Our Civic Memorial Building

“Erected by the Citizens of Platteville for Service and a Testimonial of Their Faith in the Community’s Future”

Two weeks ago, Platteville resident Pam Stark dropped off an unexpected treasure. It was the September 20, 1929 edition of the Grant County News. “If you tell ‘em, you can sell ‘em” reads the corner of the front page.  A catchy newspaper slogan. The paper is dedicated to the grand opening of our Civic Memorial Building. A photo of the building also graces the front page. The building looks pretty much the same as today, but there are three bays for emergency vehicles on the north side that no longer exist.

Our City Hall (my shorthand for Civic Memorial Building or Municipal Building – which is what the front entry reads) is a grand structure, even by today’s standards. I can only imagine the excitement that Platteville’s residents must have felt upon its completion. According to the news reporter, “Examination of the plans and elevations show that building has been designed and arranged with unusual taste and skill. Its restrained and dignified architecture would well entitle the structure to an honored place in even the most distinguished surroundings of a much larger city; the rich cream color and texture of its brickwork and Indiana limestone trim are extremely pleasing; its pilasters, delicate quoins, terra cotta cresting, and simple panels, lend the atmosphere of modern life, fast throbbing activity. (His English teacher must not have spent time talking about run-on sentences!)

I especially enjoyed the list of uses for the modern auditorium: organ concerts, musical comedies, dramatic shows (amateur and professional), city wide celebrations, special motion picture shows, lectures and art exhibits, conventions and their exhibits, city-wide meetings, oratorical contests, sales meetings, concerts, food and trade shows, and cooking shows. City Hall must have been one happening place…

Many ads, congratulating the community on this achievement, are included in this special edition of the paper. The businesses included: Badger Cleaners, Platteville Dairy Co, Frank Burg (clothier), Sueltmann’s Café, Eagle Garage, People’s Shoe Store, F.L. Snowden Department Store, James Grocery, Gipps (women’s clothing), Eastman Lumber Company, Fiedler Motor Company, Coyle’s Drug Store, Henning and Geasland Hardware and Sheet Metal and Shambow’s Dry Goods (just to name a few).

The Mayor and City Council took out their own ad. In their ad, they listed both Platteville’s assets and the things they were most proud of. It is interesting to note what has changed (lawn mower factory?) and what hasn’t (education advantages).

The bottom of the ad also states “We offer inducements for factories seeking new locations” - that hasn’t changed much either.

First English Lutheran Church was also dedicated the same year. Two very remarkable buildings, from an architectural standpoint. City Hall opened on the cusp of Black Friday, and one of the toughest periods in our nation’s history. I also wonder if the joy about this accomplishment was short-lived in light of what was to follow.

Pam gave us a great gift when she brought this paper to City Hall. It is good to be reminded of how special this building was and still is to the community. And while we do a decent job of maintaining the exterior, we probably haven’t been the caretakers we should be of the interior. It is something to aspire to for the future.