VIDEO: Community celebrates grand opening of new Williamsburg City Hall

Dozens turned out Monday afternoon to celebrate the grand opening of the new Williamsburg City Hall.

"Those present for today’s opening can take pride in witnessing another chapter in the history of Williamsburg," Mayor Roddy Harrison told the crowd.

"This city hall is actually the first financed city hall built specifically for that purpose."
When the first city council met in 1818, they met in the home of Samuel Cox where the fiscal court also met.

Later city government meetings were held in the courthouse until 1912 when Mayor J.B. White and the council ordered then Whitley County Judge-Executive J.C. Lovitt to build a sidewalk onto the adjoining property, Harrison said.

"This must not have set well with the judge because the council and mayor were politely asked to leave and find a new place to hold city hearings," Harrison noted.

City government then moved to the Nelson Building, which is where the city garage used to be located off Main Street.
The Nelson Building continued to serve as city hall until 1946 during Mayor Herman White’s second term.

"To increase revenue, parking meters were added to downtown streets, taxes and privilege licenses were increased, water bills were collected a lot better and they were able to purchase the state highway building on Second Street," Harrison said.

This building, which is now featured on the city seal and on the city flag, served as city hall until June 1 when city officials moved into their newest facility.

"Now, we start fresh in the building built specifically for the purpose of conducting city business and that is history," Harrison added.

Harrison said the cost of the new city hall is about $1.6 million.

Chuck Trimble, the architect on the project, said the facility is about 7,500 square feet.

It includes offices for the mayor, city clerk, police department, victim’s advocate and the water office, which now has a drive-thru window.

Following the ceremony, city residents toured the new facility and a reception took place in the city council chambers.

For the last several years, city council meetings had been held at the Williamsburg Tourism and Convention Center.