City Hall

The first city hall was a frame building built in 1884 by the Marion Land and Improvement Company. It included a bell tower and stage. On Feb. 12, 1925, the building burned to the ground after a fish fry. A second city hall was built on the site of the first one, but on April 8, 1935, it also burned to ground, catching fire when shards from a fire built by a local Methodist minister, raking and burning leaves blew into the bell tower. The Belleview Fire Department, of the period, was an all-volunteer outfit with one forty gallon water tank with a hose, mounted on two iron wheels and it was hand-drawn. With insurance money and help from Works Progress Administration workers during the New Deal, a third city hall, constructed with limestone from the area, was built between 1935-1940.


2 comments:

Lowell September 3, 2009 at 5:06 PM  

I don't think I've ever noticed this building...but then we usually drive through Belleview on our way somewhere else and don't stop to smell the roses or look at buildings...

I like it very much. It could be a church. Your photo shows it off well!

Amit Gupta September 4, 2009 at 9:13 AM  

nice picture....its a beautiful shot...
btw the cartoon is suppose to remind u of two video games 1. super mario 2. street fighter...
thanks for the comment....regards
@amitsmith

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