Name: | |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 71912 |
| Location (Address): | 224 MAIN ST |
|---|---|
| County: | Lafayette |
| City: | Darlington |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
| Range: | |
| Direction: | |
| Section: | |
| Quarter Section: | |
| Quarter/Quarter Section: |
| Year Built: | 1922 |
|---|---|
| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1982 |
| Historic Use: | theater/opera house/concert hall |
| Architectural Style: | Commercial Vernacular |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
|---|---|
| National Register Listing Date: | |
| State Register Listing Date: |
| Additional Information: | A BROWN BRICK, TWO-STORY STRUCTURE WITH A FLAT SLOPING ROOF THAT HAS A SIMPLE FACADE TOPPED WITH A CUT BRICK CORNICE. BRICK LINTELS AND STONE SILLS ACCENT THE PLAIN WINDOWS. THE THEATRE FRONT HAS BLUE GLASS PANELS AND A DECORATIVE DESIGN OF "MODERNE" INFLUENCE ON THE TICKET BOOTH. THIS BUILDING IS HISTORICALLY INTERESTING IN THE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF DARLINGTON. BUILT AS A THEATER BUILDING IN 1922, IT ILLUSTRATES THE CHANGE OVER TO MODERNISM OF THE EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY. F. L. ROY, WHO OWNED AND OPERATED A HARDWARE STORE IN THE BUILDING ADJACENT NORTH OF THIS BUILDING, PURCHASED THE LOT UPON WHICH THIS BUILDING STANDS IN 1920. TWO YEARS LATER HE HAD THE BUILDING ON THE LOT RAZED AND THIS MODERN THEATER ERECTED IN ITS PLACE.(D) IT WAS CALLED THE ORPHEUM THEATER INITIALLY, AND MANAGED BY ARTHUR KEYES.(E) THE THEATER CONTINUED SHOWING MOVIES UNTIL JUST RECENTLY. Covenant/Easement: From 6/10/1994 to 6/10/1999. A 'covenant file' exists for this property. It may contain additional information such as photos, drawings and correspondence. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. |
|---|---|
| Bibliographic References: | BUILDING PLAQUE. BUILDING CORNICE. SANBORN-PERRIS MAP, DARLINGTON, 1908, 1924. JOHN GREGORY, "SOUTHWESTERN WISCONSIN," 1932, VOL. 3, PP. 454-455. "WISCONSIN STATE GAZETTEER," 1924, P. 293. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |