Nomination for Burt's Theater

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form No. 10-300 (Rev. 10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FOR NPS USE ONLY NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM DATE ENTERED NOV 1_1977 SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS AND/OR COMMON STREET & NUMBER 719 - 723 Jefferson NOT FOR PUBLICATION CITY, TOWN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Toledo, Ohio - VICINITY OF PRESENT USE DISTRICT AGRICULTURE *COMMERCIAL STRUCTURE _WORK IN PROGRESS EDUCATIONAL -PRIVATE RESIDENCE PUBLIC ACQUISITION *ENTERTAINMENT -IN PROCESS XYES: RESTRICTED GOVERNMENT SCIENTIFIC -BEING CONSIDERED - YES: UNRESTRICTED -INDUSTRIAL OTHER: OWNER OF PROPERTY LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC.

REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS Landmarks Committee Downtown Survey DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS 039 095 LOCATION CODE BOTH 1970 DATE TITLE MILITARY CLASSIFICATION ACCESSIBLE COUNTY Walter Christen PUBLIC OBJECT CATEGORY HISTORIC RELIGIOUS SITE Lucas OWNERSHIP NAME COURTHOUSE. STATE PH0504904 Lucas County Courthouse STATUS XMUSEUM DATA SHEET The Country Palace Adams & Erie Streets Toledo-Lucas County Public Library -Local History Dept Burt's Theater - UNOCCUPIED 26l4 Westchester XBUILDING(S) - TRANSPORTATION X.PRIVATE 9th Ashley Onio - PARK SEP 2 6 1977 RECEIVED Ohio DESCRIPTION DETERIORATED X_ORIGINAL SITE *GOOD X ALTERED -MOVED DATE. DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

adapted from the front of the "Ca d' Oro",a Gothic Palace in Venice, Italy. Windows on the first floor have been boarded up, the main entrance condensed, and Gothic intersecting, geometric, and scissor type tracery, supported by single three rows of central windows. Arches, columns, and bands are flush with the venetian adornments, which feature Gothic arches also nearly flush with the facade. Originally, terra cotta balconies projected from the bases of the end-bay windows, floor windows of the Ontario facade have been closed in, and a garage door has been Ontario St. Facade.

CONDITION UNALTERED EXCELLENT terra cotta columns at the corner.A winged griffin connects these second and columns with Corinthian capitals.Horizontal bands of terra cotta separate the Venetian ornamentation abounds at each window.A huge recessed central window A classical terra cotta cornice is supported by terra cotta brackets just below CHECK ONE facade. Four recessed, end bay windows are also surrounded by terra cotta on the second and third stories is adorned by lancet type arches with Venetian the roof line.A horizontal band of dentils runs slightly below the brackets. the roof line.A terra cotta bracketed cornice also runs the length of the Burt's Theater is a brick rectangular building located on the corner of Jefferson an aluminum awning added, but the basic plan and shape of this elevation are added at the rear of the building, where a floor to roof stairway exists.

but these were removed. -UNEXPOSED -FAIR and Ontario Streets in downtown Toledo. The three bay Jefferson Avenue facade is - of yellow brick running throughout, but six bays of double 4/4 windows were addea DATE The upper two floors are yellow brick decorated with terra cotta pieces. The Ontario St. facade is connected to the front facade by three unusual turned stories were originally enhanced only by an unusual diamond pattern after the turn of the eentury.The size of each set of windows decreases towards -RUINS AREAS OF

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

SIGNIFICANCE - CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW COMMUNITY PLANNING LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE *ARCHITECTURE SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN ART POLITICS/GOVERNMENT _OTHER (SPECIFY) SPECIFIC DATES George S. Mills (architect) STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Statement of significance

Ohio and Toledo, and because it is one of only two remaining 1800's era theater The theater was designed by famous Toledo Architect George S. Mills, and was likely Burt's Theater was designed for Vaudeville and melodrama, and always offered 'family daily matinees, a nursery, and "a fat man's row of divans". verted to a movie house. Since that time it has housed a produce company, an auto agency and showroom, and headquarters of the Toledo Automobile Club. For many years hence it has played host to a number of nightclubs. Recently, the rear portion 1700-1799 1500-1599 1897-98 1600-1699 COMMERCE EDUCATION ENGINEERING PREHISTORIC ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC AGRICULTURE ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC INDUSTRY TRANSPORTATION SCULPTURE PERIOD MILITARY LAW buildings in Toledo.

LITERATURE XTHEATER BUILDER/ARCHITECT SIGNIFICANCE 1400-1499 _COMMUNICATIONS _EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT the last building on which Mills did actual drafting.The building was built in _PHILOSOPHY MUSIC the plan of the owner to convert the entire building into a Toledo museum. _ECONOMICS -CONSERVATION has been converted to Christy's Warehouse",a museum of Toledo memorabilia.It is 1897-98ata costof $75,000.Frank Burt opened the theater on August 25,1898 fare' at reasonable rates. It had a seating capacity of over l,5oo people and featured -SCIENCE -1900- 19l3 was the final year for operation of the theater as a playhouse -- it was never con- - RELIGION INVENTION Burt's Theater is significant because its Venetian Gothic architecture is unique in

The rest of the file

Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES the Arts, Culture and Commerce (Toledo: The Bee Publishing Co., 1899.) 10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION Only the structure, no surrounding land, is included in the nomination. LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES 11 FORM PREPARED BY NAME / TITLE Ted J. Ligibel, Preservation Officer Landmarks - N.W. Ohio Historic Preservation Office STREET & NUMBER 305 Bell Bldg-, 709 Madison Avenue (419) 244-1776 CITY OR TOWN 2 STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER CERTIFICATION THE EVALUATED SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROPERTY WITHIN THE STATE IS: NATIONAL - LOCAL - As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-665). I criteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Service.

STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER SIGNATURE FOR NPS USE ONLY GPO 892-453 TELEPHONE CODE NORTHING ORGANIZATION DATE COUNTY 12/27/76 STATE Toledo, UTM REFERENCES ATTEST: less than one at the southeast corner of the intersection of Jefferson g Ontario Streets.

ZONE EASTING Toledo at the Threshold of the 2oth Century:Her Resources and Development in hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the 197o National Register form: Eric Johannesen Gill Wright Bentley,"Burt's Theater,"Northwest Ohio 1970) Ohio ZONE 10-31-27 Lucas Photos - Inventory - REVIEW UNIT CHIEF NOV 1 Send-back - OTHER KEEPER Entered ARCHEOLOGIST HAER Maps TECHNICAL Re-submit CONTROL HISTORIAN Review Property Federal Register Entry BRANCH CHIEF State National Register Write-up 10/4/77 Shul INT:2106 - 74 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service WAso No.7 Working Number G.26. 2 7. /S29 NAME: BURT'S THEATER LOCATION: 719-723 JEFFERSON AVE. TOLEDO,OHIO LUCAS CO.

CREDIT: TED J LIGIBEL NEGATIVE AT: L-NWOHPO DATE: DECEMBER, 1976 PHOTO #: 1 og 2 1HA PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER NOV 1 1971: SEP.361977 TIME ANY FRE PARKING OF SIGN NAME: BURT'S THEATER CREDII TED J LIGIBEL DATE: DECEMBER, 1976 PHOTO #: 2 of 2 SEP 2 6 1977 NOV 1 1977 LOCATION:719-723 JEFFERSON AVE.TOLEDO,OHIO LUCAS CO. PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER NEGATIVE-AT: L-NWOHPO » IDENTIFICATION: SIDE AND FRONT TACADES, "LOOKING SE SEP 2 6 1977 TOLEDO, OHIO - MICI TOLEDO QUADRANGLE 1965 UNITED STATES RECEIVED DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 7.5 MINUTE SERIES (TOPOGRAPHIC) GEOLOGICAL SURVEY SEP 2 6 1977 L September 21, 1977 Dr. William Murtagh, Keeper 18th & C Streets, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20240 Dear Dr. Murtagh: Transmitted herewith are five (5) completed National Register nomination the archeological importance of FORT MEIGS (NHL).

The Aboriginal site NEW SUBMISSIONS (Emergencies): all submitted nominations involve owners held up while lists of property owners were compliled. Columbus Near East Side District, Franklin Co. Arnold Homestead, Montgomery Co. Burt's Theater, Lucas Co. Wood, Enoch & Sons, Hardware Store, Jackson Co. Downtown Tiffin Historic District, Seneca Co. Director, Ohio Historical Society RECEIVED Sincerely, THS/g1k REGISTER NATIONAL intent to register. Also included is information to be included concerning Ohio Historic Preservation Office Department of the Interior State Historic Preservation Officer and National Register of Historic Places coincides with the established boundaries.

Advisory Board and owners of subject properties have been informed of our National Park Service forms.All have been approved by the Ohio Historic Site Preservation FORT MEIGS ABORIGINAL SITE be included with FORT MEIGS (NHL).file ADDITION TO EXISTING NOMINATION NOV 1 Hon. John H. Glenn, Jr. Location STATE 11/1/77 880 Mott/js Name Toledo State Historie Preservation Officer Date Entered ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER Also Notified Regional Director, Midwest Region Lucas County Burt'g Theater Interstate 7l at 17th Avenue Hon. Howard M. Metzenbaum Hon. Thomas L. Ashley Director, The Ohio Historical Soeiety Columbus, Ohio 43211 Dr. Thomas H.Smith MUIZTAGH Ohio NOV 9 1977 Thank you for your letter concerning the nomination of lurt's Dr.

Thomas Io Smith Columbus, Ohio 43211 ) Regional Director/MIdwest ) FNP :BHandy: cac:11/8/77:523-5483 760 700 H32-880 Sincerely yours, Associate 160) Director Enclosure House of Representatives The Ohio Historical Society Ernest Allen Connally 190) leaflet which describes the National Register program. Places. Dear Mr. Ashley: We are pleased to inform you that Burt's Theatre was entered Washington, D.C. We appreciate your interest in historic preservation. Interstate 7l at 17th Avenue (BASIC FILE RETAINED IN 88O) 001-Reading File in the National Register on November 1,1977. Bnclosed is a HANDY Honorable Thomas Ludlow Ashley ROG-ERS October 21, 1977 Burt's Theetre, Toledo, Ohio, to the National (Sga.) William J. Whalen William J. Whalen 190 (2) w/e inc. FNP: EDezendort for crb 10/21/77 House of Representatives reply at the earliest opportunity.

Sincerely yours, We appreciate your interest and will provide a Register of Historic Places. Honorable Thomas Ludlow Ashley Dear Mr. Ashley: October l7 about the nomination of the former I am pleased to acknowledge your letter of Washington, D.c. Director bee: Thomas Ludlow Ashley, M. C. 2406 RAYBURN BUILDING Congress of the United States FEDERAL BUILDING 234 SUMMIT STREET BANKING, FINANCE AND TOLEDO, OHIO 43604 URBAN AFFAIRS MERCHANT MARINE AND Wlashingtonr, I.C. 20515 October 17, 1977 Ms. Kate Cole, Chief of Review U. S. Department of the Interior Washington, D. C. 20240 Dear Ms.

Cole: for designation as an historical site and, further, that the nomina- tion has been favorably reviewed by the State of Ohio and forwarded As you may be aware, that remarkable building has recently This is particularly significant, 1 believe, as it assures the I would be most appreciative if the National Register can give your consideration and best wishes, 1 am FISHERIES to your office. corporation with a rich tradition of community service in Toledo. DISTRICT OFFICE: I want to add my most enthusiastic endorsement to this fundraising effort and early designation would be of great assistance remaining examples of Venetian Gothic architecture in both its original form and for its original purpose.

National Park Service prompt and favorable consideration to this nomination and if your National Register of Historical Places to the Rep in pursuing other institutional sources of operating capital. It is my understanding that the former Burt's Theatre, Louse of Representatibes Tocated at 16 Tenth Street, Toledo, Ohio 43624, has been nominated 9TH BISTRICT, OHIO been bequeathed to the Toledo Repertoire Theatre, Inc., a non-profit THIS STATIONERY PRINTED ON PAPER MADE WITH RECYCLED FIBERS 20515 BUDGET responsible maintenance and preservation of one of America's few office can keep me advised of further developments.With thanks for Sincerely youns, 4 county code: 3 LOCATION street & number 12) SOURCE of NOMINATION - FEDERAL - deteriorated Daltered EO NOT INTACT-O Omoved - Unknown Ounexeavated ZO NOT APPLICABLE - 9 - No Access SAVED?

-YES ) AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE : - LANDSCAPE ARCH.- 15 C POLITICS/ GOVT.: 21 - RECREATION-28 OCLAIMS: explain -ENGINEERING - 11 'first'O -ARCHEOLOGY - prehistoric-2 - ENTERTAINMENT-26 - LAW- 16 - RELIGION- 22 - SETTLEMENT-29 CARCHEOLOGY- historic-1 - COMMUNICATIONS-7 -EXPLORATION -12 - LITERATURE- 17 - SCIENCE- 23 DURBAN PLANNING-31 'oldest' O - AGRICULTURE -3 - CONSERVATION - 8 C HEALTH -27 C MILITARY - 18 - ARCHITECTURE-4 - ECONOMICS- 9 - INDUSTRY - 13 - MUSIC - 19 - SOCIAL / CULTURAL-30 'only' D - ART-5 - EDUCATION-10 - INVENTION - 14 - PHILOSOPHY -20 - TRANSPORTATION- 25 @ dates of initial construction: major alterations : @B architectural style(s): landscape architect / garden designer: ) artist: Rartisan: @bullder/contractor: EVENTS : NATIONAL REGISTER WRITE-UP IF ADDITIONAL SPACE NEEDED, NUMBER& PUT ON REVERSE CONDITION ASSOCIATION PH0504904 functions Lucas date Toledo PRIVATE ORGANIZATION INSTITUTIONAL: PERSONAL: STATE CURRENTLY: COMMERCE-6 Dexcellent SUBSTANTIALLY INTACT-1 WHEN HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT: historic events: LOCAL Burt's Theater The Country Palace ADMINISTRATOR: Dunexposed NATIONAL REGISTER DATA SHEET 719-723 Jefferson St.

vicinity of master builder: as it appears on federal register: Coriginal site Dfeatures: GNPS REGION: city / town Oreconstructed IS PROPERTY A HISTORIC DISTRICT? Oyes Dno ( interior decorator: ETHNIC GROUP engineer: ACREAGE reviewers initials if state who prepared form? Ofair DUnknown