Perth Amboy City Hall: Difference between revisions

Perth Amboy City Hall
Perth Amboy City Hall
General information
Type	city hall
Location	Perth Amboy, New Jersey
Construction started	1714
Completed	1717
Renovated	1745, 1767, 1826, 1872, 2006
References

	Perth Amboy City Hall and Surveyor General's Office
	U.S. National Register of Historic Places
	New Jersey Register of Historic Places
	City Hall in 2023
Location	260 High Street; Perth Amboy, New Jersey USA
Coordinates	40°30′23″N 74°15′57″W / 40.50639°N 74.26583°W
Built	1714
Architectural style	Colonial Revival, Second Empire, Italianate
NRHP reference No.	81000394
NJRHP No.	1897
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	January 12, 1981
Designated NJRHP	October 3, 1980

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City Hall in Perth Amboy, Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States, is a historic building built in the early 18th century. It is now the oldest public building in continuous use in the United States.^[4]^[3]^[5]^[6]^[7] The Perth Amboy City Hall and the Surveyor General's Office were added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 12, 1981, for their significance in architecture and politics/government.^[1]^[8]

History

Construction of the building began in 1714 and was completed in 1717. It served as the local courthouse and jail, and was also used by the Provincial Assembly until 1775. The building has twice been rebuilt after being badly damaged by fire; first in 1731, rebuilt until 1745, and again around 1765 following an arson attack believed to have been committed by a former inmate who was imprisoned on debt charges. It was rebuilt a second time in 1767.^[3]

City Hall has undergone three renovations, most recently in 2006, although some of the original structure remains. The building is now Victorian in style.^[3]

The two-room Surveyor General's Office was built adjacent to City Hall in 1867, which was used by the General Board of Proprietors of the Eastern Division of New Jersey.^[9]

Notable events

On November 20, 1789, the State of New Jersey became the first to ratify the United States Bill of Rights.^[10]

On March 31, 1870 Thomas Mundy Peterson (1824–1904) became the first African American to vote in an election under the just-enacted provisions of the 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution.^[11]^[12]

On February 22, 1896, the terra cotta statue of George Washington by Nels N. Alling is dedicated in Market Square, next to the City Hall. It was a gift of the Scandinavians of Perth Amboy.^[13]

References

^ ^a ^b "National Register Information System – (#81000394)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
^ "New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places – Middlesex County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection - Historic Preservation Office. December 28, 2023. p. 11.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "The History of Perth Amboy". City of Perth Amboy. Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
^ "Perth Amboy City Hall (est. 1717) - Perth Amboy, NJ - Oldest Public Building and City Hall In America". Historic Towns of America.
^ "Perth Amboy, New Jersey". citytowninfo.com. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
^ "Port of Perth Amboy". World Port Service. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
^ "Mr. Bloomberg, Perth Amboy Begs to Differ", The New York Times, July 24, 2007, retrieved 2011-10-11
^ Dudas, Jack (June 1979). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Perth Amboy City Hall and Surveyor General's Office". National Park Service. With accompanying 5 photos
^ "Perth Amboy". Raritan/Millstone Guidebook. www.raritanmillstone.org. Archived from the original on 2008-11-21. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
^ "Documentary treasures: Bill of Rights". State of New Jersey. 2003–2004. Retrieved 2008-04-25.
^ "Perth Amboy Church Is 302 And Counting". The New York Times. February 15, 1987. Retrieved 2010-11-27. The first black man to vote in America, Thomas Mundy Peterson, was a member of St. Peter's and is buried in its graveyard. He voted in the Perth Amboy mayoral election of March 31, 1870, one day after adoption of the 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution.
^ "African-American Firsts Remembered". Newark Public Library.
^ "George Washington the Father of His Country, (sculpture)". Inventory of American Sculpture, Smithsonian Institution Research Information System. Smithsonian American Art Museum.

External links

"Perth Amboy City Hall and Surveyor General's Office". Landmark Hunter.
"Perth Amboy City Hall and Surveyor General's Office". YourMapper.
"Flickr: Perth Amboy". 9 July 2009.

[nris-1] "National Register Information System – (#81000394)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.

[NJRHP-2] "New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places – Middlesex County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection - Historic Preservation Office. December 28, 2023. p. 11.

[CofPA-3] "The History of Perth Amboy". City of Perth Amboy. Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2011-06-06.

[4] "Perth Amboy City Hall (est. 1717) - Perth Amboy, NJ - Oldest Public Building and City Hall In America". Historic Towns of America.

[5] "Perth Amboy, New Jersey". citytowninfo.com. Retrieved 2011-06-06.

[6] "Port of Perth Amboy". World Port Service. Retrieved 2011-06-06.

[differ-7] "Mr. Bloomberg, Perth Amboy Begs to Differ", The New York Times, July 24, 2007, retrieved 2011-10-11

[nrhpdoc-8] Dudas, Jack (June 1979). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Perth Amboy City Hall and Surveyor General's Office". National Park Service. With accompanying 5 photos

[9] "Perth Amboy". Raritan/Millstone Guidebook. www.raritanmillstone.org. Archived from the original on 2008-11-21. Retrieved 2011-06-06.

[10] "Documentary treasures: Bill of Rights". State of New Jersey. 2003–2004. Retrieved 2008-04-25.

[counting-11] "Perth Amboy Church Is 302 And Counting". The New York Times. February 15, 1987. Retrieved 2010-11-27. The first black man to vote in America, Thomas Mundy Peterson, was a member of St. Peter's and is buried in its graveyard. He voted in the Perth Amboy mayoral election of March 31, 1870, one day after adoption of the 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution.

[12] "African-American Firsts Remembered". Newark Public Library.

[13] "George Washington the Father of His Country, (sculpture)". Inventory of American Sculpture, Smithsonian Institution Research Information System. Smithsonian American Art Museum.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Infobox NRHP
- | name = Perth Amboy City Hall and Surveyor General's Office
+| name                           = Perth Amboy City Hall and Surveyor General's Office
- | nrhp_type =
+| nrhp_type                      =
+| image                          = City Hall, Perth Amboy, NJ.jpg
- | image = Perthamboycityhall.JPG
- | caption =
+| caption                        = City Hall in 2023
- | location = 260 High Street<br>[[Perth Amboy, New Jersey|Perth Amboy]], [[New Jersey]] USA
+| location                       = 260 High Street<br>[[Perth Amboy, New Jersey|Perth Amboy]], [[New Jersey]] USA
- | nearest_city =
+| nearest_city                   =
+| coordinates                    = {{coord|40|30|23|N|74|15|57|W|display=inline,title}}
- | lat_degrees = 40
+| locmapin                       = USA New Jersey Middlesex County#New Jersey#USA
- | lat_minutes = 30
+| area                           =
- | lat_seconds = 23
+| built                          = 1714
- | lat_direction = N
+| architect                      =
- | long_degrees = 74
+| architecture                   = Colonial Revival, Second Empire, Italianate
- | long_minutes = 15
+| added                          = January 12, 1981
- | long_seconds = 57
+| refnum                         = 81000394<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2013a|refnum=81000394}}</ref>
- | long_direction = W
+| designated_other1_name         = New Jersey Register of Historic Places
- | coord_display = inline,title
+| designated_other1_abbr         = NJRHP
- | locmapin = USA New Jersey Middlesex County
+| designated_other1_link         = New Jersey Register of Historic Places
- | area =
+| designated_other1_date         = October 3, 1980
- | built = 1714
+| designated_other1_number       = 1897<ref name=NJRHP>{{cite web |title=New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places – Middlesex County |url=https://www.nj.gov/dep/hpo/1identify/nrsr_lists/MIDDLESEX.pdf#page=11 |publisher=[[New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection]] - Historic Preservation Office |page=11 |date=December 28, 2023 }}</ref>
- | architect =
+| designated_other1_num_position = bottom
- | architecture =
+| designated_other1_color        = #ffc94b
- | added = January 12, 1981
- | governing_body = Local
- | visitation_num =
- | visitation_year =
- | refnum = 81000394<ref name=NJRHP>{{cite web | title=New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places – Middlesex County | url=http://www.state.nj.us/dep/hpo/1identify/lists/middlesex.pdf | publisher=[[New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection]] – Historic Preservation Office | page=7 | date=June 2, 2011 | accessdate = 2011-06-06}}</ref>
- | mpsub =
- | governing_body = [[Perth Amboy, New Jersey|City of Perth Amboy]]
- | designated_other1_name = New Jersey Register of Historic Places
- | designated_other1_abbr = NJRHP
- | designated_other1_link = New Jersey Register of Historic Places
- | designated_other1_date = October 3, 1980
- | designated_other1_number = 1897<ref name=NJRHP/>
- | designated_other1_num_position = bottom
- | designated_other1_color = #ffc94b
 }}
 {{Infobox building
@@ Line 72: / Line 59: @@
 | references = <ref name = CofPA/>
 }}
-'''City Hall''' in [[Perth Amboy, New Jersey|Perth Amboy]], [[Middlesex County, New Jersey|Middlesex County]], [[New Jersey]], United States, is a historic building built in the early 18th century, listed on [[New Jersey Register of Historic Places]] and the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. It is now the oldest government building still in use in the United States.<ref name = CofPA>{{Cite web | title = The History of Perth Amboy | publisher = City of Perth Amboy | url = http://ci.perthamboy.nj.us/the-history-of-perth-amboy.html | accessdate = 2011-06-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web  | title = Perth Amboy, New Jersey | publisher = citytowninfo.com | url = http://www.citytowninfo.com/places/new-jersey/perth-amboy | accessdate = 2011-06-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| title = Port of Perth Amboy | publisher = World Port Service | url = http://www.worldportsource.com/ports/USA_NJ_Port_of_Perth_Amboy_1808.php | accessdate = 2011-06-06}}</ref><ref name = differ >{{Citation
+'''City Hall''' in [[Perth Amboy, New Jersey|Perth Amboy]], [[Middlesex County, New Jersey|Middlesex County]], [[New Jersey]], United States, is a historic building built in the early 18th century. It is now the oldest public building in continuous use in the United States.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://historictownsofamerica.com/oldest-public-building | title=Perth Amboy City Hall (est. 1717) - Perth Amboy, NJ - Oldest Public Building and City Hall In America |website=Historic Towns of America }}</ref><ref name = CofPA>{{Cite web | title = The History of Perth Amboy | publisher = City of Perth Amboy | url = http://ci.perthamboy.nj.us/the-history-of-perth-amboy.html | access-date = 2011-06-06 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110713143234/http://ci.perthamboy.nj.us/the-history-of-perth-amboy.html | archive-date = 2011-07-13 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web  | title = Perth Amboy, New Jersey | publisher = citytowninfo.com | url = http://www.citytowninfo.com/places/new-jersey/perth-amboy | access-date = 2011-06-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| title = Port of Perth Amboy | publisher = World Port Service | url = http://www.worldportsource.com/ports/USA_NJ_Port_of_Perth_Amboy_1808.php | access-date = 2011-06-06}}</ref><ref name = differ >{{Citation
   | title = Mr. Bloomberg, Perth Amboy Begs to Differ
   | newspaper = [[The New York Times]]
   | date = July 24, 2007
   | url = http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/07/24/mr-bloomberg-perth-amboy-begs-to-differ
-  | accessdate = 2011-10-11
+  | access-date = 2011-10-11
-  | quote = }}
+  }}
 </ref>
+The Perth Amboy City Hall and the Surveyor General's Office were added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] on January 12, 1981, for their significance in architecture and politics/government.<ref name="nris"/><ref name="nrhpdoc">{{cite web|url={{NRHP url|id=81000394}}|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Perth Amboy City Hall and Surveyor General's Office |publisher=[[National Park Service]]|first1=Jack |last1=Dudas |date=June 1979 }} With {{NRHP url|id=81000394|photos=y|title=accompanying 5 photos}}</ref>
 ==History==
-Construction of the building began in 1714 and was completed in 1717 or 1718. It served as the local [[List of the oldest courthouses in the United States|courthouse]] and jail, and was also used by the [[Province of New Jersey|Provincial Assembly]] until 1775. The building has twice been rebuilt after being badly damaged by fire; first in 1731, rebuilt until 1745, and again around 1765 following an arson attack believed to have been committed by a former inmate who was imprisoned on debt charges. It was rebuilt a second time in 1767.<ref name = CofPA/>
+Construction of the building began in 1714 and was completed in 1717. It served as the local [[List of the oldest courthouses in the United States|courthouse]] and jail, and was also used by the [[Province of New Jersey|Provincial Assembly]] until 1775. The building has twice been rebuilt after being badly damaged by fire; first in 1731, rebuilt until 1745, and again around 1765 following an arson attack believed to have been committed by a former inmate who was imprisoned on debt charges. It was rebuilt a second time in 1767.<ref name = CofPA/>
 City Hall has undergone three renovations, most recently in 2006, although some of the original structure remains. The building is now [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] in style.<ref name = CofPA/>
-A two-room surveyor's office was built adjacent to City Hall in 1867, which was used by the General Board of Proprietors of the Eastern Division of New Jersey.<ref>{{Cite web | title = Perth Amboy | work = Raritan/Millstone Guidebook | publisher = www.raritanmillstone.org | url = http://www.raritanmillstone.org/guidebook/perth_amboy.htm | accessdate = 2011-06-06}}</ref>
+The two-room Surveyor General's Office was built adjacent to City Hall in 1867, which was used by the General Board of Proprietors of the Eastern Division of New Jersey.<ref>{{Cite web | title = Perth Amboy | work = Raritan/Millstone Guidebook | publisher = www.raritanmillstone.org | url = http://www.raritanmillstone.org/guidebook/perth_amboy.htm | access-date = 2011-06-06 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081121093359/http://www.raritanmillstone.org/guidebook/perth_amboy.htm | archive-date = 2008-11-21 }}</ref>
+[[File:Surveyor General's Office, Perth Amboy, NJ.jpg|thumb|none|Surveyor General's Office]]
 ==Notable events==
-On November 20, 1789, the [[State of New Jersey]] became the first to ratify the [[United States Bill of Rights]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.njarchives.org/links/treasures/usconstitution/billofrights.html|title=Documentary treasures: Bill of Rights|accessdate=2008-04-25|date=2003-2004|publisher=State of New Jersey}}</ref>
+On November 20, 1789, the [[State of New Jersey]] became the first to ratify the [[United States Bill of Rights]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.njarchives.org/links/treasures/usconstitution/billofrights.html|title=Documentary treasures: Bill of Rights|access-date=2008-04-25|date=2003–2004|publisher=State of New Jersey}}</ref>
-On March 31, 1870 [[Thomas Mundy Peterson]] (1824–1904) became the first [[African-American]] to [[vote]] in an [[election]] under the just-enacted provisions of the [[Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution|15th Amendment]] to the [[United States Constitution]].<ref name=counting>{{cite news |author= |coauthors= |title=Perth Amboy Church Is 302 And Counting |url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40711FA345E0C768DDDAB0894DF484D81 |quote=The first black man to vote in America, Thomas Mundy Peterson, was a member of St. Peter's and is buried in its graveyard. He voted in the Perth Amboy mayoral election of March 31, 1870, one day after adoption of the 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution. |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=February 15, 1987 |accessdate=2010-11-27 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.npl.org/Pages/ProgramsExhibits/Exhibits/aafirsts.html African-American Firsts Remembered – Newark Public Library<!-- bot-generated title -->] at www.npl.org</ref>
+On March 31, 1870 [[Thomas Mundy Peterson]] (1824–1904) became the first [[African Americans|African American]] to [[vote]] in an [[election]] under the just-enacted provisions of the [[Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution|15th Amendment]] to the [[United States Constitution]].<ref name=counting>{{cite news |title=Perth Amboy Church Is 302 And Counting |url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40711FA345E0C768DDDAB0894DF484D81 |quote=The first black man to vote in America, Thomas Mundy Peterson, was a member of St. Peter's and is buried in its graveyard. He voted in the Perth Amboy mayoral election of March 31, 1870, one day after adoption of the 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution. |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=February 15, 1987 |access-date=2010-11-27 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.npl.org/Pages/ProgramsExhibits/Exhibits/aafirsts.html |title=African-American Firsts Remembered |website= Newark Public Library}}</ref>
+On February 22, 1896, the terra cotta [[statue of George Washington (Perth Amboy, New Jersey)|statue of George Washington]] by [[Nels N. Alling]] is dedicated in Market Square, next to the City Hall. It was a gift of the Scandinavians of Perth Amboy.<ref>{{cite web|title=''George Washington the Father of His Country'', (sculpture)|url=https://siris-artinventories.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?&menu=search&index=.NW&term=IAS%20NJ000007|work=Inventory of American Sculpture, Smithsonian Institution Research Information System|publisher=[[Smithsonian American Art Museum]]}}</ref>
+[[File:George Washington by Nels N. Alling, Market Square, Perth Amboy, NJ - area view.jpg|thumb|none|''[[statue of George Washington (Perth Amboy, New Jersey)|George Washington]]'' by [[Nels N. Alling]] in Market Square, next to City Hall]]
 ==See also==
@@ Line 103: / Line 96: @@
 == External links ==
-*[http://landmarkhunter.com/175032-perth-amboy-city-hall-and-surveyor-generals-office/ Landmark Hunter: Perth Amboy City Hall and Surveyor General's Office]
+*{{cite web|url=http://landmarkhunter.com/175032-perth-amboy-city-hall-and-surveyor-generals-office/ |title=Perth Amboy City Hall and Surveyor General's Office|website=Landmark Hunter}}
-*[http://www.yourmapper.com/details/123/81000394-62271-35565/perth-amboy-city-hall-and-surveyor-generals-office.htm YourMapper: Perth Amboy City Hall and Surveyor General's Office]
+*{{cite web|url=http://www.yourmapper.com/details/123/81000394-62271-35565/perth-amboy-city-hall-and-surveyor-generals-office.htm |title=Perth Amboy City Hall and Surveyor General's Office|website=YourMapper}}
-*[http://www.flickr.com/photos/bobindrums/sets/72157621244854118/detail/ Flickr: Perth Amboy]
+*{{cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/bobindrums/sets/72157621244854118/detail/ |title=Flickr: Perth Amboy|date=9 July 2009 }}
+{{Perth Amboy, New Jersey}}
+{{NRHP in Middlesex County, New Jersey}}
 [[Category:African-American history of New Jersey]]
 [[Category:Perth Amboy, New Jersey]]
-[[Category:Government buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in New Jersey]]
+[[Category:City and town halls on the National Register of Historic Places in New Jersey]]
 [[Category:Colonial government in America]]
 [[Category:Pre-statehood history of New Jersey]]
-[[Category:Visitor attractions in Middlesex County, New Jersey]]
+[[Category:Tourist attractions in Middlesex County, New Jersey]]
-[[Category:City halls in New Jersey]]
 [[Category:Government buildings completed in 1718]]
 [[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Middlesex County, New Jersey]]
+[[Category:New Jersey Register of Historic Places]]
+[[Category:1718 establishments in New Jersey]]

v t e Perth Amboy, New Jersey
Neighborhoods	Harbortown
Landmarks	Perth Amboy City Hall Perth Amboy Ferry Slip Proprietary House Statue of George Washington
Education	Perth Amboy Public Schools Perth Amboy High School Perth Amboy Magnet School Perth Amboy Public Library
History	Raritan Bay Union
This list is incomplete.

v t e National Register of Historic Places in Middlesex County, New Jersey
Landmarks	Old Queens, Rutgers University
Districts	Cranbury Historic District Delaware and Raritan Canal G. W. Helme Snuff Mill Historic District King's Highway Historic District Kingston Mill Historic District Kingston Village Historic District Livingston Avenue Historic District Livingston Manor Historic District Middlesex Avenue–Woodwild Park Historic District Old Bridge Historic District Princeton Nurseries Historic District Queens Campus, Rutgers University Raritan Landing Archeological District Road Up Raritan Historic District Short Hills Battlefield Historic District Six Mile Run Historic District
Places of worship	Christ Episcopal Church Dutch Reformed Church First Presbyterian Church and Cemetery Old School Baptist Church and Cemetery Poile Zedek Synagogue Saint Mary of Mount Virgin Roman Catholic Church Saint Peter the Apostle Church Simpson United Methodist Church St. Mary's Church St. Peter's Church and Buildings St. Peter's Episcopal Church Trinity Episcopal Church
Houses	Thomas I. Agnew House Ayers–Allen House James Bishop House Buccleuch Mansion Demarest House Ensley-Mount-Buckalew House Ephraim Fitz-Randolph House Mary Wilkins Freeman House Goldman House Henry Guest House Gulick House Holmes–Tallman House Homestead Farm at Oak Ridge George Inness House Ivy Hall Levi D. Jarrard House William H. Johnson House Edward S. Kearney House Lawrence Kearny House Laing House of Plainfield Plantation Livingston Homestead Metlar House Isaac Onderdonk House Proprietary House Benjamin Shotwell House Matthias Smock House Joseph and Minnie White House John Van Buren Wicoff House Withington Estate Wood Lawn
Buildings	Barron Library Cedar Grove School King Block Main Post Office Metuchen Borough Hall Milltown India Rubber Company National Musical String Company New Brunswick Station New Jersey Hall Old Cranbury School Perth Amboy City Hall and Surveyor General's Office Perth Amboy Station Roosevelt Hospital Rutgers Preparatory School Sayre and Fisher Reading Room United States Post Office
Sites	Raritan Landing Archeological District
Structures	Thomas A. Edison Memorial Tower Great Beds Light Station Perth Amboy Ferry Slip Randolphville Bridge
See also: National Register of Historic Places listings in Middlesex County, New Jersey and List of National Historic Landmarks in New Jersey