Bakersfield City Hall (which is also referred to as City Hall South) is the center of government for the City of Bakersfield, California. It houses the Mayor's office and the City Council chambers. It is located in the Civic Center, Downtown. A statue of Colonel Thomas Baker, the city's founder, is in front of the building and is marked as California Historical Landmark #382.[1] Many of the city's departments and officials are located in City Hall North, which is one block west of City Hall South.
During the California agricultural strikes of 1933, in which mostly Mexican and Filipino agricultural strikers organized with the Cannery and Agricultural Workers' Industrial Union (CAWIU) for an increase in pay and an end to contract labor, Pedro Subia, a Mexican striker, was murdered. His funeral was held at the old Bakersfield City Hall building. As described by Chicano historian Rodolfo Acuña, "workers came from all the camps around Bakersfield to gather in his honor in front of the Bakersfield City Hall. They included 'Whites, Mexicans, and Negroes, some of them once farmers in their own right, tall fair men from the mountains of the South and their wives leading little children, some desperate, many hopeless.'"[2]
The current City Hall was completed in 1954, after the old structure was destroyed in the 1952 Kern County earthquake.[3] The old City Hall was too small and the city had started planning a new structure one year earlier. By the early 2000s, the city had again outgrown the existing building. Many of the city's departments and officials were at various locations throughout the city. The city decided to reconsolidate these services back to downtown.[4]
A new building downtown was estimated to cost $18 million. Because the city was already committed to a variety of construction projects, it was decided to purchase an existing building nearby and remodel it for the city's needs. The Borton, Petrini & Conron building, constructed in 1995, was purchased for $4.5 million, and cost $1.4 million to remodel. Its name was changed to City Hall North. Many of the city's departments and officials (including the City Manager) were moved into it. The old City Hall was renamed City Hall South, although it is still the official seat of power for the city. The Mayor's office and the City Council chambers remained in the old building, as required by the City Charter. The Department of Water Resources remained at its existing location in Southwest Bakersfield.[4][5]
California Historical Landmarkedit
The California Historical Landmark reads:
NO. 382 COLONEL THOMAS BAKER MEMORIAL - In 1863 Colonel Baker, friend to all travelers, came here to found 'Bakers Field.' His motto was, 'Time will justify a man who means to do right.' This civic center is his dream come true.[6][7]
^"Colonel Thomas Baker Memorial". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
^Acuña, Rodolfo (2007). Corridors of Migration: The Odyssey of Mexican Laborers, 1600--1933. University of Arizona Press. p. 259. ISBN9780816526369.
^Hoover, Mildred, Kyle, Douglas. Historic Spots in California. Stanford University Press. Stanford, California: 1990. ISBN0-8047-4482-3. Page 134.
^ abBurger, David. Building to Slowly Become New City Hall. The Bakersfield Californian. December 29, 2006. Accessed: 04-12-2011.
^Geluso, James. Check Out the New Look – And Cost – of Our New City Hall[permanent dead link]. The Bakersfield Californian. December 19, 2008. Accessed: 04-12-2011.
City Hall North is where many city services are located.
April 11, 2024
bakersfield, city, hall, which, also, referred, city, hall, south, center, government, city, bakersfield, california, houses, mayor, office, city, council, chambers, located, civic, center, downtown, statue, colonel, thomas, baker, city, founder, front, buildi. Bakersfield City Hall which is also referred to as City Hall South is the center of government for the City of Bakersfield California It houses the Mayor s office and the City Council chambers It is located in the Civic Center Downtown A statue of Colonel Thomas Baker the city s founder is in front of the building and is marked as California Historical Landmark 382 1 Many of the city s departments and officials are located in City Hall North which is one block west of City Hall South Bakersfield City HallCity HallAlternative namesCity Hall SouthGeneral informationTypeSeat of local governmentLocationBakersfield CaliforniaAddress1501 Truxtun AvenueCoordinates35 22 22 N 119 01 10 W 35 37278 N 119 01944 W 35 37278 119 01944Completed1954 1954 OwnerCity of BakersfieldDesign and constructionArchitect s Robert EddyColonel Thomas Baker MemorialMemorial in front of City HallCalifornia Historical LandmarkDesignatedJanuary 3 1944Reference no 382 Colonel Thomas Baker in 1850Contents 1 History 2 California Historical Landmark 3 See also 4 ReferencesHistory editDuring the California agricultural strikes of 1933 in which mostly Mexican and Filipino agricultural strikers organized with the Cannery and Agricultural Workers Industrial Union CAWIU for an increase in pay and an end to contract labor Pedro Subia a Mexican striker was murdered His funeral was held at the old Bakersfield City Hall building As described by Chicano historian Rodolfo Acuna workers came from all the camps around Bakersfield to gather in his honor in front of the Bakersfield City Hall They included Whites Mexicans and Negroes some of them once farmers in their own right tall fair men from the mountains of the South and their wives leading little children some desperate many hopeless 2 The current City Hall was completed in 1954 after the old structure was destroyed in the 1952 Kern County earthquake 3 The old City Hall was too small and the city had started planning a new structure one year earlier By the early 2000s the city had again outgrown the existing building Many of the city s departments and officials were at various locations throughout the city The city decided to reconsolidate these services back to downtown 4 A new building downtown was estimated to cost 18 million Because the city was already committed to a variety of construction projects it was decided to purchase an existing building nearby and remodel it for the city s needs The Borton Petrini amp Conron building constructed in 1995 was purchased for 4 5 million and cost 1 4 million to remodel Its name was changed to City Hall North Many of the city s departments and officials including the City Manager were moved into it The old City Hall was renamed City Hall South although it is still the official seat of power for the city The Mayor s office and the City Council chambers remained in the old building as required by the City Charter The Department of Water Resources remained at its existing location in Southwest Bakersfield 4 5 California Historical Landmark editThe California Historical Landmark reads NO 382 COLONEL THOMAS BAKER MEMORIAL In 1863 Colonel Baker friend to all travelers came here to found Bakers Field His motto was Time will justify a man who means to do right This civic center is his dream come true 6 7 Col Thomas Baker s House in 1861See also editCalifornia Historical Landmarks in Kern County California Historical LandmarkReferences edit Colonel Thomas Baker Memorial Office of Historic Preservation California State Parks Retrieved 2012 10 07 Acuna Rodolfo 2007 Corridors of Migration The Odyssey of Mexican Laborers 1600 1933 University of Arizona Press p 259 ISBN 9780816526369 Hoover Mildred Kyle Douglas Historic Spots in California Stanford University Press Stanford California 1990 ISBN 0 8047 4482 3 Page 134 a b Burger David Building to Slowly Become New City Hall The Bakersfield Californian December 29 2006 Accessed 04 12 2011 Geluso James Check Out the New Look And Cost of Our New City Hall permanent dead link The Bakersfield Californian December 19 2008 Accessed 04 12 2011 californiahistoricallandmarks com Landmark chl 382 Cal California parks Historical Landmarks nbsp City Hall North is where many city services are located Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bakersfield City Hall amp oldid 1176657572, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
