3. The ATLANTA CITY HALL

(open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except Sat. afternoon and Sun. Observation tower open 9 to 11 a.m. and 2 to 3 p.m.), SW. corner Mitchell and Washington Sts., stands out boldly on Atlanta's skyline, a commanding edifice that towers above a broad expanse of smooth green lawn. Erected in 1929 at a cost of more than $1,000,000, the 14-story building follows the modern "business Gothic" design embodying the setback architectural principle with the shaft tapering upward from a broad base to the small observatory. Marble, granite, brick, and terra cotta, all of which are Georgia products, have been used in the exterior construction; and when the sunlight is bright, the terra cotta imparts a pale amber hue to the entire mass. The lobby, with its ceiling of elaborately carved and gilded wood, is finished in travertine and marble in varicolored effect. In the rear are four bronze elevators. Inscribed on each elevator door is the seal of the borough of Atlanta, a phoenix representing the city's valiant rise from the ashes, and the inscription "Resurgens, 1847-1864, Atlanta, Ga. G. Lloyd Preacher & Company, Inc., were the architects.

Atlanta's first city council meeting on February 2, 1848, took place in a store, since no official quarters had been selected. Further meetings were held in commercial buildings rented or borrowed for the occasion until 1854, when Atlanta's first city hall was constructed. The site chosen was the block now occupied by the State capitol. The first city hall, which also provided space for county offices, was a brick building of two stories, fronted by Doric columns and topped by a cupola and weather vane. Citizens in homemade fancy dress costumes came to the ball that was given to commemorate the opening.

In 1879 Atlanta presented the State with this lot as a capitol site. Considerable time elapsed before plans for the capitol were completed, but in October, 1884, the municipal government made way and moved its quarters to the Chamber of Commerce Building at the northeast corner of Pryor and Hunter Streets. The first floor of this four-story brick structure was occupied by the city officials as tenants until 1901, when the entire building was acquired by paying $7,500 to the Chamber of Commerce for its equity and assuming a $30,000 mortgage.

This structure continued to serve as the city hall until 191o, when Atlanta bought a four-story brick building, formerly used as a post office, at the northwest corner of Marietta and Forsyth Streets. Mayor Robert Maddox, wealthy and public-spirited, financed this purchase by giving in full payment his personal check for $70,000, which was repaid him within the following two years. Here the departments of the city government were housed until 1929, when the present building was erected.

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