Schenectady City Hall (Schenectady, New York)
USA /
New York /
Schenectady /
Schenectady, New York
World
/ USA
/ New York
/ Schenectady
World / United States / New York
council house - local government, Georgian (architecture)
\The name "Schenectady" is derived from the Mohawk word skahnéhtati, meaning "beyond the pines". Schenectady was founded on the south side of the Mohawk River by Dutch colonists in the 17th century, many of whom were from the Albany area. In 1664 the English seized the Dutch New Netherland colony and renamed it New York. They established a monopoly on the fur trade around Albany, and issued orders to prohibit Schenectady from the trade through 1670 and later. The town grew mostly as an inland agricultural town until the Erie Canal was built in 1825, creating a navigable water route from New York City and the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes, cutting through Schenectady. The town grew and became an industrial center, attracting a very diverse population of immigrants in the 19th century and African Americans as part of the Great Migration out of the rural South to northern cities for work. The community struggled (like many) in the mid 19th century but has seen a large resurgence as of late!
The City of Schenectedy outgrew their old City Hall, and in the late 1920s, held a nationwide contest to select designs for a new City Hall. The contest was won by the prominent architectural firm McKim, Mead, and White in 1933. It appears that the designs were furnished by James Kellum Smith of the firm, the often overlooked genius of the MMW practice. The exorbitant cost of the project, which was undertaken during the Great Depression, caused the building to be dubbed "Fagal's Folly" after Mayor Henry C. Fagal, who allowed all the cost increases. He was not re-elected after this building was completed. The building is a pleasing mixture of Colonial and Classical Revival styles and features bold pilasters and a towering cupola.
The City of Schenectedy outgrew their old City Hall, and in the late 1920s, held a nationwide contest to select designs for a new City Hall. The contest was won by the prominent architectural firm McKim, Mead, and White in 1933. It appears that the designs were furnished by James Kellum Smith of the firm, the often overlooked genius of the MMW practice. The exorbitant cost of the project, which was undertaken during the Great Depression, caused the building to be dubbed "Fagal's Folly" after Mayor Henry C. Fagal, who allowed all the cost increases. He was not re-elected after this building was completed. The building is a pleasing mixture of Colonial and Classical Revival styles and features bold pilasters and a towering cupola.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates: 42°48'50"N 73°56'22"W
- Otesaga Resort Hotel 82 km
- "Sylvania" 91 km
- Holabird House 107 km
- Gov. Smith Homestead 112 km
- Hollister House & Gardens 144 km
- "Seven Springs 184 km
- "Hudson Pines" 190 km
- Saugatuck Elementary School 193 km
- Lake Forest High School 1141 km
- "Wadsworth Hall"/"Glanworth Gardens" 1188 km
- Rotterdam, New York 4.8 km
- Niskayuna, New York 6.2 km
- Glenville, New York 9 km
- Princetown, New York 10 km
- Clifton Park, New York 10 km
- Colonie, New York 13 km
- Ballston, New York 15 km
- Charlton, New York 16 km
- Albany County, New York 22 km
- Malta, New York 23 km