Vero Beach in Indian River County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Vero Beach City Hall
Photographed By Jay Kravetz, June 23, 2016
1. Vero Beach City Hall Marker
Inscription.
Vero Beach City Hall. . Vero’s first town hall building was located at the southeast corner of the original 1913 town plat, west of the Florida East Coast Railway tracks along Osceola Boulevard, later State Road 60. Designed by John Sherwood in the Spanish Mission Revival style, it was completed in 1924. Although described as “the grandest building in Vero,” the interior space was limited. By 1925, Vero had expanded its city limits to the Indian River and the barrier island. After amending its name to Vero Beach, the growing city needed a new city hall building, but it took nearly 40 years for that to occur. In 1962, the city council contracted W. G. Taylor, a local architect, and Hensick and Son, a local builder, to construct this new city hall. The mid-Century Modern building features a flat roof line, walls of glass, climate control, and a unique drive-up window for payment of utility and tax bills. Conveniently located on the first floor, the city council chamber had plentiful seating and an audio system. Ironically, the new location selected to accommodate the new city hall and police department buildings was originally part of the Henry Gifford homestead where the name Vero was first used for a post office in 1891.
Vero’s first town hall building was located at the southeast corner of the original 1913 town plat, west of the Florida East Coast Railway tracks along Osceola Boulevard, later State Road 60. Designed by John Sherwood in the Spanish Mission Revival style, it was completed in 1924. Although described as “the grandest building in Vero,” the interior space was limited. By 1925, Vero had expanded its city limits to the Indian River and the barrier island. After amending its name to Vero Beach, the growing city needed a new city hall building, but it took nearly 40 years for that to occur. In 1962, the city council contracted W. G. Taylor, a local architect, and Hensick and Son, a local builder, to construct this new city hall. The mid-Century Modern building features a flat roof line, walls of glass, climate control, and a unique drive-up window for payment of utility and tax bills. Conveniently located on the first floor, the city council chamber had plentiful seating and an audio system. Ironically, the new location selected to accommodate the new city hall and police department buildings was originally part of the Henry Gifford homestead where the name Vero was first used for a post office in 1891.
Erected 2016 by Indian River Historical Society, City of Vero Beach Historical Commission,
Click or scan to see this page online
Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-896.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings.
Location. 27° 38.325′ N, 80° 23.697′ W. Marker is in Vero Beach, Florida, in Indian River County. Marker is at the intersection of 20th Place (State Road 60) and 11th Avenue, on the left when traveling west on 20th Place. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1053 20th Place, Vero Beach FL 32960, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 28, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 27, 2016, by Jay Kravetz of West Palm Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 368 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on November 27, 2016, by Jay Kravetz of West Palm Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.