Mystery solved. Somewhat.
Today's Courier carries a story about the restoration/renovation of Plainfield's City Hall (see more here).
Those who are attentive may have noticed that there has been a very large plywood sign out front declaring same since Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs came into office in 2006. Every time I noticed it, I wondered when the project would ever get under way.
Staff members from architectural consultants Page Ayres Cowley took measurements of the windows in preparation for the project in the fall of 2005. Yup.
And the urns atop City Hall graced it until the cupola restoration of 2000-01 (not the early 1990s as stated in the story -- not the reporter's fault, he writes what he's told).
The restoration work to be done now is the second part of a two-part project laid out nearly ten years ago. The first part, completed in November 2001, was the complete replacement and refabrication of the 8-columned terra cotta cupola atop the building.
During that phase, the urns were removed for safekeeping, at which time it was discovered they were deteriorated so badly that they would need to be copied and the copies installed in their place. As there were insufficient funds for this unexpected development in the first round, the urns were put off until the second phase. Who knew it would take so long?
At any rate, the Courier story got me digging up copies of pictures from that first project.
Rendering to scale of the City Hall cupola.
The urns, which will be replaced with copies.
Workers mount the lightning rod atop the rebuilt cupola.
The finished cupola, with netting to foil pigeons.
View of the completed cupola,
urns still in place, November 2001.
The 'halls of ivy' look once considered de rigeur
led to damage to the building's stone and brick exterior.
The text of the inscription on the entablature shown above reads as follows --
ERECTED BY THE PEOPLE
TO INSPIRE ZEAL FOR THE COMMON WELFARE
AND DEDICATED BY THEM TO THE CAUSE OF
JUSTICE AND CAPABLE GOVERNMENT
TO INSPIRE ZEAL FOR THE COMMON WELFARE
AND DEDICATED BY THEM TO THE CAUSE OF
JUSTICE AND CAPABLE GOVERNMENT
Once upon a time we believed buildings could do all that.
-- Dan Damon
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2 comments:
Dan,
As the Crescent Historic District, one block south of city hall, is left to decay and continue to be be the haven for exploitative property owners, it is ironic that tax payers are being asked to foot the bill for city hall renovation. Shame on Mayor Briggs.
Finally! Even the basics like painting the window frames will make a huge impact. Hooray for Plfd!
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