In 1844 the site now occupied by the present City Hall was a canal basin offering space for boats to tie up - stagnant in every respect. The following year, after heated demonstration of public dissatisfaction, the site was filled and on it was constructed the "Market Hall", a building rivaling in historical importance the Leavenworth house. As first built in 1846 it consisted of a first floor public market with leased stalls. The second floor became an assembly chamber where state and even national conventions of Political parties were held where reforms and "isms" made their appeals, and where stump orators of the highest repute held forth. Here was the first Republican state convention and in 1874, Samuel J. Tilden was here nominated for governor. Here in 1882 Grover Cleveland began his political career. The Whig's state convention of 1850 - the beginning of the dissolution, abolitionist meetings and ardent speeches likewise occupied the hall. From in front of the building General Scott made an address and reviewed the military companies of the city.

Unfortunately, the market was ahead of its time for a small village and did not work. As a result, in 1857 the building was remodeled by enclosing the stalls and adding twenty feet to the front plus the bell tower and porch seen in figure one. With this change, the first public library was located in the northwest corner, followed by the police station, and the Common Council and City Clerk occupied the south east corner.

Architecturally, the building is an enlargement of the Methodist Church just passed, copying even the addition of a central tower. Close inspection easily reveals where the twenty feet were added, completely destroying the original facade of 1846. Most fortunately, the additon of maintains much of the original structures classicism and details. From an early drawing it is known that there was at one time a large triangular window in the pediment and a plain entrance doorway; these the only features obviously eliminated in the reconstruction.

As in the Methodist Church, there is here a correctly proportioned pediment and an encircling, white entablature. The added features of corner stones and slender mullioned, twelve paned windows undoubtedly made for the sole distinction of the original building - a masterpiece of simplification for such a romantic.

Figure one from the Onondaga Historical Society.