Carleton Place Town Hall

• Location: Carleton Place, Ontario, Canada

• Architect: George W. King

• Style: Richardsonian Romanesque

• Completed in: 1897

Carleton Place Town Hall is located in the heart of downtown Carleton Place along the Mississippi River. Positioned by the riverbank, the building is is visible from multiple vantage points in the town.

Before Europeans arrived, this area was home to the Algonquin people, who traveled across the region, hunting, trapping, and fishing along the way. European settlement began with British and Scottish settlers after the War of 1812. The settlement, initially called Morphy’s Falls, eventually became Carleton Place officially as a village in 1870 and a town in 1890.

The Carleton Place Town Hall was constructed in 1897 by a Toronto-based architect, George W. King in the style of the Richardsonian Romanesque. The distinctive characteristics of the Richardsonian Romanesque can be showcased in heavy, rock-faced stone, semi-circular masonry arches around doors and windows, steep gable roof, stone chimney, square clock tower and contrasting colors of stone.

"Rock-faced stone and semi-circular masonry arches"

"Steep gable roof and stone chimney"

"Square clock tower"

The Carleton Place Town Council meetings take place in the Council Chamber at the town hall. The furniture in the Council Chamber is pine woodwork with red satin finish and therefore the chamber was originally referred to as Red Chamber.

"Council Chamber"

The town hall also houses the Town Hall Auditorium on the 2nd floor where concerts, theater, and musical performances can be hosted. The auditorium has a beautiful arched pressed-tin ceiling. The stage of this auditorium is so-called "raked stage" where the stage slopes upwards, away from the audience. This stage is one of only few remaining raked stages in Canada.

"Town Hall Auditorium"

"Arched pressed-tin ceiling"

"Raked stage"

"Staircase leading up to the auditorium"

Reference:

Canada's Historic Places. (n.d.). Carleton Place Town Hall. Retrieved November 5, 2024, from https://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=9810

Lanark County. (n.d.). The 7 wonders of Carleton Place. Retrieved November 5, 2024, from https://www.lanarkcounty.ca/en/tourism/the-7-wonders-of-carleton-place.aspx

Ontario Festival of Small Halls. (n.d.). Carleton Place Town Hall. Retrieved November 5, 2024, from https://ontariosmallhalls.com/carleton-place-town-hall/

Town of Carleton Place. (n.d.). Local history. Carleton Place. Retrieved November 5, 2024, from https://carletonplace.ca/live/local-history