Hall within the boundaries of Hamilton.

A generous bequest from the estate of Catherine Browne Tucker, provided funds for that purpose as a memorial to her father, George Somers Tucker, a former Speaker of the House of Assembly and a Corporation Alderman, to immortalise his great contributions to the City and the Island as a whole.

At that time, the Town Hall, with fire station beneath, was one of only two of the old buildings still serving its original purpose and Miss Tucker's bequest sought to create a building befitting Hamilton's new City status.

Change of such magnitude however, brought debate. And because Miss Tucker had neglected to specify a location for the proposed document other than "some suitable site'', it was not until years later that the building actually came into fruition.

According to historian Colin Benbow, in his book, Hamilton, Bermuda: City and Capital , common opinion at the time seemed to split the desired location between Albuoy's Point and Par-la-Ville. Family members however, believed that she had envisaged a building of dignified character on the existing City Hall site.

Objections to the site arose, not only because of the sometimes unpleasant sewage pumping station directly across the street, but because the property would have to be enlarged and Court Street diverted.

According to Mr. Benbow: "Mr. Henry `Jack' Tucker declared that using the old Hamilton Hotel would eliminate a white elephant and avoid the need of buying more land. This opinion was shared by all members of the Chamber of Commerce at a meeting presided over by Edmund Gibbons, save one...Lt. A.E. Gibbons, the only dissenter, felt strongly that the site of the present City Hall was the only suitable place for any new structure.'' The situation dragged on and in August, 1939, the Mayor of Hamilton, Sydney P.

Eve, decided to call a general meeting of freeholders to settle the matter once and for all. The decision they reached, was to put the new building back at Front Street East.

The Corporation did not go along with the sentiments expressed and, with the Hamilton Hotel now turned back to the Corporation at the expiration of its lease, it seemed, to the members, a logical place for the proposed building.

According to Mayor Eve: "The erection of City Hall on the old site would entail the removal and erection elsewhere of all the buildings now on that sire, the probable purchase of land and the diversion of the southern end of Court Street, at a total estimated cost of from 12,000 to 15,000, which amount will have to be paid from Corporation funds. By using part of the Hamilton Hotel site, none of these expenses will be incurred. The issue is thus clearly defined.'' Subsequently, the Corporation called for an enlarged plan of the hotel property, inviting local architects to submit designs that were to include an auditorium capable of seating 400, and a stage for theatrical productions.

In February of 1940, N.W. and J.F. Hutchings & Company were declared winners of the competition, and tenders for construction were requested.

In 1942 however, Common Councillor James E. Pearman informed freeholders: "You will remember that last year about this time, we had completed plans for the erection of the City Hall and we thought, at that time, it would be wise to proceed immediately with the project. Then, of course, the situation was very different to that which developed after the beginning of 1941...Early last year, that entirely changed and the Corporation felt they were not justified in erecting a building which, during the war, we felt could be done without.'' After the war, with raw materials in short supply and steel beams practically unobtainable, the decision was made to put off building the new structure for a few years.

In 1952, as the Corporation extended its Hamilton boundaries, the decision was made to move the Corporation's offices from above Ingham & Wilkinson's lumberyard to the building that served as the Ferry Terminal and Visitors' Service Bureau.

It was in September of 1957, that the Corporation unveiled a scale model of what architect Wilfred Onions and his associates had in mind.

According to Mr. Benbow's book: "The elaborate building, capable of accommodating concerts, art shows and conventions -- as well as administrative offices -- was to be erected on the eastern end of the old Hamilton Hotel site...'' Construction was to be completed by C.W. Post and Company in time for Somers' Day, 1959.

Unfortunately, in the face of mass public criticism of his work -- that it was plain, not Bermudian enough, too big, too high or too small, Mr. Onions committed suicide before his work was unveiled. Ironically, nothing but praise was heard at the time of its completion.

The new City Hall was officially opened by His Excellency, the Governor, Major General Sir Julian Gascoigne on February 11, 1960.

"The gleaming, Colonial-style building had developed from a design by resident artist William Harrington that the Corporation liked, and had occupied the collective talents of Onions & Bouchard for the past three years.

With a frontage of 60 yards and a weather vane rising more than 140 feet above Church Street, the actual construction of the building had taken two years.

Occurring as it did, in the midst of a building boom, the contractor had been forced to import labour and, faced with heavy losses, went out of business shortly thereafter.'' The new theatre was christened that following May when American actors were brought into perform plays. At the other end of the large foyer lies the Administrative offices and the Mayor's parlour. The upper landing's western end is home to the Bermuda Society of Arts, which concentrates on the promotion of local painters, sculptors and photographers. At the other end, over the Administrative offices, was the East Exhibition Room, rented out for displays, political meetings, trade shows and other group presentations.

The first portrait of the Queen to hang in City Hall was donated by its painter, Bill Harrington, who also designed the large coat-of-arms of the City of Hamilton that was crafted in England and which is mounted on the western facade, while various families of former mayors donated additional articles.

After 25 years of delay and discussion, Hamilton's City Hall was complete at a cost of 290,000.

Today, some 37 years later, the City Hall has developed even further.

It was former Governor, Sir Edwin Leather, who thought it appropriate to give the general populace an opportunity to see great artists in a local venue.

To achieve that end, he called together various community members with artistic interests and persuaded them that the idea was a plausible one.

Through generous corporate sponsorships, local patronage and a host of volunteers, the first Bermuda festival was held in January and February of 1976. The event marked its 22nd season this year.

It was in 1982 that the Bermuda Fine Arts Trust was formed by artist Desmond Fountain, Lt. Col. Michael Darling, the Hon. Hereward Watlington -- the son of a former Mayor -- and Dr. Charles Zuill.

"Their dream was to create a gallery in which important works of art could be viewed by the public in a welcoming, secure and controlled environment...Six years later, the Corporation offered the East Exhibition Room as a possible location and this suggestion brought the cost of such an undertaking within the realm of possibility.'' In 1989, Mr. Watlington died. His will bequeathed his collection of European art to the people of Bermuda, but only if a gallery of international standards was created to house it. If not, the paintings were to be donated to the Metropolitan Museum in New York.

Chairman of the Fine Arts Trust, Jay Bluck successfully campaigned for construction funds.

The project caught the interest of Canadian financier, Christopher Ondaatje whose funding enabled another display room. The Bermuda National Gallery opened March 15, 1992, and the Ondaatje Wing a month later.

The present-day site of the new City Hall under construction 1958-1960 -- Corporation of Hamilton GOVERNMENT GVT 100 YEARS ANNIVERSARY ANN