Salem City Hall Access Renovations

2009- 2010  Salem, Massachusetts

City Hall was built in 1837-38 under the supervision of Mayor Leverett Saltonstall and a committee appointed for that purpose. The cornerstone was laid on September 6, 1837. In 1837, under the administration of President Andrew Jackson, the United States Treasury held a surplus in the amount ofnearly Forty Million Dollars. City Hall was built from this surplus revenue, as Salem’s share was nearly $34,000.00.The City Hall is architecturally significant because of its excellent Greek Revival design. The architect, Richard Bond(1797-1861) was described in contemporary reports as “an architect of great fame,” “an architect of high reputation” and“a distinguished architect.” He also designed Gore Hall --the old Library at Harvard, the Bowdoin Square Church in Boston, both no longer standing.

 

This renovation is the first phase of a complete building restoration and will provide a new accessible entry and elevator access.