Baldwin Theater
Last of Baldwin's Ruins Razed for Gate Columns. From the Springfield Leader March 25, 1909, page 1.
"The corner stone rocks of the burned Baldwin theater are being removed to the Will McDaniel farm, four miles south of the city on the Campbell Street road by Richard Massey, a general contractor.
"Mr. Massey stated yesterday that after redressing the rocks, as the corners of some were broken off by the blasting necessary to raze the front wall of the theater which remained standing after the fire, that they would again be placed in position at the entrance way to the farm and used for swinging huge gates which will be constructed later. A stone wall has been erected around part of the farm and the huge columns will lend a distinguishing appearance."
See more history of the Baldwin Theatre on our historic postcards site. The History Museum for Springfield-Greene county also has photos of the theatre. Books you can check out are Cinemental journeys: an uncommon guide to classic movie theaters Kansas Missouri Iowa Nebraska by Mike Walker and Vicki Walker and The Gillioz "theatre beautiful": remembering Springfield's theatre history, 1926-2006 edited by James S. Baumlin. Two books that don't check out are The front row : Missouri's grand theatres by Mary Bagley and the History of Springfield, Missouri theatres.
Find this article at http://thelibrary.org/blogs/article.cfm?aid=1172&lid=38&view=print