Taunton City Hall
Encyclopedia
Taunton City Hall is an historic city hall
containing the offices of the municipal government for the city of Taunton, Massachusetts
, including the office of the mayor and the city council chambers. The building was originally constructed in 1848, and expanded in 1896. It is a contributing property to the Church Green national historic district, located at the intersection of U.S. Route 44
and State Route 140.
, former governor of Massachusetts. Construction of the original building began in March 1848 and was completed in November of that same year. In 1853, a second story was added to the building. The original brick building was designed by Earl E, Ryder.
Taunton High School was located in the second floor of city hall between 1854 and 1885.
In 1889, a memorial plaque listing the names of Tauntonians killed in action during the American Civil War
was dedicated inside Taunton City Hall.
In July 1896 the original castle-like facade of city hall was removed, and replaced with a large granite addition designed in the Renaissance revival style by architect J.Merrill Brown at a cost of $45,000.
Taunton City Hall also contains memorial plaques to city victims of World War I
and World War II
.
City hall
In local government, a city hall, town hall or a municipal building or civic centre, is the chief administrative building of a city...
containing the offices of the municipal government for the city of Taunton, Massachusetts
Taunton, Massachusetts
Taunton is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the seat of Bristol County and the hub of the Greater Taunton Area. The city is located south of Boston, east of Providence, north of Fall River and west of Plymouth. The City of Taunton is situated on the Taunton River...
, including the office of the mayor and the city council chambers. The building was originally constructed in 1848, and expanded in 1896. It is a contributing property to the Church Green national historic district, located at the intersection of U.S. Route 44
U.S. Route 44
U.S. Route 44 is an east–west United States highway that runs for 237 miles through four states in the Northeastern region of the United States. The western terminus is at U.S. Route 209 and New York State Route 55 in Kerhonkson, a hamlet in the Hudson Valley region of New York...
and State Route 140.
Historical notes
The current city hall is located on land once owned by Marcus MortonMarcus Morton
Marcus Morton was a lawyer, jurist, and politician from Taunton, Massachusetts. He represented Massachusetts in the United States House of Representatives and served two terms as 16th and 18th Governor of Massachusetts, as well as a portion of an unexpired term in 1825, as Acting Governor.Morton...
, former governor of Massachusetts. Construction of the original building began in March 1848 and was completed in November of that same year. In 1853, a second story was added to the building. The original brick building was designed by Earl E, Ryder.
Taunton High School was located in the second floor of city hall between 1854 and 1885.
In 1889, a memorial plaque listing the names of Tauntonians killed in action during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
was dedicated inside Taunton City Hall.
In July 1896 the original castle-like facade of city hall was removed, and replaced with a large granite addition designed in the Renaissance revival style by architect J.Merrill Brown at a cost of $45,000.
Taunton City Hall also contains memorial plaques to city victims of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
2010 Fire
On August 17, 2010, a four-alarm fire caused an estimated $500,000 in damage to the building. In January 2011, officials announced that the fire was arson.See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Taunton, MassachusettsNational Register of Historic Places listings in Taunton, MassachusettsList of Registered Historic Places in Taunton, Massachusetts, which has been transferred from and is an integral part of National Register of Historic Places listings in Bristol County, Massachusetts...
- Old Colony Historical SocietyOld Colony Historical SocietyThe Old Colony Historical Society is located at 66 Church Green in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, USA.Since 1926, the Society has occupied the historic former Bristol Academy school building...
- First Parish Church (Taunton, Massachusetts)First Parish Church (Taunton, Massachusetts)First Parish Church is an historic church located within the Church Green Historic District in Taunton, Massachusetts. It is the fourth meetinghouse since 1647 to be located on what was the original town common...