The History of SAVE BATES HALL
It all began in 1907
Bates Township is in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and located in Iron County, Michigan, and was rich in mining and logging history. The Historic Bates Township Hall, built in 1907, is centrally located, literally, on the corner of U.S. 2 and the Bates Amasa Road. It was built in laid back, horse and buggy days and was an active social corner with various social and recreational activities. Then fast forward to progress and logging trucks hauling pups, heavy snow equipment and the like causing ground and water problems with the field stone basement. Rocks and timbers shifted causing a need to move the historic hall (the only public building in the Township) to the West onto a fully functioning basement..
An idea is born
A nonprofit 501(c)3 group entitled, the Bates Hall Preservation Society (BHPS), was formed in 2021, after discussions on what to do about the rapidly deteriorating field stone basement. Should the Township remain or move to a new location? It was ultimately decided that the Hall would remain and the process to obtain funding to move, restore and make the Hall energy efficient, for at least another 100 years, was begun.
The BHPS took immediate action to start fundraisers toward the effort, unfortunately, with the onset of Covid, prices took a drastic increase and that was even if you could get the material supplies. So, there have been delays as the Society searches out grants and funding opportunities
Why is Bates Hall in need of help?
The Society is often asked why not jack up the building and put in a new basement. The reason is simple. The building is much too close to that intersection and part of the porch and the steps are on the highway right of way. Not a safe situation. We cannot move the building back as the Bates Township Hall Office was built onto Hall.
So why does the Society care about saving the Hall? Heritage and rich history abound in this building. While our Country's historic buildings are being torn down right and left, we feel the Hall has great potential due to its location and use.
How do we move forward?
What are the Society's plans? Due to money restraints the project has been divided into phases. Phase one would involve the Hall to be moved onto a new, fully functional, basement as stated above. A safe new porch and steps would be attached. A corridor from the existing Township Offices to the back of the Hall would be made and, in this corridor, a mini museum to showcase Bates history. Phase two would be a pocket park with engraved bricks attributed to donors forming a walkway to a patio, a pergola, picnic tables and aesthetic landscaping. Phase three would be upgrading the kitchen to a commercial kitchen for rent and use by the community.
The future is bright!
The above plans would bring back a safe social and recreational facility and allow for retaining our easily accessible place to vote. Due to its location the Hall is used for a multitude of activities and meetings.
Please join us
Help us preserve our history ... Save Bates Hall
Coming soon!! November Donation Drive!
Welcome! Thank you for your interest in Saving Bates Hall. NOVEMBER is our Membership/Donation Drive Month!!!!