Brighton in Adams County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Historic City Hall
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 31, 2022
1. Historic City Hall Marker (bottom panel)
Historic City Hall was initially built as the first permanent Adams County Courthouse. The courthouse was designed in 1904 by architect John James Huddart, who also designed the Brighton Armory. In 1906, builder A.B. McDonald completed the building. Residents of Adams County were proud and joyous that their courthouse was finished before Arapahoe County's, which had been established at the same time as Adams. Adams County was named after Alva A. Adams (1850-1922), who served as Governor of Colorado.
In 1939, the courthouse was remodeled through a Public Works Administration (PWA) project. The PWA was established in 1933 in response to the Great Depression, and it stimulated the American economy by planning and sponsoring large-scale construction projects around the country. The remodel of the courthouse almost doubled the size of the original courthouse building, though it did change the look of the structure.
In 1976, the City of Brighton purchased the building and its land for $175,000, and it was Brighton's City Hall until 2009 when the City Hall offices moved to their current location at 500 S. 4th Ave.
Erected by Historic Downtown Brighton; Brighton Historic Preservation Commission; and Brighton Urban Renewal Authority.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed
this page online
Location. 39° 59.183′ N, 104° 49.037′ W. Marker is in Brighton, Colorado, in Adams County. Marker can be reached from East 160th Avenue (East Bridge Street) (State Highway 7) just east of South 4th Avenue (State Highway 2), on the right when traveling east. Marker is located on the east side of the subject building, just south of the east entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 22 South 4th Avenue, Brighton CO 80601, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Dedicated to the Pioneer Spirit of our Early Settlers (approx. ¼ mile away); Fort Lupton (approx. 7.8 miles away); Columbine Mine / Coal Field Country (approx. 10.3 miles away); Northglenn Veterans Memorial (approx. 10½ miles away); Headquarters for a New Mission
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 31, 2022
2. Historic City Hall Marker (top panel)
Regarding Historic City Hall. National Register of Historic Places #06000916, listed as Adams County Courthouse. Colorado State Register of Historic Properties No. 5AM.92
From the National Register of Historic Places Nomination:
The Adams County Courthouse served for decades as the center of local and county government in the small agricultural community of Brighton. The building's origin reflects the evolution of Brighton from an emerging pioneer farming town to a twentieth century agricultural town that increasingly served as the commercial and administrative center of the surrounding farming economy. This attractive building and the activities it contained over the decades contributed significantly to the political and social well-being of the town of Brighton and Adams County.
Also see . . . Adams County Courthouse/Historic City Hall. Wikipedia entry:
Its original portion is a two-and-a-half-story brick building built in 1906. It had a red-tiled roof and a cupola rising to 91 feet, which was later removed. The building(Submitted on August 8, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)was nearly doubled in area in 1939 in a Public Works Administration-funded expansion which used matching materials. The expansion created a monumental pedimented Classical Revival entrance with Tuscan columns on the west side of the building.via NPS, unknown3. Adams County CourthouseNPGallery Digital Asset Management System website entry
Click for more information.
Denver Public Library Western History Collection
4. Marker detail: Brighton’s First City Hall & Firehouse (1887)
Denver Public Library Western History Collection
5. Marker detail: Adams County Courthouse • Built 1906
Denver Public Library Western History Collection
6. Marker detail: Alva A. Adams
Governor of Colorado
Governor of Colorado
Denver Public Library Western History Collection
7. Marker detail: John James Huddart
Architect
Architect
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 31, 2022
8. Historic City Hall (east elevation)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 31, 2022
9. Historic City Hall (west elevation)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 31, 2022
10. Historic City Hall (northwest elevation)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 31, 2022
11. Brighton Centennial Time Capsule
On July 26, 1987
in Commemoration of the Centennial
of the City of Brighton
this Time Capsule was Placed and
is to be opened on
July 26, 2087
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 31, 2022
12. Brighton City Hall (present day)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 8, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 7, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 204 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 8, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 3. submitted on August 8, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. submitted on August 8, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
