School House -Town Hall
1923 Jefferson Street, School House-Town Hall, circa 1899. Clad in painted brick, with a prominent street-side gable attached to a hipped roof with a cupola atop for the school house bell, the building you see today seems to be a mix of original construction and early alterations. A typical 1899 building would most likely be of wood construction and elevated on piers. The outsized gable suggests a craftsman addition. The hipped roof and cupola point back to the original school house design. Regardless, the building, housing offices of the Mandeville Police Investigative Division, has had multiple alterations and incarnations since its civil duties began in 1897. At that time, the town council set aside $50 for the construction of a 'school house to be turned over to the Town administration'. Finally completed in 1899, a committee was appointed to look after the school building and the Mayor was to be the keeper of the keys.
In 1905, the building was given a dual purpose as Town Hall and a school house satisfying a petition signed by the town's people.
No records have been found that could reveal any evidence of a Town Hall prior to the Civil War. By 1867, several years after the war ended, elections were held and the mayor and town council began holding regular monthly meetings. There was even a $5 fine if absences were persistent. Recordings of regular meetings are found in the old minutes books at City Hall.
In the minutes of an 1871 town council meeting, the 'south front room in the house at the corner of Gerard and Jefferson' is to be rented for a town hall'. The owner of the property is D. B. Morgan and was perhaps on land in the northwest corner he acquired from Charles Morgan 'with buildings' in 1859. (E2,496). Interestingly, the mayor who struck this bargain was W. C. Morgan. Town Council minutes are available through the Old Mandeville Historic Association.
References to this rental agreement persist as revealed by these town council minutes:
In 1874 D. B. Morgan receives $7.50 a month for the room rented as a Town Hall.
In 1876, the agreement remains with the heirs of D. B. Morgan with 2 months rent equaling $15.00.
In 1878, Mayor Chevalon is asked to 'call upon Mrs. D. B. Morgan to make arrangement with her in regard to city hall now rented'.
Construction of a Town Hall was discussed and sometimes included in a budget, such as this November 1, 1873 meeting where Mayor Napthalie Levy is charged with the construction of a City Hall and $600 is budgeted for this purpose. It is to have 2 rooms 12' by15' and a 10' hall and is to be located on lot 3 of square 12. Later this same year with the election of the new mayor, Israel Jones, the ordinance to construct a new town hall was suspended.
There are several variously dated Sanborn Insurance maps that include square 12. In the map of 1915 the building is marked as a public school with heat, stove and no light.
In the 1926 and 1941 maps the building is designated as the Town Hall.
