Davenport City Hall
Encyclopedia
Davenport City Hall is the official seat of government for the city of Davenport, Iowa
, United States
. The building was constructed in 1895. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1982 and on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties in 1993.
, which had been built on Brady Street from 1857-1858. The role of city government expanded during the mayoral administration of Henry Vollmer
(1893-1896). One of his major achievements were public works projects. Streets were paved in the older sections of the city as developers laid out new subdivisions around the perimeter. Because of excess money in the city's coffers, a new city hall was planned and built. It was completed in 1895 for the meager price of $100,000. Architectural journals poked fun at city leaders due to the small amount budgeted for the project. The building is situated on the northeast corner of the intersection of Harrison Street (U.S. Route 61
) and West Fourth Street in Downtown Davenport.
, who also designed the city's first fire station, Hose Station No. 1
. It is a four story building constructed of sandstone in the Richardsonian Romanesque
style. The heavy stone appearance is deceptive as the weight of the building is born by a steel frame. As is common with this style, the city hall integrates elements such as towers, rustic stone, and Roman arches. It also incorporates corner towers and gable ends. Three stories of windows line the front of the building with the two front corners containing cone-shaped roofs that stick out from the main roof. Above the entrance is a large clock tower that is taller than the rest of the building. An addition was constructed on the north side and does not correlate to the original architecture.
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The building was constructed in 1895. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1982 and on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties in 1993.
History
Davenport started to outgrow its previous city hallOld City Hall (Davenport, Iowa)
The Old City Hall is located just north of downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.-History:...
, which had been built on Brady Street from 1857-1858. The role of city government expanded during the mayoral administration of Henry Vollmer
Henry Vollmer
Henry Vollmer was an attorney, the mayor of Davenport, Iowa, and a Democratic U.S. Representative from Iowa's 2nd congressional district. Winning a special election in 1914, he served just over one year in Congress....
(1893-1896). One of his major achievements were public works projects. Streets were paved in the older sections of the city as developers laid out new subdivisions around the perimeter. Because of excess money in the city's coffers, a new city hall was planned and built. It was completed in 1895 for the meager price of $100,000. Architectural journals poked fun at city leaders due to the small amount budgeted for the project. The building is situated on the northeast corner of the intersection of Harrison Street (U.S. Route 61
U.S. Route 61
U.S. Route 61 is the official designation for a United States highway that runs from New Orleans, Louisiana, to the city of Wyoming, Minnesota. The highway generally follows the course of the Mississippi River, and is designated the Great River Road for much of its route. As of 2004, the highway's...
) and West Fourth Street in Downtown Davenport.
Architecture
City hall was designed by Davenport architect John W. RossJohn W. Ross (Iowa architect)
John Wesley Ross was an architect in Davenport, Iowa.John Wesley Ross, originally of Westfield, Massachusetts, moved to Davenport in 1874 or 1876. His son, Albert Randolph Ross, was a draughtsman in John W...
, who also designed the city's first fire station, Hose Station No. 1
Hose Station No. 1
The Hose Station No. 1 is located in downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States. It is listed on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties and on the National Register of Historic Places.-History:...
. It is a four story building constructed of sandstone in the Richardsonian Romanesque
Richardsonian Romanesque
Richardsonian Romanesque is a style of Romanesque Revival architecture named after architect Henry Hobson Richardson, whose masterpiece is Trinity Church, Boston , designated a National Historic Landmark...
style. The heavy stone appearance is deceptive as the weight of the building is born by a steel frame. As is common with this style, the city hall integrates elements such as towers, rustic stone, and Roman arches. It also incorporates corner towers and gable ends. Three stories of windows line the front of the building with the two front corners containing cone-shaped roofs that stick out from the main roof. Above the entrance is a large clock tower that is taller than the rest of the building. An addition was constructed on the north side and does not correlate to the original architecture.