The "Lancaster, PA's Historic City Hall" Story

New addition to the building on the right.  The steeple 
of city hall is seen on the left on Duke Street.

It was an ordinary day.  Dropping off a few photographs at Strawberry & Company in downtown Lancaster which is located next to Lancaster's historic Central Market.  As I was leaving, I decided to walk a few blocks and look at the new addition that was just completed to our City Hall which is located on North Duke St.  Made my way through the alleyways and streets until I found the beautiful addition that stood to the west of the existing city hall.  

The front of City Hall on North Duke St.
The addition was added on the right of
this building in the rear.

Neat building with stone that matched the other part of the building.  had read recently in the newspaper that the roof of the new building is "green" and has plantings spread over the flat surface of the roof.  Supposed to be cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter from the layer of soil on the roof.  Pretty neat idea.  I took a few shots of the new addition then walked a few steps and photographed the older part of the building that holds Lancaster's City offices as well is home to the Mayor of Lancaster, Rick Gray, a longtime friend and member of St. James Church which is located across the street from City Hall.  The building wasn't the first City Hall that Lancaster ever had, since that was located on West King Street directly in front of Central Market.  

Photo I snapped of the current Lancaster Visitor's Center
which used to be City Hall.  Behind the center is Central Market.

Managed to snap a photo of that building on my return to the car.  The building now houses the Lancaster Visitors Center and is the front to the line of stores where Strawberry & Company is located.  I have included a photo of Lancaster's old City Hall which I found in a book titled "Lancaster County - The Red Rose of Pennsylvania" which was written by John Ward Willson Loose, a local historian.  

The old City Hall built in 1795.  To the right
of it can be seen Central Market in the distance.

The old City Hall was built in 1795, but the photo was taken sometime in the early 1900's after cameras were more common.  In 1923 M.T. Garvin, local retailer and civic leader, had the building restored at his own expense.  If you look closely you will see Central Market behind the building.  Neat to think I get to walk among all these historic buildings every time I enter the city.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.