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Coordinates: 41°54′4″N 71°5′22″W / 41.90111°N 71.08944°W / 41.90111; -71.08944
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{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox nrhp
{{Infobox NRHP
| name = Taunton City Hall
| name = Taunton City Hall
| nrhp_type = cp
| nrhp_type = cp
⚫
| image = Taunton City Hall front.jpg
| nocat = yes
| caption = Taunton City Hall (left) and the nearby Leonard Block
⚫
| image = Taunton City Hall front.jpg
| lat_degrees = 41
| caption = Taunton City Hall (left) and the (now demolished)<ref name=MetroWest20141216>{{cite news|last1=Winokoor|first1=Charles|title=Need for Main Street detours lessens with Star Theater demolition in downtown Taunton|url=http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/article/20141216/NEWS/141217162/1297/FRONTPAGE|accessdate=16 July 2015|publisher=The MetroWest Daily News|date=16 December 2014|quote=razing the Star [Theater] ... will greatly facilitate the eventual repair and renovation of adjacent City Hall}}</ref> Star Theater/Leonard Block
| lat_minutes = 54
| coordinates = {{coord|41|54|4|N|71|5|22|W|display=inline,title}}
| lat_seconds = 4
⚫
| location = [[Taunton, Massachusetts]]
| lat_direction = N
| long_degrees = 71
| nearest_city =
| area =
| long_minutes = 5
⚫
| built = 1848/1896
| long_seconds = 22
⚫
| architect = Earl E. Ryder (1848); J. Merrill Brown (1896)
| long_direction = W
⚫
| architecture = Renaissance revival
⚫
| location = [[Taunton, Massachusetts]]
⚫
| added = December 16, 1977
| nearest_city =
| area =
| established =
⚫
| partof = [[Church Green (Taunton, Massachusetts)]]
⚫
| built = 1848/1896
⚫
| architect = Earl E. Ryder (1848)
⚫
| architecture = Renaissance revival
⚫
| added = December 16, 1977
| established =
⚫
| partof=[[Church Green (Taunton, Massachusetts)]]
| partof_refnum = 77000168
| partof_refnum = 77000168
| mpsub =
| mpsub =
| governing_body = City of [[Taunton, Massachusetts|Taunton]]
}}
}}


'''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.<ref>[http://www.mass.gov/dcr/stewardship/histland/reconReports/taunton.pdf Taunton Reconnaissance Report, 2005]</ref> It is a contributing property to the [[Church Green (Taunton, Massachusetts)|Church Green]] national historic district, located at the intersection of [[U.S. Route 44]] and [[Massachusetts Route 140|State Route 140]].
'''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.<ref>[http://www.mass.gov/dcr/stewardship/histland/reconReports/taunton.pdf Taunton Reconnaissance Report, 2005]</ref> It is a contributing property to the [[Church Green (Taunton, Massachusetts)|Church Green]] national historic district, located at the intersection of [[U.S. Route 44]] and [[Massachusetts Route 140|State Route 140]]. An arson fire in 2010 caused severe damage and forced the building to stay closed for ten years.


==Historical notes==
==Historical notes==
[[File:City Hall, by W. Battelle.jpg|thumb|left|upright=.8|Taunton City Hall as it appeared before the expansion of 1896]]
The current city hall is located on land once owned by [[Marcus 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.
The current city hall is located on land once owned by [[Marcus 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 and built by Earl E. Ryder of Taunton.


Taunton High School was located in the second floor of city hall between 1854 and 1885.
Taunton High School was located in the second floor of city hall between 1854 and 1885.
Line 35: Line 30:
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 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.
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]].<ref>''A History of Taunton Massachusetts'', William F. Hanna, 2007</ref>
Taunton City Hall also contains memorial plaques to city victims of [[World War I]] and [[World War II]].<ref>''A History of Taunton Massachusetts'', William F. Hanna, 2007</ref>


==2010 Fire==
===2010 arson fire===
[[File:Taunton City Hall closed.jpg|thumb|right|upright=.6|Closed in 2015 due to the fire]]
On August 17, 2010, a four-alarm fire caused an estimated $500,000 in damage to the building.<ref>[http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/08/fire_hits_taunt.html boston.com August 17, 2010]</ref> In January 2011, officials announced that the fire was arson.<ref>[http://www.heraldnews.com/topstories/x1043377035/Taunton-City-Hall-fire-was-arson-officials-say Fall River Herald News, January 6, 2011]</ref>
On the morning of August 17, 2010, an arsonist broke into the fourth-floor attic and set the building ablaze.<ref name=Gazette20150626>{{cite news|title=Rebuilding Taunton City Hall, day 1,757|url=http://www.tauntongazette.com/article/20150626/NEWS/150626995|accessdate=16 July 2015|issue=26 June 2015|publisher=Taunton Daily Gazette}}</ref> Efforts to put out the fire caused considerable water damage to saturated walls and ceilings, nearly all of which were later torn apart to prevent mold.<ref name=Gazette20150626 /> Estimates to repair City Hall have ranged from $15 million to $23 million.<ref name=Gazette20150626 /> City operations were moved temporarily to Oak Street, in what was the Lowell M. Maxham School.<ref name=Gazette20150626 /> In December 2014, the Star Theater/Leonard Block building, adjacent to City Hall, was demolished, in hopes that the demolition would make it easier to repair City Hall.<ref name=MetroWest20141216 />

===Renovation and re-opening===
A $27 million renovation of Taunton City Hall began in February 2019<ref name="Sudborough" /> and was completed in September 2020, ten years after the fire.<ref name="Pitts" /> The original 1846 main building was torn down due to poor condition, and the 1896 addition was saved and renovated.<ref name="Pitts" /> A new addition was built in place of the demolished 1846 section.<ref name="Pitts" /> Details like plaques, fireplaces, and old vault doors were retained.<ref name="Pitts" /> Taunton City Hall reopened its doors in October 2020.<ref name="Pitts" /><ref name="Sudborough" />


==See also==
==See also==
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==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="Sudborough">{{cite news |last1=Sudborough |first1=Susannah |title=Taunton's permanent City Hall to reopen in October -- 10 years after arson |url=https://www.tauntongazette.com/story/special/2020/09/25/tauntons-permanent-city-hall-to-reopen-in-october-10-years-after-arson/42887715/ |access-date=25 January 2021 |publisher=Taunton Daily Gazette |date=25 September 2020}}</ref>
<ref name="Pitts">{{cite news |last1=Pitts |first1=Amanda |title=Newly renovated, expanded Taunton City Hall to reopen next month a decade after arson |url=https://www.abc6.com/newly-renovated-expanded-taunton-city-hall-to-reopen-next-month-a-decade-after-arson/ |access-date=25 January 2021 |agency=ABC-6 |publisher=WLNE |date=28 September 2020}}</ref>
}}


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.taunton-ma.gov/ Official City of Taunton website]
*[http://www.taunton-ma.gov/ Official City of Taunton website]

{{Commons category|Taunton City Hall}}


[[Category:City halls in Massachusetts|Taunton]]
[[Category:City halls in Massachusetts|Taunton]]
⚫
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Taunton, Massachusetts|City Hall]]
[[Category:Architecture in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Architecture in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Historic district contributing properties in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Burned buildings and structures in the United States]]
⚫
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Taunton, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:City and town halls on the National Register of Historic Places in Massachusetts]]

Latest revision as of 17:17, 8 October 2024

Taunton City Hall
Taunton City Hall (left) and the (now demolished)[1] Star Theater/Leonard Block
LocationTaunton, Massachusetts
Coordinates41°54′4″N 71°5′22″W / 41.90111°N 71.08944°W / 41.90111; -71.08944
Built1848/1896
ArchitectEarl E. Ryder (1848); J. Merrill Brown (1896)
Architectural styleRenaissance revival
Part ofChurch Green (Taunton, Massachusetts) (ID77000168)
Added to NRHPDecember 16, 1977

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.[2] 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. An arson fire in 2010 caused severe damage and forced the building to stay closed for ten years.

Historical notes

[edit]
Taunton City Hall as it appeared before the expansion of 1896

The current city hall is located on land once owned by Marcus 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 and built by Earl E. Ryder of Taunton.

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.[3]

2010 arson fire

[edit]
Closed in 2015 due to the fire

On the morning of August 17, 2010, an arsonist broke into the fourth-floor attic and set the building ablaze.[4] Efforts to put out the fire caused considerable water damage to saturated walls and ceilings, nearly all of which were later torn apart to prevent mold.[4] Estimates to repair City Hall have ranged from $15 million to $23 million.[4] City operations were moved temporarily to Oak Street, in what was the Lowell M. Maxham School.[4] In December 2014, the Star Theater/Leonard Block building, adjacent to City Hall, was demolished, in hopes that the demolition would make it easier to repair City Hall.[1]

Renovation and re-opening

[edit]

A $27 million renovation of Taunton City Hall began in February 2019[5] and was completed in September 2020, ten years after the fire.[6] The original 1846 main building was torn down due to poor condition, and the 1896 addition was saved and renovated.[6] A new addition was built in place of the demolished 1846 section.[6] Details like plaques, fireplaces, and old vault doors were retained.[6] Taunton City Hall reopened its doors in October 2020.[6][5]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Winokoor, Charles (December 16, 2014). "Need for Main Street detours lessens with Star Theater demolition in downtown Taunton". The MetroWest Daily News. Retrieved July 16, 2015. razing the Star [Theater] ... will greatly facilitate the eventual repair and renovation of adjacent City Hall
  2. ^ Taunton Reconnaissance Report, 2005
  3. ^ A History of Taunton Massachusetts, William F. Hanna, 2007
  4. ^ a b c d "Rebuilding Taunton City Hall, day 1,757". No. 26 June 2015. Taunton Daily Gazette. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  5. ^ a b Sudborough, Susannah (September 25, 2020). "Taunton's permanent City Hall to reopen in October -- 10 years after arson". Taunton Daily Gazette. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e Pitts, Amanda (September 28, 2020). "Newly renovated, expanded Taunton City Hall to reopen next month a decade after arson". WLNE. ABC-6. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
[edit]
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