Morristown Gazette - Wednesday July 12th 1916
NEW SITE PROPOSED FOR CITY HALL
Amendment to the Original Report Submitted by Building Committee
We, the building committee, appointed by your Board on the building of a city hall and auditorium, beg leave to file this amendment to our report made on June 26th, 1916. Since said original report was made, our attention has been called to a lot situated on Main Street, bounded on the east by the lot of S.M. Willis, on the South by Trent heirs, and on the West by Hill Street, fronting on Main Street 85 feet, an running back equal width 150 feet, which lot is owned by Mr. Theo Brown and upon which we have taken an option to purchase at said price of $4,000, which option expires on the 21
We have carefully considered this lot and its adoptability to the purpose and uses of the city for the city hall and auditorium, and we find that we can build a city hall with as many as five large office rooms 18 X 25 feet, which will be large enough to accommodate all the city departments, and also build a connection therewith a large auditorium 74 feet wide by 102 in length, with a seating capacity of 2,000 or more people, with ample space below fro the fir department and city Jail. This building by our plan, which is of course tentative and subject to change, will have an open court entering from Main Street 24 feet wide and another open court entering from Hill Street 10 feet wide, extending to an alley on the east side. There will be an alley on the East side of the building 11 feet wide, and an alley on the South side 20 feet wide. The auditorium will be on the ground floor, having its main entrance from the open court. All the office rooms will also be above ground, which was regard as very important, and which we would be unable to do on the old city lot at the corner of First North and Henry Streets. We will also, in this building, be able to have not less than six separate exits of fire escapes.
We are advised that the city now has a bona fide offer of $4,000 on the lot now owned by it at the corner of First North Street and Henry Streets, so that a sale of said lot will produce enough money to purchase the Brown lot. The Brown lot is ample in size without the purchase of any additional ground. It is central in location on Main Street, and convenient to all.
In view of these facts, which have all developed since our original report was made, we desire to amend said report, and we do hereby withdraw our recommendations contained in said report that the city hall and auditorium be built on said lot situated at he corner of First North Street and Henry Street and that 20 feet of additional ground be purchased or condemned on East side of said lot and 17 feet additional ground be purchased or condemned on the North side of same.
We earnestly recommend that the Brown lot be purchased, and that the new city hall and auditorium be built on said lot. We are guided in our conclusions solely by our interest in Morristown and what we believe to be the best interest of the whole town and of the whole people of the town. Viewed from a standpoint of economy, the Brown lot cost $4,000, the present city lot can be sold for $4,000, and is probably worth more. It is not large enough and, at the prices asked for the necessary additional fund on the East and North sides of same, there will have to be an additional investment in ground of about $5, 000. The additional investment will cost more than alone than the Brown lot. Viewed from other standpoints the Brown lot has the advantage. One is, all the offices will lie above ground, whereas, on the old lot all of them will be below ground, with basement floors. The Brown lot is on Main Street, which is an advantage. it is equally as central in location if not more so than the lot, and is as convenient to all the people.
