Our “grand City Hall” is 118 years old and an historical gem we are very lucky to still have. Yes, it is currently “under plastic and scaffolding” but will soon emerge with its history preserved and with updates that will extend its useful life.
A quick outline of our City Hall’s history must include its opening date April 21, 1898. Many “younger readers” may not know that, when it opened, it had an auditorium that could seat 965 (733 in the auditorium and 232 in the balcony). It was THE city center for entertainment productions, political speakers, and social events. The Ladies’ Library Committee purchased a patented ticket rack and plat of the auditorium that made the sale of seats for entertainments an easy matter.
The city was still trying to keep the auditorium in good condition in 1925. They painted, decorated the walls, and installed new lighting fixtures. By 24 Nov. 1936, the City Council had asked to enlarge the space in City Hall for the Lancaster Library. They wanted two rooms, one to be used for a reference room, and another for a workroom and storage. Lancaster architect Ralph Crook drew a blueprint of possible remodeling and estimated that the cost of two rooms under the auditorium balcony would be $1,753.88.
By 4 March 1938, B. R. Schmelzer Sons had been awarded a contract for a remodeling project to provide new offices for the mayor and safety and service directors, and additional space for the police and gas departments. “The new offices will be located in the large lobby, now a part of the mayor’s court but rarely used for that purpose. The architecture will harmonize with the general scheme of the City Hall.” It was reported in the April 2, 1938 E-G that the police department had established a shooting range in the basement of City Hall.
The E-G reported Nov. 11, 1947, that the auditorium was rarely used any more for public gatherings, and might be converted into more space for other purposes. The auditorium had been used only for boxing shows in recent years, after being divided in half to enlarge the Library. Large public gatherings at City Hall had become a thing of the past because new facilities for assemblies, such as the LHS Auditorium, were being used.
Changes called for utilizing the space of the second-floor auditorium for an enlargement of the Public Library and new City Council chambers and a caucus room. Extensive remodeling was proposed for the second floor, lowering the auditorium’s ceiling, eliminating the balcony, and leveling the sloping auditorium floor. Plans werealso developed to remove the auditorium’s stage and wings to provide space for a municipal court room with adjoining chambers for the judge of the court and the bailiff.
It was recommended that since the Lancaster Public Library was a separate division and operated throughout the county and drew its funds from the County Budget Commission, the county should be required to reimburse the city’s general fund in an amount equivalent to heat, light and maintenance of quarters.
The mayor was ordered by the State (3 April 1951) to close the city jail. “The cost of putting the jail in the condition required by the state agency would exceed $1000 and the city does not have that amount to spend at the present time for that purpose …prisoners held by city police hereafter are to be transferred to the county jail.” The jail had been in the present City Hall since the building was erected and had remained in the same place and size except for some minor revisions.
June 8, 1956, the E-G reported a new resolution to improve City Hall for an estimated cost of about $250,000. When employees began to dismantle the auditorium’s heating system and the stage on the third floor, disaster struck (7 March 1957 E-G). “While a half dozen city employees were tearing down a huge plaster archway at the ceiling of the old auditorium in City Hall shortly after 1:30 p.m. today, the archway broke loose and crashed through the floor, 30 feet below, into City Council Chambers (also used as Municipal Court) on the first floor. A hole about 6’ wide was torn in the Municipal Court ceiling. Municipal Court was closed and no one was in it when the archway fell.” The next day the E-G reported “Damage not High in Crash of Archway,” and the debris was cleaned up.
Many readers will remember when the library closed its door in City Hall on January 5, 1980, and moved into the newly built library building at 219 N. Broad St. That move opened space in City Hall that was soon filled. Our City Hall hopes to be uncovered late this fall. When the time comes, do not miss your opportunity to visit your once again renovated “grand City Hall.”
Readers may contact Harvey at joycelancastereg@gmail.com
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Lancaster City Hall’s 118-year history and its future
Reporting by Joyce Harvey, Special to the Eagle-Gazette / Lancaster Eagle-Gazette
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