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BLUE HIGHWAYS |
To help you celebrate the good life in southwest Wisconsin |
Blue Highways, 165 North Central, Richland Center, Wisconsin 53581 |
Blue Highways building is on the historic register and is home to offices, an elegant banquet hall, a commercial kitchen and a unique wood-paneled hall on the third floor. The building was a former Masonic Temple that, in its day, was considered "one of the finest temples of any in a town of 3,500 in the midwest". Built in 1922 in the Ionic style, the temple was the hub of social events in Richland Center. There were bowling alleys and card rooms on the first floor. The dining room, kitchen and a billiards room were situated on the second floor and the third floor was dedicated to the lodge itself. By the 1990's the building fell upon hard times. The Masons were dwindling in number and they were no longer able to care for the aging building. A group of six families decided to purchase the property with the hope of restoring the building to its original beauty and grace. The vision was to create space for small businesses and to use the ballroom and lodge hall as venues to offer enrichment to the lives of people in southwest Wisconsin. Today, the bowling alleys and card rooms are long gone, replaced by modern business offices that have retained their craftsman-like charm. The ballroom is used for parties, weddings musical events, classes and conferences. |