The Athenaeum
opened in 1911 and was constructed
by St. Alphonsus Church as
a recreational center serving
the mostly German community.
The building featured a 1000
seat theatre for German Operetta,
A gymnasium, bowling alleys,
music and meeting rooms. Over
the years, meeting rooms gave
way to classrooms and the
theatre became a temporary
church in the early 1950's
after a devastating fire damaged
the church.
