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a. Significance peried Areas of Sigatticance--Check and justify b*tQw prehistoric archeology -prehistoric community planning landscape architecture, religion 1400-1499 archeology -historic conservation law science 1500-1599 agriculture economics literature sculpture 1600-1699 architecture education military socialf 1700-1799 art f engineering music humanitarian 1800-1899 commerce expiorationlsettlement. philosophy . theater ^ 1 9 0 0 - communications industry x . politics/government transportation invention other (specify) Specific dates 1914; 1931 BuiiderlArchitect W. R. Powell Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) The North Olmsted Town Hall has been the seat of village government since its construction in 1914. The building is an intact example of the early 24th century version of the Colonial Revival style. Most significant, the Town Hall was the site of the formation of the first municipally owned bus service in the nation. North Olmsted was incorporated in 1908 from portions of two townships. Olmsted and Dover. It was basically a rural farming community. No municipal building existed until plans vyere made in 1913. and the new Town Hail was apparently ready for occupancy by December. 1914. The architect was W. R. Powell. The village offices werelocated in the basement level, and included a council chamber, mayor and clerk's office. a vault, the jail. and a general office for all other functions. The main floor was used as a community hall. where school plays. grange meetings, choir performances. graduations. and dances were held. In 1931. the interurban railway service to Cleveland was abandoned. When no private bus company came forward to provide service. Mayor Charles A. Seltzer. a prolific author of Western fiction, proposed the formation of a municipal bus line. The Village Council passed a resol- ution to advertise for bids for municipal buses in February. 1931. The bus service began on March 1. 1931. Some residents and certain public utilities opposed the action. but after several la-,vsuits. the bus line was sanctioned by the Ohio Supreme Court. According to William Ganson Rose. "North Olmsted established a precedent for the nation when it organized The North Olmsted Municipal Bus Line. " The Bus Line still operates service for over 2. 500, 000 passengers each year. Thus, although the event of primary significance took place in 1931. the action which was taken in this Town Hail illuminates the attitudes of an age when the provision of public transport by a public agency was revolutionary. This contrasts with the attitudes of fifty years later, when the provision of public transportation entirely by private initiative is inconceivable. 10