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Encyclopedia Dubuque

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FIVE FLAGS CIVIC CENTER

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1492-1504 Banner of Arms of the Catholic Monarchs (Spain)

[FIVE FLAGS CIVIC CENTER. The Five Flags Center was a multipurpose facility in downtown Dubuque named for the five flags that once flew over Iowa. Spain was the first nation to claim Iowa. In 1493, the year after Christopher Columbus discovered the West Indies, the pope granted Spain all the lands he touched believing he had found a continent. Drawing a line from pole to pole, the pope declared land east of the line claimed by no other Christian country belonged to Portugal; land to the west belonged to Spain. (1)

1365-1794 Kingdom of France

Although Marquette & Joliet explored the MISSISSIPPI RIVER in 1673, it was Robert Chevalier of the estate of La Salle, commonly known in history as Robert de la Salle or simply La Salle, who claimed the Mississippi Valley for France in 1682. La Salle named the territory "Louisiana" and described it as all the country drained by the "River St. Louis" (Ohio) and the "Colbert River," (Mississippi). This territory extended from the Alleghenies to the Rocky Mountains and from the source of the Mississippi to its mouth. (2)

Banner of Arms of the House of Bourbon (Spain)

In 1763 at the end of the French and Indian War (Seven Years War), the Treaty of Paris was signed. France lost Canada and all of its land east of the middle of the Mississippi River. Unsure of its ability to hold its remaining American possessions, France secretly gave the remainder of Louisiana to Spain. The open transfer occurred in 1769. Arrangements were made in 1800 by the Treaty of San Ildelfonso for Spain to cede the land back to France. (3)

File:England.png (England)
1606-1801 First Union Flag (England)

In 1779 Spain had joined France in support of the American Revolution. In 1780 a series of British military operations were carried out to clear Spanish influence from Quebec to the Gulf of Mexico. Capt. Henry Bird, with a force from Detroit, was directed to attack George Rogers Clark at the Falls of the Ohio. General John Campbell, 5th Duke of Argyll, from Pensacola, after taking New Orleans was to proceed up the Mississippi to Natchez and join a third force that descended the Illinois River and captured St. Louis. Capt. Charles de Langlade was to lead the force down the Illinois, which was to split up and also control Vincennes. None of the missions were successful.

Flag carried by Lewis and Clark.

In 1803 faced with the costs of military activity in Europe and slave rebellions in its North American holdings, Napoleon chose to sell the Louisiana Territory to the United States. On April 30, 1803, the United States paid France nearly $12 million and assumed debts of the French government of an additional $3 million. The United States formally took possession on December 20, 1803. Upper Louisiana, including Iowa, however, was not transferred until March, 1804. (4) The five flags, therefore, were the Fleur de Lis of France (1682–1762), the Royal Flag of Spain (1762–1800), the Union Jack of Great Britain (1780, during the American Revolution), the French Republic Flag of Napoleon (1800-1804) and America's Stars and Stripes (1804–Present).

The ORPHEUM, the existing theater, was the last of a legacy of theaters at 4th and Main. In 1840 the ATHENAEUM was constructed. Remodeling and rebuilding had led to the MAJESTIC THEATRE, the predecessor, which had been designed and built in 1910 by C. W. and George L. Rapp of Chicago, architects who went on to become America's premier theater designers.

Opening.png
Theater History. Courtesy: Telegraph Herald

From 1929 to 1933 the theater was owned and operated by prominent local businessman Harker Brentnal SPENSLEY, Sr. Spensley, who was the president and manager, named the theater "The Spensley." Four years later, it became part of the RKO film theater circuit and was renamed the RKO ORPHEUM. In 1961 Nicholas J. YIANNIAS was assistant manager of ASSOCIATED THEATRES which included the ORPHEUM, GRAND THEATRE, STATE THEATRE and STRAND THEATER. By 1969 the building had fallen into disrepair and was scheduled for demolition during URBAN RENEWAL.

A Five Flags Council comprised of 120 Dubuque civic leaders was announced in January, 1972. On February 29, 1972 the "Five Flags Spring Gala was held at the Orpheum. The event featuring the Roshek style show was used to kick-off the community teams' division of the Five Flags Civic Center Campaign. A community-wide solicitation was begun in March. By December, 1972 Wayne Andrew NORMAN, Sr. could announce that the fund drive had reached about 55% of its goal. Helping fundraising efforts was the designation that year of the Orpheum to the NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. Sufficient resources had been gathered to plan in 1973 for the hiring of an architectural firm, make a bid for federal restoration funds, and seek federal money for the a multi-media exhibit. (1)

Proposals to aid were presented to Iowa Governor Robert Ray; Murray Goodman, Iowa Director of the American Bicentennial Commission (ARBC); and Del Black, regional director of ARBC. Each endorsed the idea, but offered no money. In February, 1973 a delegation including Wayne Norman, Five Flags chairman; Mayor Joseph BITTER, a county supervisor and 24 Five Flags committeemen flew to Washington, D.C. On their invitation list to see a presentation about the project were the entire Iowa congressional delegation, officials from Housing and Urban Development, representatives from the departments of Interior, Health, Education and Welfare, National Trust for Historic Preservation, ARBC, and the Bureau of Parks and Recreation. Their theme was a multi-media theater would depict the development of the Upper Midwest and its importance to the nation beginning with the adventures of Jean Marie CARDINAL. According to their plan, the entire center in 1976 would be devoted to the bicentennial with frontier exhibits, multi-media theater, and perhaps a commissioned play. After that, the center would serve the tri-states. Their appeal was for $1.4 million--two-thirds of the $2.1 million need to refurbish the Orpheum and construct the civic center. (2)

A smaller delegation presented the city's proposal to the Federal Regional Council meeting in Kansas City, Missouri in November, 1973. Helping the city was its recent designation as a national bicentennial city. Hopes were to receive part of $749,000 anticipated in federal funding. (3)

Restoration of the Orpheum included tuck-pointing and sandblasting the brick, removing the theater marquee, creating new decorative metal molding, and painting to highlight the cornices. Harold H. Walter (shown) worked one week to fashion two of the 4.5 foot decorative moldings by hand to resemble the originals. Photo courtesy: Telegraph Herald.

Thoughts of federal financial assistance were dashed in April, 1974 when the Iowa Bicentennial Commission voted 12-8 to designate the Living History Farms near Des Moines as Iowa's official meeting house instead of Five Flags or the Old Capitol restoration project in Iowa City. This prevented Five Flags from receiving $1 million in federal funds. (4) In September, 1974 a $2.5 million Five Flags-Ice Rink referendum to include an ice-rink to the project was defeated by local voters. (5) A 'town hall' meeting was scheduled for January 9, 1975 to determine the future of the project. Invitations were sent to the Five Flags Council of approximately 150 people and to the 400 people who had contributed money. It was hoped a recommendation could be written. The city council had asked to meet with the Five Flags Committee. (6)

As a result of the 'town hall' meeting, a new plan was initiated. An indoor ice rink would be built on the western half of the Orpheum Theater block adjacent to the proposed exhibition-arts hall. Movable walls would separate the rink and the hall and could he removed to create a large auditorium that would seat 5,000 people. It was expected that after approval from the city council and recreation commission, architects would be hired while the Five Flags Committee purchased the land and released contracts for work on the interior of the Orpheum. Work on the Orpheum would be paid for with donations already contributed to make it usable for summer stock theater productions. (7)

Private funding reached $800,000 in September, 1975. The sale of a 1976 postcard book and stationery featuring the work of local artist Mrs. Laura Foster was hoped to bring in an additional $8,000. (8)

Fiveflagsst.png

On August 16, 1976 Dubuque voters approved a $3.7-million bond referendum to begin construction in the fall. The final vote was 70% positive with 60% needed to pass. (9) The facility had its grand opening on March 24, 1979.

The arena could seat up to 5,200 for basketball, although in its primary use, ice hockey, actual seating capacity was only about 2,500. The creation of the floor began with a two-inch thick mat of styrofoam to insulate the floor above. Supported above the styrofoam were 9.1 miles of piping that carried 1,300 gallons of ethylene glycol solution cooled to 15 degrees F. That temperature seeped through the concrete to freeze the water into ice. Twenty tons of steel reinforcing bars stretching 11.3 miles crisscrossed above the piping. To make the actual floor, 1 million pounds of concrete was pumped through heavy hoses on top of the steel grates. Crews then worked the concrete between the grates and over the pipes. Smoothing the top to within one-eighth inch of perfection was made possible by a laser marker. Curing the concrete took two days since it was submerged under a thin coat of water to slow the process and avoid cracking. (10)

The ice hockey rink was made in four layers. The bottom one-quarter-inch layer of ice was painted white after it froze to give the ice its color. Placed on a higher layer of ice were the hockey lines and other markers. A total of four layers of ice were created with 9,588 gallons of water. (11)

The area featured one side of permanent seating; the other three sides were bleachers, some for LORAS COLLEGE basketball, and most of Dubuque's major concerts.

High school graduation ceremonies for STEPHEN HEMPSTEAD HIGH SCHOOL and DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL were regularly held at the center.

Five Flags Center was the former home of the DUBUQUE FIGHTING SAINTS (1980-2001) of the United States Hockey League from 1980–2001 and the home of the Dubuque Thunderbirds hockey team of the Central States Hockey League from 2001–2010.

Construction of other venues impacted the use of the Center. In 2003 the building of the Grand River Event Center moved many events away from Five Flags. The MYSTIQUE COMMUNITY ICE CENTER hosted the Dubuque Fighting Saints.

SMG took over operations of the arena in 2004, which were formerly handled by the City of Dubuque.

In 2005, the arena was closed during the summer for concession, entrance, and concourse renovation.

[File:fivef.jpg|250px|thumb|left|]]By 2015 the size and age of the building was beginning to limit efforts to bring in additional revenue. Its 4,000 person seating capacity prevented attracting major performers and sporting events. The 34-foot ceiling made it difficult to accommodate modern productions with rigging, lighting and other equipment. For the 2015 fiscal year, gross revenues fell 7.8 percent while expenses remained flat. Over $10 million in tax funds were spent on Five Flags from 2002 to 2015. The city subsidized operations in recent years with more than $800,000 annually. (12)

In 2016 the city council approved $50,000 for a building and market evaluation to identify better uses for the facility. The management company for Five Flags, SMG Worldwide Entertainment and Convention Venue Management, contributed $30,000 to the study with $70,000 to lessen show losses to performances that might bypass the city. (13)

In December 2016 the members of the city council were asked to approve a request for proposals (RFP) prepared by a steering committee of city and economic development officials to determine the future of the building. A consultant would be asked to consider five proposals including demolishing the building (but not the ORPHEUM, leasing or selling the center to a private business, renovating the current building, expanding the building as it now exists, or relocating the Center. H. R. Cook, the facility general manager, estimated the Center had an economic impact of the city of $2-5 million. Since city officials did not have more exact figures, this would be part of the study. The consultant's work was scheduled to be done in July with council members given recommendations in August. (14)

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Source:

1. Sabin, Edwin. The Making of Iowa, Chicago: A. Flanagan Company. 1916. p. 10

2. Ibid. p. 12

3. "Spanish Louisiana, 1762-1800," Discovering Lewis & Clark, Online: http://www.lewis-clark.org/article/1137

4. Sabin, p. 14

5. "Action Line," Telegraph-Herald, March 10, 1972, p. 3

6. Miller, Jim. "Restoring Theater Would Enhance Heritage," Telegraph-Herald, January 14, 1971, p. 13

7. "Civic Center Donor Told," Telegraph-Herald, January 18, 1971, p. 10

8. Bulkley, John. "Advisory Unit Maps '72 Plans," Telegraph-Herald, November 24, 1971, p. 4

9. "Culver Looks to Orpheum Aid," Telegraph-Herald, October 31, 1971, p. 8

10. Ibid.

11. Good, Stephen. "Voters Make Five Flags a Reality," Telegraph Herald, August 16, 1976, p. 11

12. "Local Artist Lends Paintings to Civic Center Fund-Raiser," Telegraph Herald, September 25, 1975, p. 7

13. Fyten, David."New Civic Center Concept Endorsed," Telegraph Herald, January 22, 1975, p. 1

14. Freund, Bob. "The Ice Man Cometh to Five Flags, but First..." Telegraph Herald, Dec. 19, 1978, p. 1

15. Ibid.

16. "Five Flags Struggles to Add Revenue," Telegraph Herald, November 29, 2015, p. 1

17. Ibid., p. 2

18. Jacobson, Ben. "Five Flags' Fate: Demolition a Possibility," Telegraph Herald, December 5, 2016, p. 1