Birmingham City Hall: Difference between revisions

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The '''Birmingham City Hall''' is the primary governmental office building for the city of [[Birmingham]]. The 12-story modern-style building faces [[Linn Park]] from across [[20th Street North]] between [[Park Place]] and [[8th Avenue North]].
The '''Birmingham City Hall''' is the primary governmental office building for the city of [[Birmingham]]. The 12-story modern-style building faces [[Linn Park]] from across [[20th Street North]] between [[Park Place]] and [[8th Avenue North]].


The project for a new City Hall was led by then-mayor [[Cooper Green]]. The building was constructed in [[1950]] for $3,850,000, which was paid for before the building opened without a bond issue or raising new taxes. The building, which complements the [[1932]] [[Jefferson County Courthouse]] opposite the park, is accented by contrasting vertical bands of limestone and granite. The architect was [[Charles McCauley]] and the builder was [[J. A. Jones Construction Co.]].
The project for a new City Hall was led by then-[[Birmingham City Commission]] president [[Cooper Green]]. The choice of whether to rebuild on the same [[4th Avenue North]] site as the [[1901 Birmingham City Hall]] or to move city government to the "Municipal Plaza" was made the subject of a [[November 7]], [[1944]] referendum.
 
The building was constructed in [[1950]] for $3,850,000, which was paid for before the building opened without a bond issue or raising new taxes. The building, which complements the [[1932]] [[Jefferson County Courthouse]] opposite the park, is accented by contrasting vertical bands of limestone and granite. The architect was [[Charles McCauley]] and the builder was [[J. A. Jones Construction Co.]].


The cornerstone was laid at an [[August 3]], [[1950]] dedication ceremony. Governor [[Jim Folsom, Sr]] attended and statements were given by [[Francis McCormack]] of [[St Anthony's Catholic Church]], [[Abraham Mesch]] of [[Temple Beth-El]], and [[John Googame, Jr]] of [[6th Avenue Baptist Church]]. David A. Lawrence, the Mayor of Pittsburgh and President of the U. S. Conference of Mayors, gave the dedication address. [[Hill Ferguson]] of the [[Birmingham Historical Society]] placed the [[Birmingham City Hall time capsule|cornerstone time capsule]], to be opened in [[2050]].
The cornerstone was laid at an [[August 3]], [[1950]] dedication ceremony. Governor [[Jim Folsom, Sr]] attended and statements were given by [[Francis McCormack]] of [[St Anthony's Catholic Church]], [[Abraham Mesch]] of [[Temple Beth-El]], and [[John Googame, Jr]] of [[6th Avenue Baptist Church]]. David A. Lawrence, the Mayor of Pittsburgh and President of the U. S. Conference of Mayors, gave the dedication address. [[Hill Ferguson]] of the [[Birmingham Historical Society]] placed the [[Birmingham City Hall time capsule|cornerstone time capsule]], to be opened in [[2050]].
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==References==
==References==
* "[http://www.birminghamrewound.com/features/CityHall%20%2810-44%29.jpg Birmingham Citizens To Vote On Where To Build City Hall]" (October 1944) {{BN}} - via [[Birmingham Rewound]]
* {{White-1977}}
* {{White-1977}}


Revision as of 08:26, 1 October 2014

For earlier city halls, see Birmingham City Hall (disambiguation)
Birmingham City Hall from Linn Park. January 2007

The Birmingham City Hall is the primary governmental office building for the city of Birmingham. The 12-story modern-style building faces Linn Park from across 20th Street North between Park Place and 8th Avenue North.

The project for a new City Hall was led by then-Birmingham City Commission president Cooper Green. The choice of whether to rebuild on the same 4th Avenue North site as the 1901 Birmingham City Hall or to move city government to the "Municipal Plaza" was made the subject of a November 7, 1944 referendum.

The building was constructed in 1950 for $3,850,000, which was paid for before the building opened without a bond issue or raising new taxes. The building, which complements the 1932 Jefferson County Courthouse opposite the park, is accented by contrasting vertical bands of limestone and granite. The architect was Charles McCauley and the builder was J. A. Jones Construction Co..

The cornerstone was laid at an August 3, 1950 dedication ceremony. Governor Jim Folsom, Sr attended and statements were given by Francis McCormack of St Anthony's Catholic Church, Abraham Mesch of Temple Beth-El, and John Googame, Jr of 6th Avenue Baptist Church. David A. Lawrence, the Mayor of Pittsburgh and President of the U. S. Conference of Mayors, gave the dedication address. Hill Ferguson of the Birmingham Historical Society placed the cornerstone time capsule, to be opened in 2050.

In early 2011, a project started in 2009 was completed to remove the entrance steps on the West 20th Street side of the building and replace them with new street level handicap accessible entrances. Previously handicapped persons had to use the annex entrance, which was usually locked.

Trivia

  • The "Design for Progress" model of Birmingham was converted into an interactive exhibit for City Hall's lobby in the 1970s.
  • The cornerstones of the previous City Halls were incorporated into a sculpture for the south entrance.
  • The City Council chambers were refitted in November 2005 in order to accommodate the needs of then-newly-elected Councilor Miriam Witherspoon, who used a wheelchair.

References

External links

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