Brooklyn Borough Hall
Encyclopedia
Brooklyn Borough Hall was designed in 1835 by architect Gamaliel King
, and constructed under the supervision of superintendent Stephen Haynes
. It was completed in 1849 to be used as the City Hall
of the City of Brooklyn
. In January 1898 the independent City of Brooklyn merged with the City of New York, and Kings County became the Borough of Brooklyn
.
Construction on Brooklyn's City Hall began in 1845 and continued until 1849. The Kings County Courthouse was built in 1868, turning this area (now known as Downtown Brooklyn
) into a government center and busy area of commerce. In the 1940s, the Kings County Courthouse and other nearby buildings to the north were replaced by a complex of courthouses and a plaza in front of Borough Hall. A mall connects the building to Cadman Plaza Park.
On February 26, 1895, waste paper caught fire and destroyed the cupola and top floors of the building, and water damage ruined the walls and ceiling of the Common Council chamber. A flag crowned the building for the next 85 years, until the 1980s when the building was restored and the figure of Lady Justice
was placed on top of a new cupola
. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 10, 1980.
The sign from the opening credits of Welcome Back, Kotter
that read "Welcome to Brooklyn, 4th largest city in America, Hon. Sebastian Leone Borough President" currently hangs in the lobby of Borough Hall.
Gamaliel King
Gamaliel King was an American architect who practiced in New York City and the adjacent city of Brooklyn, where he was a major figure in Brooklyn civic and ecclesiastical architecture for several decades.His practice began as a "builder" in Brooklyn in the 1820s: in 1823 he and Joseph Moser were...
, and constructed under the supervision of superintendent Stephen Haynes
Stephen Haynes
Stephen Haynes was an alderman in early Brooklyn, New York. In about 1827 he was elected to the board of Supervisors. Mr. Haynes was twice elected to represent the Third District in the New York State Assembly....
. It was completed in 1849 to be used as the City Hall
City hall
In local government, a city hall, town hall or a municipal building or civic centre, is the chief administrative building of a city...
of the City of Brooklyn
History of Brooklyn
The history of Brooklyn, a present-day borough of New York City, spans more than 350 years. The settlement began in the 17th century as the small Dutch-founded town of "Breuckelen" on the East River shore of Long Island, grew to be a sizable city in the 19th century, and was consolidated in 1898...
. In January 1898 the independent City of Brooklyn merged with the City of New York, and Kings County became the Borough of Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
.
Construction on Brooklyn's City Hall began in 1845 and continued until 1849. The Kings County Courthouse was built in 1868, turning this area (now known as Downtown Brooklyn
Downtown Brooklyn
Downtown Brooklyn is the third largest central business district in New York City , and is located in the northwestern section of the borough of Brooklyn...
) into a government center and busy area of commerce. In the 1940s, the Kings County Courthouse and other nearby buildings to the north were replaced by a complex of courthouses and a plaza in front of Borough Hall. A mall connects the building to Cadman Plaza Park.
On February 26, 1895, waste paper caught fire and destroyed the cupola and top floors of the building, and water damage ruined the walls and ceiling of the Common Council chamber. A flag crowned the building for the next 85 years, until the 1980s when the building was restored and the figure of Lady Justice
Lady Justice
Lady Justice |Dike]]) is an allegorical personification of the moral force in judicial systems.-Depiction:The personification of justice balancing the scales of truth and fairness dates back to the Goddess Maat, and later Isis, of ancient Egypt. The Hellenic deities Themis and Dike were later...
was placed on top of a new cupola
Cupola
In architecture, a cupola is a small, most-often dome-like, structure on top of a building. Often used to provide a lookout or to admit light and air, it usually crowns a larger roof or dome....
. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 10, 1980.
The sign from the opening credits of Welcome Back, Kotter
Welcome Back, Kotter
Welcome Back, Kotter was an American television sitcom starring Gabe Kaplan and featuring a young John Travolta.It originally aired on the ABC network from September 9, 1975 to June 8, 1979.-Premise:...
that read "Welcome to Brooklyn, 4th largest city in America, Hon. Sebastian Leone Borough President" currently hangs in the lobby of Borough Hall.
See also
- New York City HallNew York City HallNew York City Hall is located at the center of City Hall Park in the Civic Center area of Lower Manhattan, New York City, USA, between Broadway, Park Row, and Chambers Street. The building is the oldest City Hall in the United States that still houses its original governmental functions, such as...
- Brooklyn HeightsBrooklyn Heights, BrooklynBrooklyn Heights is a culturally diverse neighborhood within the New York City borough of Brooklyn. Originally referred to as 'Brooklyn Village', it has been a prominent area of Brooklyn since 1834. As of 2000, Brooklyn Heights sustained a population of 22,594 people. The neighborhood is part of...