Lowell, MA - City and Town Halls on Waymarking.com

By the 1870s, city leaders recognized the need for more office space and, more importantly, they envisioned a new City Hall that would represent local government's independence and influence. In 1879, the City Council voted to purchase a lot from the Merrimack Manufacturing company as the site for a new City Hall.

In 1888, the Mayor and City Council appointed a six member commission to oversee the design and construction of the new building, as well as the construction of a City Library that would also serve as a memorial to those Lowell men who had died in the Civil War. In the interest of honest government and in an attempt to solicit the best possible designs for thesepublic buildings, the commission organized a design competition for which 23 architects submitted proposals. Drawings of Greek Revival, Gothic, Romanesque, Classical Revival, and Queen Ann structures were carefully reviewed for their styles and for efficiency in arrangement of offices.

Three architects received awards for their proposals, yet no single design submitted satisfied the commission. Suggestions from the commissioners were incorporated into revised designs submitted by the winners. Finally, the commission voted to award the construction of City Hall to the third place winner, the local firm of Merrill and Cutler. The construction of Memorial Hall was awarded to the Lowell born architect whose design had been awarded first place: Frederick Stickney.

Amid cries of taxation and extravagance, the commission successfully convinced voters and the City council to appropriate $150,000 and $300,000 respectively for the construction of Memorial Hall and City Hall. Construction did not begin for several months, however, due to
continued revision of designs and attempts to locate contractors to perform the work within the budget. After several rounds of contractor bidding and a number of alterations to the designs to reduce constructions costs, the cornerstones of the two buildings were laid at a grand ceremony on October 11, 1890. Three years later, the two buildings were open for use.

Name: City Hall Address: 375 Merrimack Street Lowell, MA USA 01852 Date of Construction: The cornerstone for this new City Hall was laid on 7/2/1890 as construction commenced, with the grand dedication on October 14, 1893 Architect: Fedrick W. Stickney Web Site for City/Town/Municipality: [Web Link] Memorials/Commemorations/Dedications: Not listed

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