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Coordinates: 42°23′13.92″N 71°5′53.48″W / 42.3872000°N 71.0981889°W / 42.3872000; -71.0981889
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{{Infobox NRHP
{{Infobox NRHP
| name = Somerville High School
| name = Somerville High School
| nrhp_type =
| nrhp_type =
| image = Somerville City Hall.jpg
| image = Somerville City Hall.jpg
| caption =
| caption =
| location= 93 Highland St., [[Somerville, Massachusetts]]
| location = 93 Highland St., [[Somerville, Massachusetts]]
| coordinates = {{coord|42|23|13.92|N|71|5|53.48|W|display=inline,title}}
| lat_degrees = 42
⚫
| locmapin = Massachusetts#USA
| lat_minutes = 23
| built = 1851-52; 1896-97; 1923-24
| lat_seconds = 13
| builder = J. S. & I. W. Tuttle (1851-52); Alfred H. Hines (1896-97); Unknown (1923-24)
| lat_direction = N
| architect = [[Melvin & Young]] (1851-52); [[Thomas M. Sargent]] (1896-97); [[Ritchie, Parsons & Taylor]] (1923-24)
| long_degrees = 71
⚫
| architecture = [[Colonial Revival]], Other, [[Georgian Revival]]
| long_minutes = 5
⚫
| added = September 18, 1989
| long_seconds = 55
⚫
| area = less than one acre
| long_direction = W
| mpsub = {{NRHP url|id=64500253|title=Somerville MPS}}
| coord_display = inline,title
⚫
| refnum = 89001261<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>
⚫
| locmapin = Massachusetts
| built = 1852
| architect OR builder = Ritchie,Parsons & Taylor
⚫
| architecture = Colonial Revival, Other, Georgian Revival
⚫
| added = September 18, 1989
⚫
| area = less than one acre
| governing_body = Local
| mpsub = [http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/64500253.pdf Somerville MPS]
⚫
| refnum = 89001261<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>
}}
}}


The '''Somerville City Hall''' (which formerly served as '''Somerville High School''') is a historic municipal building at 93 Highland Street in [[Somerville, Massachusetts]]. Built in 1852 and enlarged several times, it has served as the city's first high school, first public library, and only city hall. The building was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1989.<ref name="nris"/>
The '''Somerville City Hall''' (which formerly served as '''Somerville High School''') is a historic municipal building at 93 Highland Avenue in [[Somerville, Massachusetts]]. Built in 1852 and enlarged several times, it has served as the city's first high school, first public library, and only city hall. The building was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1989.<ref name="nris"/>


==Description and history==
==Description==
Somerville City Hall is located at the northeast corner of School Street and Highland Avenue at the western end of the Central Hill area of the city, a cluster of municipal buildings that includes the current [[Somerville High School]] and its [[Central Library (Somerville, Massachusetts)|Central Library]]. The present appearance of the building is as a 2-1/2 story brick Colonial Revival structure, with a gable roof and a projecting square section at the center of its east-facing front facade. The building is topped by a wood-frame belfry and clocktower with cupola.<ref name=NRHP/>
Somerville City Hall is located at the northeast corner of School Street and Highland Avenue at the western end of the Central Hill area of the city, a cluster of municipal buildings that includes the current [[Somerville High School (Massachusetts)|Somerville High School]] and its [[Central Library (Somerville, Massachusetts)|Central Library]]. The present appearance of the building is as a 2-1/2 story brick Colonial Revival structure, with a gable roof and a projecting square section at the center of its east-facing front facade. The building is topped by a wood-frame belfry and clocktower with cupola.<ref name=NRHP/>


==History==
The oldest portion of the building, its central core, was built in 1852, and was basically Greek Revival in character. This portion was used as the town's first high school until 1867, when a fire in the old town office building forced a relocation of those offices to this building's upper floor. The building was permanently dedicated as city hall after the construction of a new high school building (no longer extant, set on part of the area occupied by the present high school) in 1872, and the town was reincorporated as a city. The space once occupied by the police station in this building was converted for use as the city's first public library in 1873, eventually relocating to a dedicated building (also no longer extant) between it and the high school in 1885.<ref name=NRHP/>
[[File:Somerville City Hall, Somerville, Massachusetts.jpg|thumb|left|Somerville City Hall in 1892, prior to later alterations.]]
[[File:City Hall, Somerville, Massachusetts.jpg|thumb|left|Somerville City Hall in 1912, following the alterations of 1896 and 1902.]]
It was decided to build the building in 1851.<ref name="PastPresent">''Somerville, Past and Present: An Illustrated Historical Souvenir'', ed. Edward A. Samuels and Henry H. Kimball (Boston: Samuels and Kimball, 1897)</ref> [[Melvin & Young]] of Boston were the architects, and James S. Tuttle and Isaiah W. Tuttle of Somerville were the builders.<ref name="Report">''Annual Reports of the Expenditures of Somerville, also the Taxes Assessed, for the Year 1851'' (Somerville: Town of Somerville, 1852)</ref> When it was completed in 1852, the brick Greek Revival building housed the Free High School on the second floor, and a large meeting hall, called Town Hall, on the first. Rapid expansion of the town during the next fifteen years created cramped conditions for the High School, and in 1866 it was voted that the school would take over the entire building. Almost simultaneously, the Forster School on Sycamore Street was destroyed by fire. It was decided that the new Forster School would include a large hall, called Forster Hall, on its third floor to replace Town Hall. This was completed in 1867, and the High School moved into the vacant space. This too was quickly outgrown, and a new Somerville High School was built in 1871, and dedicated in 1872. Also in 1871, the Massachusetts legislature reincorporated Somerville as a city, which was approved by the voters, which was to take effect on January 1, 1872. Once the new High School was dedicated, the old building was converted into the Somerville City Hall. Continued growth of the city necessitated more changes in the building, with the police department and public library moving into their own buildings in 1875 and 1885, respectively.<ref name=PastPresent/>


In 1893, 1894 and 1895, then-mayor [[William H. Hodgkins]] agitated for a new City Hall. This was however rejected by his successor, [[Albion A. Perry]], who advocated instead for an extension to the building.<ref name=PastPresent/> [[Thomas M. Sargent]], a Boston architect and Somerville resident, was commissioned to do the work. A large addition was built on the rear of the building. The original brick cornice was removed at this time, and replaced with a [[Tuscan order]] entablature.<ref>''City of Somerville, Massachusetts, Annual Reports, 1896'' (Somerville: City of Somerville, 1897)</ref> Additional alterations, including the addition of a front porch and terrace, were carried out in 1902. The architect of this work was [[Walter T. Littlefield]], assistant commissioner of public buildings, and built by George F. Matthews.<ref>''[https://books.google.com/books?id=rmBCAQAAMAAJ City of Somerville, Massachusetts, Annual Reports, 1902]'' (Somerville: City of Somerville, 1903)</ref> The building was extended one last time in 1923-24. This work also overhauled the entire of the existing building. A new wing was built on the north side, and the main entrance moved to Sargent's east facade, where a two Ionic columns ''in antis'' were inserted. A secondary entrance was added on the west facade, facing School Street. Sargent's 1896 wing was further extended with a full third floor, topped by a cupola with a clock made by the [[E. Howard & Co.|E. Howard Clock Company]]. The interior was remodeled as well, and changes included a new chamber for the Board of Aldermen (now City Council), main lobby and grand stair. Much of the building's Greek Revival origins were erased at this time, with only the shape of the original wing and the brick pilasters remaining. The architects for this work were [[Ritchie, Parsons & Taylor]] of Boston.<ref name=NRHP>{{cite web|url=https://mhc-macris.net/details?mhcid=smv.37|title=NRHP nomination and MACRIS inventory record for Somerville High School - Somerville City Hall|publisher=Commonwealth of Massachusetts|access-date=2014-03-03}}</ref>
In 1896 the building was expanded with a two story wing toward Highland Avenue, and again in 1924, when the north wing was added, restoring symmetry to the building and adding the monumental Georgian Revival entrance, set in a recess behind a pair of two-story Ionic columns. The two later additions transformed what had been a Greek Revival building into one with a more Colonial Revival flavor.<ref name=NRHP>{{cite web|url=http://mhc-macris.net/Details.aspx?MhcId=SMV.37|title=NRHP nomination and MACRIS inventory record for Somerville High School - Somerville City Hall|publisher=Commonwealth of Massachusetts|accessdate=2014-03-03}}</ref>


Following the completion of the [[Somerville High School (Massachusetts)|Somerville High School]] project, it has been proposed to renovate the building again.<ref>"[https://www.somervillema.gov/departments/programs/departmental-relocation-strategy-initiative Departmental Relocation Strategy Initiative]," somervillema.gov, City of Somerville, 2019. Accessed August 31 2021.</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
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[[Category:Colonial Revival architecture in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Colonial Revival architecture in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Government of Somerville, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Schools in Somerville, Massachusetts]]
⚫
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Somerville, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:City halls in Massachusetts|Somerville]]
[[Category:City halls in Massachusetts|Somerville]]
[[Category:Government buildings completed in 1852]]
[[Category:Government buildings completed in 1852]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Somerville, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Somerville, Massachusetts]]
⚫
[[Category:1852 establishments in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:City and town halls on the National Register of Historic Places in Massachusetts]]

Latest revision as of 18:08, 22 June 2024

Somerville High School
Somerville City Hall is located in Massachusetts
Somerville City Hall
Somerville City Hall is located in the United States
Somerville City Hall
Location93 Highland St., Somerville, Massachusetts
Coordinates42°23′13.92″N 71°5′53.48″W / 42.3872000°N 71.0981889°W / 42.3872000; -71.0981889
Arealess than one acre
Built1851-52; 1896-97; 1923-24
Built byJ. S. & I. W. Tuttle (1851-52); Alfred H. Hines (1896-97); Unknown (1923-24)
ArchitectMelvin & Young (1851-52); Thomas M. Sargent (1896-97); Ritchie, Parsons & Taylor (1923-24)
Architectural styleColonial Revival, Other, Georgian Revival
MPSSomerville MPS
NRHP reference No.89001261[1]
Added to NRHPSeptember 18, 1989

The Somerville City Hall (which formerly served as Somerville High School) is a historic municipal building at 93 Highland Avenue in Somerville, Massachusetts. Built in 1852 and enlarged several times, it has served as the city's first high school, first public library, and only city hall. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.[1]

Description

[edit]

Somerville City Hall is located at the northeast corner of School Street and Highland Avenue at the western end of the Central Hill area of the city, a cluster of municipal buildings that includes the current Somerville High School and its Central Library. The present appearance of the building is as a 2-1/2 story brick Colonial Revival structure, with a gable roof and a projecting square section at the center of its east-facing front facade. The building is topped by a wood-frame belfry and clocktower with cupola.[2]

History

[edit]
Somerville City Hall in 1892, prior to later alterations.
Somerville City Hall in 1912, following the alterations of 1896 and 1902.

It was decided to build the building in 1851.[3] Melvin & Young of Boston were the architects, and James S. Tuttle and Isaiah W. Tuttle of Somerville were the builders.[4] When it was completed in 1852, the brick Greek Revival building housed the Free High School on the second floor, and a large meeting hall, called Town Hall, on the first. Rapid expansion of the town during the next fifteen years created cramped conditions for the High School, and in 1866 it was voted that the school would take over the entire building. Almost simultaneously, the Forster School on Sycamore Street was destroyed by fire. It was decided that the new Forster School would include a large hall, called Forster Hall, on its third floor to replace Town Hall. This was completed in 1867, and the High School moved into the vacant space. This too was quickly outgrown, and a new Somerville High School was built in 1871, and dedicated in 1872. Also in 1871, the Massachusetts legislature reincorporated Somerville as a city, which was approved by the voters, which was to take effect on January 1, 1872. Once the new High School was dedicated, the old building was converted into the Somerville City Hall. Continued growth of the city necessitated more changes in the building, with the police department and public library moving into their own buildings in 1875 and 1885, respectively.[3]

In 1893, 1894 and 1895, then-mayor William H. Hodgkins agitated for a new City Hall. This was however rejected by his successor, Albion A. Perry, who advocated instead for an extension to the building.[3] Thomas M. Sargent, a Boston architect and Somerville resident, was commissioned to do the work. A large addition was built on the rear of the building. The original brick cornice was removed at this time, and replaced with a Tuscan order entablature.[5] Additional alterations, including the addition of a front porch and terrace, were carried out in 1902. The architect of this work was Walter T. Littlefield, assistant commissioner of public buildings, and built by George F. Matthews.[6] The building was extended one last time in 1923-24. This work also overhauled the entire of the existing building. A new wing was built on the north side, and the main entrance moved to Sargent's east facade, where a two Ionic columns in antis were inserted. A secondary entrance was added on the west facade, facing School Street. Sargent's 1896 wing was further extended with a full third floor, topped by a cupola with a clock made by the E. Howard Clock Company. The interior was remodeled as well, and changes included a new chamber for the Board of Aldermen (now City Council), main lobby and grand stair. Much of the building's Greek Revival origins were erased at this time, with only the shape of the original wing and the brick pilasters remaining. The architects for this work were Ritchie, Parsons & Taylor of Boston.[2]

Following the completion of the Somerville High School project, it has been proposed to renovate the building again.[7]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ a b "NRHP nomination and MACRIS inventory record for Somerville High School - Somerville City Hall". Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 2014-03-03.
  3. ^ a b c Somerville, Past and Present: An Illustrated Historical Souvenir, ed. Edward A. Samuels and Henry H. Kimball (Boston: Samuels and Kimball, 1897)
  4. ^ Annual Reports of the Expenditures of Somerville, also the Taxes Assessed, for the Year 1851 (Somerville: Town of Somerville, 1852)
  5. ^ City of Somerville, Massachusetts, Annual Reports, 1896 (Somerville: City of Somerville, 1897)
  6. ^ City of Somerville, Massachusetts, Annual Reports, 1902 (Somerville: City of Somerville, 1903)
  7. ^ "Departmental Relocation Strategy Initiative," somervillema.gov, City of Somerville, 2019. Accessed August 31 2021.
[edit]
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