The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-01-25
OLD CITY HALL TALES
"reminiscences of the Build
ing and Some of the Men
Who Occupied 1t.
BUILT IN A YEAR
Augustus A. Hardenbergh Makes
the First Speech in the New
Council Chamber.

RCfSi ty-SLIlChGH sigh, CONSISTING OIL a
piece OF brown wrapping paper, on which
are some palsy-stricken letters done in
mi, apparently with a mucilage brush,
tackled to the door of the old municipal
puuding, at Cooper place and Newark
avenue. informs passers-by thai the va
rious departments which the building
heretofore has sheltered have gone to the
New City Hall.
When first erected, the old building
was called the Temporary City Hail.
as the "City Fathers, even in those
early days foresaw the wonderful growth
OF the city and the future day when a
larger building would have to be pro-
v1ded. Nevertheless, for almost thirty
seven years the old structure was made
to answer the purposes of a city hall,
and behind its red brick walls there has
been enacted some of the most lively in
cidents in the history of the municipal
ity.
Previous to 1860 the Common Council of
Jersey City for some years met in Ly-
ceum. Hall, on Grand street, now the
Newman Mission. In that year, however.
the city had grown to such an extent
that steps We're taken to secure a perma-
nent home of its own for the city gov
eminent. A committee was appointed,
and, after examining various sights, con-
eluded to locate the new municipal build
ing at Newark avenue and Cooper al
ley. As the city then was this was a
central location and on the main thor
oughfare. The corner was then occupied
by two of a row of white frame build
ings, built by Dudley S. Gregory.
After title to the property had been
secured, Stephen W. Quaife, architect.
drew the plans and specifications for the
building, and proposals We're invited
thereon. There were twelve responses.
and Evan Jones & Co. were the success
full bidders. The ground cost 81, 500, and
the cost of the building was s23, GAS, max
ing a total of $35, 145.
There were no s~quabbles between
architects and contractors to hin
der the work in those days, and on the
following April l the building was com
pleted, less than ten months after the
contract was awarded. The decoration
Of the Council Chamber was considered
4 marvel CT art. III f~reseoes were exc
euted by a brother of General Garibaldi.
Fho was one of the Italian refugees in
this country.
On the night of April 1, 1851, the new
building was thoroughly lighted, from top
TO bottom, and thrown open to the pub
lie. 1t was a wild night, and the storm
which prevailed at the time was consid-
red an unusual one by the newspapers
of that day. Nevertheless a large con
course of citizens and s-eitizenesses, in.
spected the new building. The Mayor
aeld an informal reception in his office
and welcomed all to the City Hall. Each
room was visited and admired. The citf-
zens were charmed the most by. the
Council Chamber, with its artistic fres-
Goes and the beautiful Venetian scene
behind the chairman's dias, which were
executed by the younger Garibaldi. Ev
cry one was pleased with the structure.
and the citizens generally considered the
city had a municipal building of which
they were justified in feeling proud. The
various departments quickly moved INTO
their new quarters, n in a few lays
we're all settled In their new home.
The Common Council, as the Board of
Aldermen was then called, held its first
meeting in the new Council Chamber on
the evening following the public inspec-
ton of the building. A few evenings
previous it had taken a formal arewell
of its old meeting place in Lyceum Hall.
The late Augustus A. H~ardenpergh, for
merly President of the Hudson County
National Bank. who was President of the
Council, made a farewell speech In his
usual felicitouS style.
Before the Council settled down to
business in its new quarters Mr.. Harden
bergh made another speech, dwelling up
on the agreeable change the Council had
made and congratulating the Councilmen
and citizens generally upon the acquisi-
ton of such a beautiful and commodious
City Hall
It would be impossible in the limited
space a daily newspaper can devote to the
subject to give anything like an adequate
account of the many stirring scenes
which have occurred within the walls OF
the old structure, or of the prominent
men who participated therein. Men who
part in the affairs of the State and county
have begun their political career in the
old Council Chamber.
The late Augustus A. Hardenbergh.
who represented this district several
| years in Congress, began his career as
q member Of the Jersey City Common
ne was the presiding officer the first time
| the mi met in the building. Within
more recent day he became a member of
| the Jersey City Board of Finance. Those
were lark times for Jersey City. BY one
| means or another her debt had grown to
be such a child that it threatened to eat
| the city OUT OF mouse and nome. The
municipalities credit was practically a
thing Of the past and nothing but bank
ruptcy and ~dishonorable reputation of
honorable debts was in sight. AT this
| crisis Mr.. Hardenbergh topped forward
| and with the aid of Allan McDermott
restored the city, credit and saved her
from ruin. The scenes connected with
this work Of salvation took place in the
old CityssHall.
Ex-United States Senator John r. Me-
Pherson also begun his political career In
was elected q member of the Council and
| held the Office continually until 1870. For
three years he presided over the body
and often the frescoed walls rang with
his eloquent advocacy of one measure
or his impassioned denunciation of an
| other.
It was In the old building that Gilbert
| C0llinsanwhQ5iw was elected Mayor of the
| city by a reform movement began his
| Administrations which so materially helped
1.-The city out OF the mire. Here occurred
those memorable scenes attending the
change from the old to the new charter.
in 1889. Orestes Cleveland was then
Mayor. The new charter fixed the respon-
| sibility for the city government upon him
by giving him the appointment OF all
the boards and city officials. ENJOYS of
those anxious to be ~appointees, commit
tees from this and that association, and
individuals urging the Mayor to appoint
a man or besieging him not to, kept pour
Ing into the Mayors office all day. The