Manassas City Hall Ribbon Cutting To Be Held With Chamber Renaming

MANASSAS, VA — The City of Manassas will hold a ribbon cutting and chamber renaming event to celebrate the completion of its City Hall renovations.

Manassas City Council will hold its first meeting back in City Hall since the renovations at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 9. That will be preceded by a 4:30 p.m. ribbon cutting and renaming dedication for the council chambers. Residents are invited to attend.

City Council had voted earlier this year to rename the chambers in honor of Edgar Rohr, a former mayor and City Council member. Rohr also owned the Rohr's 5¢ to $1 Store on Center Street that opened in 1934 with his wife, Walser Rohr. The couple was involved in various civic organizations and volunteer efforts and opened a free museum with Civil War relics and other antiques that became a foundation for the Manassas Museum.

Rohr was a charter member of the Chamber of Commerce and a president, member and chief of the Manassas Volunteer Fire Department. During 32 years serving the city, he is credited with participating in the purchase and damning of Lake Manassas for drinking water, helping relocate IBM headquarters to Manassas, acquiring Manassas Regional Airport land and Liberia House Historic Site, and overseeing the opening of Manassas Museum, City Hall and Manassas City Public Schools.

City services had started to move back to the renovated City Hall in June following a two-year renovation of the 1987 building. The $15.9 million City Hall renovation project provided upgrades like a new roof, generator, windows, elevator, HVAC system, plumbing, electrical and data system. More community space and public art display place was provided, along with conversion of hallways into usable space and reorganization of department office space. The 31,000-square-foot building also received exterior façade upgrades and is more energy efficient. City Hall officially reopened on June 24.