Vision Historic Preservation Foundation hosted First Friday Coffee at the Lucy Hill Patterson Memorial Lbrary bringing a scale model of The 1895 and a display of historical information about The 1895.
The former City Hall has served the community of Rockdale in many capacities over the past 128 years, housing the fire station downstairs until 1986, an opera house on the second floor until 1939, was home to The Rockdale Reporter from 1906 to the early 1920s, the Rockdale Chamber of Commerce from 1919-1980s and the Rockdale Police Station from the 1950s-2019. In the 1950s, the first library in the county was upstairs, as well as a public health nurse.
The non-profit foundation purchased The 1895 City Hall from the City of Rockdale in November 2020. Vision Rockdale is restoring the historic building to its original Victorian design with plans to make it an arts and entertainment center. Phase One of the restoration began this year, which will focus on the front facade including the iconic bell tower, architectural details, and replacing the front windows and doors. Phase One construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.
Curah Beard, the foundation's executive director, continues to seek donations and apply for grants. So far this calendar year the foundation has filed 19 grants and has identified eight more due before mid-September.
The foundation was just notified they had been awarded a $5,000 grant from the National Trust's Cynthia Woods Mitchell Historic Interiors Fund for the restoration of the south interior wall plaster and decorative wood trim around the doors and windows.
Collier Perry, the foundation chairman, announced the completion of Phase Two architectural plans, which will allow the foundation to get construction estimates and pursue grants for the rest of the building's restoration.
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