The old city hall is no more
Building reduced to rubble July 11 after standing 80 years
Ward 1 Councilman John Nickell was given the honors of taking the first few swings at the building. This was the finance wing. He called it was an unforgettable experience. Photo by JAIME ANTON
NORTH ROYALTON – After standing as an icon in the community for 80 years, the old city hall is now just a memory.
On July 11, resident and contractor Bill Baumann and his crews began reducing the building, constructed in 1937, to rubble. Prior to demolition, the building’s cornerstone and cupola were removed and saved. Razing ceased at 9:15 a.m. with one wing and a portion of the main structure down. It was expected to resume later that day or the following once FirstEnergy disconnected power to a nearby utility pole.
Ward 1 Councilman John Nickell and Council President Larry Antoskiewicz, with some assistance from crews, were given the honors to run the controls and make the first swings at the building’s finance wing.
“This was the most awesome experience,” Nickell said. “I respect the history of the building, however, we’re a growing community that has different needs ... keeping an old structure would have been problematic and costly, with very little use.”
“It is emotional,” Antoskiewicz said. “Who would have thought that when we were sitting in council chambers, we would have been sitting on the other side taking out a piece of history?”
The debris was expected to be cleared by the end of the week. About 85 percent of it – bricks, wood, metal – will be reused. The site will then be filled in, regraded and seeded.
Residents, city officials, even school officials gathered to watch the building come down.
Gala Detrick lives across the street and admits it was emotional to watch.
“I took pictures yesterday when I saw them putting up the fences. Yes, I am sad. For me, the older the better,” she said. “If I could, I would go back to the 1800s.”
Nick Carosielli, a long-time resident, has a business across the street.
“I remember when the fire trucks were underneath,” he said, looking at the wing that later became the mayor’s office. “Sometimes they tear down buildings and build new and are sorry they did. I’m not saying that’s the case in this particular instance. The city is growing. The pavilion will be nice, but I’m a little sad to see it go.”
Though council and the current administration were in full agreement to demolish the building, it was upsetting for many of them too.
“It’s upsetting to see it come down. I would be the first to have saved the old city hall, but by the time we took over, it needed at least $2 million to preserve the center portion. Unfortunately, prior administrations never put money aside to address aging municipal buildings. The current city council has addressed future maintenance concerns by appropriating monies into a special account that can be used only for maintenance and major repairs on our municipal buildings,” Mayor Bob Stefanik said. “It is hard to see a part of history go, but there are very few if any historical components remaining and what is left is slowly collapsing and deteriorating.”
Most officials say it’s time to begin a new chapter, which could include a two-level, seasonal pavilion on the former building’s footprint.
Council is considering bonding out the pavilion as a package that could include not only an electronic sign for the City Green but also the long-sought after fence for the North Royalton Cemetery.
“We need to shift our focus to the future and the original purpose and intent of the City Green when it was given to us,” Stefanik said.
Ward 4 Councilman Paul Marnecheck said whatever council decides, it must honor history.
“The old city hall was something that generations have identified as the center of town they grew up in, so we have an enormous sense of responsibility that whatever we put in its place,” he said, “we make sure one day it’s going to have that same special feel.”
On July 11, resident and contractor Bill Baumann and his crews began reducing the building, constructed in 1937, to rubble. Prior to demolition, the building’s cornerstone and cupola were removed and saved. Razing ceased at 9:15 a.m. with one wing and a portion of the main structure down. It was expected to resume later that day or the following once FirstEnergy disconnected power to a nearby utility pole.
Ward 1 Councilman John Nickell and Council President Larry Antoskiewicz, with some assistance from crews, were given the honors to run the controls and make the first swings at the building’s finance wing.
“This was the most awesome experience,” Nickell said. “I respect the history of the building, however, we’re a growing community that has different needs ... keeping an old structure would have been problematic and costly, with very little use.”
“It is emotional,” Antoskiewicz said. “Who would have thought that when we were sitting in council chambers, we would have been sitting on the other side taking out a piece of history?”
The debris was expected to be cleared by the end of the week. About 85 percent of it – bricks, wood, metal – will be reused. The site will then be filled in, regraded and seeded.
Residents, city officials, even school officials gathered to watch the building come down.
Gala Detrick lives across the street and admits it was emotional to watch.
“I took pictures yesterday when I saw them putting up the fences. Yes, I am sad. For me, the older the better,” she said. “If I could, I would go back to the 1800s.”
Nick Carosielli, a long-time resident, has a business across the street.
“I remember when the fire trucks were underneath,” he said, looking at the wing that later became the mayor’s office. “Sometimes they tear down buildings and build new and are sorry they did. I’m not saying that’s the case in this particular instance. The city is growing. The pavilion will be nice, but I’m a little sad to see it go.”
Though council and the current administration were in full agreement to demolish the building, it was upsetting for many of them too.
“It’s upsetting to see it come down. I would be the first to have saved the old city hall, but by the time we took over, it needed at least $2 million to preserve the center portion. Unfortunately, prior administrations never put money aside to address aging municipal buildings. The current city council has addressed future maintenance concerns by appropriating monies into a special account that can be used only for maintenance and major repairs on our municipal buildings,” Mayor Bob Stefanik said. “It is hard to see a part of history go, but there are very few if any historical components remaining and what is left is slowly collapsing and deteriorating.”
Most officials say it’s time to begin a new chapter, which could include a two-level, seasonal pavilion on the former building’s footprint.
Council is considering bonding out the pavilion as a package that could include not only an electronic sign for the City Green but also the long-sought after fence for the North Royalton Cemetery.
“We need to shift our focus to the future and the original purpose and intent of the City Green when it was given to us,” Stefanik said.
Ward 4 Councilman Paul Marnecheck said whatever council decides, it must honor history.
“The old city hall was something that generations have identified as the center of town they grew up in, so we have an enormous sense of responsibility that whatever we put in its place,” he said, “we make sure one day it’s going to have that same special feel.”