Preserving Appleton’s Heritage
Preserve Appleton’s Heritage, and its supporters near and far, are aiming to restore and rejuvenate The Appleton Heritage Center as the anchor of our community pride.
The Appleton Heritage Center includes the Historic Appleton City Hall/Opera House and The Annex.
A building with lots of names
The Appleton Heritage Center has been known as “Appleton City Hall” and the “Appleton Opera House” and “Pioneer Public TV”. The 1983 addition is called “The Annex”.
History
The Historic Appleton City Hall was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on June 17, 1977. The building is historically significant as an example of the Richardsonian [Romanesque] style of architecture. Between 1895 and 1976, the Appleton City Hall housed the city offices, the local jail, public library, post office, fire department, and an opera house that hosted traveling theatre troupes for decades and community produced theatre productions. Many Appletonians have fond memories of dances or basketball games in the opera house and spending time in the main floor library.
From 1980 until 2023, the Appleton Heritage Center housed the offices and production facilities of Pioneer Public Television. In 1983, PBS Pioneer built an annex which is the newer part of the complex on the west side. Pioneer moved out in 2023, with many rehabilitation projects left to be done.
PAH purchased the building in 2023. Renters include a dance studio, an arts and culture group, a museum, and a coffee shop. PAH is committed to the stewardship of the building and is working on addressing the critical deficiencies and rehabilitation needed.
Why Is rehabilitating The Appleton Heritage Center important?
This building has both local and regional impact. It has sparked economic growth and attracts patrons from across the region through dance and art programming. Dancers come from 10 cities across five counties. New businesses are able to start and grow because of this building which is becoming increasingly important for Appleton.
The building is extremely important to the community of Appleton. It is one of two buildings in the city on the National Register, and the most prominent historic building on main street. Its presence holds much of the city’s history.
Unlike retired school gyms or churches, the historic Opera House has unique, beautiful architecture, unmatched by any building within 50 miles. The acoustics, wood floor and stage and beautiful interior should be preserved.
PAH also believes this building holds historic value as we aim to restore and rejuvenate the Historic City Hall and Opera House as an anchor of our community pride. This building connects people to history, both through its preserved architecture and unique characteristics, and creates a link to the past. PAH wants to ensure that this historic structure will continue to be available as a community asset the public can enjoy for years to come.