Old City Hall (Richmond, Virginia)

Last updated
Old City Hall
Old City Hall, Richmond 03.jpg
2015 photograph
USA Virginia location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
LocationRichmond, Virginia
Coordinates 37°32′23″N77°25′59″W / 37.53972°N 77.43306°W / 37.53972; -77.43306
Built1886
Architect Elijah E. Myers
Architectural styleGothic Revival
NRHP reference No. 69000327
VLR No.127-0003
Significant dates
Added to NRHPOctober 1, 1969 [1]
Designated NHLNovember 11, 1971 [2]
Designated VLRNovember 5, 1968 [3]

Old City Hall, known formerly as City Hall, is the former city hall of Richmond, Virginia that was designed by Elijah E. Myers. It served as City Hall from its completion in 1894 through the 1970s. The building occupies its own city block in downtown Richmond, bounded by 10th and 11th Streets to the west and east, and Capitol Street and East Broad Street to the south. The building is executed in a meticulous Gothic Revival style, and was designated a National Historic Landmark for its architecture.

Contents

Description

1981 HABS photograph Richmond City Hall (Virginia).jpg
1981 HABS photograph
View of interior atrium Atrium Old City Hall Richmond, VA (8748859851).jpg
View of interior atrium

While the overall composition of the building is generally symmetrical, the 195-foot (59 m) clock tower on the left side of the principal facade gives an impression of asymmetry. The four main levels are executed in gray granite. The interior centers around a large skylit atrium surrounded by four levels of cloister-like arcades, linked by a grand staircase. The building housed city offices and courts. [4] Granite was locally obtained from quarries along the James River near Petersburg, and was shaped by workers under the direction of subcontractor James Netherwood. Iron work was by Asa Snyder. [5]

History

The Old City Hall occupies a site that previously accommodated three notable buildings, all demolished for the new structure. The first City Hall, designed by Robert Mills and Maximilian Godefroy and completed in 1818 was demolished because it was considered structurally deficient. Also demolished were the Edmund Randolph House, a circa 1800 octagonal-ended house, and the 1853 First Presbyterian Church, which was moved off the site in 1873. A design competition was held in 1883, with a design by Elijah E. Myers of Detroit selected in 1884. The project was bid twice, and both times the low bids were well above the budget. A new competition was held, and a design by Wait & Cutter of Boston was selected. Working drawings were prepared in 1886. Despite this, later that year the city council reversed its former decision and moved forward with the Myers design. [6]

Ground was broken for the new structure in 1886, with costs rising from a projected $300,000 to $1,318,349.19. Myers was a well-respected architect who had designed the state capitols of Colorado, Idaho, Michigan and Texas, [4] but it was later found that Myers had paid a bribe of $1,500 to ensure that his design would be built. [7] Cost overruns were attributed to the massive and ornamented nature of the design. From 1900/05 to 1913, City Hall was the tallest building in both Richmond and Virginia until being surpassed by the First National Bank Building. By 1915, with the popularity of the Beaux-Arts style, proposals were made to demolish City Hall to create a mall aligned with the northern side of the Virginia State Capitol. Renewed demolition threats surfaced in the 1970s, but the building was restored in the early 1980s and is used for offices. [5]

The Old City Hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 1, 1969 [1] and was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1971. [2]

See also

Related Research Articles

Church Hill, also known as the St. John's Church Historic District, is an Old and Historic District in Richmond, Virginia. This district encompasses the original land plat of the city of Richmond. Church Hill is the eastern terminus of Broad Street, a major east-west thoroughfare in the Richmond metropolitan area. The name Church Hill is often used to describe both the specific historic district and the larger general area in the East End encompassing other neighborhoods such as Union Hill, Chimborazo, Fairmount, Peter Paul, Woodville, etc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colorado State Capitol</span> State capitol building of the U.S. state of Colorado

The Colorado State Capitol Building, located at 200 East Colfax Avenue in Denver, Colorado, United States, is the home of the Colorado General Assembly and the offices of the Governor of Colorado, Lieutenant Governor of Colorado, and the Colorado State Treasurer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Broad Street (Richmond, Virginia)</span> United States historic place

Broad Street is a 15-mile-long (24 km) road located in the independent city of Richmond, Virginia, and adjacent Henrico County. Broad Street is significant to Richmond due to the many commercial establishments that have been built along it throughout Richmond's history. From downtown through miles into the suburbs, the street is largely dedicated to retailing and offices, including regional and neighborhood shopping centers and malls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White House of the Confederacy</span> Historic house in Virginia, United States

The White House of the Confederacy is a historic house located in the Court End neighborhood of Richmond, Virginia. Built in 1818, it was the main executive residence of the sole President of the Confederate States of America, Jefferson Davis, from August 1861 until April 1865. It was viewed as the Confederate States counterpart to the White House in Washington, D.C. It currently sits on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virginia State Capitol</span> State capitol building of the U.S. state of Virginia

The Virginia State Capitol is the seat of state government of the Commonwealth of Virginia, located in Richmond, the third capital city of the U.S. state of Virginia. It houses the oldest elected legislative body in North America, the Virginia General Assembly, first established as the House of Burgesses in 1619.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James River and Kanawha Canal</span> United States historic place

The James River and Kanawha Canal was a partially built canal in Virginia intended to facilitate shipments of passengers and freight by water between the western counties of Virginia and the coast. Ultimately its towpath became the roadbed for a rail line following the same course.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richmond Main Street Station</span> Railway station in Richmond VA

Richmond Main Street Station, officially the Main Street Station and Trainshed, is a historic railroad station and office building in Richmond, Virginia. It was built in 1901, and is served by Amtrak. It is also an intermodal station with Richmond's city transit bus services, which are performed by Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC). It is colloquially known by people from the city as The Clock Tower. It is a U.S. National Historic Landmark. Main Street Station serves as a secondary train station for Richmond providing limited Amtrak service directly to downtown Richmond. Several Amtrak trains serving the Richmond metropolitan area only stop at the area's primary rail station, Staples Mill Road which is located five miles to the north in Henrico County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlanta City Hall</span> United States historic place

Atlanta City Hall is the headquarters of the City of Atlanta government. It was constructed in 1930, and is located in Downtown Atlanta. It is a high-rise office tower very similar to dozens of other city halls built in the United States during the same time period. Located in South Downtown, it is near other governmental structures, such as the Georgia State Capitol and the Fulton County Courthouse. The Neo-Gothic structure features many architectural details that have helped to make the building a historical landmark. It is Atlanta’s fourth city hall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Executive Mansion (Virginia)</span> Historic house in Virginia, United States

The Virginia Governor's Mansion, better known as the Executive Mansion, is located in Richmond, Virginia, on Capitol Square and serves as the official residence of the governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Designed by Alexander Parris, it is the oldest occupied governor's mansion in the United States. It has served as the home of Virginia governors and their families since 1813. This mansion is both a Virginia and a National Historic Landmark, and has had a number of successive renovations and expansions during the 20th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jackson Ward</span> United States historic place

Jackson Ward, previously known as Central Wards, is a historically African-American district in Richmond, Virginia, with a long tradition of African-American businesses. It is located less than a mile from the Virginia State Capitol, sitting to the west of Court End and north of Broad Street. It was listed as a National Historic Landmark District in 1978. "Jackson Ward" was originally the name of the area's political district within the city, or ward, from 1871 to 1905, yet has remained in use long after losing its original meaning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monumental Church</span> Former Episcopal church and national landmark in Richmond, Virginia, United States

Monumental Church is a former Episcopal church at 1224 E. Broad Street between N. 12th and College streets in Richmond, Virginia. Designed by architect Robert Mills, it is one of America's earliest and most distinctive Greek Revival churches. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has been designated as a National Historic Landmark and is located in the Court End historic district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richmond National Cemetery</span> Historic veterans cemetery in Henrico County, Virginia

Richmond National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery three miles (4.8 km) east of Richmond in Henrico County, Virginia. Administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, it encompasses 9.7 acres (3.9 ha), and as of 2021 had more than 11,000 interments. It is closed to new interments. Richmond National Cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elijah E. Myers</span> American architect

Elijah E. Myers was a leading architect of government buildings in the latter half of the 19th century, and the only architect to design the capitol buildings of three U.S. states, the Michigan State Capitol, the Texas State Capitol, and the Colorado State Capitol. He also designed buildings in Mexico and Brazil. Myers' designs favored Victorian Gothic and Neo-Classical styles, but he worked in other styles as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wickham House</span> Historic house in Virginia, United States

The Wickham House, also known as the Wickham-Valentine House, is a historic house museum on East Clay Street in Richmond, Virginia. Completed in 1812, it is considered one of the finest examples of architecture from the Federal period. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles M. Robinson (architect)</span> American architect (1867–1932)

Charles Morrison Robinson, most commonly known as Charles M. Robinson, was an American architect. He worked in Altoona and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1889 to 1906 and in Richmond, Virginia from 1906 until the time of his death in 1932. He is most remembered as a prolific designer of educational buildings in Virginia, including public schools in Richmond and throughout Virginia, and university buildings for James Madison University, College of William and Mary, Radford University, Virginia State University, University of Mary Washington, and the University of Richmond. He was also the public school architect of the Richmond Public Schools from 1910 to 1929. Many of his works have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Union Hill, Richmond, Virginia</span> United States historic place

Union Hill is a historic district of Richmond, Virginia. According to the Richmond Times Dispatch, the neighborhood "generally is bordered on the south by East Marshall Street and Jefferson Avenue, on the west by Mosby Street, on the north by O and Carrington streets, and angled on the east by North 25th Street." The neighborhood is on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places, and is also one of sixteen designated "Old and Historic Districts" in Richmond.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richmond CenterStage</span>

Richmond CenterStage is a performing arts center in Richmond, Virginia, that includes the Altria Theatre. The theatre was formerly known as the Carpenter Theatre Center for the Performing Arts. The Carpenter Theatre was originally a Loew's Theatre movie palace developed by the Loew's Theatres company and designed by John Eberson. The building's construction began in 1927, with its doors opening in 1928. The Altria Theatre was constructed a year earlier, in 1926, and was originally a Shriners hall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Masonic Temple (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)</span> United States historic place

The Masonic Temple is a historic Masonic building in Philadelphia. Located at 1 North Broad Street, directly across from Philadelphia City Hall, it serves as the headquarters of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Free and Accepted Masons. The Temple features the Masonic Library and Museum of Pennsylvania, and receives thousands of visitors every year to view the ornate structure, which includes seven lodge rooms, where today a number of Philadelphia lodges and the Grand Lodge conduct their meetings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Masonic Temple (Richmond, Virginia)</span> United States historic place

The Masonic Temple in Richmond, Virginia is a Richardsonian Romanesque style building built during 1888–1893, designed by Jackson C. Gott. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Petersburg City Hall</span> United States historic place

Petersburg City Hall is a historic city hall building located at Petersburg, Virginia. It was designed by architect Ammi B. Young and built between 1856 and 1859, as the U.S. Customs House and Post Office.

References

  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. 1 2 "City Hall (Richmond)". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved 2008-04-20.
  3. "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved 2013-03-12.
  4. 1 2 Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission Staff (June 2, 1969). "Richmond City Hall" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  5. 1 2 "Old City Hall". Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary: Richmond. National Park Service. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  6. "Richmond City Hall, 1001 East Broad Street, Richmond, Independent City, VA," loc.gov, Library of Congress, n. d. Accessed May 3 2021.
  7. Paul Goeldner, "The Designing Architect: Elijah E. Myers," Southwestern Historical Quarterly 92, no. 2 (October 1988): 271-288.