Perth Amboy City Hall facts for kids
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Perth Amboy City Hall and Surveyor General's Office
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 Location in Middlesex County, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Location | 260 High Street Perth Amboy, New Jersey USA |
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| Built | 1714 |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000394 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | January 12, 1981 |
| Perth Amboy City Hall | |
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| General information | |
| Type | city hall |
| Location | Perth Amboy, New Jersey |
| Construction started | 1714 |
| Completed | 1717 |
| Renovated | 1745, 1767, 1826, 1872, 2006 |
The City Hall in Perth Amboy, Middlesex County, New Jersey, is a very old and important building. It was built in the early 1700s. This historic building is listed on both the New Jersey Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places. It is special because it is the oldest City Hall in the United States that is still being used today!
A Look Back: The City Hall's Story
The construction of this historic building began in 1714 and was finished in 1717. In its early days, it was used as a local courthouse and a jail. It also hosted meetings for the Provincial Assembly, which was like the local government, until 1775.
The building has been badly damaged by fire two times. The first fire happened in 1731, and the building was rebuilt by 1745. Another fire occurred around 1765, and the building was rebuilt again in 1767.
Perth Amboy City Hall has also been updated three times. The most recent renovation was in 2006. Even with these changes, some of the original parts of the building are still there. Today, the building looks like it was built in the Victorian style.
In 1867, a small two-room office was added next to City Hall. This office was used by the General Board of Proprietors of the Eastern Division of New Jersey, who managed land in the area.
Important Moments at City Hall
Perth Amboy City Hall has been the site of some very important events in history.
On November 20, 1789, the State of New Jersey made history here. It became the first state to officially approve, or "ratify," the United States Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights is a very important part of the U.S. Constitution that protects people's freedoms.
Another significant event happened on March 31, 1870. On this day, Thomas Mundy Peterson (1824–1904) became the first African-American person to vote in an election in the United States. This was possible because of the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which had just been put into law. This amendment gave African-American men the right to vote.
