'Building Memories' 100 years strong

May 2012 By Jane D. O'Donoghue PRIME guest columnist Seasonal announcements of high school proms, graduations, symphonies, and nationally known speakers bring a flood of "Building Memories." Anyone familiar with downtown Springfield will recognize three buildings representing the civic and cultural center of government. They present an imposing sight. These graceful, enduring, edifices will be 100 years old next year. I don't claim to remember their birth, so will leave those details to local historians. When I write "Building Memories," I mean how the sight of the Municipal Group evokes memorable events for me. When I was a student at Cathedral High School, in the mid 1940s, we presented the annual "Minstrel Show" in the auditorium. For four nights, we played to a large audience entertaining with our talents. Girls in lovely gowns, along with tuxedoed boys processed on to the stage to become the chorus. Specialty acts performed and we supported them with our voices. Our high school prom took place there in a aura of soft light, smooth music and a mirrored ball above to add to the magic of the night. As a Marshall conducted a Grand March, we partnered with others and wove around the dance floor. Chaperones sat in the balcony witnessing our night of fun with dates and friends. Our graduation ceremony — and that of most other high schools — took place on that stage as we celebrated and cried over leaving our high school life. Because of all these events, we became familiar with the maze of halls and stairways in the building. Much of this changed in later years with major renovations. I accompanied my grandmother to hear the "Boys Town Choir" regale us with their talents. Fr. Flanagan was from the same county in Ireland where she was from and she felt an "Old Country" connection. Later years, I listened to Dr. Tom Dooley plead to a packed house for funds to continue his medical missionary work among the people of Vietnam. They were at mortal risk when the French stranded them to the encroaching Communists. He was a mesmerizing speaker and held the audience with his descriptions of the peril there. On Easter Monday, the traditional Policemen's' Ball was presented annually to a large crowd. It was one of those nights where everyone in town seemed to be there. If you had a special date, your new outfit was enhanced with your Easter corsage. With a lively full band, the dance floor was crowded with jitterbug, fox trot and waltz numbers throughout the evening. Often, famous bands came to the auditorium, as we called it then, to play for our dancing pleasure. I do recall Vaughn Monroe and his orchestra performing for dancers one evening. His large ensemble and crooning voice captivated us with "Dance Ballerina Dance." Through the years, I enjoyed Springfield Symphony concerts where my friends and I climbed the stairs to sit "Up in the Gods." There were stage presentations, guest soloists, and guest conductors. I took my children, one at a time, to hear Arthur Fieldler conduct the Symphony. His encore was always "Stars and Stripes Forever." Of late, I have resisted that long, high stairway and settled for the side balconies, or the floor seating. Next to this Memory Building is the Campanile, or clock tower, where, at one time, we heard the time announced with bells and chimes. Sometimes there was a concert at lunchtime for the enjoyment of those hurrying along Main Street and Court Square. The next elegant building, a twin to the first, is City Hall. This is where my parents applied for a wedding license. Births of my siblings and me are recorded there. It also is where Tom and I applied for our wedding license. On the lower level, is where I placed my hand on a Bible and swore an oath to become a voter at age 21. I also had to read a card to prove I was literate. I learned that my paternal grandmother registered there to vote on the day I was born. I like that connection. My other grandmother registered to vote in Springfield as soon as they moved to town. When entering this lovely building you are greeted by an open lobby and a spiral stairway of marble. Today those stairs are worn slightly in the center where feet have trod for almost 100 years. I like that feeling of civic pride, and imagine citizens on errands, or workers at their business climbing and descending them in freedom. On the second level are the Council Chambers. These rooms are gracious with wood paneling to give an sense of importance and authority. I have sat through many Council meetings either in support of, or against, many presentations and proposals through the years. This always gave me a feeling of civic pride that I was exercising my rights and guarantees as a citizen. These observations are only a part of my "Building Memories" for these landmarks soon to reach their first century. If you want to make your own remembrances of special places, just relax and reflect on years past and envision the streets, rooms, and events of your life. Jane D. O'Donoghue is a Hungry Hill native and retired school librarian. Her writing has appeared in local and regional publications.