Plaque Text for This Massachusetts Landmark:
Built in 1844 when Quincy granite was at the height of its popularity as a monumental architectural material. The residents of Quincy intended their Town Hall to be a testament to the quality of their granite industry. Solomon Willard, architect of the Bunker Hill Monument, designed the building and supervised its construction. Local artisans quarried, cut, transported the stone, and constructed the building in a period—from conception to dedication—of five and one-half months.
The building underwent extensive restoration from 2010 to 2015. Quincy Town Hall is believed to be the nation’s second oldest continuous seat of municipal government.
More about Quincy Town Hall:
Solomon Willard was known as the “Father of the Granite Industry,” as he was not only a monumental architect but also a practical engineer! He developed the contruction techniques that made Quincy granite a practical building material, leading to over 50 quarries opening up around Quincy and earning it the nickname of “The Granite City!” These quarries fed monuments and buildings as far away as San Francisco from 1825 until 1963!
This particular building had lots of purposes from inception. Offices were located in the ground level “Great Hall,” while the basement was the jail. At various times, the office space was rented out by a clothing store, a tailor, an apothecary, a saloon, and a bank! Its builder would live out the rest of his days in the town of Quincy!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Donate to the Quincy Historical Society!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
How Do I Get There?
1305 Hancock St
Quincy, MA 02169
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
The Old Town Hall is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM!