Ballroom Svenskar, USA

This building has a somewhat cryptic past, but it was likely once a social venue for the local Swedish population. The main room has a ballroom-like atmosphere, with a tall vaulted ceiling. The room is a very pleasing mix of luxury, with contrasting peeling paint and fallen ceiling tiles. It was likely used to host social events, as well as dinner parties.

Corinthian-style fluted columns decorate the wall, with ornate golden-painted capitals. The proscenium arch above the stage also features gold-painted plaster work. Plastic flowers and ivy decorate the walls. A piano stands upended, leaning against the stage.

The foyer area features a sinuous cornflower-blue reception desk, and an interesting ceiling with multiple recesses. This area has a distinctly 1960’s or 1970’s vibe to it.

In the 1960’s the Swedish population of the city began to decline; economic improvement and modernisation in Sweden reduced the drive for immigration to America. This ageing population of Swedish Americans was no longer being replenished by fresh migrants. Membership at these Swedish organisations fell, as the remaining Swedish people adopted English as their primary language and began to socialise more with other groups within the cities.

In the 1970’s this building was used as a neighbourhood dining hall, with little additional information available at this time. It is unclear when this social venue finally closed, but it has clearly been neglected for some time.