Why, oh why, oh why are we starting the designation process for Timmins city hall, I hear you say. “It is just a square brick building.” “It has no redeeming features.” “It is a boring brown behemoth.”
Perhaps — but it is also the seat of our local government. It has some interesting architectural nods to modernity. It even has a great history and is a focal point in the community. Visitors like HRH Princess Margaret, a whole slew of Governors-General and Lieutenant Governors, celebrities like Gracie Fields and Shania Twain, plus any number of hockey players, have all paid their respects to the community at the town (or city) hall. But, like all things municipal, it was not easy getting the thing built!
After years of debate, arguing, deal-making and general blah, blah, blah, the 1934 Timmins town council finally agreed that a new town hall was needed (step one). After many more meetings and deliberations, the plans were finally approved in 1936 (step two), and work started on the demolition of the Courtemanche building (which was located on the lot now occupied by city hall) in January 1937 (step three). By the spring of 1938, the new building was finally ready (hallelujah!).
The total price tag was $115,000, which included a construction cost of about $100,000 and $15,000 for furnishings. P.J. O’Gorman, a Sudbury architect, was hired to oversee the project. Mr. O’Gorman was also responsible for the design of the 1921 St. Anthony’s Cathedral (it burnt in 1936), the Convent on Spruce Street for the Sisters of the Assumption, and Jacques Cartier Catholic School. Construction was undertaken by Hill-Clark-Francis. That firm was responsible for putting up a large portion of the buildings in town including St. Mary’s Hospital and the iconic red and green Hollinger Houses. Materials were purchased locally and almost all the labour was supplied by local men. It was thought that the building would adequately house the municipal offices for about 10 years (well, we proved them wrong there, didn’t we).
Back in 1938, the building was considered to be state-of-the-art. It was finished in red and black face brick with Indiana sandstone used for the main entrance and exterior trim. The many windows assured maximum sunshine in the offices, so much so, it was claimed that artificial light was not required during the day. The basement of the town hall housed the police department including separate offices for Chief Gagnon, Inspector Olson and court clerk Roland Godin. The sergeant’s desk incorporated the switchboard, where he would receive the calls coming in from the patrol boxes monitored by the police on their beats, he could also control all the traffic lights in town from his perch. A cell block was located across from the sergeant’s desk. The rest of the force shared a large patrol room. The remainder of the floor was occupied by the relief department, the health clinic and a boiler room. Two public washrooms with outside access were also provided. Moving up to the main floor, administration, engineering, waterworks, assessment, taxes, treasury and accounting shared the space. On the immediate left of the inner entrance was the private office of the mayor. On the right, a large council committee room with a connecting door to the office of the town clerk occupied the rest of the space. On the top floor, the combined council chamber and court room was located next to the library room. The offices of the Children’s Aid Society and Magistrate Atkinson’s office and another committee room completed the layout for the top floor.
At the time of the town hall opening, there were 201 people on the payroll: 123 labourers in public works, 20 at the police department, 17 at the fire department and the remaining 41 people were spread out in the other departments, which included engineering, administration, treasury, relief, sanitation, plumbing inspector, carpenter, tax collection, waterworks, incinerator operations, timekeeper, grader operator and tractor operator. Out of the 201 employees, 11 were women, hired as stenographers, clerks, secretaries and the police matron.
June 3, 1938, was the official ceremony date for the opening of the town hall (although the offices were in use starting in March of that year). The Honourable Paul Leduc, Minister of Mines, was on hand to bring greetings and to cut the ribbon: “I saw the old town hall and the new building is a fitting compliment to the progress and advancement of the town, which is truly the metropolis of the north.”
Mayor Bartleman gratefully accepted a gavel from town councillors while Mrs. Bartleman was presented with a pair of gold scissors. A luncheon was served to the dignitaries while, in the afternoon, thousands of residents toured the new offices. The building was decorated with flags and bunting, and, in the early evening, under floodlights shining down from the Porcupine Advance building, the community enjoyed a street dance that capped off the festivities.