CITY HALL PARTY SET FOR THURSDAY

MAYOR TO HOST EVENT
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC


The Solomon Juneau, cast in Milwaukee October 16th, 1895. Made of 77 per cent Lake Superior copper and 23 per cent East India tin, the 22,555-pound (with clapper) bell was said to be the third largest in the world at the time, measuring 8'2" at the rim, and 8'8" from the top to the bottom.

The bell bears the following inscription:
"When I Sound the Hour of the Day
From this Grand and Lofty Steeple
Deem it a Reminder Pray
To be Honest with the People"

Special to the Readers of Milwaukeeworld.com

By Michael Horne

In what might be its biggest party since the funeral of Henry Maier, City Hall will open to the public Thursday, December 18th, 2008 from 5 to 7 p.m. for a re-dedication ceremony. [Invitation pdf].

The building had been encased in netting and protective scaffolding since 2002 to protect pedestrians from falling bricks and debris. The scaffolding took on a construction status in August 2005 when work began under a $59,927,218 contract awarded to J. P. Cullen & Sons.
The project surpassed all of its ambitious minority participation goals, according to the October 2008 quarterly progress report.
The scaffold was removed earlier this month, revealing the Flemish Renaissance masterpiece once again in its full 393-foot glory.
The highlight of the event, insofar as ceremony is concerned, will be a brief re-dedication ceremony to be held from 6:15 - 6:30 p.m. outdoors, "Rain or Snow", at the intersection of N. Water and E. Wells streets. There, the mayor will do whatever, accompanied by Bartolotta fireworks and hopefully the pealing of the 11-ton Solomon Juneau, the building's resident bell, and the second-largest ever cast in this country.
The bell was cast in this city in 1895 by Henry Campbell, who can be seen seated in it, above.
The bell had been silenced for decades under the edict of Socialist Mayor Daniel Webster Hoan before it began to count the hours again, as it did in1999, under the direction and rope-pulling of Mayor John O. Norquist. It was shut down during the reconstruction, and has yet to be heard from.
The first 1,000 visitors to the party will receive a special souvenir. Posters of the Great Hall of the People will be available for $10, with all proceeds to benefit the Milwaukee Rescue Mission. On your way down, make sure to check out the new translucent clock face on the building's tower. It is said to be closer to the architect's original conception than the one we were accustomed to.
The building was constructed by the Paul Riesen Company in 1895 for just under a million dollars. Riesen's grandson, also named Paul Riesen, is an active octogenarian in Milwaukee. I'll see if I can track him down and get him to come to the event.

A NOTE ON THE ENTERTAINMENT AND REFRESHMENTS

• Singers inside City Hall are from "Milwaukee Theater Favorites."
• Outdoors at 6:15 p.m., In Tandem Theatre will share a special "City Hall" song to the tune of "Silver Bells."
• Hot cider from Alterra Coffee.
• Cookies from Midwest Airlines.
• A piece of City Hall brick as a memento to the first 1,000 people.

[Can't make it yourself? An exhibition will run in the building until mid-January, featuring artifacts and photos of the building and the construction. Bring your camera, and pose on an actual scaffold section before a photo of the bell tower. --Ed.]

FUN FACT!
A barely literate history of the building is available on the city's website, providing you can handle a trip through a literary minefield. ("Neared it's 100th birthday" ... "U.S. Secretary of Interiors" ... the bell "continues to be rang each year.")
--Michael Horne