Springfield’s forgotten palace: A cautionary tale for today’s convention center dream:
Springfield’s current push to build a modern convention center complex echoes a similar campaign that began 120 years ago and resulted in an impressive, innovative facility.
However, today’s promoters should hope that history doesn’t completely repeat itself, because that early 20th-century convention center was financially troubled and only lasted a couple of decades.
The earlier idea to build a huge auditorium and exhibition space was prompted in part by rivalry with neighboring Joplin, which in 1900 had a slightly greater population than Springfield — 26,000 vs 23,000. By 1905, the two cities were neck-and-neck in size, and Springfield businessmen and politicians began dreaming aloud about what they termed a “convention hall” that would focus attention on Springfield and draw regional and even national organizations to gather here.
Spoiler alert: It will be even boondogglier today, because in decades’ of existence, it will require additional millions in updates.
I just posted my skepticism last week.
