Old Town Hall (Woodstock)
| Woodstock Town Hall, National Historic Site of Canada | |
|---|---|
 Lieu patrimonial du Canada |
|
| Recognized since | 1999 |
| Type | National Historic Site |
| ID | 8207 |
| place | Woodstock, Ontario |
| Coordinates | 43 ° 4 '28.2 " N , 80 ° 27' 9.4" W |
| Recognized by | Government of Canada |
| Approved by | Historic Sites and Monuments Act |
| Entry Canadian List of Monuments | |
Woodstock Town Hall is a former Town Hall building from the mid-19th century in Woodstock in the Canadian province of Ontario . The Woodstock Museum, which is also a National Monument of Canada (Historic Place Canada), is located in its rooms.
Its current address is 466, Dundas Street, Woodstock, Ontario, N4S, Canada and is located on the southeast corner of Dundas and Finkle Streets in Woodstock City.
The two-story house was built by the architect Antoine Grobl in the classicism style and was named a cultural monument of the city of Woodstock on January 5, 1999.
The building is located in the old town center of Woodstock and has a historic garden in front of the entrance with a dividing path. In the middle of the path a fountain has been built, this was an open area when the building and the surrounding area were built. This enabled the Woodstock Town Hall to present itself to the public better and at the same time served its second purpose as a marketplace. Both functions were very useful for economic development and the settlement of new buildings in the city center.
Woodstock Town Hall is very closely related to the social and political life of its residents. It was built two years after the city was founded in 1853. At the beginning it was the town hall and market square at the same time. The market was located on the first floor and social activities were carried out on the second floor (Upper Hall) in addition to local politics and council meetings. There were concerts, dances, performances and other events. At these events there were visits from Sir John A. MacDonald , Oscar Wilde and Sir Wilfred Laurier .
In 1890, the well-known Birchall murder trial attracted worldwide attention. As the duties of the Woodstock Ward changed, so did the use of Woodstock Town Hall. It was used as a police station, prison and fire station.
From 1871 to 1968 the first floor was converted into rooms for the council and local politics, in which many original pieces are still present today. From 1968 the purpose of the rooms was moved to other buildings. The holes of nails that are still visible today in the entrance door, with which public news nailed the door, come from the time of political use.
The Woodstock Museum has been operating in the building since 1947, which is closely linked to the historical roots of the British monarchy. The Royal Coat of Arms can be seen above the entrance to the museum .
Architecturally, the Woodstock Town Hall is an adaptation of the British town halls. A large, two-story, multifunctional building in the neoclassical style of the mid-19th century. The town hall is in the form of a temple with an ornamental gable with a skylight and a glass dome. The plan for the construction was designed by the winner of the tender, Antoine Grobl, and built by David White , William P. Dixon and William McKay under the supervision of Francis Schofield . The interior of the building looked more like town halls in Ontario.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ http://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=8207&pid=0
- ↑ Heritage Designation by the City of Woodstock under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act (By-law No. 5254-76).