First Town Hall and Market House
Inscription:
On this site stood Fredericksburg’s first Town Hall / Market House built c. 1763. The building most likely had an arched lower level, brick upper floors and a cupola on the roof. During the early years, the Town Hall did not serve as a governmental building but instead was a center for social events. After the Revolution, the building slowly evolved into the “semi-official” seat of government. The lower level of the building—the Market House—now housed the Clerk of the Market and functioned in tandem with the Market Square. The upper floors became the site of annual Council elections and public meetings. The first Town Hall was torn down in 1812 to make room for another larger public building. The second Town Hall still stands today and is located at the top of the alley.
Research:
Fredericksburg’s standing Town Hall building began construction in 1814 and was completed in 1816. The building is brick and constructed federal style much like the National Bank of Fredericksburg. It is located in historic Fredericksburg, Virginia and has been home to numerous social functions in the city for two centuries (1). Throughout its time in Fredericksburg, the building has gone through several cosmetic changes and alterations to help preserve the site and its storied past.
Fredericksburg has been established since 1728 and later became a town in 1782. The town would not become a city until 1879 (2). The first Town Hall was erected in 1763 and would be the center of activity in Fredericksburg until its demolition in 1812. In its early days, Fredericksburg was a docking site and central trading post in the 18th and 19th century. The location of the Town Hall and Marketplace was nearby the docks which proved to be convenient for tradesmen and farmers (3).
As a functioning marketplace, local vendors, farmers, and skilled craftsmen sold their goods. Aside from commerce, the marketplace also experienced public gatherings and served as a major social center for the community (4). While the first Town Hall was successful for fifty years, the area would be victim to wear and tear necessitating a newer and larger building and meeting area. The second Town Hall was erected on the same location as the original and continued to house the same activities as the first Town Hall (5). The second Town Hall served commercial functions in the marketplace, administrative functions in the upper rooms, and recreational events consisting of assemblies and balls (6).
During the Civil War, the Town Hall underwent major changes from battle wear and tear and the housing of Federal troops in the Hall acting as a temporary barracks (7).
Following the war, the town expanded, the trade industry in Fredericksburg ended, and therefore there was no need for a central market area (8). In 1879, after Fredericksburg became incorporated into a city, Town Hall was converted into primarily a government office building. The year 1912, experienced the closure of the once bustling marketplace as it was converted into storage space and later renovated into office space (8).
In 1982, the city government needed more space to perform social and political functions and moved into a renovated former post office (9). The Old Town Hall was converted into the Fredericksburg Area Museum in 1993 that aimed to show off the area’s history and culture (10).
Featured Image:
Lakelyn Wiley, “Town Hall and Market House in Fredericksburg, Virginia,” 2018.
(1) Judith Hise, United States Department of the Interior National Park Service, “Fredericksburg Town Hall and Meeting Square,” National Register of Historic Places, http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/Cities/Fredericksburg/111-0057_FredericksburgTownHallAndMarketSquare_1994_Final_Nomination.pdf, 3.
(2) Ibid.
(3) Ibid.
(4) Hise, 4.
(5) Ibid.
(6) Robert Hodge, “Market House Town Hall,” Central Rappahannock Library, http://www.librarypoint.org/market_house_town_hall, (accessed April 1, 2018).
(7) Hodge, “Market House Town Hall”.
(8) Hise, 11.
(9) Ibid.
(10) “About the Fredericksburg Area Museum,” Fredericksburg Area Museum, https://famva.org/about/, (accessed March 31, 2018).
(11) Wiley, Lakelyn R., “Street View of the Second Town Hall in Fredericksburg,” Digital image, 2018.
(12) Wiley, Lakelyn R., “View from the alleyway leading to the rear of the second town hall and market square,” Digital image, 2018.
(13) Wiley, Lakelyn R., “View of the Market Square from behind the Second Town Hall,” Digital image, 2018.
(14) Wiley, Lakelyn R., “The Front of the Second Town Hall on Top of the Site of the Original Town Hall–Now the Fredericksburg Area Museum,” Digital image, 2018.