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Remembering the Village Hall

Dedicated to the sunshine of truth,

the moonshine of meeting deadlines,

and the starshine of Victoria.

8661 Deer Run Dr. * Victoria

952-443-2351

The Victoria GAZETTE

Victoria’s Corner Bar.  Nightly Specials and Menus.  952-443-9944

by Sue Orsen

         A lot of life transpired inside the four walls of the Victoria Village Hall these past 50 years, a life worth remembering.

         Upcoming demolition of the Hall, which is scheduled for June 2015, brings strong reaction from some longtime residents while others look forward to getting rid of an unsightly structure and increasing parking space for downtown Victoria. 

         The Hall on Rose Street actually consists of two buildings, the Fire Hall constructed in 1950/1951 plus the Village Hall constructed on the north side of it in 1965/1966, only a few inches away.  They came to be connected with doorways both inside and out.

         More public sentiment is expressed regarding the Village Hall than the Fire Hall.  The Village Hall, after all, has been the community center and so it has witnessed and contributed to significant occasions in the life of the city and its people.

         The Fire Hall, on the other hand, which was remodeled into City Offices in 1983, does not strike such a sentimental chord.  Besides, it is contaminated with petroleum fumes that made city employees sick and even closed down City Offices last year. 

         Some have suggested taking down the Fire Hall while retaining the Village Hall.  It's not feasible.  Multiple sewer, water, and electrical components and other conjoining infrastructure make it financially and structurally unworkable.  In fact, the place is a building inspector's nightmare.

         In 2000 carpet was removed from the lower portion of the walls in the Village Hall because it was deemed to be a fire hazard, while carpet was installed over the vinyl basketball floor.  In January 2001, the Village Hall became the location for city council meetings as the Fire Hall/City Offices were renovated once again to increase working space and add office cubicles for the growing city staff. 

         Wilfy Plocher, age 92 today, has strong sentiment regarding the Village Hall.  Currently living at Westview Acres in Waconia, he managed Victoria Lumber for many years after his dad, former Mayor E.B. Plocher, retired.  As a member of the business community and the Victoria Commercial Club, Wilfy was on the Committee to get the building constructed.

         Who paid for it?  "The city paid for it and we built it on city property," he replied. 

         From whom did the city purchase the land?  As with the Gazette's recent quest to acquire names and dates of Victoria's earliest mayors, no one had the answer to this question so I went back to the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul.

         The Village purchased land for the Village Hall from John Notermann, owner of the nearby grocery store at that time.  Total price paid, according to the minutes of December 6th, 1965, was $2,300.

         Also included in the minutes of that same council meeting:  "Said construction is to be financed by the issuance of general obligation bonds in the sum of $25,000 authorized by the voters at a special election on June 28th, 1965."  The Victoria State Bank purchased the bonds, having offered the lowest interest rate.

         General contractor on the project was Diethelm Construction which, in 1965,  meant Ken and Jerry Diethelm of Victoria. 

         Jerry, age 75 today, stopped by the Gazette office to help fill in some details.   "The bid was $25,000 plus and it came in at $29,000 plus, in order to complete the kitchen," he said.  "It was done with the city going to the bank and getting some money to pay the bills.  I was in the Army when they started planning the building," said Jerry, "but I was home to build it.  My brother Robert worked with us, too."

 

Click here to continue:  Remembering the Village Hall.

June 2015