The first school on Paulus Hook was started in 1806. The Associates
gave the land and the town authorities provided the money for the
building, which was located on the two lots east of St. Mathew's
Church. The building was used also as a town hall and a meeting place
for the different religious denominations. The school was called the
"Mechanics' Institute" and was a pay school. Soon after the "Columbia
Public School" was started and supported by subscriptions. In 1834
both failed financially and were combined and reorganized in 1835 as
the Mechanics' School. In 1838 the mayor and common council, under the
new charter, removed the building to the rear lot and remodeled it as
a school-house, town hall and jail, at the cost of $1,300. After a
time the building used as town hall, church, school and jail ceased to
be used by the city officials, who met at different taverns and halls
until 1861, when the city hall was completed at a cost of $135,145. It
was situated on the south side of Newark avenue west of Coopers' alley.
The council chamber was artistically frescoed by a brother of General
Garibaldi, then a refugee here. The wall behind the president's desk
represented a Venetian scene from a columned piazza, and was dainty
and effective. Some years later it was ruined by a house painter in
repairing and renovating the room. In 1887, measures were begun to
erect a larger city hall to meet the demands of the larger city. The
corner stone of the new building was laid at noon May 26th, 1894,
and it was completed January 1st, 1896. It is located on the block
between Grove and Henderson, Mercer and Montgomery streets. The total
cost, $736,267.56. It is quite an imposing building and large enough
to accommodate the various departments of the city government. The
interior arrangement is particularly fine; upon entering, the broad
corridors give a pleasant impression, and the offices are spacious,
light and commodious. An attempt is being made to have in the mayor's
room, portraits of the mayors of Jersey City. Several have been
presented but the list is not yet complete.