The History of The 1895
The 1895 City Hall in Feb 1940 after the WPA renovation.
The 1895 City Hall in Nov 2020 when it was purchased by Vision Rockdale.
In 1883, Rockdale began making plans for a City Hall with a bond election providing $10,000 for its construction.
In 1894, Rockdale began locating a site and commenced construction at the northeast corner of Burleson Street and Cameron Avenue in 1895. The two-story Romanesque Revival style structure designed by Austin architect Arthur O. Watson, and was constructed by R.G. Scott of San Antonio. Construction costs totaled $8,015 and the lot cost $1,850. The structure was built using bricks from the Rockdale Brick Works. In 1896, the Sanborn map shows city hall as being unfinished, but was completed on the 1901 survey.
In addition to serving as the center of city government & municipal water service, the City Hall also housed the fire department from 1896 - 1986. The 50 foot tower housed a bell which was rung to call the “fire boys” to action.
In 1906, R. W. H. Kennon merged the Rockdale Reporter & Rockdale Messenger newspapers and set up shop in the southeast office of City Hall.
In June 1911, John Esten Cooke purchased the paper & continued operations at the city hall for several decades. It is believed the Rockdale Reporter & Messenger operated at the City Hall until the 1939 renovation.
In October 1938, the City of Rockdale’s application for $20,000 in WPA funds for improvements to the City Hall received federal approval. Work began February 1939, and was completed November 1939. The project “modernized” the building, resulting the exterior brick being stuccoed, plastered interior walls, and provided new wood floors. This is also when the iconic bell tower was removed and it is unknown why the back half of the upstairs was removed.
In 1986, the police department & city offices utilized the entirety of the building, until the city offices relocated to a new City Hall at Cameron & Wilcox in 2002, and a new police station and jail were built in 2019.
In 2020, a new Vision for “The 1895” was born with a goal to restore the building to its original Victorian glory. Vision Historic Preservation Foundation purchased The 1895 from the City of Rockdale with the Mission to enrich the arts & cultivate economic development by restoring the historic 1895 City Hall for the citizens, businesses, and visitors of Rockdale.
Thank you for supporting our efforts and vision for the future of The 1895 with your generous tax deductible donation.
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