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Franklin early felt the importance of public
offices, and, although we find the earliest meetings for elections were
held at hotels, as well as private residences, in 1843, they determined
to build a house which should serve for all public purposes. The church
built in 1808, on the corner of Center and Fourth streets, was used for
public meetings when fit, but, being the property of no one in particular,
was not well taken care of. The market-house, as it was called, was built
in the center of Fourth, on Market street, and consisted of two stories.
In the lower one, the west end was fitted for a market, with stalls. The
east end was inclosed so as to keep the fire-engine in good condition.
Above this part was one room which looked something like a small |
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house balanced on the roof of a larger one. This was the
Council Chamber, and, uncouth as it would now look, was considered to be
a grand affair. In 1857, the people were called on to vote for or against
a town hall, and, the vote being favorable, the hall was built on the north
side of Fourth street, between Center and Front, nearly north of the site
of the old market-house. It contained in the lower story an engine-room,
a large market-room and a prison, or calaboose, with an iron cage of two
cells. In the upper story, a Council Chamber and a hall, with a stage at
the east end. This stood nearly twenty years, being consumed by fire on
August 26, 1877, In it burned all the furniture, many of the books belonging
to the corporation, the two hand-engines and one reel of hose. The new steam
engine was fortunately saved, but not enough hose was rescued to save the
building. After considerable trouble with the insurance companies the old
walls were raised, the whole building remodeled, and, on Thanksgiving week,
1879, the Opera Hall was opened by the Julia A. Hunt Dramatic Company, which
gave a week's entertainment in it. The hall will seat about 600, and is
a neat and convenient one, as is shown by the patronage it receives from
dramatic troupes. The lower part now contains engine-rooms, hook and ladder
room, Council Chamber and prison. The outside has been transformed and now
presents a very creditable appearance.
In 1864 and 1865, the lodge of Odd Fellows conceived the idea of building
a hall, and a lottery scheme was begun, which resulted in the building
which now stands on the southeast corner of Fourth and Center streets.
It is of three stories, with a truss roof. On the first floor are three
business rooms, fronting on Center street The north room is occupied by
the First National Bank; immediately south of this is a stairway leading
to the upper floors; next, the shoe and hat store of Harris Bros., and,
in the south room E. Liesenhoff & Co. deal in clothing and gents'
furnishing goods. On the second floor, on the north side, is the public
reading room and library; on the south side are various offices. The third
floor has on the north the Masonic Hall; on the south, the Odd Fellows
Hall. The building, except the two halls which belong to the lodges, respectively
occupying them, now belongs to the First National Bank.
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