Architect Earl E. Ryder (1848) Added to NRHP December 16, 1977 | Built 1848/1896 Architectural style Renaissance revival | |
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Part of Church Green (Taunton, Massachusetts) (#77000168) | ||
Taunton City Hall is an historic city hall containing the offices of the municipal government for the city of Taunton, Massachusetts, including the office of the mayor and the city council chambers. The building was originally constructed in 1848, and expanded in 1896. It is a contributing property to the Church Green national historic district, located at the intersection of U.S. Route 44 and State Route 140. An arson fire in 2010 caused severe damage and forced the building to close.
2010 arson fire
On the morning of August 17, 2010, an arsonist broke into the fourth-floor attic and set the building ablaze. Efforts to put out the fire caused considerable water damage to saturated walls and ceilings, nearly all of which were later torn apart to prevent mold. Estimates to repair City Hall have ranged from $15 million to $23 million. City operations were moved temporarily to Oak Street, in what was the Lowell M. Maxham School.
In December 2014, the Star Theater/Leonard Block building, adjacent to City Hall, was demolished, in hopes that the demolition would make it easier to repair City Hall.
In March 2016, the Taunton City Council was working out funding to build a new, permanent City Hall.