[SEPT. 15, 2005] If
buildings could talk, there are a few around here that could tell
some grand stories. Take for instance Lincoln City Hall. This
building also houses the City of Lincoln Fire Department.
Undoubtedly she would tell today’s youngsters of the unimaginable
times from her youth.
While no one who visits the building today is as old as she, she
might seek a sympathetic ear that wouldn’t mind hearing about her
elderly aches and pains and the plans that are being made to fix
them.
She might discretely choose a select few to detail how she will be
undergoing some testing this week or as-soon-as it can be scheduled.
And in a whisper she’d add that they will be examining below her
ground level. This may even be embarrassing to speak of as a
building.
It seems there has been some waste matter found on her basement
floors at a couple of the sewers holes recently. Though that waste
could have been left there from as long as a couple of months ago,
and could have been left when there were some heavy rains that may
have backed up the sewers and then left it behind, that can happen,
it is still unknown how it came to be there.
City sewer manager Dave Kitzmiller and city engineer Mark Mathon
will be using televising equipment to scope her waste channels and
look for obstructions.
It was proposed to implement a common practice in the meantime, get
a couple of stoppers to put them in place. The consulting
professionals, Kitzmiller and Mathon, say that decisions can be made
once more information is available.
On a lighter note, she would have had a good time this last Labor
Day
weekend
when the fire department held its annual open house. She could have
pulled out some of the great stories of her youth to tell to the
many children and parents who had dropped by the firehouse to grab a
hotdog, sit in the fire engines and see the bunkhouse.
She’d tell them of all the years that firemen slid down that pole,
as they did during the open house. But they didn’t run to their
trucks. There was a time that she remembers when the fire department
used horse drawn wagons. Her bays were occupied by the department’s
two horses, Barney and Bill.
Another portion of the building housed Merry Horse Shoeing Shop. The
shop was open six-days-a-week. She’d have plenty of good stories
about that.
At one time she was kept warm in the winter by steam pipes that came
from a giant furnace that was located where the Logan County Public
Safety Complex sits. Those pipes ran heat underground all the way to
the Logan County Court House. The county sold the steam heat to the
city. A large portion of those pipes collapsed some years ago.
The brick and mortar building has had numerous renovations over the
years. If you look closely you will see in the brick pattern where
the original arched entry was on the Broadway side. Renovations have
been made in keeping with the building’s style.
Discussions began in July to help her with a little cosmetic work
next year. Everyone knows that joints go with age. So, she’ll be
getting a little mortar in her joints, tuck pointing they call it,
and maybe some other fix-ups as needed.
No corner stone can be found on the building, but if you asked
discretely she might tell you she was built in 1886. Shhh, that’s
119-years-old. Tell her she looks great, but leave off the
“for-your-age” part.
Send a link to a friend
weekend
when the fire department held its annual open house. She could have
pulled out some of the great stories of her youth to tell to the
many children and parents who had dropped by the firehouse to grab a
hotdog, sit in the fire engines and see the bunkhouse. 
