"Over time, it has served as a fire station, a police department, even a jail with a couple of lock-up cells, as recently as the 1960s," said Patricia Blick, the city's chief of historic preservation. "It is actually two buildings that have had many uses, many faces."
After the cornice fell in the council meeting room, the city cleaned up the mess and shored up the remaining molding. The council went about conducting city business as usual in the only meeting room large enough to accommodate a legislative session or a large public gathering. The only evidence of the cornice mishap now is a jagged gash along one chamber wall, barely covered by a fresh coat of white paint and a string of fluorescent light fixtures.
What might not be so obvious is that the soaring plaster ceiling above the meeting room is a drop ceiling, apparently included when the cornice was added. The assessment team will also take note of sprinklers, electrical service and heating and cooling systems that might hinder future renovations, Moyer said.
