New Look Delights City Hall Staff, Visitors

Public Works Superintendent John Louise calls it "the 'wow' factor."

It's the reaction of visitors to City Hall since restoration of the seal in the rotunda and new paint throughout have given the municipal building a whole new look. Gone are the dusty fake plants, the table full of flyers and the "greeter's desk" that was obscuring two memorial plaques.

The goal of the makeover was to present a "clean, uncluttered environment," Public Works Director Eric Jackson said.

Even necessities such as recycling containers have been integrated into the look by placing them in bins painted to blend in with the cream-colored walls and sand-toned  trim of the interior.

Artist Daniel Krovatin restored the seal in the rotunda, researching the colors and revising the background several times to get it just right, Louise said. The design was created by the Moravian Tile Company for the building, which was opened to the public on Jan. 1, 1919.

The old, scuffed floor and dull seal can be seen in this Feb. 6 photo of residents including bloggers Dan Damon and Dr. Harold Yood waiting to enter the council meeting.

The building's cornerstone was laid on Feb. 17, 1917, but labor troubles delayed construction. Mayor Leighton Calkins was the champion of the project, initially fending off critics who thought the plan was too expensive.

"We shall be criticized by generations hence if we fail now to erect a Municipal building which will, with its beautiful site, reflect credit on Plainfield when it numbers fifty instead of twenty-five thousand people within its borders," Calkins said.

Restoring a welcoming, dignified look projects a message that Plainfield is "really on the upswing," Jackson said.

Besides impressing visitors, the improvements are pleasing city employees.

"The staff reaction has been tremendous," Jackson said.

The World War (it wasn't called World War I until 1939) memorial can now be seen up close, with all the names of those who gave their lives for their country in the Great War.

Jackson called it "a great monument that needs to be viewed by folks."

Visitors are welcome to City Hall, which is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for regular business and at various evening hours for meetings.

--Bernice