Providence City Hall

Upon the city's incorporation in 1832, most city business was conducted at the Market House.[1] The City Council, Mayor's Office, and Board of Aldermen were located on the second floor; as the city grew, the city spread to the third floor, and eventually took over the entire building, which became known as the "City Building."[1] Before long, even this wasn't enough space, and in 1845 the City Council resolved to create a permanent municipal building.[1] The community spent the next 30 years searching for a suitable location, because half the Council votes were on the east side of the Providence River, and half the votes were on the west.[1] This resulted in what some historians have referred to as "Providence's Thirty Years War," as the council bickered over where to site the new building.[1]

The city purchased several lots for the construction of a new City Hall. Construction was delayed, however, and the land was leased to C.N. Harrington, who built a wood frame theater on the site. The theater was notable for lectures, performances and readings that included writer Charles Dickens. In 1869, the building was renamed "Harrington Opera House." In 1874, the structure was closed for demolition.[1]

An open call for design led to twenty one submissions, and four finalists. Samuel J. F. Thayer's "Blue Wafer" design was chosen, and he was paid $1000.00USD.[2] The building, modified from its original design, would cost the city $1,000,000.USD. The cornerstone was laid on June 24, 1875. Inaugurated on November 14, 1878, The Providence Journal called the building "Our Municipal Palace."

President Teddy Roosevelt spoke on the City Hall steps on August 23, 1902, and John F. Kennedy spoke on November 7, 1960, just before he was elected president. In 2000, Friedrich St. Florian designed outdoor plaques for the building. Haven Brothers Diner, a Rhode Island landmark, is mobile cafe situated east of City Hall every evening.

In 1975, after concerns began to grow about possible demolition, Mayor Buddy Cianci instigated a full restoration and rehabilitation of the deteriorating building under the guidance of historian and preservationist Antoinette Downing, Frank Mauran III and Irving B. Haynes. The project was completed in the 1990s.[3]

Because of its central location with vast open space before it, City Hall has been the scene of a number of speeches by visiting dignitaries.

• One of the features of the tremendous industrial development of the last generation has been the very great increase in private, and especially in corporate, fortunes. ... It is not true that the poor have grown poorer; but some of the rich have grown so very much richer that, where multitudes of men are herded together in a limited space, the contrast strikes the onlooker as more violent than formerly.
  On the whole, our people earn more and live better than ever before, and the progress of which we are so proud could not have taken place had it not been for the up building of industrial centers, such as this in which I am speaking. But together with the good there has come a measure of evil.… Under present-day conditions it is as necessary to have corporations in the business world as it is to have organizations, unions, among wage-workers. We have a right to ask in each case only this: that good, and not harm, shall follow.[4]
  • Theodore Roosevelt (Republican President) "Trust" speech from steps of Providence City Hall toward crowd assembled on Kennedy Plaza[5][6] – August 23, 1902
• On other occasions, in other years, this country has elected Republican Presidents and Democratic Presidents. They do it when they make a decision that that party and that candidate will serve a great national purpose. In my judgment and the responsibility ultimately is yours, in my judgment the United States will be best served by a candidate and a party who recognizes the basic issues of our time, and that is that this country has to go back to work again. [7]
  • John F. Kennedy (Democratic candidate for President) speech from steps of Providence City Hall toward crowd assembled on Kennedy Plaza[5] – November 7, 1960, Senate Speech file of the John F. Kennedy Pre-Presidential Papers, John F. Kennedy Library</ref>

City Hall decorated for Doyle's public wake

• In September 1881, the body of General, Governor, and Senator Ambrose Burnside lay in state before services at First Congregational Church.[8]
• In June 1886, the body of mayor Thomas Doyle lay in state before services at First Congregational Church.[9]
• In February 2016, the body of mayor Buddy Cianci lay in state for two days in half-open casket before services at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul.[10][11]