Solon Theatre
504 Grand Avenue,
Spencer,
IA
51301
504 Grand Avenue,
Spencer,
IA
51301
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Incidentally, the August 6, 1921 Moving Picture World has this item: “SPENCER, IA.— G. M. Solon has leased a building which he will convert into moving picture house” so Barton’s design was indeed for a remodeling of an existing building.
The NRHP Registration Form for the Grand Avenue Historic Commercial District says that “[d]uring 1920-21…a new theater, the Solon at 504 Main, was to be built, designed by W.C. Barton. It was to be red brick with terra cotta trim.” The form also notes that the façade survived the 1931 fire and was used in the new Spencer Theatre.
The Spencer was able to open so soon after the fire because the facade of the Solon was able to be reused. That explains why they seem to be basically the same building.
I’m not sure this history is correct. The 1931 fire did destroy most of this block. The theater building seems to be on the 1924 map, but it has no label, except two small stores flanking the entrance. It appears to be a remodeling of a concrete block garage on the 1915 map. The 1941 map shows the Spencer with an identical footprint and layout. It’s possible this did not open until sometime during 1924. It is odd that the map has no label for that building. It may have been open since 1921, and there was an error where the surveyor forgot to label it.