HISTORY
Massasoit House-Paramount Theater, located at 1676 Main Street, is a four-story Classical Revival style brick structure with a unique blend of history and culture. The building first opened in 1843 as a hotel. Its Main Street facade dates to 1912 and conceals the 1857 addition to the Massasoit House. Later, the 3,200-seat Paramount Theater opened in 1929 and was designed by Paramount Pictures for 'talking motion pictures,' which replaced silent films around 1928. The 'talkie' theater was the first in New England. After its era as a theater, the Main Street property operated from 1999 to 2008 as the Hippodrome nightclub.
THREAT
This building, a significant part of our city's history, has sat vacant for nine years. In 2011, the New England Farm Workers Council bought and still owns it. The Council operated it on and off as a nightclub and events venue until April 2015, when it closed due to a shooting. The owner planned to redevelop the building, gaining political and financial support for a $40 million revitalization—but instead, the property sat vacant. Now, this property, with its rich history, is scheduled for auction on September 23. The potential loss of this building is not a distant concern, but a matter of great urgency that requires immediate action.
Reuse
Several advocates from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the surrounding area are rallying to preserve this building for future generations. SPT needs your support and involvement in this crucial preservation effort. Historic buildings have great potential to create unique places that help define and differentiate a city from other places. This building, with its rich history, could be reimagined into apartments, a community center, an office building, a theater, or a combination of several. Let's envision a future where this building continues to serve the community.
Historic photos courtesy of the Works Progress Administration Image Project. Contemporary photos courtesy of William Low of L&P Commercial.
