Work is rolling along down at the 0ld City Hall, as the effort continues to restore historical accuracy to the building that was once a grand symbol of Rockdale.
Much of what was done to the building since its “upgrade” in 1939 by the Works Progress Administration has to be undone and redone.
That means the old bell tower needs to be put back in place and the second floor of the back of the building needs to be rebuilt.
Currently, workers have opened up the floor space, getting rid of all the walls that were put in place when the police station occupied the building, which the police left in 2019.
Curah Beard, who is heading up the fundraising for the Vision Historic Preservation Foundation, talked of the plans for the building, which the foundation now calls “The 1895,” once all the renovations are complete. Construction for the building began in the late 1880 at the corner of Burleson and Cameron.
“We are looking to recruit into the building, possibly restaurants to participate in the build out of the inside,” she said during a walk-through of the structure.
While there are no clients yet for the building, Beard said, the foundation would like to see at least two restaurants that could share a kitchen.
“The old fire station area in the back of the building could be an upscale restaurant,” she said. The fire station was in the old building from 1896 to 1986. According to an 1896 Sanborn map, the building was not completely finished when the fire station started operating out of it. The old fire station doors, where the fire wagon emerged, are visible from the inside, but on the outside they are covered over; more handiwork of the 1939 WPA.
Toward the front of the building, she said, she could envision a ’50s style diner or one with a rustic western theme.
Pointing to another area Beard said she could see a little bar for a malt shop or an ice cream parlor.
“Like a deli-bakery-cafe, breakfast-lunch concept. You know a place the whole family can come to,” she said.
Then upstairs there could be an art gallery where artists could sell their works. They could have studio spaces in the area that would be rebuilt over where the old fire station was, she said.
The building’s future will be nothing like its past in terms of function, but like in the old days it should be full of people.
The building once bustled with folks as it was once home to city government, the Chamber of Commerce and The Rockdale Reporter.
It was also the site of dances, graduations and basketball games, brimming with activity.
That is the spirit that the foundation hopes the renovation will return to the historic building.
“We will bring it back to the center of the community like it once was,” Beard said. “Also our mission is to cultivate the arts.”
Late in October the foundation is going to hold an open house for the public to see what is going on inside the building.
Visitors to the open house will be able to see the progress of the restoration and learn about the history of the building.
Beard said she and her historical committee have unearthed a lot of history of the building that will be on storyboards for people to read as they walk around the building during the October open house.
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