Village Hall Renovations Begin
After some setbacks, Village Hall renovations have finally begun. The building is emptied out, and all the offices have moved temporarily. That information is elsewhere on the village website.
This article from 1948 tells us something about that original hall, which was built directly behind the fire house. A transcription, for easy reading, is below. It seems clear (and as many of you may know from personal experience) that renovations have been ongoing through most of the building’s history.
There is no indication which newsletter this article was published in. If you happen to know, please email the historian!
historian@villageofscotiany.gov
#scotiahistory
Village Hall Observes 20th Anniversary
By Shirley Armstrong
Village hall is observing its 20th—and to date most important—anniversary this week.
Which has nothing to do with matrimony, although the hall has been “hitched” to the fire department for years.
This anniversary is a birthday and the first since the final payment on the $25,000 building.
The brick structure on Ten Broeck Street was constructed by Corneau and Gardner and was occupied by the village Dec. 15, 1928.
Designer of the structure was George Miller, who now resides on North Holmes Street and is employed by G. E. as an engineer. He is the son of John Miller, for whom John Miller Hook and Ladder Co. was named.
Plumbing and heating were installed by G. E. VanVorst Co. and lighting by Forsythe.
First payment on the hall was made Aug. 1, 1929; last Aug. 1, 1948.
Alvin C. Spitzer was mayor when the hall was first occupied and Howard Toll was village clerk.
A blueprint of the hall interior at that time would scarcely be recognizable today.
Offices of the police chief and village clerk were about the size of an average shower stall and huddled in space now a part of village clerk’s office space.
Two rooms now serving as police chief’s office and mayor’s office were then one room used as office of the village engineer.
Today’s police department was yesterday’s Court room, complete with the customary wood railing. The railing is now gracing the second floor meeting hall, where important trials are conducted. However, [a] majority of cases in police court are now conducted in the police department.
The second floor, where village board meetings are held and where numerous civic and fraternal groups meet, includes offices of the village engineer and building inspector.
Scotia has had four mayors since construction of the hall. Since Spitzer’s term, successive terms have been served by Adson J. Haight, John Sible and William Turnbull. The latter is now serving in that capacity.
There have been three village clerks. Following Toll’s death, Raymond J. Ballert took office and was succeeded by the present clerk, J. F. H. Robinson.
Miss Dora Hayes, deputy village clerk, who began work for the village as court clerk, says it’s impossible to count the many improvements and alterations which have gradually altered the appearance of the hall interior. “I can count the number of places I’ve had my desk, though,” she said—“Six. Every time I move I wonder if I’m in permanent residence or if I’m still a transient.”