City Hall (Chicopee, Massachusetts) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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City Hall
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City Hall
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Chicopee, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1871 |
| Architect | Charles Edward Parker |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 74002052 |
| Added to NRHP | July 30, 1974 |
Chicopee City Hall is a very old and important building in Chicopee, Massachusetts. It's where the local government works, helping to run the city. This amazing building was built a long time ago, in 1871.
You can find City Hall right in the middle of Chicopee at Market Square. Its design is called the Italianate style. This means it looks a bit like old buildings from Italy. It even has a special round window, called a rose window, which you usually see in churches.
The building also has a very tall tower. This tower is like a smaller version of a famous tower in Florence, Italy, called the Palazzo Vecchio. A talented person named Charles Edward Parker designed this beautiful building.
The Story of Chicopee City Hall
Chicopee City Hall has a cool history! The city bought the land for it in 1869. Then, a group of important citizens helped plan how the new building would look. They chose Charles E. Parker from Boston to be the architect. He's the one who designed it.
Construction began in 1871. Parker's design was inspired by the Palazzo Vecchio, a historic town hall in Florence, Italy. The building was officially opened on December 21, 1871. It has been serving the city ever since!
The Tall Tower and Its Secrets
The most eye-catching part of City Hall is its tall tower. It stands about 147 feet (45 meters) high! At the very top of the tower, there's a golden eagle statue. This eagle is quite heavy, weighing about 54 pounds (24 kg), and its wings stretch out 7 feet (2 meters) wide.
Inside the tower, there's a big bell. Long ago, this bell was used for important public events. It also rang loudly to tell everyone about fires. Later, in 1888, a clock was added to the tower. You can see the clock faces on three sides of the tower.
Special Design Features
City Hall is special because it has a rose window. This is a large, round window with colorful stained glass. You usually see these beautiful windows in churches, not city halls! It adds a unique touch to the building.
For many years, the building has been used for city offices. The police station was once in the basement. In 1929, it moved to a new part of the building. Later, the police station moved again to a different area of Chicopee.
In 1974, Chicopee City Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important historical building. As of 2020, the outside of City Hall is getting a big makeover to keep it looking great!
