Built for Posterity

Another picture from our nearest town, Härnösand.  We were there today principally because I had a dental check-up, but since we were in town we included a lovely visit to Rose's, a walk, a lot of stocking up with food for the next few days, and a visit to the alcohol shop, also stocking up.
This rather impressive building is down on the waterfront in the centre of town. Maybe this was the first time I had really looked at this building in all the years i've been going by. I first noticed the 4 bronze dragons on the four pillars, but then my eyes drifted upwards to a text just above the highest windows. The text reads...
Erected during (the time of) King Oskar II, (in the) 26th year of his reign. That means it was built in 1898. Whoever built this obviously expected it to be around for a good few years and their expectations were correct.  It still looks in really good shape.  This is the central third of the building, and the most ornate. The sections on either side also still look really good. You can see them in the extra.
Also visible in the extra is the 70's hotel next door, to the left. I really wonder what was in the minds of the town-planners who gave permission for that to be built alongside this fine building. Perhaps they though the contrast was exciting.