Calhoun Beach Club

Infobox_nrhp | name =Calhoun Beach Club
nrhp_type =


caption = The Calhoun Beach club (middle building with a red roof), as seen from across Lake Calhoun
location= Minneapolis, Minnesota
lat_degrees = 44
lat_minutes = 56
lat_seconds = 59
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 93
long_minutes = 18
long_seconds = 54
long_direction = W
locmapin = Minnesota
area =
built =1927
architect= Nicol, Charles Wheeler; Magney & Tusler
architecture= Colonial Revival
added = December 23 2003
governing_body = Private
refnum=03001335cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service] The Calhoun Beach Club is a club in Minneapolis, Minnesota, just across Lake Street from its namesake Lake Calhoun. Its founders intended the club to meet their residential, recreational, and entertainment needs in one building. [cite web|url=http://www.mnhs.org/about/publications/planner/Fall2006.pdf|title=Minnesota Preservation Planner: Fall 2006|publisher=Minnesota Historical Society|accessdate=2008-03-05] The original building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 23 2003.

Construction of the building began in 1928, but it was delayed for about 18 years due to the Great Depression. After World War II, construction was completed, and it became a lively social club. Financial hard times in the early 1950s forced the club into bankruptcy. The building was converted to a hotel in 1954 and was marketed as a place for social events such as proms, parties, luncheons, banquets, and wedding receptions. The upper floors were converted into fashionable apartments. WTCN (now KARE television and WWTC radio) moved its radio and TV studios to the second and third floors around that time. Staples of WTCN programming, such as the children's program "Lunch with Casey" and All Star Wrestling with Verne Gagne, were filmed in the building.cite web|url=http://lunchwithcasey.com/others_remember_casey_jones.html|title=Others remember Casey Jones|accessdate=2008-03-05] It later became a home for the elderly and was renamed Calhoun Beach Manor.cite web|url=http://guides.travelchannel.com/minneapolis/business-travel/personal-business/public-access-sports-grounds/282922.html|title = Travel Channel Destination Guides: Minneapolis-St. Paul|accessdate=2008-03-05]

In 1977, the building was restored to its intended use as a sports and social club. The handball and squash courts and the swimming pool were restored, and the club installed tennis courts, steam rooms, saunas, sunrooms, and a jogging track. At that time, the lobby was restored in an Art Deco style. The club later added more facilities in the 1980s, such as an aerobics studio, volleyball and basketball courts, and other exercise equipment. The building is the oldest high-rise residential building outside of the downtown Minneapolis core. [cite web|url=http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=streetvintageapartments-minneapolis-mn-usa|title=The Vintage Apartments, Minneapolis|publisher=Emporis Buildings|accessdate=2008-03-05] A 1997 addition to the vintage Calhoun Beach Club Apartments is the newest high-rise residential building outside of downtown. [cite web|url=http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=calhounbeachclubapartments-minneapolis-mn-usa|title=Calhoun Beach Club Apartments, Minneapolis|publisher=Emporis Buildings|accessdate=2008-03-05]

References

External links

*cite web|title=Calhoun Beach Club|publisher=Wellbridge|url=http://www.calhounbc.com/|accessdate=2008-03-05
*cite web|title=Calhoun Beach Club Apartments|publisher=AIMCO|url=http://www.calhounbeachclub.com/|accessdate=2008-03-05