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Encyclopedia Dubuque

www.encyclopediadubuque.org

"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.




DUBUQUE CITY HALL: Difference between revisions

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In February 1857, plans were submitted and approved by the city council for the present City Hall. Land was purchased for $20,000. Plans for the building estimated the cost at $32,500. The Panic of 1857, however, led the building to eventually cost city taxpayers nearly $50,000. Although bonds were issued for $100,000 and the building was completed between 1858 and 1859, nothing was paid on the principal of the debt until after 1920.  
In February 1857, plans were submitted and approved by the city council for the present City Hall. Land was purchased for $20,000. Plans for the building estimated the cost at $32,500. The Panic of 1857, however, led the building to eventually cost city taxpayers nearly $50,000. Although bonds were issued for $100,000 and the building was completed between 1858 and 1859, nothing was paid on the principal of the debt until after 1920.  


Dubuque's new City Hall was officially opened in January 1858, with a gala hosted by the Dubuque City Guard. A 2,800-pound bell, cast by the Meneely Bell Company of Troy, New York, at a cost of $1,352, was placed in its tower on May 21, 1858. The basement of the building was used for a police station, city jail and two saloons. First floor, designed as a market, was divided into small stalls that were rented to anyone to display and sell products to the public. Windows, eleven feet high, were designed so that farmers could back their wagons up to the windowsill and unload their produce directly into the building.  
Dubuque's new City Hall was officially opened in January 1858, with a gala hosted by the Dubuque City Guard. A 2,800-pound [[BELL]], cast by the Meneely Bell Company of Troy, New York, at a cost of $1,352, was placed in its tower on May 21, 1858. The basement of the building was used for a police station, city jail and two saloons. First floor, designed as a market, was divided into small stalls that were rented to anyone to display and sell products to the public. Windows, eleven feet high, were designed so that farmers could back their wagons up to the windowsill and unload their produce directly into the building.  


Second floor provided office space for city officials, a courtroom and council chamber. Third floor was a public hall used for dances or community gatherings. The third floor was designed so that there were no pillars, posts, or columns. This area has been used in more recent times as an archery and pistol range, bowling alley and horse-shoe pitching area. The architect of the building, famed [[RAGUE, John Francis|John Francis RAGUE]], was said to have patterned the building after Boston's Faneuil Hall and the Fulton Street Market in New York City.  
Second floor provided office space for city officials, a courtroom and council chamber. Third floor was a public hall used for dances or community gatherings. The third floor was designed so that there were no pillars, posts, or columns. This area has been used in more recent times as an archery and pistol range, bowling alley and horse-shoe pitching area. The architect of the building, famed [[RAGUE, John Francis|John Francis RAGUE]], was said to have patterned the building after Boston's Faneuil Hall and the Fulton Street Market in New York City.  

Revision as of 02:43, 22 May 2011

Dubuque's City Hall. Photo courtesy:dubuquepostcards.com

DUBUQUE CITY HALL. Center of municipal government for the City of Dubuque. Dubuque's first governmental home was a small two-story brick building on the corner of Fifth and Locust STREETS.

Erected in 1845, the building was deserted in 1852 due to its lack of space. Offices were temporarily moved to the Globe Building on Main Street. Four years later, municipal records were moved again to offices above G. Beckner's Store on Main Street.

In February 1857, plans were submitted and approved by the city council for the present City Hall. Land was purchased for $20,000. Plans for the building estimated the cost at $32,500. The Panic of 1857, however, led the building to eventually cost city taxpayers nearly $50,000. Although bonds were issued for $100,000 and the building was completed between 1858 and 1859, nothing was paid on the principal of the debt until after 1920.

Dubuque's new City Hall was officially opened in January 1858, with a gala hosted by the Dubuque City Guard. A 2,800-pound BELL, cast by the Meneely Bell Company of Troy, New York, at a cost of $1,352, was placed in its tower on May 21, 1858. The basement of the building was used for a police station, city jail and two saloons. First floor, designed as a market, was divided into small stalls that were rented to anyone to display and sell products to the public. Windows, eleven feet high, were designed so that farmers could back their wagons up to the windowsill and unload their produce directly into the building.

Second floor provided office space for city officials, a courtroom and council chamber. Third floor was a public hall used for dances or community gatherings. The third floor was designed so that there were no pillars, posts, or columns. This area has been used in more recent times as an archery and pistol range, bowling alley and horse-shoe pitching area. The architect of the building, famed John Francis RAGUE, was said to have patterned the building after Boston's Faneuil Hall and the Fulton Street Market in New York City.

City Hall remodeling began as early as 1879 when the market was removed from the first floor and relocated outside. A second proposal for remodeling came in January 1895, when it was proposed that fireproof vaults be installed to safeguard public records. Lack of money delayed these plans.

A recommendation to abandon the building and construct a new City Hall was proposed in 1912. Subcommittees considered building a city hall and auditorium, but were eventually unable to move beyond discussion.

In 1920 City Manager Ossian E. CARR proposed moving city offices to the upper floor of the DUBUQUE COUNTY COURTHOUSE. This idea, not acted upon, did result in some remodeling to the offices in the City Hall. Electricity was installed in January 1921, at a cost of approximately $330. This proved a cost savings when compared to the $140 per month paid for GAS LAMPS.

Major renovation was made to City Hall in 1926. Large windows on the first floor were replaced with small ones. The entire floor was partitioned into offices for city officials who had previously used the second floor. Bare brick walls were plastered. In 1940 a proposal was briefly considered to house part of the city FIRE DEPARTMENT on the first floor.

Serious consideration to abandon City Hall arose in 1941 when the city council proposed purchasing the old DUBUQUE CUSTOM HOUSE AND POST OFFICE at Ninth and Locust Streets. Old City Hall was to be leased to Dubuque County as a location for W.P.A. activities and the Department of Social Services. City officials traveled to Washington, D.C., to determine what financial aid the city might receive from the federal government. Difficulties again arose which doomed the idea.

City Hall without its bell tower.
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Plans to renovate City Hall in 1973 included a grand entrance on 13th Street and restoration of three rooms and the 13th Street entrance with grand furnishings like those used in the early years of the building. The estimated cost of the project was $750,000, but again nothing was accomplished.

Sterling silver pin with the likeness of the city hall bell tower given during the campaign.

The last, and possibly most publicized, renovation project on City Hall involved the replacement of the bell tower. The original wooden tower was removed in 1954 due to its deteriorated condition. The bell rested on a pedestal placed in front of City Hall in 1968 by the DUBUQUE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

6th grade students at Hoover Elementary School contributed $250 toward the new bell tower. Their efforts spurred contributions from the community. A program was held at school and televised.
Signatures of the Hoover students who raised funds for the new bell tower on City Hall.

In 1988 a City Hall Tower Fund campaign was begun by Gordon KILGORE, Wayne Andrew NORMAN, Sr., and Paul Rossiter. In 1990 the campaign had exceeded its $100,000 goal. A new forty-seven-foot aluminum reproduction of the original tower, brought to Dubuque in three sections, was manufactured by Campbellsville Industries, Inc., of Campbellsville, Kentucky. The bell remains stationary, but the clapper will be activated by a push button on first floor. The building has been added to the NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.

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Source:

Pratt, LeRoy G. Discovering Historic Iowa, Iowa Department of Public Instruction, 1975