Overview
Irene Hall was a former Dutch Reformed ‘School with the Bible’ and later a community hall on Hogestraat in Aalten. It was built in 1884 and demolished around 1980.
Irene Hall was a well-known institution in Aalten, and many older residents still have fond memories of it. The building dated from 1884 and was originally established as a Dutch Reformed school at the initiative of Rev. Gangel. When the school moved around 1935 to the new Wilhelminaschool on Stationsstraat, the building became available to the Association for the Foundation and Maintenance of Christian Interests ‘Irene’ in Aalten.
Tivoli
During the war years, the German occupiers ordered the name ‘Irene’ to be changed because nothing was allowed to be named after the Dutch Royal Family. The building was temporarily called ‘Tivoli’. After the war, performances by Christian music, theatre and gymnastics societies were held there. At the end of 1945, members of the Aalten NSB were imprisoned in Irene Hall after being marched through Aalten.
Demolition
Irene Hall was demolished around 1980 after the De Pol activity centre came into use. Because of the considerable difference in level between the site behind the building and Beeklaan to the east and Varsseveldsestraatweg to the north, the area became known as the ‘Irene pit’. Houses and flats now stand on the site.
Address history
Population register 1900–1910
Aalten 160 > A205
Population register 1910–1920
Aalten A205 > B209
Address directory 1934
Aalten B209 > Hoogestraat 74
“Irene”
Address directory 1967
Hogestraat 74
Irene Hall
Owners
This overview is incomplete.
| Year | Plot | Owner | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1911 | I-5425 |
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