The history of old city hall: Part III

Hannah Gross
NLJ Correspondent
With Leonard Cash
 
Leonard Cash, Newcastle’s local historian, starts this week’s installment of the “History on Main” series by continuing his exploration of the former city hall building on lots 1 and 2 of block 9. He began with an article (over century its time) that describes the building’s recent inspection. 
On April 10, 1908, the News Journal reported that an architect named Mr. Dubois inspected the city hall building. Cash said that Dubois came to inspect the local school and probably just decided to hit city hall while he was at it. His report of the building went over fairly well. 
“I consider the building entirely safe and that it may be used for public assemblies without danger to your people,” he said in the article. “More especially since you have so improved the means of exit.” 
Overall, Dubois didn’t have many negative things to say about the building, other than some minor issues such as cracks in the walls from settling and small repairs such as removing the street gutters, replacing the brick where there were cracks and fixing the broken arch sitting over the south window.
“If you should carry these few suggestions out and keep the woodwork and roof well painted, your building will be a good one for many years to come,” he said in the article.
The report went on to say that the city was thankful for his assessment and assured that the repairs would be taken care of. 
“The foregoing reports after a careful examination by an architect of wide reputation should be very gratifying to our citizens,” the article says. “The recommendations in each case made by Mr. Dubois will undoubtedly be carried out as soon as possible. 
Moving through Cash’s records to Aug. 7, 1908, the work on the finishing touches on the new hallway for the opera house was resumed, bringing about an improvement to its appearance. New paint and wall paper, as well as repairs to the interior, were also added to the list of improvements.
An article from Mar. 26, 1909, reported that the old piano at the hall was sent to the “scrap pile” with a new one taking its place. The article said this act was commendable.
Former resident of Newcastle and contractor for the city hall building project several years prior, F.A. Buse came back to Newcastle on his way to Seattle, according to the News Journal of July 30, 1909. The Old Ridge Cemetery was being relocated to the Greenwood Cemetery, and Buse had a daughter buried in Old Ridge and was inquiring if her body had been moved to Greenwood. It hadn’t, so he reburied his daughter at Greenwood — she was the first one to be buried in the new cemetery, according to Cash. 
A few years later, in 1911, city hall was due for a paint job. 
“The city hall building is receiving some much needed paint at the hand of Messrs. La Fleur and Ray. When finished, the building will present a greatly improved appearance,” reported the Mar. 31, 1911, News Journal.
News articles from April 7, 1911, reported that the City Council ordered “fancy” opera chairs, which arrived at the beginning of the week, according to a later article on April 28, 1911. Work was being done to put them together and install them.
The city council “has let the contract” to Mr. Nicol to install a new “steam heating plant,” according to the News Journal from Oct. 6, 1911. He would begin his work as soon as the materials arrived.
“I don’t know why they don’t call it (the heating plant) a furnace,” Cash said.
Nicol submitted a bid to install the plant for $739, reported the paper from Oct. 13, 1911.
The News Journal reported on Oct. 20, 1911, that another improvement was made to the building. The wooden steps in front of the opera house were removed, and a sidewalk was to be “built on a continual grade,” making it easier to walk on. Improvements were made on the hose room as well. 
“The council also had the front of the hose room closed up and a large double door cut through the east wall of the building, which makes the fire apparatus much more easy of access, and will add materially to the warmth of the building during the winter weather,” the article says. 
The heating plant arrived the first of the week, with Nicol busy installing it, according to articles from Oct. 27, 1911. Radiators were put in as well, and the article also reported that the boiler was working well, providing lots of heat. 
The Dec. 1, 1911, issue of the paper said that the heating plant was “the most wonderful improvement,” and the building can be “comfortable” in a mere few minutes. 
According to news reports from Mar. 21, 1912, the City Council decided that there wouldn’t be a charge for the hall at local gatherings held there, but if a fee happened to be charged, “the rent should be ten dollars for dances and twenty per cent of receipts for shows.” 
The council wasn’t trying to make money, according to the article, but it was only trying to cover the expenses of light, heat, and maintenance. 
The Wilson Brothers and their men were working on putting a cement walk around the hall, as well as plastering the state armory, according to news articles from May 7, 1914. 
During the month of July 1914, the newspaper reported that F.H. Barnes and Son was awarded the contract of $2,400 “to furnish all material” in the hall. It also reported that City Councilman Curtis made the motion, which was seconded by Councilman Washburn, to instruct Nicol to order and install the material needed to connect city hall’s drainage to the main sewer. 
A few years later, the News Journal reported on Mar. 21, 1918, that Barnes was putting a “new rubber cement roofing” on the hall. He was also painting some of the walls and hallways in the courthouse, which was damaged by water leakage from the roof. 
“Evidently, the city hall (roof) was leaking too,” Cash said, otherwise they wouldn’t have been replacing the roof.
 
The News Letter Journal/Leonard Cash history series continues in next week’s issue.