Petersburg City Hall

Petersburg City Hall is a historic city hall building located at Petersburg, Virginia. It was designed by architect Ammi B. Young and built between 1856 and 1859, as the U.S. Customs House and Post Office.

Petersburg City Hall
Petersburg City Hall, HABS Photo, Summer 1981
Petersburg City Hall is located in Virginia
Petersburg City Hall
Petersburg City Hall is located in the United States
Petersburg City Hall
Location135 N. Union St.,
Petersburg, Virginia
Coordinates37°13′47″N 77°24′19″W
Arealess than one acre
Built1856 (1856)-1859, 1908-1910
ArchitectAmmi B. Young
Architectural styleRenaissance, Italian Renaissance Revival
NRHP reference No.78003185[1]
VLR No.123-0035
Significant dates
Added to NRHPNovember 16, 1978
Designated VLRApril 18, 1978[2]

Description

The Petersburg Custom House & Post Office is located on the southeast corner of Tabb and Union streets on a plot of ground purchased April 18, 1856, for the sum of $15,000.[3] It is a three-story, three bay by eight bay, Italian Renaissance Revival style brick building faced in granite. It measures 46 feet wide and 100 feet deep and was expanded to its present size in 1908-1910.

The building was designed by Ammi B. Young, first Supervising Architect of the United States Treasury, in the Italian Renaissance style. Construction was commenced in 1856 and completed in 1859, the cost of construction being $84,664.88. It was first occupied, however, in September, 1858, while still in an unfinished condition.[3]

The exterior walls are constructed of Petersburgh granite. The original design of the building was for two stories only, after the original construction work was commenced, a third story was added for the accommodation of the Custom House department, and was used as sleeping apartments for the Customs officers. This building did not have a federal courtroom, all judicial matters would be conducted at the Richmond federal courthouse, just 20 miles north of the city.

The roof was made entirely of iron beams, covered with corrugated galvanized sheeting. The three southern bays of the building were added between 1908 and 1910.

The layout of the interior rooms plan has changed several times, nowadays revealing little evidence of the original arrangement. The first floor is primarily a large open public area containing municipal service areas. The second and third floors are divided into city offices. The interior columns and staircases are original.[3]

Uses

Sketch showing arrival of Union troops in Petersburg in April 1865, providing an incidental glimpse of the Custom House and Post Office. Harpers Weekly
Postcard of Custom House & Post Office, 1900
First floor interior of Custom House & Post Office, 1933

The building was primarily used as a post office and custom house, although the initial floor plan was changed several times.[3]

During the American Civil War the building served as the headquarters of the Confederate Army.[3]

The Post Office moved to a new location in 1936 and the building was renovated as part of a Works Progress Administration project, becoming the Petersburg's City Hall in 1938.[3] It still retains that use as at 2017.

Located in the Petersburg Courthouse Historic District, the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.[1]

References

  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  3. Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission Staff (March 1978). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Petersburg City Hall" (PDF). Virginia Department of Historic Resources. and Accompanying photo

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