Krásné dárky (Beautiful gifts)
A gift shop owned by Czech & Slovak Sokol MinnesotaTaneční Mládež (Ethnic Children's Dance Group)
Links To Websites Of Interest To Czechs and Slovaks
Our Newsletter - The Czech & Slovak Sokol Minnesota SLOVO
Historic Structures Report For the CSPS Sokol Hall Of Czech and Slovak Sokol Minnesota
Visit the West 7th/Fort Road Federation website for information on the Czech puppets
HISTORIC STRUCTURES REPORT
for the
CSPS Hall
of the
Czech and Slovak Sokol Minnesota
for the
CSPS Hall
of the
Czech and Slovak Sokol Minnesota
MacDonald and Mack Architects
712 Grain Exchange Building
400 South Fourth Street
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415
28 January 2009
712 Grain Exchange Building
400 South Fourth Street
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415
28 January 2009
Partially funded by the Johanna Favrot Fund And Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fund of the National Trust For Historic Preservation
Table of Contents | |
| Part 1 | Introduction |
| Part 2 | Physical condition Site |
| Part 3 | Exterior |
| Part 4 | Interior |
| Part 5 | Utility Systems |
| Part 6 | Patterns of Use Building Code Analysis - Accessibility Existing Conditions Recommendations Additional Considerations |
| Part 7 | CSPS Hall Cost Estimate |
| Part 8 | Chronology of Building Changes |
INTRODUCTION
The CSPS (Sokol) Hall is historically significant due to social/humanitarian and education contributions, primarily from 1875 to 1899. This building was the cultural home to many Czech and Slovak immigrants, aiding with the assimilation into American culture while maintaining the pride of Czech and Slovak heritage.
Built in 1887, as a two-story rectangular brick building it is located at the corner of Michigan Street, Western Avenue South and West Seventh Street in Saint Paul. This building is the second on the site, replacing a wood schoolhouse, placed on the site in 1879, serving the community until it burned in 1886. The building is clad in buff brick. In 1917, a partial third floor was added during an extensive remodeling of the building. It has a shallow pitched gable roof with a brick parapet at the perimeter. The rear of the third floor addition is clad with painted sheet metal. The south façade has first floor painted wood storefront windows and evenly spaced double hung windows at the second and third floors. There are also double hung windows at the side and rear facades. The in-filled windows at the rear of the building also have half round tops. The brick has been painted red.
The interior space has been repeatedly remodeled at the first floor, with various retail, food service and office functions. The second floor houses the theater/gymnasium/dance hall, kitchen, meeting room and support spaces, which are relatively unchanged as is the third floor which includes a meeting room, two anterooms and balcony. A third major remodeling was based on 1979 drawings, which included a new roof, minor first floor changes, new storefront at south elevation, remodeling the lower portion of the east elevation, re-enforcing first floor framing and mechanical and electrical upgrades. A fourth remodeling was completed in 1998, focusing on the first floor meeting/classrooms, restroom, offices and retail store. There was also an elevator installed at this time as well as wood flooring at the theater/gymnasium/dance hall.
To guide the work on the building, the Board of Trustees contracted with MacDonald and Mack Architects, Ltd. to prepare a historic structures report for the building. Typically a historic structures report provides information about the history and existing condition of the building. In this "HRS lite" we are focusing on the condition of the building. The historic (and current) use of the building remains the same and the buildings appearance is relatively unchanged so there is little need for discussing comprehensive restoration or changing code requirements based on new uses. There were no physical investigations to determine the evolution of the structure since the major changes are understood. The history of the Czech and Slovak Sokol Minnesota is best covered by the organization and the significance of the building was addressed by the National Register nomination. This report also does not include measured drawings, or record photography. Rita Goodrich and Bob Mack conducted on-site work and prepared this report, which includes a physical evaluation of the structure as well as recommendations for alterations and improvements.
This report is based on a preliminary walk through with members of CSPS and several additional trips were made to the Hall and focused on conducting physical examinations of the structure, (excluding the Glockenspiel restaurant). We also reviewed archival documentation and discussed with owner's representatives current and future uses and improvements for the Hall. This final report presents our observations and recommendation for planning and future work at the CSPS Hall. Repair items are identified by priority, to permit development of a plan for long-term work. Cost estimates for each type of work will permit the organization to make informed decisions concerning the work proposed in the report.
MacDonald & Mack Architects, Ltd. would like to thank Joe Landsberger and Ken Wyberg for their assistance during the conditions analysis.
This page last updated August 7, 2009