# CITY HALL IN THE 20TH CENTURY

In the twentieth century, City Hall became, as intended, the forum and municipal center for the city. William Penn stood atop the tower and watching over the growth of his “Greene Country Towne” became the city’s most visible landmark. As seat of municipal government, City Hall became the site of protests and celebrations, and a meeting place for all citizens of the city. But the building, born in controversy, has

remained controversial. City Hall has quietly stood its ground as criticism decried its style and several times called for its destruction or radical alteration. Paul Cret’s 1929 plan, shown above, called for the demolition of all but the tower of City Hall and for the creation of an automobile rotary to ease traffic congestion around the square. Those plans and others that followed all have been rejected. Today, the City is preparing an extensive face lift that will return City Hall to its former status.

"...an ugly
monstrosity"

# THE HEART OF PHILADELPHIA

In 1683, when William Penn and Thomas Holme laid out the plan for Philadelphia, they reserved Center Square for the use of the municipal government. For the next two hundred years, however, the city's offices clung to the established clusters of legal, financial and commercial institutions at Fifth and Chestnut, and left Center Square to other uses.

Center Square became the site of the city's first waterworks in 1799. The pumphouse, designed by Benjamin Latrobe, enclosed a small reservoir and a steam powered engine designed to pump water from the Schuylkill River. This technological marvel

attracted the curious, and the landscaped square became a popular place for residents to picnic and promenade.

With the opening of the Waterworks at Fairmount in 1822, the Center Square Pump House became obsolete, and was demolished in 1828. Until 1870, Center Square remained a popular central site for civic celebrations and fairs.

The intersection of Broad and Market Streets was open – each street provided an unobstructed thru-way for street-car, vehicular, and pedestrian traffic. When the foundation of City Hall was laid in 1871, this intersection became blocked – an act that outraged many residents and created an emotional conflict over the final design of the new city hall.

In the twentieth century, City Hall became, as intended, the forum and municipal center for the city. William Penn standing atop the tower and watching over the growth of his “Greene Country Towne” became the city’s most visible landmark. As the seat of municipal government, City Hall became the site of protests and celebrations, and a meeting place for all citizens of the city. But the building, born in controversy, has been refined controversial. City Hall has quietly stood its ground as critics have called for its destruction or radical change. Paul Cret’s 1929 plan, shown above, called for the demolition of City Hall and for the creation of an automobile industry.