More Information On Chicago Illinois
Work had begun on the Illinois and Michigan Canal in 1836.
The Indians had been moved to reservations, many immigrants were arriving, and real estate was becoming more valuable. With the growing population it was evident that a new and more liberal charter was needed.
In November of 1836 a committee was formed to apply to the state legislature for a city charter, and adopt a draft to accompany the application. A charter was prepared by this committee and submitted to the people for approval at a mass meeting at the Saloon Building on Monday, January 23, 1837.
After slight alterations, the charter was approved and sent to the legislature. There, after certain amendments, it was enacted into law on March 4, 1837. Thus, on this date, Chicago became a city with a population of 4,170.
An election was held on the second of May 1837, to choose the officers provided for in the charter. At this election William B. Ogden was chosen the first Mayor of Chicago; Isaac N. Arnold, clerk, and Hiram Pearsons, treasurer.
The first meetings of the Town Board of Chicago were held in 1833 in the house of Mark Beaubien, which stood near the southwest corner of Lake and Market streets.
The first City Hall was in the Saloon Building on the southeast corner of Clark and Lake streets. Here the municipality's business was transacted from 1837 to 1842. In 1842 officials were moved to Mrs. Nancy Chapman's building at the corner of LaSalle and Randolph streets.
In 1848 the Market Building was erected and used as a city hall until 1853. In 1850 the city and county agreed on plans for a City Hall to stand in the Court House Square, bounded by Washington and Randolph, Clark, and LaSalle streets.
The building was completed during the year 1853, was first occupied in February 1854 and was used until it was destroyed by the great Chicago fire of 1871.
After the fire the city took over the First Congregational Church at Ann and Washington streets and conducted relief activities from that point.
On October 12, the Council voted to occupy the West Madison Street police station and stayed there until January 1, 1872.
At this time the city offices were established in a temporary city hall at Adams and LaSalle streets. Here the offices of the city government remained until the new permanent City Hall on the old site was completed and ready for occupancy on January 3, 1885.
The architect was John Mills Van Osdel. This building was occupied until 1908 at which time city offices were scattered in surrounding buildings while the new building was under construction.
The present City Hall was dedicated February 27, 1911. The architects were Holabird & Roche. It occupies the west half of an eleven-story building, which takes up an entire city block.
The east half of the building is occupied by the County office. Randolph, LaSalle, Washington, and Clark streets bound this twin building. The main entrance of City Hall is on LaSalle Street.
Flanking this entrance are four relief panels sculpted in granite by John Flanagan, which typify four great features of municipal government - city playgrounds, public schools, the park system and the water supply system.
Inside the entrance, at landings on marble stairways to the right and left, are bronze tablets showing various city halls from 1837 to the present.
Here, also, is the great seal of the City of Chicago. In 1967 extensive renovation was begun in City Hall to remodel some existing offices and to provide new quarters for city agencies occupying space outside City Hall.
The Indians had been moved to reservations, many immigrants were arriving, and real estate was becoming more valuable. With the growing population it was evident that a new and more liberal charter was needed.
In November of 1836 a committee was formed to apply to the state legislature for a city charter, and adopt a draft to accompany the application. A charter was prepared by this committee and submitted to the people for approval at a mass meeting at the Saloon Building on Monday, January 23, 1837.
After slight alterations, the charter was approved and sent to the legislature. There, after certain amendments, it was enacted into law on March 4, 1837. Thus, on this date, Chicago became a city with a population of 4,170.
An election was held on the second of May 1837, to choose the officers provided for in the charter. At this election William B. Ogden was chosen the first Mayor of Chicago; Isaac N. Arnold, clerk, and Hiram Pearsons, treasurer.
The first meetings of the Town Board of Chicago were held in 1833 in the house of Mark Beaubien, which stood near the southwest corner of Lake and Market streets.
The first City Hall was in the Saloon Building on the southeast corner of Clark and Lake streets. Here the municipality's business was transacted from 1837 to 1842. In 1842 officials were moved to Mrs. Nancy Chapman's building at the corner of LaSalle and Randolph streets.
In 1848 the Market Building was erected and used as a city hall until 1853. In 1850 the city and county agreed on plans for a City Hall to stand in the Court House Square, bounded by Washington and Randolph, Clark, and LaSalle streets.
The building was completed during the year 1853, was first occupied in February 1854 and was used until it was destroyed by the great Chicago fire of 1871.
After the fire the city took over the First Congregational Church at Ann and Washington streets and conducted relief activities from that point.
On October 12, the Council voted to occupy the West Madison Street police station and stayed there until January 1, 1872.
At this time the city offices were established in a temporary city hall at Adams and LaSalle streets. Here the offices of the city government remained until the new permanent City Hall on the old site was completed and ready for occupancy on January 3, 1885.
The architect was John Mills Van Osdel. This building was occupied until 1908 at which time city offices were scattered in surrounding buildings while the new building was under construction.
The present City Hall was dedicated February 27, 1911. The architects were Holabird & Roche. It occupies the west half of an eleven-story building, which takes up an entire city block.
The east half of the building is occupied by the County office. Randolph, LaSalle, Washington, and Clark streets bound this twin building. The main entrance of City Hall is on LaSalle Street.
Flanking this entrance are four relief panels sculpted in granite by John Flanagan, which typify four great features of municipal government - city playgrounds, public schools, the park system and the water supply system.
Inside the entrance, at landings on marble stairways to the right and left, are bronze tablets showing various city halls from 1837 to the present.
Here, also, is the great seal of the City of Chicago. In 1967 extensive renovation was begun in City Hall to remodel some existing offices and to provide new quarters for city agencies occupying space outside City Hall.
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