100 W. ROSEMARY ST. / CHAPEL HILL TOWN HALL (FORMER)

100 W. ROSEMARY ST. / CHAPEL HILL TOWN HALL (FORMER)

100
,
Chapel Hill
NC
Cross street: 
Built in
1938
/ Modified in
1963
Architectural style: 
Construction type: 
Local Historic District: 
National Register: 
Type: 

Built 1938-1939 for use as the town hall and etc., has been leased by the IFC for decades.

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Last updated

  • Thu, 11/26/2020 - 9:05am by SteveR

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100
,
Chapel Hill
NC
Cross street: 
Built in
1938
/ Modified in
1963
Architectural style: 
Construction type: 
Local Historic District: 
National Register: 
Type: 

 

View north east, November 1981 (photo by Al Steele, via The Daily Tar Heel)

 

Built 1938-1939 for use as the town hall, police department, jail (which was segregated, BTW), courthouse, fire department, and etc. (Carrboro also utilized this jail until January 1955). The Works Progress Administration (WPA) fronted most of the money via a $17,550 grant, with the Town financing the balance via local referendum. Thomas C. Atwood (of the architectural firm Atwood & Weeks) was the architect, J. A. Page was the supervising engineer. 

This was also the site of the previous town hall, which was "auctioned off and removed" prior to the construction of the present building. The building is depicted as a store on the June 1925 Sanborn map of Chapel Hill but as the town hall on a 1934 map of Chapel Hill. It is not shown on the December 1915 Sanborn map of Chapel Hill.

June 1925 Sanborn map of Chapel Hill excerpt

1934 Chapel Hill map excerpt

 

The Chapel Hill Fire Department moved out of the building in late 1959. The building (mainly the interior) was remodelled by the Town in 1963. Most of the other town offices (including the police department) moved out in 1971 when the new municipal building was constructed on North Columbia Street.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. The building and property is still owned by the Town, but is currently occupied by the Inter-Faith Council for Social Services (IFC) Community Kitchen. The Town will likely be converting the building into a visitor’s center and museum within a few years.

From the blueprints (via CHHS)

From the blueprints (via CHHS)

From the blueprints (via CHHS)

View west, August 4, 1952 (photo by Roland Giduz)

View south, September 17, 1953 (photo by Roland Giduz)

View north west, 1989 (photo by Mary L. Reeb)

View north west, August 2019 (via Google Streetview)

 

For more information:

 

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