Temporary City Hall

Temporary City Hall

Temporary City Hall, 1885
(Andreas, History of Chicago) Back in Business

Designed by J.M. Van Osdel and built next to the water tank that was the home of the new Chicago Public Library, the temporary city hall was ready for occupancy on January 1, 1872. As it turned out, the city government occupied this provisional building at LaSalle and Adams until 1885, when it was finally replaced by the massive City Hall and County Building on the site of the old Courthouse. The design of the new building was chosen in 1872-73 through a competition, but a combination of political and legal squabbles, hard times, and corruption involving many different parties delayed its completion and kept the "temporary" quarters in service for thirteen years. It was demolished to make way for the Rookery Building, which is still standing. As for the "new" City Hall and County Building, it was replaced in the first decade of this century by the current building.


	Temporary City Hall, 1885 (Andreas, History of Chicago)	Back in Business
	Designed by J.M. Van Osdel and built next to the water tank that was the home of the new Chicago Public Library, the temporary city hall was ready for occupancy on January 1, 1872. As it turned out, the city government occupied this provisional building at LaSalle and Adams until 1885, when it was finally replaced by the massive City Hall and County Building on the site of the old Courthouse. The design of the new building was chosen in 1872-73 through a competition, but a combination of political and legal squabbles, hard times, and corruption involving many different parties delayed its completion and kept the "temporary" quarters in service for thirteen years. It was demolished to make way for the Rookery Building, which is still standing. As for the "new" City Hall and County Building, it was replaced in the first decade of this century by the current building.