The Oskaloosa herald., 1912-10-24

nave large sleeping apartment ou
the south, large living or club room"
bath room, closets and toilet room fur
nished with all conveniences of the
model home. Also on the second floor
over the stables is large storage
place for grain and feed. One large
room on the front of the department,
intended for the Office of the fire
chief and place for records and me.
mentoes of the department has not
yet been completed. Contract for the
erection of the fire department of the
building was signed October 2, 1908,
and the formal openeing of the COM
pleted department. was held March 20,
1909. The quarters which replaced
the old fire department building at
No. 21s South Market street has been
in use since that date. The face brick
of the fire department end of the
building when the other part of the
city hall construction was in progress
this season and the front was laid up
in the same kind of brick as the hall
itself and the whole building in one
harmonious whole. ...
Historical.
Following the abandonment Of the
old city hall" as the building at No.
21S South Market street was called,
I e city administration found accom-
modations in the rooms now occupied
over 115 High avenue West. This
was in the Baugh administration in
1889. This old structure was erected
about 1870 and was considered a
model in its day and an ornament to
the city.
Sentiment in favor Of the erection
of new city hall was first given ex
preston by the Herald, during Byron
V. Sewers administration i'll 1895
and the proposition was talked OF in
open council. MIR. Sewers had a
sketch OF new city hall made and
an idea of what the new hall should
cost was sought. New quarters fol
the fire department were almost ne
cessary. Nothing came of the plans
at this time, however, although re
peated efforts were made to get the
lued TAKE LHdleIIdl lOi
Mayor John c. Williams was the
next champion of the idea and through
Lis influence and effort the city sc
cured plans and specifications for al
administration building of Architec,
FRANK E. Wetherell, of Des Moines
About this time the Oskaloosa & BuX
ton interurban enterprise claimed the
attention of the people and the sur
plus cash of the community and the
city hall project waited.
Charles II. Ralston, who was elecet
cd mayor by the council in July. 1907
to succeed the lamented William
Cricket, deceased July "a, 1907, started
the plans toward realization by com
mencing the erection of the fire de
partment end of the building in 1907
and 1909 following the plans made by
Architect Wetherell.
Citizens generally had been favor
able to city hall ever since the plans
were secured and one of the ayowet
objects Of the S. Y. Reynolds admins
tration was to erect city hall. The
matter was taken up by the mayor
and the council for careful ccnsidera
ton early in 1911. First of all tlt
old plans were brought out and stud
led. 1t was found that to follow then
would entail too great a cost will
the high price of labor and material
New plans were finally made by s. b
Sinclair and after study. alteration
and revision, they were adopted. Es
Inmates were made and bids asked
for by the council. The matter wa;
submitted to the people OF the cit!
and special election was held Tues
day, September II, at which the city
voted, practically unanimously t
erect the new city hall. The city
thereupon made contract with p. w
Sparks and the following week, IL
September, 1911, the old city hal
was demolished and excavations start
ed for the basement footing5 ant
foundations of the new structure.
Rapid work was done, the founda
ton walls were in place and, will
the possibility of an open season il
prospect the work on the superstruc
ture was started. The walls and the
steel work on the second story were
well along when winter, in severes
form, put stop to further progress
and work had to be abandoned unit
spring of this year, 1912. Since the
start of operations in April this veal
the work has progressed at all times
under the direction of the contractor
and the structure will soon be turned
over to the city council for eXamina
ton and acceptance.
The Site in Years Past.
Real interest in the corner upon
which Is now located the splendid new
city hall was acquired back in 1869
At this time the lot, the south third Of
lot 5, block %, old plat, Oskaloosa
was owned by J. S. Mcclellan, a pion
eer resident and merchant of Oska
loosa. Early in the year. In the admin
,istration Of ]. NJ. Lougbridge, mayor
the city purchased a new steam fire
engine that was named Long
George" in honor OF Mayor George II
Baugh. who was first elected to the