Lake Linden Village Hall and Fire Station facts for kids
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Lake Linden Village Hall and Fire Station
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 401 Calumet Ave., Lake Linden, Michigan |
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| Built | 1901 |
| Architect | Charles K. Shand |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival, Romanesque |
| Part of | Lake Linden Historic District (ID09000522) |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000308 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 26, 1981 |
The Lake Linden Village Hall and Fire Station is an important public building in Lake Linden, Michigan. You can find it at 401 Calumet Avenue. This building is part of the Lake Linden Historic District.
It's special because it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as a significant historical site in the United States. It was added to this list in 1981. Later, in 1994, it was also named a Michigan State Historic Site.
What the Building Looks Like
The Lake Linden Village Hall is a two-story building. It's built in a style called Richardsonian Romanesque. This style often uses rough stone and strong, rounded arches.
The bottom part of the building sits on a base of rough sandstone. The first floor is made of red bricks. The bricks on the upper floor are a lighter color. There are decorative bands of brick and sandstone between the floors and above the windows.
A tall, square tower stands in the middle of the front of the building. The main entrance is right through this tower. On each side of the tower, there are sections that stick out, ending in pointed gables. These gables come out from the main roof, which used to be covered with slate.
Each of these side sections has three arched windows on both the first and second floors. The central tower has two arched windows on each floor. The main entrance on the ground floor is also a single arched opening. The very top part of the tower has arched openings, and an eight-sided dome sits on top. A small, one-story addition with a flat roof extends from the back of the building.
Inside, the walls are smooth plaster. The lower part of the walls has decorative wood panels, called wainscoting. You can also see cool Art Deco light fixtures.
The first floor of the building holds the village office. It also has the police and fire station, plus a comfy lounge area. Upstairs, on the second floor, you'll find the council hall, where important meetings happen. There's also a large meeting room, a kitchen, a bathroom, and storage areas.
A Look at Its History
Lake Linden faced a huge challenge in May 1887. A terrible fire destroyed about 75% of the buildings in the village. Even though the old village hall survived, the town leaders knew they needed something better. They wanted a new, fireproof building. This new building would also have space for a fire station to help prevent future disasters.
So, in 1901, the village asked architects to submit designs. They chose a design by Charles K. Shand, who was from a nearby town called Calumet. A local builder named L. F. Ursin constructed the Hall. It officially opened in 1902.
Since then, the building has served many important roles. It has been the village offices, the fire station, a place for people to vote, and a public meeting hall for the community.
You might notice something interesting outside the building today. There's a propeller on display from an airplane called the Lady Be Good. This American B-24 Liberator plane was lost in the Libyan Desert during World War II in 1943. One of the crew members, T/Sgt. Robert E. LaMotte, was a radio operator from Lake Linden. His remains were found in the desert in 1960. The propeller is a way to remember him and the crew.
