Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1922-03-08
WILL ASK FOR
BIDS ON new
CIVIC Center
Committee Ready To
Go Ahead NoLU

met tuesday night and after confer
ring with a representative from ar,
chirects, Claude & Starke, agreed to
submit plans and call for bids on the
building at once.
The committe is together on the
city hall section of the building but
divided on the theatre part. One side
favors a full theatre as outlined in
the plan, while the other side wishes
to restrict the plan OF the theatre
section, modifying it into a large au-
ditorium suitable for all public gath
erings and ordinary entertainments
but lacking the modern theatre fea-
lures as laid out in the plans. The
committee, however, is agreed on
keeping the costs at or below the
100000 provided for in the bond is
sue.
The smaller building to the north
and on the corner will house the rest
room for women and marshall's office
in the basement. On the first floor
will be the city clerks and treasur-
er's office, mayors office and council
room. The second floor will be given
over to a small auditorium, 28X56 di-
mension, suitable for small public
gatherings, dances, etc.
The plan will probably provide for
a still smaller building on the west
to house the fire apparatus.
The larger building on the south
will be the theatre. 1t will be ample
in size and with a capacity OF 1,2O0
seats. The building will be entirely
fireproof with the main floor slOping
toward the stage with a large bal
cOnv overhead The division of Opin-
ion on the committee rests solely
with the construction Of the stage
whether it will be OF the modern type
with high roof and disappearing cur
tain, or a smaller stage suitable for
ordinary performances but not suit
able for shows Of the bigger class.
The more modest plan will save the
CITY $4,000 in construction, SO c. B.
Ziezler of the committee, states.
Considerable criticism has been
made of the action of the old city
council and building committee IL
tearing down the old city hall and
paying rent for clerical quarters and
a council and rest room for couple
or more years This is explained by
one Of the committee who says that
at the time the old city hall was torn
down it was confidently expected to
go ahead with the new building at
once The committee was assured by
the architects that d contractor stood
ready to put up the new building at
once for 5000 Then the war came
on and buildings of this character
were not only prohibitive in cost but
actually forbidden by the government
The committee has also been Sc
verely criticized for buying the 60
foot lot south of the old city hall at
a cost of $4,000, when the Crosby lots
120x120, one block east could have
been bought for much less money.
The committee answers that the old
blacksmith shop on the lot they pur-
chased was an eyesore. They say
that the site rounded out as it now IS
is the best possible location for city
hall
The committee has also been critl-
cized for buying a set of plans at
cost OF $4,000, without being sure
that the plans would not be changed.
The critics say that the school board
was 'canny' enough not to buy any
plans and not to pay for any plans
until work has actually begun on
specifc plan. The committee retorts
that perhaps with the exception OF a
slight change in the theatre plan the
plan as a whole will be used IN It's
original form. The committee says
the plan is a model and could not be
bettered.
some of the criticism is reasonable
and some of it unfair. Everybody
saw the old city hall being torn down
hut nobody said anything until the
old building was a wreck and the
OFFICIALS were moving out. Then ev-
ervbodv saw mistake had been
made. Hindsight as usual was better
than foresight In regard to the lot
the argument that $4,000 was too
much money may hold true but the
thing is done and there is no use
harping on it.
IN regard to the theatre the Herald
can see where public opinion is dl-
vided into several classes. There IS
one group who do not want any pub
lie improvements of any nature and
would have been satisfied with the
old building. as melancholy as it was.
This group is barred out by the two
times special election authorizing anu
annroyino a municipal bond issue.
They have no case as they are clearly
i'm The minority. Another group go to
the other extreme and want theatre
of a strictly modern type. capable OF
housine the best class of plays and
other attractions, and able to serve as
= magnet for thousands of show low
ers for miles around. We admire
the fine enthusiasm of this group and
anplaud their vision but we fear that
thev also are in a minority. Then
there is another group who want a
municipal and civic center, ample in
Size but in keeping with the tax pay
ing power OF the. community. This
group believes that such center
would afford a place for the people OF
Tancaster, the butchers, the bakers,
tbe candle stick makers, doctors,
LAWYERS. mechanics, and every other
class so long as they are law abiding
and respectable. to meet and mingle
They believe that such d place would
promote community life, break Up