by Kris Bremness

There’s something going on at the corner of Patten and Adams Street in Boyd. What was formerly the Boyd Village Hall is being repurposed after sitting idle for many years.

A bit of history of the corner of Patten and Adams Street as provided by Marcy Ruu of Boyd. The land was originally purchased by the village in 1892. A well was dug and a steel water tank was erected, along with a complete water system for fire protection. Village business and meetings were held in the pump house. In 1894 a 30 x 16 building was built next to the pump house for the fire department. In 1901 steel jail cells were ordered for the proposed jail in the building. Then in 1907 a second steel water tank (possibly due to the growth of the Village) was built next to the original tank. In 1933, as part of the WPA project, the fire department building was torn down and a new brick building was erected. This building would serve as the fire department, jail, village clerk ovce, and meeting room for the Village council.

This old building served as the Village Hall from 1933 to

See OLD HALL, Page 6

Boyd resident Randy Setzer is fixing up the old village hall, seen here in the clerk’s office. Photo by Kris Bremness. OLD HALL

from page 1

1990. In 1990, the Village bought the old doctor/dentist clinic building on Main Street and the Village Clerk’s ovce moved there. Then in 1993, the Fire department built a new building on the west side of town and moved. That same year, Jerry Seichter bought the old Hall from the village. Then in July of this year, Randy Setzer, a local resident, bought it from the Jerry Seichter estate.

While cleaning out the building recently, a long time Boyd resident stopped in to talk to Randy about the history of the building. He spoke about the well/pump which served the entire village. Part of the old well still sits in the building. He pointed out the 8 x 10 room which housed the one-man police department, confirmed the room where the city clerk did Village business and voting was held, and told how two fire trucks fit into the building.

One story says the Boyd SnoBees snowmobile club, headed up by Allan Setzer (Randy’s dad) held their meetings in the clerks’ ovce. And in the basement, you’ll find the remains of a single jail cell.

Randy discovered the original wood floors throughout the Clerks’ ovce and hopes to restore them. He also has plans to refinish the old wood butcherblock countertop that was used as a work bench in the fire truck bay. Randy says he plans on using the building for personal use. As to the old jail cell? No plans are made at this time!

The old village hall at Boyd as it appears from the outside. Photo by Kris Bremness.

The old well. Photo by Kris Bremness.

A single jail cell is on site at the old village hall. Photo by Kris Bremness.