Marble was an easier stone to cut and carve — this made it better for a building that had so much decorative work. Marble was also less expensive, and it was shipped in large blocks and finished at the building site, which meant that local stone workers could be employed. The marble came from quarries in Lee in western Massachusetts, considered the best source of quality marble in the country, which also supplied the marble for the wings of the U.
Steam cranes lifted the stone from the barges to the docks where it was picked up by traveling hoists on tracks forty feet above the ground, that carried it to the saw mills and from there to various finishing stations around the yard.
When a piece was completed, the traveling hoist retrieved and carried it to a lorry at the eastern edge of the yard where it was hauled on a special rail line to the building site. As they did throughout the construction, critics of the commission complained about the workmanship and quality of materials. Hearings were held in , but no faults were found and Struthers successfully sued for libel. In the meantime, City Hall was occupied in stages as sections were completed.
The staircases located in each corner of the building were unusual architectural features. In addition, the first three steps were cut from the same piece of stone, and they rested on a solid foundation brought up from the basement. This was the way most people pictured him, Calder said — and he was right. The stout Penn appeared even on the Quaker Oats advertising logo.
The artist depicted Penn as he looked when he was about 50, but actually Penn was 38 years old and a good deal trimmer when he arrived in America in The controversy continued even after the statue was placed atop the tower in November According to Calder, McArthur had agreed with him when he was making the model in the late s.
I remain certain the title is held by Philly City Hall. They were pretty loud too. Were the bells coming from City Hall? I actually went to Christmas Village on November 20, , not November 25, My mistake. In assembling the statue of Wm. Penn on top of City Hall did a man seal himself inside the statue? Have you come across the name Frank W. I remember going up the elevator in side Wm Penn statue about to the observation deck than changing to a rickedly open wire cage elevator to the brim of the hat where you could look out…..
Were we dreaming.. Thank you. Your email is never shared. The location also is within view of Memorial Hall, one […]. An interesting little bit of history for you, […]. Share This Page:. Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia. Explore Click the images to learn more. But when the building opened in , critics derided its opulent style and chastised its archaic nature for decades. He spent 20 years working on sculptures for City Hall, but the foot, ton statue of William Penn literally stands above the rest.
Nine of the statues were cast in bronze , while most were started in clay, cast in plaster, and finished in marble. There are nods to naturalism and animals , Swedish settlers, mythological creatures, Native Americans, a group of cats chasing some mice , and four eagles with foot wingspans near the top of the tower. The hand appears to be making a humble gesture of blessing and welcome.
The bronze statue has magnificent details including decorated buttons and lace cuffs. The Charter rests on a tree stump, symbolizing the first tree cut from his "Greene Country Towne. Many people come to see City Hall because of its history and architectural significance, but it is still a fully functioning municipal building. Consequently, City Hall's interior is constantly being worked with. While the hallways and many rooms have been altered with dropped ceilings and new lighting, as well as many rooms having their original walls covered with wood paneling or sheet rock, a number of the building's most important rooms have been preserved or restored.
The exterior of the building remains relatively unchanged from its original form and details. The current cleaning and restoration of the stone and cast iron should leave City Hall looking its best after more than a century of use Greenberger The Future of City Hall City Hall is a dominant structure in Philadelphia even though it must vie for attention with the new postmodern buildings that command the City's skyline.
The structure itself, however, is in need of attention if the building is to survive another years. Yet even if City Hall's deterioration is reversed, the building must perform better as an asset for the City and its citizens if its next century is to be a prosperous one. City Controllers office Cultural and historical attractions, commercial entities, and thousands of hotel rooms rind City Hall. The ongoing commitment to expand Philadelphia's attractiveness as a tourist destination and improve the quality of life for residents and workers is reshaping the City.
The potential addition of new entertainment venues, an expanded Convention Center, new museum space, and a new major department store could invigorate Center City.
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