Jackson City Hall Explained

Municipal Building
Designated Other1 Name:Mississippi Landmark
Designated Other1 Link:Mississippi Landmark
Designated Other1 Abbr:USMS
Designated Other1 Color:
  1. B3A1D7
Designated Other1 Number:049-JAC-0447.1-NR-ML
Designated Other1 Date:March 5, 1986[1]
Designated Other1 Num Position:bottom
Location:203 South President Street, Jackson, Mississippi
Coordinates:32.2978°N -90.1822°W
Built:1853-54[2]
Restored:1963-64
Architect:William Gibbons; Joseph Willis
Architecture:Greek Revival
Added:November 25, 1969
Refnum:69000084

Jackson City Hall, located in Jackson, Mississippi, is the seat of municipal government.

History

Originally constructed in 1846–47 at a cost of $8,000, the building was either enlarged or rebuilt in 1853-54 because of structural problems.

During the American Civil War, the building was used as a hospital and was left standing by Federal troops despite heavy damage inflicted on other buildings throughout Jackson.[3] Speculation was that General Sherman, a Freemason, spared the building because it housed a Masonic Lodge, though a more likely reason is that it housed an army hospital.[4]

The building underwent extensive renovation in 1963–64, which was undertaken by architect Frank P. Gates.[5]

In 1968, a statue of Andrew Jackson, made by Katherine Speed Ettl, wife of former Jackson mayor Leland Speed, was installed in front of the building. As of July 2020, the statue is slated for removal.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mississippi Landmarks . 2013-07-29.
  2. http://www.apps.mdah.ms.gov/Public/prop.aspx?id=11810&view=facts&y=738 Jackson City Hall Fact Sheet
  3. http://www.apps.mdah.ms.gov/nom/prop/11810.pdf National Register of Historic Places Inventory—Nomination Form (City Hall, Jackson, Mississippi)
  4. http://www.visitjackson.com/About-Jackson/Jackson-History Jackson History
  5. News: Frank Gates Dies Here; Rites Today. November 7, 2017. The Clarion Ledger. January 3, 1975. Jackson, Mississippi. 7. Newspapers.com. registration .
  6. Web site: Vicory. Justin. Jackson City Council votes to remove Andrew Jackson statue. 2020-07-10. The Clarion-Ledger. en-US.