Grant St.

Summary

Amberg Town Hall
Grant Street, Amberg, Marinette County
Architect: Charles W. Maass
Date of Construction: 1894

The town of Amberg is located in northern Wisconsin, near the Michigan border. The small settlement, originally known as Pike, began in 1867 as a supply depot for the timber drives down the Pike River. The community grew in 1884 with the arrival of the Milwaukee and Northern Railroad. However, the community's fortune was made with the quarrying of high-quality building granite in the area. In 1888, William Amberg, a Chicago businessman, opened the Athelstane quarry, which supplied dark gray granite. By 1891, Amberg was large enough to break away from the Town of Wausaukee and it was decided to build a hall for the new township.

Construction of the Amberg Town Hall commenced in the spring of 1894 and was completed later that year. Charles Maass, a Marinette architect, designed the building. The jail and custodian's living quarters were at the rear of the first floor, with the clerk's office in the front portion. On the second floor was a large hall for community activities. The hall was available for public rental, although churches were allowed to hold socials rent-free. In addition to these events, the hall provided a space for visiting entertainers, Christmas plays, dances, public meetings, and basketball games.

The building has undergone some changes in the last 50 years. The tower was shortened and some interior partitions have been removed.

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