Old Town Hall | Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Perkins Collection
Germantown Town Hall stands vacant, an unsurprising outcome for a building that was constructed more for political than practical reasons, not once, but twice. The first Town Hall, popularly called Old Town Hall, was designed by architect Napoleon LeBrun, and built on the site in 1854. Germantown was one of many independent municipalities that spent as much as possible prior to being consolidated with Philadelphia in 1854, knowing that the city would assume all existing debts. Paradoxically, both iterations of the Town Hall were a way for Germantown to symbolically assert its independence from Philadelphia.
The city was now saddled with a building it would struggle to find a use for. Over the years it housed a police station, hosted traveling shows and political meetings, and served as a hospital during the Civil War. In 1920, the building was declared structurally unsound and demolished. A new Town Hall was promptly built on the site thanks to Mayor J. Hampton Moore’s campaign promise to house all municipal functions in city-owned buildings.
Merchant’s Exchange Building | Historic American Buildings Survey
Architect John Penn Brock Sinkler modeled the Beaux Arts/Classical Revival building at 5928 Germantown Avenue on William Strickland’s Merchant’s Exchange building on 3rd and Dock Street in Old City. The clock tower and rotunda facing Germantown Avenue solved several design problems at once. It was well suited to the awkward, triangular lot, with a place for the bell and clock from the old Town Hall building, and a stately space for two memorial tablets memorializing the 123 sons of Germantown who died in WWI. The building was dedicated on Armistice Day, 1925.
Initially, the Highway, Survey, Tax and Magistrates offices were located in Germantown Town Hall, in keeping with Mayor Moore’s campaign promise, but the City later centralized these functions, and by the 1980s, only a few city offices occupied the space. The Town Hall has been vacant since 1998 when a City Community Services office closed. It is owned by the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC), and is currently for sale for $400,000. The building has deteriorated significantly, and conversion to office space has been estimated at $10-$15 million.
I have wanted to photograph this place for years. I hope it is one of the sites for the next festival!
Beautiful!
This is a building that absolutely, positively must be saved. And I’m not saying that as the ultimate Germantown and Philadelphia homer that I am. I say that as a fan of architecture and what this building means to the surrounding neighborhood.
While I don’t have delusions about this building causing the renaissance of my neighborhood, I do think that it is a severe deterrent as it is a constant reminder of what Germantown has become. By finding new uses for it and finding funds to renovate it, I think there would definitely be some dividends paid.
This is a great building, one I pass every day bringing my daughter to school. I know there have been efforts to try to do something to save it, but the cost of renovation, and a practical reuse for the building, seem elusive. Bringing attention to it as part of the next festival could bring some new ideas and money. I just hope the place lasts long enough.
Could you locate the address of Paul M Adamson
1891 -1947 in Germantown
Pa.
Does anyone know when was the last time the clock worked. Remember a storm sometime early 1960’s.
The clock has a ton of history – built by Lukens and was originally installed at Independence Hall.
If we’re looking for schools to rename, might J. Hampton Moore be a candidate?
If Chester A. Arthur is renamed Marian Anderson, then other candidate, Nellie Rathbone Bright, principal of Joseph E. Hill School (1935-45)a block away on West Rittenhouse Street. Actually, new buildings for both would be even better.