Save Lodi's 1912 City Hall and Firehouse!

Lodi's original City Hall and Fire Station building at 114 N Main Street is regularly threatened with demolition.

Instead of knocking it down, let's revive the beautiful old building and convert it to be a delighful new Museum and Meeting Hall.

Please give a donation of any size toward the renovation and re-opening of this solid brick treasure!

HISTORY

In 1911, Lodi had grown into a bustling town of about 3,000 residents. Officials called for a centralized seat of city operations. They hired 24-year-old architect Charles Rice, who lived with his mother and sisters at 419 E Locust Street in Lodi. After navigating lowest-bid suppliers and cumbersome red tape, in 1912 young Charles succeeded in constructing a strong brick building that served the city well for many decades.

By 1928 city administrators outgrew the 1912 City Hall and so built themselves a new City Hall at 221 W Pine Street. The entire 1912 building was then used by the Fire Department until 1967, when the firefighters moved to their new home at 210 W Elm Street. City officials occasionally used the 1912 building for meetings and storage through the 1990s.

The solid brick building has weathered every windstorm and political controversy. If those walls could speak, they'd reveal fiery debates concerning World War I, women's right to vote, temperance, and the dubious wisdom of replacing our trusty horse-drawn fire wagon with a gas-powered firetruck.

Let's bring back the excitement of Lodi's early days with a family-friendly history museum and meeting hall!

ALREADY HARD AT WORK

The local firefighters, led by Lodi's visionary builder Scott Hamilton, are already hard at work clearing out decades of dirt and discarded office equipment. The plans are drawn for exhibit space downstairs and a Firefighter Union Hall upstairs. Scott is successfully negotiating for donated supplies and labor which would otherwise cost an estimated $1.2 million, but he needs your help.

Please join with the Lodi Historical Society to raise funds toward the purchase of supplies, labor, and exibits. Any donation, small or large, demonstrates your love and commitment to our beautiful City of Lodi, and Lodi's children of tomorrow will thank you.

Donate now! And then please share this fundraiser with people and organizations who love Lodi.