Hamilton Town Hall
Posted by: 
Volcanoguy
N 46° 14.759 W 114° 09.520
11T E 719030 N 5125302
Sign at the historic Town Hall in Hamilton, Montana.
Waymark Code: WMFGRZ
Location: Montana, United States
Date Posted: 10/18/2012
Views: 1
Interpretive sign about the Hamilton Town Hall in Hamilton, Montana.
Text of Sign:
Town halls originated in twelfth-century Italy, where bells were rung to call public assemblies. Missoula architect A.J. Gibson’s city hall design references this history. Allusions to Italy include such Italian Renaissance features as a low-pitched hipped roof, wide eaves, an arch above the front door, and a symmetrical facade. The prominent bell tower, common to American town halls, symbolizes the significance of democratic assembly. The building was designed in 1906 to house city offices, the fire department, and the public library. Originally, two sets of large bay doors, used for horse-drawn fire wagons, flanked the front entrance. Small communities frequently combined city services under one roof, but multiple use was not always ideal. Hamilton library patrons, for example, sometimes complained about the smell of horse. The library moved to a new facility in 1914, and in 1940 Hamilton remodeled the city hall/fire station, adding a truck bay to the building’s south side. While city offices moved to South Second Street in 1990, the fire department continues to operate from its original home.
Describe the area and history:
Sign is located in front of the historic Town Hall building in downtown Hamilton, Montana.
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