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Originally published in 1939
Some of this information may no longer be current and in that case is presented for historical interest only.
Edited by GET NJ, COPYRIGHT 2003
MUNICIPAL BUILDING, South St. between Pine and Elm Sts., is one of the most sumptuous city halls in the State, although hardly in keeping with Morristown's Colonial atmosphere. It was built in 1918 as the $400,000 home and private museum of Theodore N. Vail, former president of the American Telephone and Telegraph Co. He bequeathed it to the city with an endowment of $200,000 on condition that a duplicate amount be raised by the town. The civic response was less than hearty, some persons pointing out that the cost of maintaining the marble and granite mansion would be large. Finally an agreement was made which enabled the city to take possession without doubling the endowment although a sizable sum was spent for interior alterations. On the site of Mr. Vail's old house in front of the city hall, a lagoon and cenotaph were built as a war memorial. The mansion, designed by W. W. Bosworth, is finely executed in the Italian Renaissance style with light gray Italian marble. A wide veranda flanked by marble balustrades leads to the entrance; above is a colonnaded second-floor balcony. The entrance has two cast bronze doors with eight panels by Charles Kecht, depicting scenes in the history of Morristown. The original casting cost about $21,000, and two additional ones were made before the cast was satisfactory. Within, the double staircase of self-supporting masonry is a notable example of arch construction. Teakwood, oak and mahogany were used extensively for the floors and trim.
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