. ' . 11 f*Ra|u III MU tl«*H**l*«MI Internal changes made throughout the Bijou Theatre's ti4-year history hare not yrr.it I v a tin ted its external appearance. Theater's past reveals many faces By Brian Gallagher Emerald Contributor it was first a church, then a funeral home, and now a movie theater and offices. The Wilcox Building, at 492 K. Kith Ave., lias gone through a number of changes since it was built in 1 According to Mrs. Wesley Nicholson, the Wilcox Build ing. current site of the Bijou Theatre, was originally de signed by Walter Ross Baumes Wilcox, who served as a Uni versity architecture professor beginning in 1922 before he be came head of the department. It was the original site of the First Congregational Church in which Nicholson's husband first served as church minister in 1943. Me held this position until about 1957. She said Thomas Condon, one of the University's found ers, was also one of the found ers of the First Congregational Church, where he later trained to be a minister. Nicholson said Condon was a very prominent figure in the church, which has always had a high respect for education SPRINGFIELD SCIENTIFIC SUPPLY Hours: Mon-Fri 10-8 Sat 10-6 ' 726-9176 « 1124 Main St. ® Springfield * and had a congregation consist ing of many people from the University community Then, the church comprised only a few rooms with the large sanctuary, a small chapel to the side, and several other small rooms. Nicholson said. Today, the former chapel is used to sell movie tii kets and refreshments. In addition, a movie s< reen has replaced the original pul pit. and the projectionist's booth, located at the opposite end of the theater, takes up most of the balcony where "long-legged boys used to sit. where they could stick their feet down the aisle."Nicholson said. “Those boys would always get out of there before we could meet them," she added. In the 1940s. the pews were heated by hot water piped un derneath to keep the people warm during the winter. Most of the glass had been imported from Europe, and, with Wil cox's personal designs, they are a singular piece of the area's history. Nicholson said in 1957 the church was purchased by one of the deacons, who opened a funeral home But the first Congregational Church contin ued to meet there every Sunday until