Norwich City Hall (Connecticut) facts for kids
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Norwich City Hall
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Union Street and Broadway, Norwich, Connecticut |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1870 |
| Architect | Burdick & Arnold |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Part of | Downtown Norwich Historic District (ID85000707) |
| NRHP reference No. | 83003589 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 22, 1983 |
| Designated CP | April 4, 1985 |
Norwich City Hall is a very important building in Norwich, Connecticut. It's where the city's government works. You can find it at Union Street and Broadway, standing tall over the main part of the city. This building was constructed between 1870 and 1873. Back then, Norwich was still considered a "town." It has been the home of the city's government ever since. The building is a great example of a special type of design called Second Empire architecture. Because of its unique look and long history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
What is Norwich City Hall?
Norwich City Hall is in the heart of downtown Norwich. It sits on a piece of land between Union Street and Broadway. The building looks out onto Union Square, which is a big public area. Other important buildings, like two churches, are right next to it.
A Look Inside and Out
City Hall is a fantastic example of the Second Empire style. It has three floors made of brick, sitting on a strong stone base. There's also a fourth floor hidden under its unique slate roof, which is called a mansard roof. The outside of the building is very fancy. It has a detailed cast-iron porch at the entrance. The windows have special stone frames, and the roof has decorative brackets.
At one corner of the building, there's a tall tower. This tower also has a mansard roof. On top of it, you'll see a clock, a bell tower (called a belfry), and a pointy cap. Inside, the building is just as beautiful. It has amazing wood carvings and fancy finishes everywhere.
A Bit of History
The story of Norwich City Hall began in 1865. At that time, the town of Norwich wanted to build one big place for all its offices. They also needed a new home for Norwich's county court. The old court building had recently been destroyed by fire.
The state gave permission for the building in 1869. The Norwich architecture company Burdick & Arnold designed the main building. It was built from 1870 to 1873. Later, in 1909, architects Cudworth & Woodworth added more space. This addition was meant to provide more offices. Today, the building still serves its original purposes. However, the district court is now managed by the state government.
