Gilroy's Old City Hall (P22)

Originally built in 1905 the Gilroy City Hall is architecturally unique. It has been described as "marvelously baroque" or "Flemish baroque". Today, it is Old City Hall.



The 1906 earthquake damaged the new building but it was quickly repaired and reopened. Originally, it housed various city functions, a judge and his court, the police department and the volunteer fire associations. The local volunteer fire groups used the first floor but quickly out grew the space and moved to the "new" firehouse on Fifth Street in 1916. In 1958, the city functions relocated. The police department moved out in 1965.

The clock, a gift of local philanthropist Mrs. Caroline Hoxett, was dedicated in 1913. The clock itself is a Seth Thomas Tower Clock with four dials. The bell was added later. The clock was restored in the 1980's and is currently operating.

Between 1965 and 1983, the building had minimal use. In 1983 after a major restoration, it opened as a restaurant. The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake severely damaged the structure. Major grants and City support lead to its next restoration. Gavilan Community College took over for a few years until 2003 when the current owners Glen Gurries and Daniel Barduzzi reopened it. The building now hosts two restaurants, The Courtyard Grill and the Clocktower, fine dinning. It will soon be home to the Central Coast Restaurant Academy, a restaurant and culinary school. A bakery and wine center are also in the plans.

The Gilroy Old City Hall is on the National Register of Historical Places as "one of the only public buildings remaining as an example of Victorian architecture in Central California".

CLUES:

Park (or walk) behind the Old City Hall Building. On the North end of the lot are some trees and the enclosure for the dumpster. The West side of this enclosure has a low planter (empty at the time of the box planting). The box is under the North corner of this planter.

Thanks for playing!

Tags: clue, Gilroy, Old City Hall