Brooklyn Borough Hall
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Brooklyn Borough Hall
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(2009)
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| Location | 209 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, New York 11201, USA |
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| Coordinates | 40°41′34.3″N 73°59′24.3″W / 40.692861°N 73.990083°WCoordinates: 40°41′34.3″N 73°59′24.3″W / 40.692861°N 73.990083°W |
| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1848 |
| Architect |
Calvin Pollard Gamaliel King |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP Reference # | 80002630 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | January 10, 1980 |
| Designated NYCL | April 19, 1966 |
Brooklyn Borough Hall was designed by architects Calvin Pollard and Gamaliel King in the Greek Revival style, and constructed of Tuckahoe marble under the supervision of superintendent Stephen Haynes. It was completed in 1848 to be used as the City Hall of the former City of Brooklyn. In January 1898 the independent City of Brooklyn merged with the City of New York, and Kings County became the Borough of Brooklyn, at which time the building became Brooklyn Borough Hall.
In 1834, the year Brooklyn was granted its city charter, the land for Brooklyn's city hall was donated by the Remsen and Pierrepont families, whose names are commemorated in the names of Brooklyn's Remsen and Pierrepont Streets. The following year, New York architect Calvin Pollard won the commission to design the building in a contest held by the city. The foundations were dug and the cornerstone laid for this structure in 1836. Unfortunately, financial hardship halted construction entirely.
When funds again became available in 1845 construction resumed, this time of a structure designed by Gamaliel King, who had come in second to Pollard in the city's design competition, with instructions from the city that the new building must fit inside the already laid foundation. King preserved many elements of Pollard's original design and intent, including its Greek Revival style, although the project was scaled down in size somewhat. Construction was completed in 1848.
On February 26, 1895, waste paper caught fire and destroyed the cupola and the statue of Justice that stood atop it, as well as the top floors of the building; water damage ruined the walls and ceiling of the Common Council chamber. Three years later, a new Victorian cast-iron cupola was built, designed by Vincent C. Griffith and the firm of Stoughton and Stoughton, on which was placed a flag. In 1898, the city of Brooklyn was consolidated into the five boroughs of New York City, and this building ceased being "City Hall" and became "Borough Hall". In 1902, the Common Council room was demolished to build a new courtroom, designed in the Beaux-Arts style by Brooklyn architect Axel Hedman.
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