With the highest buildings in the world rising in rivalry nearby,
attracting every eye because of their novelty, the New York City Hall
often escapes notice, or is given shorter consideration than its
excellent architecture and historical significance deserve. Though
it is neither large nor expensive, it is better designed and more
carefully executed than any of the older public buildings in the
country.
John McComb is generally accepted as the architect; but it would be
safer to speak of him as the builder, since most of the designing
seems to have been done by a French surveyor, Joseph Mangin. To Mangin
are probably due that shapely and dignified architecture which gives
it a place among beautiful buildings, and the skilful design of its
decorations. McComb carried out the work of building with great care,
receiving six dollars a day for his time. The construction was begun
in 1803. The first intention was to use brownstone. McComb, however,
saw that no meaner material than marble could do justice to the purpose
or the workmanship of the proposed City Hall. Accordingly he persuaded
the committee in charge to let him use marble on three sides. The
stone was hauled over from the Berkshire Hilts by horses and oxen; for
locomotives had not yet been invented.
One room of the City Hall was set aside for the State governor's
use; and it has lately been restored to the original condition. Many
excellent portraits hang on the walls. The furniture of the Governor's
Room was largely taken from Federal Hall, where Washington was
inaugurated and the city government was located before the building of
the City Hall. Federal Hall has unfortunately been destroyed. It stood
at the corner of Wall and Nassau Streets, and was built with stone from
the wall that gave Wall Street its name.
A number of years ago there was a proposal to remove the City Hall from
its present position because it was no longer large enough for the city
government and was too far from the center of Greater New York. Then,
because of its architectural merit as well as its history, such protest
was aroused that both building and park have been kept intact.
In May, 1917, a fire burned the tower and destroyed the clock of the
City Hall.
Transcriber's Notes:
'inclose' is an older form of 'enclose', probably still in use when
this book was written.