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City Hall
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| City
Hall in Saratoga Springs, an imposing structure, dominates the
northeast corner of Broadway at Lake Avenue. Built in 1871, the
building is a combination of High Victorian and Italian architecture.
Although Saratoga Springs gained city status in 1915, the original
sign over the main entrance still reads "Town Hall."
Now, as then, the building houses the Mayor's office and key
city departments. |
| Over
the years the building has sustained many changes. In 1936, the
large, two story theatre, once used for town meetings, public
gatherings and theatrical presentations, was reconfigured. Divided
into two separate floors, the space was used for additional offices,
with a large space left for the Saratoga Music Hall, still the
site of meetings and performances. In that same year, two large
statues stationed at the foot of the central staircase were removed,
as were two bronze lions and a wrought iron fence at the entrance,
leaving an unadorned and plain staircase. The exterior has been
sandblasted to remove the original light yellow paint, exposing
the red brick walls. |
| The
most dramatic change was the removal of the bell tower, once
a major attribute. Rising above the middle of the façade,
the tower held a bell weighing 5,276 pounds. The frame, yoke
and other mounting apparatus added roughly another 2,500 pounds.
Crowning the bell tower was a four sided clock with a face 6
feet in diameter. Declared unsafe by engineers in 1934, the dismantling
of this venerable landmark was begun, and by 1936, the awesome
adornment was gone from the Saratoga Springs skyline. |
| For
over a century the building has been the hub of the community.
The front steps have been the scene of welcoming ceremonies for
everything from the Olympic Torch to a delegation of dignitaries
from Chekhov, Russia, Saratoga's Sister City. Residents attend
City Council meetings, and seek assistance from city officials
in the offices of city government. Saratoga's City Hall remains
an architectural treasure and a governmental resource. |
Saratoga Springs Visitors Center
297 Broadway
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
518-587-3241
Email: VisitorCenter@spa.net |
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| City Hall Views |
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| City Hall
today. |
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| City Hall
as it originally looked. |
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