There is no mistaking the rich architectural features of the building that sits across the street from Pottsville's City Hall. It has to be the most distinctive, and innovative architectural phenomena around. It captures the essence of the '70s decade with its manipulation of forms and surfaces.
You might remember the 70s as a time when disco people wore flashy polyester clothing when going to play the daily numbers game on Centre Street. That was a time long before the advent of pajamas as a day time wearing apparel.
The orange windows spread citrusy cheeriness to the wayward mothers and alleged fathers who visit the Schuylkill County Children & Youth Center and other visitors who stop at the offices in the Schuylkill County Government Human Services Complex. Those long, narrow windows, fitted with plastic venetian blinds, at first had the ever-present smiling faces. You know, those two black, blank eyes and wide grin smiling at you constantly.
It was blissful, welcoming, and optimistic for a city profoundly shaken by the end of the Pottsville Steam Heat Plant which kept the streets warm in the winter. It is not known why these smiling faces were removed. Some say it occurred during the uproar in the early 1990s over the cartoon characters in Garfield Square which spread to other parts of the city. In any event those idyllic smiling faces should be returned to their rightful place.
The architect who designed the building was certainly influenced by the humble sardine can and made the sardine can one with the building. There is no mistake about it.
As for the sardine can-like canopy that graces the rectangular building, the can that inspired the architect is now on display at the Historical Society for a limited time. Some say that the sardine can was purchased at Lotz's Market. Others say it was purchased at the old Acme Market. Some say they couldn't care less where it was purchased.
It was also said that when the building was dedicated in the 1970s, the consumption of sardines sky-rocketed, surpassing the combined consumption of funnel cake and beer bologna. Hard to believe. But absolutely true.
