Grand Island Town Hall turned the big 5-0 this year and hosted a small birthday party Saturday to celebrate the milestone.
The Grand Island Historic Preservation Advisory Board and town supervisor's office organized the event for the Town Hall, built in 1968. The upstairs foyer of the Town Hall was the site of a display of historic photos from the demolition of old Town Hall and construction of new Town Hall, which took place during the administration of Supervisor Ray Griffin.
The get-together was complete with birthday cake.
Attending the event were past and present town personnel, including members of the current town government.
Town Hall holds "A lot of memories," said Fran Havens, a retiree who worked in the town's water and sewer billing department. Before the present Town Hall was built, her department was located in the part of the Grand Island Plaza that was St. Angelo's pizzeria and later Brick Oven.
"It was a blessing" when town offices were consolidated at the new Town Hall, Havens said.
The historic cupola that sat atop the old Town Hall, which was torn down after new Town Hall was built in 1968, has been relocated to the Town Hall parking lot for the rest of the month.
Grand Island Town Historian Jodi Robinson cuts the Town Hall birthday cake during the party in the upstairs foyer. (Photos by Larry Austin)