Let's make use of Minonk's older buildings

The top floor of the building was used by the International Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) for its functions. Many years ago theyt performed plays on the second floor where there is still a stage at the south end. Over the past one hundred years the bottom floor was used as a restaurant, a car agency, and a hatchery and feed store. In fact, my first source of income was from selling eggs laid by my prized White Rock chickens to Gil McKeon at his hatchery and egg produce store in that building.

Sadly, the building was left unused for the most part of the past thirty years. It also suffered the indignity of modern day remodeling when a false ceiling was put in the first floor along with dark paneling and the big windows were boarded up. However, it has stood the test of time well and is still a very sturdy building. Its brick walls are at least 3 bricks deep and the foundation is still solid.

They really don't make buildings like that anymore. Its windows have an ornamental tin facade which really serves no purpose other than to make it look nice. How many commercial buildings nowdays have features that are added only because it enhances the appearance of the building? In addition, both floors have 14 foot high ceilings which give an immense feeling of openess and grandeur to the rooms. The cornice at the top of the building is very ornate and again probably serves no purpose other than to enhance the appearance of the building.

My how times have changed. Compare this building to the Minonk Foods building and the Dollar General building, both of recent construction. What would Minonk look like today if all of its original buildings were built like they are today? Last week a window contractor came to inspect the building for replacing the front windows. He commented that you couldn't construct a building like that for less than $500,000 today.

The more I work with this building the more I love it. I can't imagine how painstaking and time consuming it must have been to lay brick 35 feet in the air without any of the modern day equipment like cranes. I believe that the workers who constructed this buildings built their own wooden scaffolds.

It might take me 5 years to completely finish both floors of the building. However, I do want to be able to finish the bottom floor next year so that I can move my office for my computer software development and for the Minonk Talk website into the building. Also, I would like to start a small Minonk history museum to display old photographs and artifacts from the past. I am excited about the prospects of returning this old building back into a vibrant place for commerce and fellowship. All I need is time and money.

The Economic Development Council Committee for the City of Minonk is making the process of restoring old buildings more economically feasible with its granting of TIF funds to help restore the facade of the older buildings. Already funds have been given to Tom Janssen for facade repair to the old Goodwin building at the corner of Fifth and Chestnut and to Jim Brown for window replacement on the former Goodwin Bros. auto agency at Fourth and Chestnut.

As I have mentioned many times before, the city needs to look upon these older buildings as community assets that are worth restoring to their original glory. This includes encouraging owners of buildings that have been altered with tin or wood siding, to consider removing the siding and restoring the original facade.

One building that has a lot of potential and really needs to be used is the old Minonk Bakery building in the 400 block of Oak Street. The building has sat empty since May 2001 when the baking company closed down. The building is very large and appears to be in good shape. It was built of brick in the 1920's and has a pleasant front facade. I do not know if anyone has attempted to buy the building from the owners but I think it is something the city should look into.

Someone suggested to me that the building would make a good community center since it is located downtown with parking available on the alley side of the building. I know that The New Millenium Committee has developed plans to build a large community center with a swimming pool at the north edge of town. However, it may take years for the economic climate to improve in order for that to become a reality. I suggest that the New Millenium Committee consider the possibility of buying the former bakery building and converting it into a social hall and indoor sports complex. This could include having an area for receptions and dances, an area for offices for the food pantry and the boy scouts. In addition, an excercise area with workout equipment, a sauna bath and a weight room could also be constructed. In effect, everything can be put into the old bakery building that is planned for the new community center except for the swimming pool and basketball court.

It seems to me that it would be far more affordable to put a community center into an older building than to build a new one. The outdoor sports complex that the New Millenium Committee is planning for the north end of town can still be pursued. The building of a swimming pool could be undertaken at a later date when the community is in a better position to support it economically. In fact, by putting the community center in the bakery building, there may be enough money saved to build a pool on the empty lot right north of the bakery building. There is something to be said for having the community center facilities in downtown Minonk where it is more easily accessable and which would make the downtown a more vibrant area.

The bakery building is too usable a building to let stand idle. I think either the Millenium Committee or the city should find some way to make use of this building.