The Route 66 town of Wilmington, Ill., may try to save its historic City Hall building by using the bones of an even older landmark that was demolished last month, reports The Free Press Newspapers.
The town’s 1869 railroad depot was razed in early February. However, not all of the structure’s remains weren’t hauled to the dump, but to help fix another building.
The limestone building was constructed in 1879, and served the community as city hall, jail and fire station. It is currently the home of the historical society, housing an extensive collection of artifacts and photos from Wilmington’s past.
Mayor Marty Orr proposed that the limestone foundation block, and about 400 red bricks that were salvaged from the depot by city maintenance workers be used to raise funds to fix up the old city hall. Orr believes the building is structurally sound, and a viable candidate for preservation. […]
Given its restricted cash flow, the city doesn’t have the money to renovate the building, much less do repairs that will preserve it. But the scrap from the depot can solve that shortfall.
The bricks and blocks will be donated to the Wilmington Area Historical Society, which is headed by Dave and Teresa Zielinski, who also worked to save the depot. The bricks and blocks will be engraved “Train Depot, Wilmington, Illinois, circa 1869,” and will be sold to raise funds for repairs, then improvements. Each item will come with a certificate of authenticity.
Orr estimates the bricks can bring $25 to $30 each, and the foundation blocks can be sold for up to $250 each.
Repairs needed for old City Hall include the roof. The mayor also noted the building may be eligible for Route 66 preservation grants; it sits less than a block north of Baltimore Street, aka Route 66.
The building also is being lobbied to the Will County Historic Preservation Commission for county landmark status, which would protect it from demolition.
(Hat tip: Lynn Bagdon)
I wish them luck. That’s a good looking building.