First Town Halls in Lewiston

First Town Halls in Lewiston. . , Through the history of Lewiston, 3 separate Town Halls buildings have stood near this site beginning at the founding in 1892. The first Town Hall was lost to the fire of 1917 and the town offices and functions moved to the second Town Hall, the vacant Lewiston House Hotel, which was just a little west and across the street on Hanson. Town residents had every intention of rebuilding, but funds were short after the mill closed and it wasn't until 1933, with federal funds secured through the WPA Program, that the Lewiston House was dismantled and the sturdy native pine timbers, some 20 feet long, were used to build the third Town Hall. The winter of 1933-34 was one of the coldest on record with a low of negative 48 degrees. The men literally ran to work to stay warm and were paid 50 cents per day for their efforts. , , The Town Halls of earlier days were truly the center of the community, and not just from a governmental standpoint. They served a broad scope of community events hosting weekly dances, graduations, concerts, plays, talent shows, birthdays, and weddings. The 3rd Town hall served the community for almost 30 years before it too was lost to fire in 1962. , , Fire has been a recurring menace throughout the history of Lewiston, which is not uncommon to early lumber towns. During the years the mill operated, the huge boilers at the power plant provided water to fire hydrants in town and provided electricity to many homes as well. Access to these two modern utilities lessened the fire danger in town immeasurably but when the mill closed, the water ceased to flow, and the residents went back to kerosene lighting and wood stoves which were the cause of many fires. , , So many buildings burned, insurance companies refused to write coverage in Lewiston for many years. The only factor limiting the damage was the wide spacing, and firebreak nature, of Kneeland Street. Fires could usually be contained at least to the east or west side of town. The early founders were well aware of the danger and planned Kneeland with that thought in mind, right from the beginning. , , Electricity for many years was a luxury one provided privately through a gas generator in an unattached building away from the house, as they also were a source of fire. Wide spread electricity didn't become available until 1936 with the passing of the New Deal - Rural Electrification Act during the Great Depression. This provided federal funds for installation of electrical systems throughout rural America and to isolated communities like Lewiston. The funding was most often channeled through member owned cooperative power companies, several of which continue to serve northern Michigan today. , , Donated jointly by The Lewiston Lioness Lions Club and the Lewiston DDA. , , The Lewiston Heritage Trail is a DDA project funded by private donors with period photos and historical text provided by the Lewiston Area Historical Society.