For decades, the building at 2333 Palmyra Road was a site from which news was reported. Wednesday, KHQA’s former Hannibal studio was news as representatives of Barrington Broadcasting LLC officially donated the structure to the Hannibal Fire Department.
“We are extremely delighted to share a piece of history in a building with the citizens of Hannibal, Marion County and the city of Hannibal,” said Carol Kellum, KHQA president and CEO. “We are excited to watch as they breathe a second life into this building as it becomes administrative offices for the fire department. We look forward to watching the progress and reporting on a renovated building that the city of Hannibal can use and its citizens can use.”
The building, which went into service as KHQA’s Hannibal studio on Sept. 23, 1953, has been vacant since December 2007.
“We decided as our business changes and we were becoming more centralized we did not need such a large building for what we needed on day to day,” said Kellum.
Kellum said Hannibal Fire Chief Tim Carter initially approached her about the building’s availability at year ago.
“He asked if there was any interest in looking at doing a partnership or something we could do together with this building. As those talks progressed we decided to just go ahead and donate the building to the city,” she said.
The storage space the building will provide is a Godsend for the fire department.
“We’ve been needing this facility for the past 15 years, honestly,” said Carter. “As far as the need for the administrative building and storage space, we’ve always needed it so it’s greatly appreciated that we have received this, especially with the economy and everything as it is right now.”
In August, Carter estimated the cost of renovating the structure at $75,000.
“I estimate the cost of the renovation is going to be less than a third of what it would cost to build a facility like this,” he said.
To help keep renovation costs down, city workers are being utilized as much as possible.
“The majority of the renovation work is being done by firefighters and city employees of the street department,” said Carter. “There are some specialty items - the roof, the electrical work, the plumbing work - that are going to have to be hired out.”
Carter hopes to be able to occupy the building by mid summer.
“It may be sooner and it may be a little bit longer depending on how funding holds out,” he said.
Among those in attendance at Wednesday’s key transfer ceremony was former KHQA employee, Wanda Mitchell. The 85-year-old Mitchell once hosted an early morning show called “Seven Spotlight” from the Hannibal building.
“It was an interview-type show. I’d interview people about things that were going to take place,” she said.
Although renovations have started on the interior, being inside the building again brought a smile to Mitchell’s face.
“I loved being there. I considered that my second home. I spent more hours there I think than I did at home,” she said.
Mayor Roy Hark is thankful the building will continue to provide a service.
“The building is only 50-some years old and it’s a great old building. There’s no need to lose this,” he said. “It’s just going to be a real asset to the city.”
