Hutchins Memorial To Come Down

By a unanimous 5-0 decision, the Ponca City Board of Commissioners voted to demolish the James S. Hutchins Memorial Auditorium.  Ponca City Commissioners will receive bids on the project from City Manager Craig Stephenson in late March or early April and the work will begin soon after. The Hutchins was built in 1961 and named after James S. Hutchins who served as mayor from 1901 to 1902.  Commissioners have instructed Stephenson to work with Ponca City School officials to negotiate a contract for the new Fine Arts/Concert Hall to be built on those grounds South of Ponca City High School.  The City of Ponca City has owned that land since 1927 and was to be used for municipal purposes which includes school purposes.  The Hutchins is in need of extensive repairs to both the interior and exterior of the building.