by Tom Chillemi –
On Jan. 27, 2022 at 8:48 p.m. the doors to the Urbanna Town Council chambers closed — maybe for the last time.
The town office moved last week and reopened on Feb. 1 just outside the town limits at 390 Virginia St. The town has up to a two-year lease on modern offices that are all on one floor.
The future is uncertain for the building at 45 Cross St. that can now be called “old” for two reasons — it’s the former town hall and it is more than 100 years old. A wall is bowing and it has foundation issues, among other things.
When the “Regal Building” was built electricity was in its infancy. People called the monthly charges for electricity a “light bill,” because light was the main benefit of electricity in the beginning.
It was built like a fortress, with solid concrete blocks forming the first story. It’s been a firehouse, a print shop, and when a second story of wood was added, silent movies were shown on the second floor. (“Talking” movies came out in 1927).
And this is where the town council has met for more than 43 years. Up until the early 1990s smoking was permitted in the chambers…
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