Town Hall Cornerstone Opening

Town Hall Historical Time Line

Mayor & Council members involved from 1933 to 1935

Mayor B.J. Hillidge

Councilmen E.T. Whitworth, J.H. Shiner, H.H. Marlowe, George Buck, Dr. L.F. Hansbrough, & E.H. Stokes

November 1933

The Royal Avenue Property acquired from A.G. Weaver & I.H. Trout for $6,500.00., The town treasurer borrowed $1500.00 from the Fireman’s Club of the Relief Fire Department of the town of Front Royal for the down payment.

December 1933

Council requests $35,000 from National Recovery Act to be loaned for construction of “Municipal Building”. The building also would serve as the new home for the Relief Fire Department of the town of Front Royal

October 1934

During council discussions in October of 1934 the building was first referred to as “Town Hall” by the Council Members.

November 1934

Approval of $35,000 grant and loan from National Recovery Act

January 1935

After 18 months of conferences, the Executive Committee of the Relief Fire Department met with the Council and went over the plans for the Fire Department section of the new Municipal Building. . The following Resolution was adopted by the Council and submitted to the general membership of the Fire Department for consideration at their next meeting: “Be it resolved by the Town Council of the Town of Front Royal that the Council appreciates the excellent work of the Relief Fire Department in the past and has determined to provide more modern and commodious quarters for the Department as a part of the Town’s new Municipal Building.

March 1935

Construction bids were received for the new building.

April 1935

A Bond issuance awarded to Citizens National Bank of Front Royal for the construction cost of the building.

May 1935

Construction of “Municipal Building” awarded to Peters Construction Company of Norfolk VA for $33,627.45. At the same time The Peters Construction Company was awarded the Courthouse Project by the Board of supervisors which resulted in a deduction of about $1200.00 for both bodies.

June 1935

Arrangement made for the laying of “Municipal Building” cornerstone. At that time the Mayor appointed the entire council and Town Manager as the committee for the ceremony. The committee was also charged with preparing the necessary contents for the copper box which is enclosed in the cornerstone.

August 17, 1935

The Cornerstone was set by the local Masonic Lodge, in order to avoid a large crowd it was a private ceremony. It should be noted that the minutes from the masonic Lodge Records indicate that the Cornerstone for the Courthouse was also set the same day.

February 1936

Town staff occupies “Municipal Building”
The first Council Meeting was held on February 10th the building served the citizens of Front Royal for 77 years.

January 2013

The town offices and Council Chambers were relocated to the new Town Administrative Building on Main Street

List of Papers Inclosed In Corner Stone

Town Hall

August 17, 1935

1. Papers of Daughters of The Confederacy.
2. Officers and members of the Shenandoah Rebekah Lodge No. 83.
3. Papers of Loving Service Circle of King’s Daughters.
4. Annual Report of Warren County Health Association.
5. Papers of Phi Alpha Sigma.
6. History of Warren County and founding of Front Royal.
7. Front Royal Chapter # 6 Order of the Eastern Star.
8. Records of Front Royal Lodge No.374 I.O.O.F.
9. Front Royal Methodist Episcopal Church, South, official administrative organization. Roll of members, picture of church as of August 15, 1935.
10. Papers of Warren County Garden Club.
11. Officers and committees of the Warren County Education Asso.
12. The What-So-Ever Circle of the King’s Daughters.
13. Peters Construction Company, contractors. Members.
14. Papers of Relief Fire Department of Front Royal, Va.
15. Papers of Riverton Lime and Stone Company of Riverton, Va.
16. Bulletin published by Chamber of Commerce, entitled, “Front Royal, Va., Northern Gateway to the Shenandoah National Park.”
17. Paper of Front Royal Council No. 39 of the Order of Fraternal Americans.
18. Officers and Committees of Front Royal Rotary Club 1935-1936.
19. Catalogue and bulletin of Randolph Macon Academy.
20. Membership of Young people’s Department of Methodist Church.
21. Membership of Unity Lodge No. 146. A.F. & A.M.
22. Map showing the Town of Front Royal, A.D. 1810.
23. Pictures of Town Council August 1935, August 1933, Front Royal Planning Commission 1935, Site of Municipal Building.
24. Set-up of Public Works Administration of the United States.
25. First, second, third and fourth Annual Reports of the Town Manager.
26. Roster of Giles B. Cook rost No. 53, The American Legion.
27. School Administration of Warren County.
28. Map of Town 1935.
29. Roster of Lion’s Club.
30. A copy of the Warren Sentinel of August 15, 1935.
31. A copy of the Northern Virginia Daily of August 17, 1935.
32. Roster of Warren County Veterans C.S.A.
33. Roll of officers and members Sons of Confederate Veterans.
34. A Brief History of The National Park.
35. Roster of Hiram Royal Arch Chapter, No. 45.
36. Tribute to Col. S. Rolfe Killar.
37. Front Royal’s Highways
38. Warren County’s subscribers to acres in Shenandoah Nat’nl Park.
39. List of employees of Town of Front Royal.

Cornerstone Ceremony