MOUNDS THEATRE
BUILDING HISTORY

Vital Statistics

  • Built in 1922 as a venue for silent movies and live entertainment
  • Renovated around 1933
  • Renovated again in 1950 including extensive changes to the exterior
  • Closed in July 1967
  • Used as warehouse - 1967 to 2001
  • Most recent renovation started in December 2001
  • Theatre reopened in October 2003
  • Location: 1029 Hudson Road, Saint Paul, MN; Scotten's Subdivision, Lot 72-Lyman Dayton's addition to St. Paul except East 11 feet-Lot 24 and all of Lot 23 and block 71 
  • Building: 8,600 square feet and partial basement.  Originally had a 700-person seating capacity including the balcony.  After the renovation, the seating capacity is approximately 250 with no balcony seating.
  • Parking: On-street. Original parking lot is no longer available for use.
About the Renovation Project
The Mounds Theatre renovation was a project led by Raeann Ruth and her nonprofit organization, the Portage for Youth, that refurbished the old Mounds Theater building and transformed it into a new grassroots theater and community center for St. Paul's Dayton's Bluff neighborhood.  Now completed, the theater is used for plays and other types of live entertainment, movies,  concerts, weddings and receptions, educational activities and neighborhood gatherings. The building is located at 1029 Hudson Road near Earl Street.  Work began on the building in late 2001 and was finished in October 2003. General Contractor: Raddatz and Sons Construction, Arden Hills, MN

The renovation project addressed the needs of the Dayton's Bluff area at several levels--

  • As home base for several arts and culture organizations, it creates a new "service center" in a strategically located, under-served section of the East Side
  • As a grass roots meeting and activity center, it serves as a magnet for community building events
  • As a performing arts center, the theater provides a venue for public expression and celebration of the Daytons Bluff area's unique and diverse cultures as well as a place where area residents can experience "traveling productions" from outside their immediate neighborhood.
  • Refurbishing the property reduced the number of boarded-up buildings and blight in an under utilized, formerly thriving commercial area.
  • Refurbishing the property created employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for area residents including the extended families of youth served by The Portage.
Several events in late 1999/early 2000 led to the development of this project--
  • George Hardenbergh, owner of the Mounds Theatre building, indicated his intent to donate the property to The Portage for Youth if it would be renovated into a facility to address unmet needs of youth and families on St. Paul's East Side.
  • The Portage obtained bids to determine the cost of renovating the 1920s movie theater into a community and performing arts center. 
  • A STAR grant through the City of St. Paul was secured and a sizeable donation from an anonymous donor toward renovation costs was pledged.
  • Potential nonprofit tenants and partners were involved in the planning of the new facility.
  • Ongoing operation of the completed facility was also considered.  Several tenants expressed interest in leasing space on a permanent or occassional basis.

About The Portage for Youth
The Portage for Youth is a non-profit organization and after school enrichment center for girls and young women ages 8-15 primarily from Hmong families. Most are at risk and have no place to call home or they come from poverty level families, are immigrants without direction or are in abusive situations. Entering its fourth year of programming, The Portage for Youth serves approximately 160 youth annually, through a variety of programs that are coordinated through 22 collaborative partnerships.

Contact:
Raeann Ruth
The Portage for Youth
1029 Hudson Road
Saint Paul, MN 55106
(651) 772-8674 phone
(651) 772-4669 fax
raeann@theportage.com
www.theportage.org