Which Town Hall?

Over the years, people gathered in four different locations in Watertown for elections and meetings related to town business. These buildings provided office space for local officials and town employees as well as serving as the “hub” of village life.

First Town Hall (1780-1864)

Drawing found in our Archives of the Congregational Church which served as Watertown’s First Town Hall

Before 1864, Watertown used the chapel of the Congregational Church as its Town Hall. At that time, the church was located on the site of the 3^rd Town Hall and the PO/Health Complex buildings on Route 6.

This drawing, sketched from a viewpoint near the Masonic Hall, also appears as a woodcut in the History of Watertown, published in 1868, and Watertown, Then and Now, published in 1976.

Second Town Hall (1864-1894)

Amos Gridley Store (also known as Farmers Trading Co.) enlarged from an old map

In 1864, a town committee purchased the brick building known as Amos Gridley’s store to be “fitted up” as a Town Hall and served for town meetings until 1894.

Built in 1846, the building has served many purposes over the years:

1850s: The Farmers Trading Post
1853: Watertown’s first Post Office
1864-1895: Town Hall
1896-1951: Fire Department
1953-Present: Fire District

And the 2^nd floor was also used as:

1855-1872: Watertown Masonic Hall on 2nd floor
1897-?: Kindergarten on 2nd floor
1903-1913: Barber Shop
1968-2019: Historical Society Museum

During World War II, this building also housed the local alert headquarters.

Enlarged from a Panoramic Postcard circa 1900, the Amos Gridley Store/Fire District Building

Third Town Hall (1894-2020)

Third Town Hall, painted by local artist, Robert Giordan

Built in 1894, this classic structure is nothing short of a historic treasure. Throughout the first half of its life in particular, it was the very center of Watertown life for many generations.

Hundreds of town meetings held here resulted in decisions that affected everyday life in our community. Court hearings were held here, marriage licenses were issued, and this is where everyone gathered to celebrate the end of WWI.

The auditorium on the second floor was used for performances of every imaginable type:

Traveling acts
Early silent movies
Plays, concerts, demonstrations and lectures
Used by Taft School for performances including President Taft’s sons Robert and Charlie
Watertown High School held graduations, basketball games, and other events

Now that the town has moved on to a new Town Hall, the fate of this landmark is unclear. Its history remains our common legacy.

Fourth Town Hall (2020 – )

The old Watertown High School was built in 1929. In 1963, after the new high school opened on French Street, the old high school became Heminway Park School, home to 5th and 6th graders.

Today, the building has been transformed into the Fourth Watertown Town Hall.

Elections

1886 Ballot Box found in “old” Town Hall

The labels on this hinged ballot box, found in a closet at the old Town Hall, show that it was used at the Second Town Hall:

Justices of Peace

Oct. 4, 1886

Watertown

F.B. Hand

Fred B. Hand was a Cattle Dealer in Watertown living with his wife, Clara, and their daughter, Ella, according to the 1880 U.S. Census. The Census taker did not include street addresses that year, but the family was living near William Hotchkiss. We know the Hotchkiss home was on Skilton Avenue, so we believe Fred also lived in that area of Watertown known as Garnsey Town.

This hinged ballot box, also found in a closet at the old Town Hall, was most likely used in first election after women earned the right to vote in 1920.

Barely legible on one side of the box is this label:

Detail recreated from 1920 Ballot Box

Town records indicate that 252 women were sworn in as Electors on Sept. 18, 1920, less than a month after the 19^th Amendment to the Constitution was officially adopted. The first election where they cast their votes was the Watertown Town Meeting held on Oct. 4, 1920. This fall, we will be publishing the full list of women and more about the 1920 Election.

Events

Here are a few groups that used the Town Hall:

It is believed that this photo was taken in the 3rd Town Hall in the second floor auditorium.

On Riser: 1. Harry West, 2. Fred or Harry Bronson, 3. Robert Magee, 4. George Judd

Standing: 5. Mr. Perkins, 6. Gertrude Welton, 7. Rachel (Wright)* Sanderson, 8. Miss or Mrs? Douglass, 9. John Scott, 10. Dr. Gailey, 11. William Munson, 12. Mary Bronson

Seated: 13. Marie (Hard) Colcord, 14. William Beers, 15. Harry Heminway, 16. Mr. Gardiner, 17. Alice (Hard) Bassett

Seated in front: 18. Helen Atwood, 19. Helen Woodward, 20. Mary (Heminway) Klimpke, 21. Sadie Bryant

This photo of the Grecian Drill Team directed by Mrs. Wering and Mrs. Judson was taken at the 3^rd Town Hall on May 2^nd, 1903. The production was held to raise money for the Soldiers Monument dedicated on October 10, 1908.

Back Row: 1. Eula (Cook) Beers, 2. Francis (Atwood) Skilton, 3. Leah Slocum, 4. Mabel (Hickcox) Yard, 5. Fanny (Anderson) Zeid, 6. [Georgia] Eva Prophet

Middle Row: 7. Edith Byron, 8. Susan (Wellan) Copeland

Kneeling: 9. Dorothy Wheeler, 10. Grace Cook, 11. Helen Atwood, 12. Elizabeth (Atwood) Hickox

Seated in front: 13. Edna (Evans) Hosking, 14. Ethel Doolittle, 15. Ina (Atwood) Bassett, 16. Olive (Woodward) Johnson

Stay tuned for more events and history about these historic places.

Notes:

* Women’s maiden names are listed in ( ).

Over the years, people gathered in four different locations in Watertown for elections and meetings related to town business. These buildings provided office space for local officials and town employees as well as serving as the “hub” of village life.

First Town Hall (1780-1864)

Before 1864, Watertown used the chapel of the Congregational Church as its Town Hall. At that time, the church was located on the site of the 3rd Town Hall and the PO/Health Complex buildings on Route 6.

This drawing, sketched from a viewpoint near the Masonic Hall, also appears as a woodcut in the History of Watertown, published in 1868, and Watertown, Then and Now, published in 1976.

Second Town Hall (1864-1894)

In 1864, a town committee purchased the brick building known as Amos Gridley’s store to be “fitted up” as a Town Hall and served for town meetings until 1894.

Built in 1846, the building has served many purposes over the years:

And the 2nd floor was also used as:

During World War II, this building also housed the local alert headquarters.

Third Town Hall (1894-2020)

Built in 1894, this classic structure is nothing short of a historic treasure. Throughout the first half of its life in particular, it was the very center of Watertown life for many generations.

Hundreds of town meetings held here resulted in decisions that affected everyday life in our community. Court hearings were held here, marriage licenses were issued, and this is where everyone gathered to celebrate the end of WWI.

The auditorium on the second floor was used for performances of every imaginable type:

Now that the town has moved on to a new Town Hall, the fate of this landmark is unclear. Its history remains our common legacy.

Fourth Town Hall (2020 – )

The old Watertown High School was built in 1929. In 1963, after the new high school opened on French Street, the old high school became Heminway Park School, home to 5th and 6th graders.

Today, the building has been transformed into the Fourth Watertown Town Hall.

Elections

The labels on this hinged ballot box, found in a closet at the old Town Hall, show that it was used at the Second Town Hall:

This hinged ballot box, also found in a closet at the old Town Hall, was most likely used in first election after women earned the right to vote in 1920.

Barely legible on one side of the box is this label:

Events

Here are a few groups that used the Town Hall:

It is believed that this photo was taken in the 3rd Town Hall in the second floor auditorium.

On Riser: 1. Harry West, 2. Fred or Harry Bronson, 3. Robert Magee, 4. George Judd

Standing: 5. Mr. Perkins, 6. Gertrude Welton, 7. Rachel (Wright)* Sanderson, 8. Miss or Mrs? Douglass, 9. John Scott, 10. Dr. Gailey, 11. William Munson, 12. Mary Bronson

Seated: 13. Marie (Hard) Colcord, 14. William Beers, 15. Harry Heminway, 16. Mr. Gardiner, 17. Alice (Hard) Bassett

Seated in front: 18. Helen Atwood, 19. Helen Woodward, 20. Mary (Heminway) Klimpke, 21. Sadie Bryant

This photo of the Grecian Drill Team directed by Mrs. Wering and Mrs. Judson was taken at the 3rd Town Hall on May 2nd, 1903. The production was held to raise money for the Soldiers Monument dedicated on October 10, 1908.

Back Row: 1. Eula (Cook) Beers, 2. Francis (Atwood) Skilton, 3. Leah Slocum, 4. Mabel (Hickcox) Yard, 5. Fanny (Anderson) Zeid, 6. [Georgia] Eva Prophet

Middle Row: 7. Edith Byron, 8. Susan (Wellan) Copeland

Kneeling: 9. Dorothy Wheeler, 10. Grace Cook, 11. Helen Atwood, 12. Elizabeth (Atwood) Hickox

Seated in front: 13. Edna (Evans) Hosking, 14. Ethel Doolittle, 15. Ina (Atwood) Bassett, 16. Olive (Woodward) Johnson

Stay tuned for more events and history about these historic places.

Before 1864, Watertown used the chapel of the Congregational Church as its Town Hall. At that time, the church was located on the site of the 3^rd Town Hall and the PO/Health Complex buildings on Route 6.

And the 2^nd floor was also used as:

This photo of the Grecian Drill Team directed by Mrs. Wering and Mrs. Judson was taken at the 3^rd Town Hall on May 2^nd, 1903. The production was held to raise money for the Soldiers Monument dedicated on October 10, 1908.