Residents hope to restore Freeport City Hall

FREEPORT — A group of residents in Freeport are hoping to restore the northern Illinois city’s abandoned 112-year-old City Hall.

The Journal-Standard reports the group plans a Dec. 13 meeting for anyone interested in the effort. The Freeport City Council is now meeting in a temporary facility after leaving City Hall because of structural issues. Residents will meet with expert on restoration and preservation at the meeting later this month.

Freeport Mayor George Gaulrapp says an exploratory excavation around sections of the building’s foundation will be finished before the end of the year. The mayor would like to rebuild and restore the building before selling it. He says if there’s too much damage the building will be have to be demolished.