Roosevelt Hall (Minnesota)
Encyclopedia
Roosevelt Hall is a community auditorium and gymnasium building in Barrett, Minnesota
, in Grant County
. The building was built by the Civil Works Administration
, a predecessor of the Works Progress Administration
, in 1934. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1985 for being one of the few buildings built by the CWA in Minnesota. The CWA made it possible for small communities such as Barrett to build architecturally sophisticated buildings at a low cost. The building has also served as a social, cultural, and educational center for the community.
The building is built of wood frame construction and measures 42 feet (12.8 m) wide by 110 feet (33.5 m) long. It is faced with western red cedar clapboard siding, and topped with a gable
d roof with wood shingles. The interior originally had a wooden gymnasium floor, a 19 feet (5.8 m) by 30 feet (9.1 m) stage, and a 41 feet (12.5 m) by 44 feet (13.4 m) balcony.
The gymnasium was once used by the local public school, but after they built their own gymnasium in the early 1950s, the hall's use began to decline. The original stage was removed in 1957, and the building housed a bowling alley for 14 years. It then housed a youth center in 1973-1974, and it was used as an insulation
manufacturing plant from 1977 through 1979. The building is now used by the Prairie Wind Players, a community theater group. The theater group built a proscenium
stage in the early 1980s. In 2004, the lobby was gutted and remodeled, with new restrooms and new ticket booths.
Barrett, Minnesota
Barrett is a city in Grant County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 415 at the 2010 census. Troy Johnson is the mayor.-Geography:...
, in Grant County
Grant County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,289 people, 2,534 households, and 1,740 families residing in the county. The population density was 12 people per square mile . There were 3,098 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile...
. The building was built by the Civil Works Administration
Civil Works Administration
The Civil Works Administration was established by the New Deal during the Great Depression to create manual labor jobs for millions of unemployed. The jobs were merely temporary, for the duration of the hard winter. Harry L. Hopkins was put in charge of the organization. President Franklin D...
, a predecessor of the Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
, in 1934. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1985 for being one of the few buildings built by the CWA in Minnesota. The CWA made it possible for small communities such as Barrett to build architecturally sophisticated buildings at a low cost. The building has also served as a social, cultural, and educational center for the community.
The building is built of wood frame construction and measures 42 feet (12.8 m) wide by 110 feet (33.5 m) long. It is faced with western red cedar clapboard siding, and topped with a gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
d roof with wood shingles. The interior originally had a wooden gymnasium floor, a 19 feet (5.8 m) by 30 feet (9.1 m) stage, and a 41 feet (12.5 m) by 44 feet (13.4 m) balcony.
The gymnasium was once used by the local public school, but after they built their own gymnasium in the early 1950s, the hall's use began to decline. The original stage was removed in 1957, and the building housed a bowling alley for 14 years. It then housed a youth center in 1973-1974, and it was used as an insulation
Thermal insulation
Thermal insulation is the reduction of the effects of the various processes of heat transfer between objects in thermal contact or in range of radiative influence. Heat transfer is the transfer of thermal energy between objects of differing temperature...
manufacturing plant from 1977 through 1979. The building is now used by the Prairie Wind Players, a community theater group. The theater group built a proscenium
Proscenium
A proscenium theatre is a theatre space whose primary feature is a large frame or arch , which is located at or near the front of the stage...
stage in the early 1980s. In 2004, the lobby was gutted and remodeled, with new restrooms and new ticket booths.