Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1917-03-01
AmLENEs ONLY MONUMENT

A correspondent of the Reflector
today sends In a suggestion that the
city hall be wrecked and the new
high school be located on the city
park. He makes the argument OF
central location, proximity to the
library and offers few ribald re-
marks regarding the city hall as
piece of municipal art.
Nay, nay, Pauline. Never shall
Abilene give up its only monument
to the aspirations and dreams OF
the boom days OF 1886. For 80
years the city hall has stood alone
at Fifth and Broadway, with its
blind wall waiting patiently and
pathetically for the brick blocks
that were to join It, for 30 years II
hhas borne the solemn burden of the
past. Gone are the other relics OF
boom times. The banks that financed
those days have long ago busted
and their officers have gone to
glory; the carriage works went up
in smoke and the lock works we're
locked up; Serpentine park has re-
verified to wildnerness Shipe's street
car mules long ago assembled to
mule heaven and the pavement has
covered the ruts left when the ties
lof the car line rotted out. Some
Thing like ten thousand acres OF
city lots are soberly raising corn ana
alfalfa and the lot stakes are plow-
ed under. Even the old map Is un-
familiar.
But the city hall remains. It's free
and flowing lines, a graceful blend
ling of the Grecian, Roman, By2an'
ltine and Patagonian schools OF arch
itecture attract the attention OF
lthonsands-t there Is nothing else
like II on earth. II Is unique. us
history Is the history OF years Of
city politics. The issuing Of the city
hall bonds and their disposition
figured in every election for Two
decades. Mayors were elected and
defeated. councilmen rose and fei1
police Judges, city marshals. street
commissioners and dog catcher'
held office or not according to the
ups and downs Of the city hall bono
fight We have forgotten now JUS
what II was all about but we az
know that for a time it transcendet
tho national elections and took i'm
portance along with the magma
charta and the French revolution
Glossy firehorses feed in their stall
where once was planned the FREE
forum of the people. Chicken coop
and toilet apartments have adorned
the blind city side, giving an ar
tistic decoration from the park A
times the town has expected tn
tower to fall but, like that of Pisa
It stands and probably will stay TO
ages-if zeppelins don't get us.
In it's basement is jail 50 ba'
that its terrors brighten wrongdoer
away from crime. Floods hav'
washed It. winds have shaken 1t
strangers have stared at II; chill
dren have marveled at il. SOM
frivolous persons without the respec
for one of the worlds wonders hav'
even laughed at it-but It is Abb
lene's pride and its link with tn
dear. dead departed past.
No. it cannot be spared. 1t is tn
I one reminder OF the days whei
Abilene expected to be the metro
polls OF the Mississippi valley; 1t
the substance OF the things hope
: for and the emblem of our faith
, without the city hall this woui'
not be the same Abilene. We mus
preserve It for our children's chill
3 dren as the only visible eyidenc
that once Abilene aspired to
greatness far beyond the understand
ing Of this generation.