The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Judy Swanson,, Quill Publisher
La Harpe: The La Harpe City Hall located east of the La Harpe Post Office along Main Street, will have served the city's governing body for one hundred and ten years this December 2004.
The well-kept building, which is still used for its city's business, had its beginning in 1893. That was the year when plans for a two-story brick building and a calaboose (jail) were presented to the city council for the construction of a stately and functional building for the city's business.
A. J. Hillier was awarded the contract for $1,878.00, after his bid was the lowest that was submitted. He completed the building in December of 1894.
The ground floor on the east side of the building was used as the fire station while the ground floor on the west side of the building was the Police Magistrate Court along with two jail cells.
The upstairs housed the City Council Chambers, the City Clerk's office, and a Jury Room which was used for local court cases.
In 1895, the first election was held in the La Harpe City Hall. This also was the first election in which women could vote on the issue of liquor licenses.
Women were required to use a separate ballot and use a separate clerk and judges. It was also in 1895 that the first fire bell for the fire department was erected in the belfry. The Fire Department has since moved and in 1950 a Fire Protection District was formed.
Today, Mayor Kenny Brown continues to conduct the La Harpe City Council's bi-monthly meetings in the upstairs and Police Chief Jake Snelson and officers use it for official La Harpe Police Department business.