Lake Linden Village Hall and Fire Station
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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 |
Governing body: | Local |
Part of: | Lake Linden Historic District (#09000522) |
NRHP Reference#: | 81000308[1] |
Significant dates | |
Added to NRHP: | October 26, 1981 |
Designated MSHS: | December 15, 1994[2] |
The Lake Linden Village Hall and Fire Station is a public building located at 401 Calumet Avenue in the Lake Linden Historic District in Lake Linden, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981[1] and designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1994.[2]
The Hall is a two-story Richardsonian Romanesque structure on a rough sandstone base[3] The first story is constructed of red brick, with lighter brick above; belt courses run between floors and above the windows; additional trim is made from sandstone.[2] A square tower dominates the center of the front facade; the front entrance is through the tower.[2] Pavilions on each side of the tower terminate in gables projecting from the hipped roof,[4] originally covered with slate.[2] Each of the pavilions has a group of three arched windows on each story; the tower has two arched sindows on each story and a single arched entrance on the ground level.[4] The third story of the tower is pierced with arched openings,[4] and an octagonal cupola sits atop the tower.[3] A small, flat-roofed, one-story addition projects toward the rear.[2]
The interior of the building is finished with plaster and wainscoating, and contains Art Deco light fixtures.[4] The first floor contains a village office, police and fire station, and a loung area.[4] The second floor contains a council hall, large meeting room, and kitchen, bathroom, and storage facilities.[4]
The village of Lake Linden suffered a devastating fire in May 1887, which affected 75% of the structures.[3] Although the frame village hall survived, city fathers believed that a new fireproof structure with space for a fire station would be in the best interests of the community.[2] In 1901, the village asked architects for designs, and chose one submitted by Charles K. Shand[3] of Calumet.[2] The Hall was built by a local contractor, L. F. Ursin, and opened in 1902, serving as village offices, fire station, polling place, and public meeting hall.[2]
A propeller from the Lady Be Good, an American B-24 Liberator lost in the Libyan Desert in April 1943, is on display in front of the village hall. Crewmember T/Sgt. Robert E. LaMotte of Lake Linden was a radio operator aboard the aircraft. His remains were found in the desert in 1960.[5]
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