"The Roundhouse"

"The Roundhouse". . This building is a replica of Madison's first city hall and is constructed on the original site of the Madison Depot, it was build in the late 1800's while Capt. John Buchanan Floyd, a Confederate veteran, was mayor. "The Roundhouse" served as the official city hall for town meetings, elections, and town activities such as weddings, hair cutting (when the barber made his weekly visit), and frequent card games. The original "Roundhouse" was dismantled in approximately 1938. The foundation is still visible in downtown Madison on the south side of the railroad tracks. Plans for this replica began in 1968 while E.O. Batson was mayor to commemorate Madison's Centennial in 1969. The plans were taken from sketches found in City Hall by Edgar Sandlin, City Inspector, an original photograph from Mrs. John (Lucille) Slaughter Cain, and interviews with local citizens. This Replica was constructed on September 21, 1986 at the annual street festival by developer John Hathaway and The Wild Boys Land and Cattle Company and community volunteers. Burwell L. "Sonny" Wilbanks was mayor. A professional set of building plans were donated for the reconstruction of the "Roundhouse" by Mr. Tom Gilbert, Gilbert Engineering Company, The City Engineer from 1975 to 1982.