Lasagna Dinner funds Old City Hall

Eldorado Main Street has the responsibility of maintaining the city's historical building, Old City Hall. The second floor is a museum and the first floor has a kitchen and dining room put to good use in raising funds for the entire building's operation expenses.

Wednesday the Main Street organization served lasagna to the public at $8 per plate and the unofficial culinary critics all agreed it was great lasagna.

"The turnout isn't so good, not what we hoped for," said a Main Street member who asked not to be identified.

The building at one time housed all the infrastructure of Eldorado City government: jail, courts, city offices, fire department and police department shared the same roof.

On the cornerstone it says the building was completed in 1924. It is in good condition but needs constant maintenance.

The monthly gas bill alone is $500, insurance is $3,000 per year, the city just put in $5,000 worth of new windows that everyone hopes will help lower the heating costs of the brick building.

"We leased the building from the city for $1," said President Judith Lovellette. "The lease is for 50 years and we have completed 20 years of the lease. None of us will be around when it expires."

Lovellette said she enjoys the camaraderie of the Main Street organization and feels she is contributing something by protecting the historical building. "It is listed on the National Registry of Historic Buildings."