Petersburg City Hall is a historic city hall building located at Petersburg, Virginia. It was designed by architect Ammi B. Young and built between 1856 and 1859, as the U.S. Customs House and Post Office.
Petersburg City Hall | |
U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
U.S. Historic district Contributing property | |
Virginia Landmarks Register | |
![]() Petersburg City Hall, HABS Photo, Summer 1981 | |
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Location | 135 N. Union St., Petersburg, Virginia |
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Coordinates | 37°13′47″N 77°24′19″W / 37.22972°N 77.40528°W |
Area | less than one acre |
Built | 1856 | -1859, 1908-1910
Architect | Ammi B. Young |
Architectural style | Renaissance, Italian Renaissance Revival |
NRHP reference No. | 78003185 |
VLR No. | 123-0035 |
Significant dates | |
Added to NRHP | November 16, 1978 |
Designated VLR | April 18, 1978 |
Description
The Petersburg Custom House & Post Office is located on the southeast corner of Tabb and Union streets on a plot of ground purchased April 18, 1856, for the sum of $15,000. It is a three-story, three bay by eight bay, Italian Renaissance Revival style brick building faced in granite. It measures 46 feet wide and 100 feet deep and was expanded to its present size in 1908-1910.
The building was designed by Ammi B. Young, first Supervising Architect of the United States Treasury, in the Italian Renaissance style. Construction was commenced in 1856 and completed in 1859, the cost of construction being $84,664.88. It was first occupied, however, in September, 1858, while still in an unfinished condition.
The exterior walls are constructed of Petersburgh granite. The original design of the building was for two stories only, after the original construction work was commenced, a third story was added for the accommodation of the Custom House department, and was used as sleeping apartments for the Customs officers. This building did not have a federal courtroom, all judicial matters would be conducted at the Richmond federal courthouse, just 20 miles north of the city.
The roof was made entirely of iron beams, covered with corrugated galvanized sheeting. The three southern bays of the building were added between 1908 and 1910.
The layout of the interior rooms plan has changed several times, nowadays revealing little evidence of the original arrangement. The first floor is primarily a large open public area containing municipal service areas. The second and third floors are divided into city offices. The interior columns and staircases are original.
Uses



The building was primarily used as a post office and custom house, although the initial floor plan was changed several times.
During the American Civil War the building served as the headquarters of the Confederate Army.
The Post Office moved to a new location in 1936 and the building was renovated as part of a Works Progress Administration project, becoming the Petersburg's City Hall in 1938. It still retains that use as at 2017.
Located in the Petersburg Courthouse Historic District, the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
References
- "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
- Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission Staff (March 1978). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Petersburg City Hall" (PDF). Virginia Department of Historic Resources. and Accompanying photo
External links
Media related to Petersburg City Hall at Wikimedia Commons
- Old U.S. Customs House & Post Office, 129-141 North Union Street, Petersburg, Petersburg, VA: 14 photos, 19 data pages, and 1 photo caption page at Historic American Buildings Survey
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Petersburg City Hall is a historic city hall building located at Petersburg Virginia It was designed by architect Ammi B Young and built between 1856 and 1859 as the U S Customs House and Post Office Petersburg City HallU S National Register of Historic PlacesU S Historic district Contributing propertyVirginia Landmarks RegisterPetersburg City Hall HABS Photo Summer 1981Show map of VirginiaShow map of the United StatesLocation135 N Union St Petersburg VirginiaCoordinates37 13 47 N 77 24 19 W 37 22972 N 77 40528 W 37 22972 77 40528Arealess than one acreBuilt1856 1856 1859 1908 1910ArchitectAmmi B YoungArchitectural styleRenaissance Italian Renaissance RevivalNRHP reference No 78003185VLR No 123 0035Significant datesAdded to NRHPNovember 16 1978Designated VLRApril 18 1978DescriptionThe Petersburg Custom House amp Post Office is located on the southeast corner of Tabb and Union streets on a plot of ground purchased April 18 1856 for the sum of 15 000 It is a three story three bay by eight bay Italian Renaissance Revival style brick building faced in granite It measures 46 feet wide and 100 feet deep and was expanded to its present size in 1908 1910 The building was designed by Ammi B Young first Supervising Architect of the United States Treasury in the Italian Renaissance style Construction was commenced in 1856 and completed in 1859 the cost of construction being 84 664 88 It was first occupied however in September 1858 while still in an unfinished condition The exterior walls are constructed of Petersburgh granite The original design of the building was for two stories only after the original construction work was commenced a third story was added for the accommodation of the Custom House department and was used as sleeping apartments for the Customs officers This building did not have a federal courtroom all judicial matters would be conducted at the Richmond federal courthouse just 20 miles north of the city The roof was made entirely of iron beams covered with corrugated galvanized sheeting The three southern bays of the building were added between 1908 and 1910 The layout of the interior rooms plan has changed several times nowadays revealing little evidence of the original arrangement The first floor is primarily a large open public area containing municipal service areas The second and third floors are divided into city offices The interior columns and staircases are original UsesSketch showing arrival of Union troops in Petersburg in April 1865 providing an incidental glimpse of the Custom House and Post Office Harpers Weekly Postcard of Custom House amp Post Office 1900 First floor interior of Custom House amp Post Office 1933 The building was primarily used as a post office and custom house although the initial floor plan was changed several times During the American Civil War the building served as the headquarters of the Confederate Army The Post Office moved to a new location in 1936 and the building was renovated as part of a Works Progress Administration project becoming the Petersburg s City Hall in 1938 It still retains that use as at 2017 Located in the Petersburg Courthouse Historic District the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 References National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service July 9 2010 Virginia Landmarks Register Virginia Department of Historic Resources Retrieved March 19 2013 Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission Staff March 1978 National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Petersburg City Hall PDF Virginia Department of Historic Resources and Accompanying photoExternal linksMedia related to Petersburg City Hall at Wikimedia Commons Old U S Customs House amp Post Office 129 141 North Union Street Petersburg Petersburg VA 14 photos 19 data pages and 1 photo caption page at Historic American Buildings Survey