Fort Morgan City Hall

Built in 1908

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 31, 2021

1. Fort Morgan City Hall Marker

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From the National Register Nomination prepared by Lyn Deal, 10/9/1994:
The Fort Morgan City Hall building is significant for its association with events that made an important contribution to the development of Fort Morgan. With its monumental proportions and dignified details, this striking example of the Classical Revival style at the head of Main Street represents the beginning of Fort Morgan's municipal history. The City Hall building symbolizes the growth, prosperity and maturity of the Fort Morgan community. The building's construction coincides with the beginnings of political patronage as the city leaders established an infrastructure of public service and public works. The building became the focal point in the civic development of Fort Morgan and served as a center of municipal government and community life for 72 years. The prominent location at the southern entrance to the central business district and across from the Burlington Railroad depot, the primary railroad exchange, contributes to the historical importance of the site.
The building is also significant for its association with George G. Cox, the one man most responsible for planning, establishing, and operating the growing range of city services and public amenities in Fort Morgan during the first four decades

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 31, 2021

2. Fort Morgan City Hall (northwest elevation)

The marker is mounted at eye-level on the northwest corner of the building, facing Main Street.

of the twentieth century. Cox served as the city's first, most influential, and most productive superintendent. The design of the City Hall reflects his innovative yet pragmatic approach to municipal services. The building housed his own office as well as the city departments he so ably supervised.
The City Hall is a free standing, rectangular, approximately 43 x 108 foot, two-story building with an elevated basement, flat roof and parapet. The exterior of the building is of red brick in running bond with a cut stone foundation. The exterior form of the building is a functional, straight forward, often illusory, classical form which was a popular expression for turn-of-the-century municipal building construction. Brick pilasters with cut stone bases and capitals composed of egg and dart bands divide the facade (Main Street elevation) into three bays. A recessed entry porch reached by seven stone steps provides access to the main building entry. The porch floor is of mosaic tile laid over a city water well which is covered by thick glass in a fixed, circular brass cover. The second floor of each facade bay contains a large half-round arch composed of three courses of rowlocks with stone keystones. Each opening is divided vertically.

Excerpt: 

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 31, 2021

3. Fort Morgan City Hall (entrance)

The building marker on the left side of the entrance lists administrative and construction information.

The Fort Morgan City Hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. It was designed in Classical Revival style by Denver architects Marean and Norton and constructed by local builder C.J. Smith. It was very well built and has served the city well for more than a century. It was used for community events and by community organizations. For a period of eight years, a library was hosted on the second floor, with a collection of 900 books from the Ladies Library Association. The Fort Morgan band would practice there on Wednesday evenings, then perform a summertime series of 20 concerts in the Assembly Room.

Excerpt:  The 1908 city hall was part of the growing municipal infrastructure developed by the town’s first superintendent, George Cox. The building originally housed not only the city offices but also the municipal electric generation plant and water pumping station.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 31, 2021

4. Fort Morgan City Hall Building Marker

Erected 1908
S. F. Creitz, Mayor
C. C. Rickel, Clerk
Aldermen, M. L. More • S. E. Preston • G. M. Patterson • D. L. Wylde • J. C. Ambrose • T. N. Castle
G. G. Cox, Supt.
C. H. Meeker, Cons. Eng.
Marean & Norton, Archts.
C. J. Smith, Builder

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 31, 2021

5. Fort Morgan City Hall (southwest elevation)