Building Has Long History
Bradford Era: February 21, 2007
Old City Hall was built in 1897 (after fire) by the Hanley Brick Co. for $26,145 and was used to house city government until 1961. In 1961, citing a need for more space and modern facilities, Bradford City Counil voted to move city hall to Main Street. In 1975, plans were made for its demolition, and the Greater Bradford Preservation Committee had it placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1980, it was sold to Richard Bly of Kane, who had intended to turn it into private apartments, which never came to fruition. In 1993, Jim Bracco of Alexandria, Va,., purchased the building from Colligan Real Estate and Fist Federal Savings and Loan Association of Kane, which held the lien on the building. Bracco said at the time he would like to see it turned into a youth center. In 1996, Bracco began tearing out old plaster and clearing the debris. However, in July of 1996, 21st Century Appraisals conducted the countywide reassessment and placed a $275,720 value on the building. Bracco lost interest in working on the building. At that time, Bracco said if he could get 10 percent of that value, he'd sell the building. In 1997, Mayor Connie Cavallaro led the city in buying Old City Hall back from Bracco for about $26,000 - which was nearly the same as the cost of constructing the building in 1897. After that, the process was set in motion to renovate the building, leading up to Tuesday's dedication of the $6 million project. Some major points in the renovations were the awarding of contracts to various contractors for the word. Officials with the Office of Economic and Community Development pointed out that loal subcontractors were used whenever possible. In March 2003, Amark Environmental of Erie removed asbestos from the building. In 2003, Mistick Construction of Pittsburgh was awarded a bid for roof work. The contractors went on to install windows and repair the decorative comices, along with other repairs, and performed general contracting on the interior of the building as well. In July 2004, Schneider Resorations Inc. of Newton was awarded a contract for masonry work and exterior brick work. The bricks on the building are original Hanley Bricks from the former Lewis Run plant. In 2006, council approved contracts for the following work: general construction, electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, and fire alarms and sprinklers.

City Hall Building Time Line (1896-1935)
Larry Richmond, Bradford Landmark Society Researcher
Submitted by Molly Lindahl, Bradford Landmark Society Volunteer

12/29/1896: City Council authorizes city to dispose of $800 worth of city bonds to purchase property for new city hall. (The Bradford Era)
3/23/1897: Council accepts Enoch Crtis of Fredonia as architect of the new city hall building. (The Bradford Era)
9/13/1898: The contract for rubber mats and brass for the stairways is awarded to T.B. Brown. (The Bradfford Era)
9/27/1898: The last of the new furniturefor the new City Hall has arrived. (The Bradford Era)
10/6/1898: The floors of the Mayor's office in the new city hall building are being covered with Brussels carpet. (The Bradford Era)
10/8/1898: The groundssurrounding the new city hall building are being sodded by Gottleib Stein, an experienced gardener. (The Bradford Era)
12/6/1898: The Mayor of Bradford issues resolution to have a public inspection of the new City Hall on January 5, 1899. (The Bradford Era)
12/6/1898: Storm doors are installed on the new City Hall building. (The Bradford Era)
11/8/1901: City hall building badly damaged by fire occuring in neighboring livery stable; building declared a total loss; called the worst fire in Bradford's history; large city block burned to the ground. (The Bradford Era)

FOLLOWING THE DESTRUCTION OF THE CITY HALL BUILDING, ALL CITY OFFICES WERE MOVED ACROSS THE STREET INTO THE AUREHAIM BUILDING UNTIL REPAIRS COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED. THE RESTORATION PROCES TOOK JUST OVER A YEAR.

4/15/1902: City Council decides to use tile in roofing of city building, cost of $150.00.
9/2/1902: Police station lockup in city building nearing completion; wil move into restored section soon. (The Bradford Era)
12/16/1902: Bradford City Council meets in the restored city buildig for the first time since the fire. (The Bradford Era)
11/22/1935: Miss Edith Newell gives city hall clock in honor of her father, Frank Newell, former resident, telephone venturer, and first postmaster of Bradford. (The Bradford Era)

IN 1961, CITING A NEED FOR MORE SPACE AND MODERN FACILITIES, THE CITY OFFICES ARE MOVED TO 130 MAIN STREET.

City Hall to Have Clock and Bell
Bradford Era: November 5, 1938
Submitted by Molly Lindahl, Bradford Landmark Society Volunteer
A city clock will grace the belfry of city hall tower soon, for the first time since reconstruction of the municipal buildings in 1901. A large four-dial clock, accompanied by a huge bronze bell hat will strike at intervals of time, is being installed in the tower. It is the gift of Miss Edith Newell, in memory of her father, Frank A. Newell, pioneer resident. The clock and bell arrived here over the weekend and official announcement of the gift to the city has been withheld, pending installation and arrangement of a dedication ceremony. The inscription on the bell reads, "This Bell Is the Gift of Miss Edith Newell to the Citizens of Bradford, Pennsylvania, in Memory of Her Father, Frank A. Newell, First Postmaster and Watchmaker of Bradford." The bell was cast by the Meneely Bell company of roy, NY. It is made of a type of bronze known to some as "bell metal," the alloy of tin and copper containing a greater amount of tin than is used in structural alloys.