Utah Historic Site
Elite Hall
The Elite Hall dance hall, designed by architect K.C. Schaub and constructed
in 1917, is significant for its association with community events in the city of Hyrum.
Financed by the Hyrum Amusement Company, Elite Hall became the primary dancing
and social events center in Hyrum, after replacing the 1889 Opera Hall, which was
destroyed by fire in 1914. The building is also significant because it is one of only a couple remaining dance halls in the state with a spring-loaded dance floor.
The springs provided extra bounce for the hundreds of dancers who would crowd the
floor. Because Elite Hall had the only spring-loaded floor in northern Utah, the
building attracted dancers from all over Cache County and northern Utah.
At the time of Elite Halls construction, commercial-type buildings typically
displayed little ornamentation. However, modest Prairie School-style detailing adds
character to this large structure. Prairie School elements are found in the large frieze
that encircles the top of the building with bracelet-like ornamentation. They are also
found in the long vertical inset panels on the primary facade, which counter the frieze
and add an element of height to the building. Elite Hal’s imposing presence on Main
Street, its Prairie School-style detailing, and historical integrity combine to make it
one of the most prominent buildings in town.
Marker placed in 2003
Division of State History
