Old Town Hall - Batesville Indiana
Batesville grew quickly from the time it was first platted in 1852.The town
was incorporated in 1882 and a need for a building to house city offices
became necessary. Plans were drawn up in 1887 for such a building. It was to
be forty feet wide, sixty feet long, and would be two stories high, topped
by a cupola with a bell, with the cupola being slightly over a story in
height. The building was to have a sheet iron roof and would be on the
corner of Main and Catherine Street, facing Main Street.
Bids for construction were accepted on July 13, 1887, with Frank Duhme
appointed to superintend the project at a pay of 22 cents an hour. The
construction of the building was completed later that year and was the
tallest building in town.
The bell was hung in the cupola on Saturday, February 2, 1888. However,
the cupola was considered too small by many, including the editor of the
town’s newspaper, the Batesville Budget.
The New Town Hall was dedicated on February 14, 1888. The dedication
ceremony consisted of many events, the main affair being a masquerade ball.
In September that year, plans were laid to improve the lot next to the hall.
These plans included plowing, draining, graveling, and sowing grass seed.
More improvements were planned the following year when the Town Board and the
Fire Department agreed to jointly sponsor a Forth of July picnic that
summer. The proceeds of the picnic were to be applied to the purchase of a
better bell, badges for the fire department, and more repairs around the
Hall.
The repairs were undertaken later in 1889. These included plastering the
walls, improvements to the belfry, and the installation of a hanging lamp.
Chairs for seating were also purchased; new locks were installed with plenty
of keys handed out to fire department members and town hall representatives.
Many events took place in the Town Hall during its lifetime, including a
concert by a musician named Rheinspfaelzer Lindenbrantz from Cincinnati
May 6, 1888, with an admission of 25 cents per person. There was also a
program by the American Sunday School on June 18, 1893 which included lots
of greenery, blooming plants, and canaries singing in cages.
After serving as the center of city government for thirty-five years, the
building proved to be inadequate for the town’s growing needs. In April,
1922 the city moved its offices temporarily to the old school located on
Sycamore, South, and Catherine streets. The old Town Hall would be torn
down, replaced by the Memorial Building, which still serves the community
in the same site.
Written by Paul Wonning from information gleaned by Judy Tonges from the
"Builders of a City" -an unpublished history" by Minnie Wycoff
