Lancaster Municipal Building (Lancaster, Wisconsin)

For other places of the same name, see Lancaster Municipal Building.

Lancaster Municipal Building
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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Interactive map showing the location of Lancaster Municipal Building
Location	206 S. Madison St. Lancaster, Wisconsin
Coordinates	42°50′48″N90°42′34″W / 42.8467°N 90.70933°W / 42.8467; -90.70933
Built	1923
Architect	Claude and Starck
Architectural style	Prairie School
NRHP reference No.	83003397
Added to NRHP	March 10, 1983

The Lancaster Municipal Building is a multi-purpose public building in Lancaster, Wisconsin. It houses the city hall and the Grantland Theatre, a single screen movie theatre and community performance venue. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 for its significance as an example of local Prairie School architecture. The facade features amber colored brick and white terra cotta ornamentation, while the interior includes oak moldings and plaster decoration. ^[1]

History

Madison architects Claude and Starck designed the building in 1923 to house city offices, meeting rooms, the fire department and a theater. Its cost was reported to be $130,000. ^{[1] [2]} The concept of a mixed-use city hall and theater was likely inspired by the Richland Center City Auditorium built in nearby Richland Center, Wisconsin in 1912. ^[2]

The building has had several modifications since its original construction. The fire department moved to an offsite location in 1996, and the original three-bay fire station now houses a senior center meeting space. A single story addition on the south side of the building, originally built for the fire department, now houses the city police station.

References

1. "Lancaster Municipal Building". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
2. Filipowicz, Diane H. (November 1982). "Lancaster Municipal Building". NRHP Inventory-Nomination Form. National Park Service. Retrieved June 16, 2016.