Hartford Historic Preservation Foundation


Our mission is: To preserve historically significant properties in the Hartford community, purchasing some, if possible, and maintaining them as historical landmarks.

Schwartz (Chandelier) Ballroom
Schwartz (Chandelier) Ballroom

the SCHWARTZ

(Chandelier) Ballroom

The unique architecture and warm ambiance make the Chandelier Ballroom Hartford’s premiere event venue and one of the most elegant and impressive in southeastern Wisconsin.

The Schwartz (Chandelier) Ballroom opened its doors on October 20, 1928. The Schwartz was ahead of its time and had live broadcasts of the big bands that played on stage to radio stations around the country. These broadcasts helped The Schwartz to become nationally famous. The Schwartz was closed to the public from 1944-1946 when it was leased to the federal government and utilized as a prisoner of war camp during WWII.

Marty Zivko owned the Ballroom from 1949-1981 and it was known as Zivko’s Rock ‘n’ Roll palace bringing in the likes of Chubby Checker, Ted Nugent, Joan Jett and many, many more…it changed hands a few times during the next few decades and quickly became a premiere location for weddings and other private parties. The captivating story of Schwartz (Chandelier) Ballroom is filled with music, war, laughter and love. To read the complete fascinating history of the Chandelier Ballroom please CLICK HERE.

The Schwartz Family House
The Schwartz Family house

THE SCHWARTZ

family house

“RESTORING MANTELS, MURALS & MEMORIES”

The Schwartz Family House was built in 1915. The original owner Joseph Schwartz Sr. also owned the Schwartz Brewery in Hartford, Wisconsin from 1901-1937 with a disruption in operations during prohibition. Schwartz was also responsible for building the largest octagonal structure in the State of Wisconsin, The Schwartz Ballroom in 1928.

The Schwartz family sold their home in 1965 to Lloyd & Barbara Kluck where they raised three children and made minor improvements to the home, while still maintaining nearly all the original architectural aspects of the home. The Hartford Historic Preservation Foundation purchased the home in 2016 and placed it on the State and National Register of Historic Places in 2018. To read the impressive history of The Schwartz Family House please CLICK HERE.

Love seat bricks

Close up of love seat bricks

The HHPF created its LOVE SEAT BRICK PATIO to commemorate the numerous weddings held at the Chandelier (Schwartz) Ballroom throughout the decades. Anyone can purchase a 4″x8″ brick and have their names and wedding date engraved for $150.00 each. Proceeds from this project are used for improvements to the Chandelier Ballroom.

Donate

Please consider a thoughtful donation to the Hartford Historic Preservation Foundation to ensure the continuation of the Chandelier Ballroom and Schwartz Family House.

The Chandelier Ballroom is utilized year-round bringing together families and friends from all over the state of Wisconsin and beyond for weddings, dances, charity dinner auctions, proms, social events and more. Donations to the Schwartz Family House will be put towards a laundry list of projects such as the restoration of the original hardwood floors, exterior walls and windows, landscaping, and interior accessories.

The HHPF utilizes The Schwartz Family House as an extension of the Chandelier Ballroom for smaller private parties, tours and other social events.

Both of these properties are truly wonderful structures important to the history of the city of Hartford. They are filled with decades of precious memories for people of all ages and we cannot be responsible for letting these delicate pieces of history crumble in our hands.

Please use the online donation form on this page, call our office at 262.673.4946, or mail a donation directly to our office at 150 Jefferson Avenue, Hartford WI 53027.

Thank you in advance for your thoughtful consideration and generosity!

 

Hartford Historic Preservation Foundation

Phone: 262.673.4946
Address: 150 Jefferson Ave

Hartford, WI 53027