Old City Hall (Gilroy, California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Old City Hall
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 Old City Hall
Location in California
Old City Hall
Location in the United States
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| Location | 7410 Monterey Street, Gilroy, California |
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| Built | 1905 |
| Architect | Samuel Newsom, Wolfe and McKenzie |
| Architectural style | Mission Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000480 |
| Added to NRHP | April 16, 1975 |
The Old City Hall is a historic building located in Gilroy. It was built in 1905. This grand building once served many important roles. It was a courthouse, the mayor's office, and even a jail. It also housed the city clerk's office and the fire department.
You can find the Old City Hall at 7410 Monterey Street. It's a great example of California's Mission Revival style from the early 1900s. Because of its beauty and history, people sometimes called it the "Grand Old Lady." This building has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since April 16, 1975.
The Historic Old City Hall
The Old City Hall building was designed by a talented architect named Samuel Newsom. He got help from an architectural company called Wolfe and McKenzie, based in San Jose. They created a unique look for the building.
Building Design and Features
The lower part of the building is made from a type of stone called greystone. This gives it a strong, rustic feel. The second story is built with white brick. On top of the brick, there's a special border called coping, made of terra cotta. The roof is covered with classic red tiles.
The rough stone on the outside reminds some people of an older style called Richardsonian Romanesque. You can even see similar architecture at nearby Stanford University. Inside the main entrance, there's a beautiful double staircase made of golden oak wood.
A tall clock tower sits on top of the building. The clock itself is over 100 years old! It has been carefully repaired many times to keep it working.
A Look at Its Past
In 1989, a big earthquake called the Loma Prieta earthquake shook the area. This earthquake caused some damage to the Old City Hall. Luckily, the building was later repaired and made strong again.
In more recent years, the Old City Hall has found a new purpose. Instead of city offices, it now houses local restaurants. This means people can still enjoy this beautiful historic building today.
