Difference between revisions of "Wooster City Hall (1887)"

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Now no one has yet disagreed with the almost foregone predictions that by 1980 we shall see some 25,000 citizens in Wooster, or by 1990 nearly 30,000. These years are only 20 to 30 away from this year. Certain units of government increase arithmetically with the population; for every 1,000 people, add no less than two policemen, and a smaller number of firemen; add enough people to the street, water and sewer departments to take care of added service runs; top with a pinch of administrative assistance to take care of the added burdens of running the other employees.
 
Now no one has yet disagreed with the almost foregone predictions that by 1980 we shall see some 25,000 citizens in Wooster, or by 1990 nearly 30,000. These years are only 20 to 30 away from this year. Certain units of government increase arithmetically with the population; for every 1,000 people, add no less than two policemen, and a smaller number of firemen; add enough people to the street, water and sewer departments to take care of added service runs; top with a pinch of administrative assistance to take care of the added burdens of running the other employees.
 +
 +
The old Opera House, even if it were in sound condition right now, could not possibly be expanded to house this growing ___ of public servants which the years ahead will demand, for it is already overcrowded. The only reason that the growth of the 30's and 40's could be absorbed in this present building was that Council in 1949 participated in a delaying action.
  
 
==Owners==
 
==Owners==

Revision as of 14:39, 17 February 2021

Wooster City Hall (1887)
Old City Hall
WostrOldCityHall.jpg
Alternative names City Opera House
General information
Status Destroyed
Location E. Liberty St.
Town or city Wooster, Ohio
Country United States
Completed 1887
Destroyed 1962
Design and construction
Main contractor David Myers

Comprehensive History

Built in 1887 and razed in 1962 Wooster's old City Hall was one of a kind. Jail cells were in the basement and a few city offices at the front on the main floor, along with an auditorium and stage, many remember as the City Opera House. On the second floor was a balcony and city council rooms. At the rear of the big brick building was the city's fire station.

Practically every event that went on at the old City Hall drew a crowd, whether it was a concert, a play, a speech, or a City Council meeting. The stage on the main floor of the building provided a place for entertainment that featured both local talent and many famous people of their time, including William Jennings Bryant and John Philip Sousa.[1]

The old Wooster City Hall was a real community center in its day.

Wooster Told Its City Hall Not Safe For Current Occupants of Offices: Advised To Move Quickly

  • Wooster Told Its City Hall Not Safe For Current Occupants of Offices: Advised To Move Quickly [2]

Wooster's 71 - year - old City hall was condemned Monday night as inadequate and constituting a hazard to its occupants as it is used now and has been used for several years.

City officials were informed in no uncertain terms to make a decision within 10 days "for the immediate future" or be ordered to restrict occupancy. Mayor Edwin Johnson received the order Monday from State Dept. of Industrial Relations and turned it over to City Council.

Councilman Ralph Kane called a joint meeting of Council and Wooster Planning Commission for 7:30 p.m. Friday "to decide our course of action."

"The condition of a portion of the existing structure," the letter declared, "is barely capable of sustaining the load imposed, with no allowance for wind or snow loads." 

Roof Getting Weaker

C. R. Daubenmire, chief of factory and building inspection of State Dept. of Industrial Relations, signed the letter. He states that "unless we are advised of action in immediate future, we will be compelled to issue an order restricting occupancy."

The roof soon will be inadequate to take care of dead loads, Daubenmire stated. (Council Details on Page Seven)

A copy of the letter was forwarded to the state fire marshal, who is also empowered by state law to enforce minimum standards.

"There is every indication that corrections of existing conditions in your city building should received the immediate attention of your local authorities."

Value Is $345,000

The order came after a recent inspection of the building. City of officials were reluctant to make predictions on the outcome of Friday's meeting, but they were determined that positive action could be initiated before the 10 day deadline they said.

The value of the city building is $345,037 including the fire station at the rear of the hall and the unused top of the "opera house" above municipal court. The estimate is based on an appraisal by West Brothers Inc., of Cleveland, and was included in an overall appraisal of city property reported Monday night.

Breakdown of the figure which is replacement value, is City City Hall $195,392; opera house, $78,565; and fire station, $71,180. Estimates do not include equipment.

Time To Build: Growing Wooster at End of Facilities

  • Time To Build: Growing Wooster at End of Facilities [3]

Many people ask: How does it happen that all of a sudden Wooster's City Building needs to be replaced by two new fire stations and a new city hall?" This is the first in a series of articles to answer that question and answer other questions arising to the $900,000 bond issue to be voted on in November.

The file is a long one, although not a thick one! It starts way back in 1887 when the present City Building was erected-- originally as an Opera House: ten-ton plaster done, and all the trimmings; but not a stitch of steel.

At that time, Wooster consisted of 1,622 acres of land, and old Opera House was almost in the center of this area. Except for eight acres added in 1922, no other area growth occurred between 1871 and the addition of Bloomington Heights in 1926. A 55-year period of virtual rest.

Population also stood still: from the 1870 census until the 1910 census - 40 years - Wooster grew from 5,500 to 6,000 for a total increment of 500 citizens. So, from the time the City Building was built (for a different purpose) forty years went by with only insignificant changes in size or population.

Since the mid-twenties, however, population has jumped 9,500 to a total of 17,500 people; while during the same period, acreage within the City limits has gone up 1,600 to a total of around 3,200 acres at the present time. In the past 30 years, therefore, Wooster gas grown as much in numbers and area as was here altogether after the first 100 years of its existence!

Now no one has yet disagreed with the almost foregone predictions that by 1980 we shall see some 25,000 citizens in Wooster, or by 1990 nearly 30,000. These years are only 20 to 30 away from this year. Certain units of government increase arithmetically with the population; for every 1,000 people, add no less than two policemen, and a smaller number of firemen; add enough people to the street, water and sewer departments to take care of added service runs; top with a pinch of administrative assistance to take care of the added burdens of running the other employees.

The old Opera House, even if it were in sound condition right now, could not possibly be expanded to house this growing ___ of public servants which the years ahead will demand, for it is already overcrowded. The only reason that the growth of the 30's and 40's could be absorbed in this present building was that Council in 1949 participated in a delaying action.

Owners

Tenants

Timeline

  • 1887 Constructed
  • 1962 Demolished

Gallery

  • 1887

Historical documents

Business letterheads

Photos

  • 1887 Wooster City Hall on E. Liberty St.

  • Wooster City Hall in 1939

  • After City Hall remodel

  • CityHallFireDept1887 (1) (1).JPG

  • Image of the building as it was getting demolished in 1962.

Building Condition

  • Fire Chief Lloyd Eberhart shows crack running full height of building near fire station

  • Cracked foundation besides stairs to basement under fire department

  • Truss and support members starting to rot. Also, split in main roof truss.

  • Daylight showing between city hall roof boards. Slates has slipped because roof is bowed. Water seepage is begin to rot boards.

  • Pressure is causing the Lower member of main roof truss (bottom) to bow in opera house section down full two feets from it's original level

  • How much diagonal wall brace has bowed under pressure

  • Wall is pushed two inches

Maps

  • Sanborn Maps 1888

  • Sanborn Maps 1898

  • Sanborn Maps 1905

  • Sanborn Maps 1911

  • Sanborn Maps 1930

  • Sanborn Maps 1930-1945

Newspaper articles

Newspaper full-text articles

Newspaper ads

Newspaper citations with no attached images

  • March 17, 1887: "The City Hall Located: The Babb and Logan Lots Selected", Wooster Republican, p. 3.
  • April 07, 1887: "The Third City Hall injunction suit brought on the eve of election for political effect was loaded at both ends, it kicked so hard that the Exchange block ring were paralyzed.", Wooster Republican, p. 123.
  • April 7, 1887: "The buildings on the City Hall lots were sold last Saturday by Samuel Lightcap, auctioneer. John Heil purchased the Babb building for $76, and John Fitzgerald secured the barn and outbuildings for $3. Samuel Ames secured the Logan house for @1215, and Andrew Busch the barn for $9.50. A number of pumps and other articles were also sold. A portion of the Babb building will be moved on the lot back of Geo. Schuch's. saloon and used for a blacksmith shop.", Wooster Republican, p. 3.
  • June 06, 1888: "DEDICATED: City Hall Transferred to the Public; Addresses by Hon. A. S. McClure and Hon John McSweeney", Wayne County Democrat, p. 123.
  • "Good Work Done by Contractor David Myers and his Associates on City Hall.", Wooster Republican, 1888-JUN-07 p.3 column 07
  • August 27, 1957: "Scramble-- For Better Or Worse Wooster's Had It Four Months" by Gracie Beers, The Daily Record, p. 123.
  • February 17, 1959: "Wooster Told Its City Hall Not Safe for Current Occupants Of Offices: Advised To Move Quickly" by Jane Doe, The Daily Record, p. 123.
  • February 23, 1959: "We May Have to Build New City Hall", The Daily Record, p. 123.
  • October 00, 1959: "Time To Build: Growing Wooster At End of Facilities", The Daily Record, p. 123.
  • October 03, 1960: "Wooster To Build City Hall, Fire Station Here - Contracts Expected Jan. 1 For Separate Buildings", The Daily Record, p. 123.
  • December 09, 1961: "Wooster's New City Building: Is It Bargain Beauty, or Beast? Three Building Cost $200,000 Less Than Amount Voters Approved", The Daily Record, p. 123.
  • January 09, 1962: "Talk of Building Clouds Old City Hall Site's Fate", The Daily Record, p. 123.
  • March 05, 1962: "Wooster's Dedication on Sunday: Ceremonies Precede Public Inspections At Three Buildings", The Daily Record, p. 123.
  • March 08, 1962: "What Wooster Mast Plan May Do Reported", The Daily Record, p. 123.
  • April 04, 1962: "City Hall's Swan Son Begins: Wooster Officials Packing" by Elinor Taylor, The Daily Record, p. 16.
  • June 06, 1962: "Denizens Of Month-Old Wooster City Building Find It Nice Place to Work" by William L. Parker, The Daily Record, p. 123.


  • February 08, 1964: "Organization Table Defines Lines of Wooster Government Authority", The Daily Record, p. 123.

References

  1. ↑ The Daily Record, 1993-AUG-24, Fuddy-Duddys (And Others) Remember Old City Hall by Elinor Taylor.
  2. ↑ Daily Record, Wooster, Ohio. 1959 Feb 17.
  3. ↑ Daily Record, Wooster, Ohio. 1959 Oct 1

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