Waco's Municipal Center: A History of City Hall

Created on October 28, 2024 at 12:00 PM

Waco City Hall in the historic town square in 1912. Photo courtesy of the Baylor University Texas Collection.

The heart of any city government is its city hall. Over the past century, the building has witnessed the city's growth and evolution while serving as a central hub for municipal services.

Waco’s original City Hall was built in the mid-1850s at N Third Street and Washington Avenue. It was later replaced in 1889 with a larger, two-story structure designed by W. W. Larmour. The new building was dedicated on June 13, 1889, and became the center of city government operations for about 40 years. Later additions included a clock on the building’s tower and the Kate Friend Animal Fountain in front of City Hall.

A Growing City

Waco City Hall under construction in 1930. Photo courtesy of the Texas Collection.

By the 1900s, the city’s growth had outpaced the capacity of the existing city hall. In 1928, voters approved a bond package to fund the construction of a new building on the same site. The Waco City Commission held their last meeting in the old municipal building on September 24, 1928. Other City departments relocated to the Provident Building at N Fourth Street and Franklin Avenue.

On October 1, 1929, the Waco Police Department and their one prisoner at the time became the last department to vacate the 40-year-old structure before it was demolished in 1930. After the demolition, the stones from the old City hall were reused to build the entrance gates to Cameron Park.

The new city hall, designed by architect Harry Spicer, was completed in May 1930 and replaced the old structure. The new building was constructed of Indiana limestone with steps made from Carthage stone, and it featured a Telechron double-motored clock with a 36-inch dial built into the N Third Street side of the building. The clock was later replaced in June 1978 with the City of Waco seal because it reportedly showed the incorrect time.

On May 31 and June 1, 1930, the City of Waco hosted a reception and open house to introduce the public to their new municipal building. The basement contained the police matron, humane officer, and city recorder. The police department was one of three departments on the first floor. Officials such as the city manager and city attorney were located on the second floor, while the third floor housed the health department and laboratory. Finally, the fourth floor was home for the jail. Today it is hard to imagine City Hall housing every city department.

A Resilient Landmark

Waco City Hall in the historic town square in the mid-1900s. Photo courtesy of the Texas Collection.

In 1953, City Hall took a direct hit from the destructive tornado that passed through Downtown Waco. Thankfully, the building withstood the powerful winds. Aside from the damage caused by the tornado, the city hall building has undergone several renovations and additions to accommodate the changing needs of the City. In July 1970, the police department and municipal court moved to a new building at N Fourth Street and Waco Drive, freeing up space in City Hall.

Over nearly 100 years since the construction of our current City Hall, the growth of our city has required our city government to spread out into other buildings. However, City Hall continues to serve as the heart of our municipal government.

Future of City Hall

As Waco continues to grow and evolve, the City of Waco is planning to build a new joint City Hall and Waco Independent School District administrative campus. This project is part of the Waco Downtown Redevelopment Project, a comprehensive 12 to 20-year initiative to revitalize Downtown Waco into a vibrant, mixed-used urban area. By sharing a building, the City and school district hope to combine tax dollar spending and create a more efficient and sustainable administrative center.