Ponce City Hall

The Ponce City Hall (Spanish: Casa Alcaldía de Ponce) is a historic structure, built in 1840s and located in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It is located in the historic downtown district of the city across from famous Plaza Las Delicias and the "Lions Fountain".

History

According to historian Eduardo Neumann Gandía, the Ponce City Hall, or House of the People, was inaugurated in 1843 on the grounds where the San Antonio de Abad Chapel was formerly located. The history of the city has been forged in this building, which has witnessed the careers of mayors and two sovereignties in Puerto Rico. Formerly, the justice of the peace and the public library were located on the first floor. Also, in the rear of the structure, there was a jail.

"The City Hall at Ponce has one of the most unusual histories of any city hall throughout the world". Originally built in the 1846 as a public assembly hall, Ponce's current City Hall was a jail until the end of the 19th century. Current galleries were former cells, and executions were held in the courtyard. Four U.S. presidents spoke from its balcony - Theodore Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover, Franklin Roosevelt and George Bush. The building shares a neoclassical isabelino style, commonly used in other buildings in the city. The Ponce City Hall is the oldest colonial style buidling still standing in Ponce.

Architectural description

The colonial style two-story building is made of reinforced concrete. The original plans were designed by Spanish architect Francisco Gil Capó. The exterior is distinguished by ornamental ironwork on the main entrance that adds a decorative element to the moderate design of the structure. Galleries lead to two interior patios with prominent arcades. The public clock that dates to 1877 is located in the building's façade. The City Hall has undergone many renovations, with the most recent taking place under the administration of Mayor Rafael Cordero Santiago. During these works, a picturesque fountain was added to the interior patio and stained glass windows by Herminia Rivera were installed in the main offices.

Current use

In the City Hall are the offices of the mayor, the municipal assembly and other members of the cabinet. Its interior galleries are used for art exhibitions. On display in City Hall are artworks that feature the Puerto Rican musical genre of la plena and popular personalities. Also in the main offices are works by Francisco Oller, Francisco de Goya, and an oil painting of Regent Queen María Cristina. The interior patios are used for cultural and official public events. The Christmas concert, held on the Saturday before Christmas Eve, and the Ponce Carnival, one of the most heavily attended in Puerto Rico, are held across from City Hall.

The administrative needs of the municipal government made it necessary to expand the city hall beyond its original historic building, and the current offices of the Ponce city hall occupies the whole block contained between Plaza Degetau, Concordia, Luna, and Marina streets. The original city hall building now sits surrounded by the other city hall buildings that the City has progressively added since the 1980s.

Other artistic values

• In the Municipal Assembly chambers are oil paintings of portraits of the city's mayors. • The bars of the old jail that was once located in the building are still there today. • The clock in the City Hall was acquired in England in 1877, the year that Queen Isabel II of Spain granted Ponce the title of city. • The oil painting of Regent Queen María Cristina was rescued and returned to the city by the United States Navy after an insurgent tried to destroy it when United States troops occupied City Hall.

Listing

The Ponce City Hall has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since November 19, 1986.