City Hall Location01

Waupaca Post

April 26, 1894

THE SITE CHANGED

The City Hall Will Be Built on the City’s Lot Near the North End of Main St.

The city council, at an adjourned meeting held last evening, voted to change the location of the cit hall from the site elected by the old council – the vacated portion of Sessions street – to the city’s lot a block north, opposite James’ photograph gallery. The vote stood six to two, as follows:

For changing location – Ald. Williams, Gurley, Wells, Hole, Rosche, Mayor Nelson.

Against changing location – Ald. Oborn, Knapp.

Absent – Ald. Whipple

The change was the outcome of an investigation made of the foundation at the south, or Sessions street site. When the city hall was located there no thought was given to the probability that the bottom may not be strong enough to hold it up. It was found out last Thursday, and again this week, that there were places where an inch iron bar could be forced down by hand to a depth of eight feet, and the question of the necessity of using piling came to the front.

Architect Clark came on Tuesday morning, and made investigation. He stated at the council meeting that if the crust which is in the river bed about a foot below the sandy bottom, was the original river bottom, it would hold the building; if it were filled in by river washings, it would not without piling. The north site, the one selected, didn’t extend to the river, and there was an even bottom for the foundation all around. The council took into consideration the extra cost for foundation on the south site, as it was higher from the street level to the footing stones, and also the great inconvenience there would be by blocking up Main street for two or three months, and decided to make the change. They will have to purchase about twenty-two feet additional frontage, at a cost of $770, but the saving in the foundation, it is believed, will more than pay that expense. The building committee was authorized to buy the needed land, and work will commence at once. The architect was also instructed to get figures from four plumbing firms, on the plumbing for the new building.

There are many reasons why the change is a good one, and next week the POST will devote considerable space to them, and the entire proceedings regarding the city hall. This week we are very crowded, both for space and time, and therefore cannot enter into the matter at length.

This noon the building committee bought twenty-eight feet of Winfield Scott on the north side of the city’s lot for $875.