The Col Ballroom

Last updated
Saengerfest Halle
The col ballroom davenport iowa.jpg
The Col Ballroom in 2012
USA Iowa location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location1012 W. 4th St.
Davenport, Iowa
Coordinates 41°31′25″N90°35′16″W / 41.52361°N 90.58778°W / 41.52361; -90.58778
Arealess than one acre
Built1914
Built byOelrich & Company
Architect Clausen & Burrows
MPS Davenport MRA
NRHP reference No. 83002494 [1]
DRHP No.23
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJuly 7, 1983
Designated DRHPAugust 5, 1998 [2]

The Col Ballroom is a historic building located in the West End of Davenport, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties as the Saengerfest Halle. [1] [2]

Contents

History

Saengerfest Halle

Davenport's strong music tradition is due in large part to the influx of German immigrants into the city starting in the late 1840s. [3] They founded numerous music groups in the city before 1900. The groups with longer staying power included: the Liedertafel (founded in 1848), Maennerchor (1851), Strasser's German Union Brass Band (1856), Germania Band (1883), and three other groups founded in the 1850s included Gesang Chor Der Turngemeinde, Deutscher Saengerbund, and Onretti Verein. There were also short-lived music organizations: Germania Saengerchor, Gesang Verein Teutonia, Eintracht Glee Club, Claus Groth Singing Society, Thalia Verein, Harrigaria Maennerchor, and the Davenport Saengerbund. [3] In 1858 the city hosted the third annual Saengerfest, or singer's festival, which drew people from throughout the Mississippi River Valley. [4]

The largest music event in Davenport's history took place in 1898 when it hosted the 18th annual Saengerfest. It brought together ten local German singing groups as the United Singers of Davenport. Together they organized and hosted the event. The festival included 1,200 singers from Davenport, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Elgin, Illinois, Elkader, Iowa, La Crosse, Wisconsin, Manning, Iowa, Moline, Illinois, Peoria, Illinois, Rock Island, Illinois and St. Louis, Missouri. The event drew German-Americans from throughout the Midwest, and Western Union added extra German operators so as to get news of the festival out over the wires. An estimated 100,000 people attended the four-day event. [4] The festival ended with an outdoor concert at Schuetzen Park that was attended by 12,000 people. [3]

Preparations for the festival included building a 4,000-seat auditorium for the event. A holding company built the wood structure for $4,500. [4] After the festival ended the hall was used as a warehouse. In 1906 a second floor was added by new owners and the building was dedicated as a dance hall called The Coliseum. It was destroyed by fire on October 21, 1913.

The Coliseum

In November 1914, the new Coliseum was opened by owner Leo Kerker. [4] The new building is located across West Fourth Street from where the original Saengerfesthalle was located. It was designed by local architects Clausen & Burrows and constructed by local contractor Oelrich & Company. [5] The building has a steel frame covered with brick. It has an arched roof, and individual tiles across the top of the façade each have a letter that spells out the word “Coliseum”. The structure also features two-story corner pavilions and brick pilasters on the side elevations. A sign with the name “The Col Ballroom” hangs over the main entrance. The words are in the shape of a heart. In the early 1990s, the building was extensively renovated both inside and out. Ownership of The Col was passed to Don Wachel. The Quad Cities Mexican American Organization took over ownership in 1995. [4] The building has operated as a ballroom and concert venue ever since. [4] [6] Lee Neece took over the ownership in 2014 and Leigh Macias Reitz in 2015.

A back wall of the building has the autographs of performers who played there. [6] Artist who performed at The Col include: Duke Ellington, B.B. King, The Everly Brothers, The Beach Boys, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Johnny Cash, Muddy Waters, Jimi Hendrix, Slipknot, Danzig, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. [7] The Col Ballroom was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, the Davenport Register of Historic Properties in 1998, and it was inducted into the Iowa Rock and Roll Music Association hall of fame in 1999. [4] The venue is slated to close as a ballroom and performance venue on October 29, 2018.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Davenport, Iowa</span> City in Iowa, United States

Davenport is a city in and the county seat of Scott County, Iowa, United States. Located along the Mississippi River on the eastern border of the state, it is the largest of the Quad Cities, a metropolitan area with a population of 384,324 and a combined statistical area population of 474,019, ranking as the 147th-largest MSA and 91st-largest CSA in the nation. According to the 2020 census, the city had a population of 101,724, making it Iowa's third-most populous city after Des Moines and Cedar Rapids. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836, by Antoine Le Claire and named for his friend George Davenport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">German Village</span> Historic neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio, U.S.

German Village is a historic neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio, just south of the city's downtown. It was settled in the early-to-mid-19th century by a large number of German immigrants, who at one time comprised as much as a third of the city's entire population. It became a city historic district in 1960 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, becoming the list's largest privately funded preservation district, and in 2007, was made a Preserve America Community by the federal government. In 1980, its boundaries increased, and today it is one of the world's premier historic restorations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sängerfest</span> Germanic musical competitions

Sängerfest, also Sängerbund-Fest, Sängerfeste, or Saengerfest, meaning singer festival, is a competition of Sängerbunds, or singer groups, with prizes for the best group or groups. Such public events are also known as a Liederfest, or song festival. Participants number in the hundreds and thousands, and the fest is usually accompanied by a parade and other celebratory events. The sängerfest is most associated with the Germanic culture. Its origins can be traced back to 19th century Europe. Swiss composer Hans Georg Nägeli and educator Carl Friedrich Zelter, both protégés of Swiss educator Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi, established sängerbunds to help foster social change throughout Germany and Prussia. University students began to choose the art form as an avenue for political statements. As the sängerfest concept gained popularity and spread around the world, it was adapted by Christian churches for spiritual worship services. European immigrants brought the tradition in a non-political form to the North American continent. In the early part of the 20th century, sängerfest celebrations drew devotees in the tens of thousands, and included some United States presidents among their audiences. Sängerbunds are still active in Europe and in American communities with Germanic heritage.

Männerchor or Maennerchor is the name given to German social clubs, primarily in the northeastern United States, Pennsylvania in particular. The earliest forms of these clubs where "singing societies" that perpetuated traditional choral music, both German and German-American culture, providing Gemuetlichkeit for new immigrants. Such clubs are typically attended by men and many function as a restaurant and bar, serving German foods and beers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Davenport City Hall</span> United States historic place

Davenport City Hall is the official seat of government for the city of Davenport, Iowa, United States. The building was constructed in 1895 and is situated on the northeast corner of the intersection of Harrison Street and West Fourth Street in Downtown Davenport. It was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 and on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties in 1993. In 2020 it was included as a contributing property in the Davenport Downtown Commercial Historic District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Joseph's Catholic Church (Davenport, Iowa)</span> United States historic place

St. Joseph Catholic Church is a former Catholic parish in the Diocese of Davenport. Its former parish church is located in the west end of Davenport, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The church and the rectory were listed together on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties in 1999. After serving as the location of a Reformed Baptist congregation and a private elementary school named Marquette Academy, the parish property now houses a fundamentalist Christian ministry named One Eighty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">German American Heritage Center</span> United States historic place

The German American Heritage Center, also known as the Germania-Miller/Standard Hotel, is a cultural center and museum in Davenport, Iowa, United States, that chronicles and preserves the history of German-Americans in the Midwest region. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J.H.C. Petersen's Sons' Store</span> United States historic place

The J.H.C. Petersen's Sons' Store also known as the Petersen Harned-Von Maur Store Building and the Redstone Building, is a historic building in Davenport, Iowa, United States. It was individually listed on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties and on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2020 it was included as a contributing property in the Davenport Downtown Commercial Historic District. The former department store building was modeled on the Rookery Building in Chicago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LeClaire Park Bandshell</span> United States historic place

The LeClaire Park Bandshell, also known as the W.D. Petersen Memorial Music Pavilion, is located on Beiderbecke Drive in LeClaire Park, Davenport, Iowa. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 and on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties in 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Davenport Bank and Trust</span> Historic bank in Iowa, United States

Davenport Bank and Trust Company was the leading bank of the Quad Cities metropolitan area for much of the 20th century and for the surrounding region of eastern Iowa and western Illinois. It was once Iowa's largest commercial bank, and the headquarters building has dominated the city's skyline since it was constructed in 1927 at the corner of Third and Main Streets in downtown Davenport, Iowa. It was acquired by Norwest Bank of Minneapolis in 1993 and now operates as part of Wells Fargo following a 1998 merger of the two financial institutions. The historic building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 under the name of its predecessor financial institution American Commercial and Savings Bank. In 2016 the National Register approved a boundary increase with the Davenport Bank and Trust name. It was included as a contributing property in the Davenport Downtown Commercial Historic District in 2020. It remains the tallest building in the Quad Cities, and is today known as Davenport Bank Apartments as it has been redeveloped into a mixed-use facility housing commercial, office, and residential space.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hose Station No. 1</span> United States historic place

The Hose Station No. 1 is a historic building located in downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 and on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties in 1999. In 2019 it was included as a contributing property in the Davenport Motor Row and Industrial Historic District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Kahl House</span> Historic house in Iowa, United States

The Henry Kahl House is a historic building located on a bluff overlooking the West End of Davenport, Iowa, United States. What was a private residence was converted into a nursing home in 1955, and a senior apartment facility in 2016. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Third Street Historic District (Davenport, Iowa)</span> Historic district in Iowa, United States

West Third Street Historic District is located on the west side of downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The historic district connects the central business district with the working-class neighborhoods of the West End. Its historical significance is its connection to Davenport's German-American community. Germans were the largest ethnic group to settle in Davenport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iowa Reform Building</span> United States historic place

Iowa Reform Building is a historic building located in downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 and on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zoller Bros-Independent Malting Co.</span> United States historic place

The Zoller Bros-Independent Malting Co. building is located at 1801 W 3rd St, Davenport, IA 52802 on the edge of an industrial area in the west end of Davenport, Iowa, United States. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since July 7, 1983. The 7-page National Register documents can be found by searching for "Zoeller" in the searchable table of the National Register database. In March 2023 Zillow stated the building had an assessed value of $166,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">E. P. Adler House</span> Historic house in Iowa, United States

The E.P. Adler House is a historic building located in the central part of Davenport, Iowa, United States. It has been individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1983. In 1984 it was included as a contributing property in the Vander Veer Park Historic District. It has been on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties since 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Paul Lutheran Church (Davenport, Iowa)</span> Church in Iowa, United States

St. Paul Lutheran Church is located in central, Davenport, Iowa, United States. It is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The church's original property, which subsequently housed other Protestant congregations, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, but has since been torn down. The present complex was built in 1952 and contains two buildings that are contributing properties in the Vander Veer Park Historic District. The present church building was completed in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abner Davison House</span> Historic house in Iowa, United States

The Abner Davison House, also known as Riverview, is one of several mansions that overlook the Mississippi River on the east side of Davenport, Iowa, United States. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1984, and on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties since 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Register of Historic Places listings in Downtown Davenport, Iowa</span>

This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States. Downtown Davenport is defined as being all of the city south of 5th Street from Marquette Street east to the intersection of River Drive and East 4th Street. The locations of National Register properties and districts may be seen in an online map.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lindsay Park (Davenport, Iowa)</span> United States historic place

Lindsay Park is a 31-acre (0.13 km2) park. located in the Village of East Davenport in Davenport, Iowa, United States. The lower park is a contributing property of the Davenport Village Historic District that has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1980, and the upper park is part of the McClellan Heights Historic District which was listed on the national register in 1984. The whole park was individually listed on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties in 1998. Lindsay Park is owned by the city of Davenport and features a playground, baseball diamonds and views of the Mississippi River, which is immediately to the south of the park. There is a group of architectural sculptures along the Riverfront Parkway, of which Lindsay Park is a part. The park also hosts the annual Riverssance Festival of Fine Art.

References

  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. 1 2 Historic Preservation Commission. "Davenport Register of Historic Properties and Local Landmarks". City of Davenport. Retrieved 2023-03-21. (Click on "Historic Preservation Commission" and then click on "Davenport Register of Historic Properties and Local Landmarks.")
  3. 1 2 3 Svendsen, Marlys A.; Bowers, Martha H. (1982). Davenport where the Mississippi runs west: A Survey of Davenport History & Architecture. Davenport, Iowa: City of Davenport. p. 15-3.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "From the Saenger Fest Halle, to The Coliseum, to The Col Ballroom". The Col Ballroom. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  5. Martha Bowers; Marlys Svendsen. "National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form: Saengerfest Halle". National Park Service . Retrieved 2018-09-26. with photo
  6. 1 2 Wundram, Bill (1999). A Time We Remember: Celebrating a Century in our Quad-Cities. Davenport, Iowa: Quad-City Times. pp. 119–21.
  7. Sarah Ritter (September 25, 2018). "'So much nostalgia:' Davenport's historic Col Ballroom to close Oct. 29". Quad-City Times. Davenport. Retrieved 2018-09-26.