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Old Grand Rapids City Hall

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Grand Rapids City Hall
Map
Interactive map
Location35 Lyon St., NW, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Area0.8 acres (0.32 ha)
Built1885 (1885)
Built byW.D. Richardson
ArchitectElijah E. Myers
Architectural styleGothic Revival
DemolishedOctober 27, 1969
NRHP reference No.69000375[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPMay, 1969
Removed from NRHPMay 1, 1970

The Grand Rapids City Hall was a government building located at 35 Lyon Street, NW, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969, but demolished later that year,[2] and de-listed from the register in 1970.[1]

History

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The old Grand Rapids City Hall was designed by architect Elijah E. Myers. Construction began in 1885, supervised by W.D. Richardson of Springfield, Illinois. The building was dedicated in 1888, having cost $314,800 to construct. After extended efforts to save the building, it was demolished in 1969.[2][3] At the same time the International Style current city hall was built at 300 Monroe Ave NW. In 2001, the current Kent County Courthouse was built on the former site, with a new clock tower outside the building.

Description

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The old Grand Rapids City Hall was a three- of four-story Gothic Revival structure with a six-story corner tower. The tower was capped with a belfry. The main structure was roughly rectangular, and measured approximately 96 feet by 163 feet. Slightly projecting pavilions were locate on each side. The building had a hipped roof with gables over the central pavilions and pyramidal roofs over corner pavilions. The exterior windows were arched and a cornice ran across the top. The interior had rich Gothic detail with a tiled floor.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  2. ^ a b Garret Ellison (May 29, 2014). "A battle lost: Why preservation efforts failed to save old Grand Rapids City Hall". MLive.
  3. ^ "Construction of City Hall". Grand Rapids Historical Commission. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  4. ^ Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. MI-243, "Grand Rapids City Hall, 35 Lyon Street Northwest, Grand Rapids, MI", 5 photos, 2 data pages, 1 photo caption page