WA-HAG-004

City Hall

Architectural Survey File

This is the architectural survey file for this MIHP record. The survey file is organized reverse-

chronological (that is, with the latest material on top). It contains all MIHP inventory forms, National

Register nomination forms, determinations of eligibility (DOE) forms, and accompanying documentation

such as photographs and maps.

Users should be aware that additional undigitized material about this property may be found in on-site

architectural reports, copies of HABS/HAER or other documentation, drawings, and the “vertical files” at

the MHT Library in Crownsville. The vertical files may include newspaper clippings, field notes, draft

versions of forms and architectural reports, photographs, maps, and drawings. Researchers who need a

thorough understanding of this property should plan to visit the MHT Library as part of their research

project; look at the MHT web site (mht.maryland.gov) for details about how to make an appointment.

All material is property of the Maryland Historical Trust.

Last Updated: 03-12-2004

ABSTRACT

(R. Andrews, 5-77)

City Hall 1 East Franklin Street and 54 North Potomac Street Hagerstown Washington County, Maryland

1939-1940

The Hagerstown City Hall is a Renaissance Revival style brick structure which was erected in 1939-1940 under the auspices of the federal government as a Public Works Administration project. The structure was designed by the Baltimore architectural firm of Taylor and Fisher with Amos J. Klinkhart of Hagerstown as associate architect. Four and a half stories high, the brick and stone structure has rows of attached columns on the street elevations (north and west) and is crowned with a tall cupola mounted with a weather vane image of "Little Heiskell, 11 a symbol of the city.

MARYLAND HISTORICAL TRUST

INVENTORY FORM FOR STATE HISTORIC SITES SURVEY

6NAME HISTORIC

AND/OR COMMON

City Hal 1

~ flLOCA TION STREET & NUMBER

1 East Franklin Street and 54 North Potomac Street CITY. TOWN

Hagerstown - VICINITY OF

STATE

Maryland

DcLASSIFICATION

CATEGORY

_DISTRICT

LBUILDING(S)

_STRUCTURE

_SITE

_OBJECT

OWNERSHIP x_puBuc

_PRIVATE

_BOTH

PUBLIC ACQUISITION _IN PROCESS

_BEING CONSIDERED

STATUS

X_ocCUPIED

_UNOCCUPIED

_WORK IN PROGRESS

ACCESSIBLE X_YES: RESTRICTED

_YES: UNRESTRICTED

_NO

DOWNER OF PROPERTY NAME

City of Hagerstown STREET & NUMBER

City Hall CITY. TOWN

Hagerstown - VICINITY OF

IJLOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE. REGISTRY OF DEEDS,ETC. Washington County Courthouse STREET & NUMBER

95 West Washington Street CITY. TOWN

Hagerstown II REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS

TITLE

DATE

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Sixth COUNTY

Washington

PRESENT USE

_AGRICULTURE _MUSEUM

_COMMERCIAL __ PARK

_EDUCATIONAL _PRIVATE RESIDENCE

_ENTERTAINMENT _RELIGIOUS

X.._GOVERNMENT _SCIENTIFIC

_INDUSTRIAL

_MILITARY

Telephone #:

STATE 1

Maryland

Liber #: Folio #:

STATE

Maryland

_TRANSPORTATION

_OTHER:

zip code 21740

_FEDERAL -STATE _COUNTY _LOCAL

- DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS

CITY.TOWN STATE

II DESCRIPTION

X-EXCELLENT

_GOOD

_FAIR

CONDITION

_DETERIORATED

_RUINS

_UNEXPOSED

CHECK ONE

X_UNALTERED

-ALTERED

CHECK ONE

)(_ORIGINAL SITE

_MOVED DATE __ _

DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Located one block north of Public Square in Hagerstown, Washington County, City Hall stands at 1 East Franklin Street and 54 North Potomac Street, the southeast corner of the intersection of the two streets,

City Hall is a 1939-1940 Renaissance Revival influenced masonry structure, four and a half stories high, which was erected as a Public Works Administration project during the Great Depression. Monumental in scale, the building is constructed of brick with random rock-faced ashlar facing stones on the first story of the north and west or street elevations. Structurally sound, the building is capped with a low hip roof topped with an attenuated polygonal cupola resting on a square, balustraded base. The exterior bricks are laid in Flemish bond pattern with striped mortar joints. The exterior is in fairly original condition.

The north and west street elevations are arranged according to the parts of a Classical column. The first floor with its stone facing serves as the base, the second and third levels terminated with a wide masonry entablature, and the fourth floor below the roof and cupola the capital. The Renaissance influence. is further entrenched by the division of the north elevation into a central block with flanking pavilions (end three bays) and the rows of attached plain Ionic columns (six on the north side and four along the west). The second story pavilion windows on the north of Franklin Street elevation have heavy architraves supported by scroll brackets.

The central portion on the north elevation has three round arch doorways on the first floor. The west or Potomac Street side has four bays with a centered doorway and a recessed wide bay above a covered driveway. The west doorway has a heavy entablature with large scroll brackets with the City Hall inscribed above the door.

On the interior, the concentration of decorative detailing is found in the lobby and the Council Chambers. The lobby on the first floor has stone trim in geometric patterns of the Art Deco fashion. The Council Chambers are Classical in decorations. Although somewhat altered, the interior is fairly original in condition.

CONTINUE ON SEPARATE SHEET IF NECESSARY

Ill SIGNIFICANCE

PERIOD AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW

_PREHISTORIC __ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC _COMMUNITY PLANNING _LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE _RELIGION

_ 1400-1499 __ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC _CONSERVATION _LAW _SCIENCE

-1500-1599 --AGRICULTURI; _ECONOMICS _LITERATURE _SCULPTURE

_ 1600-1699 XJ.RCHITECTURE _EDUCATION _MILITARY _SOCIAUHUMANITARIAN

_1700-1799 __ART _ENGINEERING _MUSIC _THEATER

_ 1800-1899 _COMMERCE _EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT _PHILOSOPHY _TRANSPORTATION

X_ 1900- _COMMUNICATIONS _INDUSTRY X..POLITICS/GOVERNMENT _OTHER (SPECIFY)

_INVENTION

SPECIFIC DATES 1939-1940 BUILDER/ARCHITECT Taylor and Fisher, architects

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

The Hagerstown City Hall is a Renaissance Revival style brick structure which was erected in 1939-1940 under the auspices of the federal government as a Public Works Administration project. The structure was designed by the Baltimore architectural firm of Taylor and Fisher with Amos J. Klinkhart of Hagerstown as associate architect. Four and a half stories high, the brick and stone structure has rows of attached columns on the street elevations (north and west) and is crowned with a tall cupola mounted with a weather vane image of 11 Little Heiskell," a symbol of the city.

Dedicated on 31 March 1940, the building is the second town hall to occupy this site north of Public Square. About 1818, the City erected a Neoclassical style building on the spot to serve as both a city hall and a market place. The nineteenth century structure was razed for the present building. The first city hall was a part of the courthouse and market place located in the center of the square.

CONTINUE ON SEPARATE SHEET IF NECESSARY

IJMAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES

Washington County Free Library files, Hagerstown, Maryland~ (dedication booklet and newspaper clippings}.

CONTINUE ON SEJ?AR.ATE SHEET If NECESSMY

IIiJGEOGRAPHICALDATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY--------

The property measures approximately 41 1 x 240 1·,

VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION

LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES

STATE COUNTY

STATE COUNTY

mFORM PREPARED BY NAME /TITLE

Ronald L. Andrews, Historic Preservation Consultant (rnbe) ORGANIZATION DATE

City of Hagerstown May 17, 1977 STREET & NUMBER TELEPHONE

City Hall (301) 731-3200 CITY OR TOWN STATE

Hagerstown Maryland 21740

The Maryland Historic Sites Inventory was officially created by an Act of the Maryland Legislature, to be found in the Annotated Code of Maryland, Article 41, Section 181 KA, 1974 Supplement.

The Survey and Inventory are being prepared for information and record purposes only and do not constitute any infringe­ment of individual property rights.

RETURN TO: Maryland Historical Trust The Shaw House, 21 State Circle Annapolis, Maryland 21401 (301) 267-1438

PS• t 108

SITE:

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City Ha 11 kl in Street and 1 East Fran Street 54 North Potomac

Hagerstown County, Maryland Washington

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