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A City Hall Virtual Tour |
 
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A City Hall Virtual Tour |
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Council Caucus Room 401
n 1894, the city's councils decided
to occupy the fourth floor of City Hall's north wing instead of the second
floor that was McArthur's original plan. A concentrated effort was made
by the Building Commission to prepare their chambers. The Select Council
would occupy room 402 while the Common Council chambers would be in room
400. About thirty additional rooms would also be part of the Councils'
suite and in 1895, the Councils finally did move into the new building.
Of course, their original grand meeting room, Conversation Hall, was undergoing
some extensive remodeling by this time in a effort to reinforce the buldging
tower walls. The present Council Caucus room was the result of both the
Councils' fourth floor occupancy and the structural problems in the tower.
s the upper half of McArthur's grand
Conversation Hall, the Council Caucus room was graced with an architectural
attribute unique to the rest of the building - a beautiful domed ceiling.
The symmetrical room with its gold dome, is further accented by a magnificent
chandelier in its center. The fixture's size indicates that it was probably
scaled for the original five story space of Conversation Hall, but it is
even more impressive in this smaller, two story room.
polished gray marble wainscot
runs around the room, and polished gray marble columns frame four softly
lit alcoves at each compass point.
Winter |
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 Autumn |
n
the arches above the alcoves, Calder's work is again evident in the keystones
and spandrels. The four seasons are represented here, beginning with the
face of a young woman to the east. She gradually matures, portraying Summer
in the south and Autumn in the west. Finally, in the north is the face
of an old man indicating Winter. The face bears a similiarity to McArthur's,
and the tam is typical of his Scottish background. It's only conjecture,
but perhaps this is another small tribute the sculptor has made to the
architect. |
 Spring |
 Summer |
ne last item of interest before
we leave is the red carpeting beneath your feet. In October, 1979, Philadelphia
was graced with a visit from Pope John Paul II. To accomodate the thousands
of visitors and to welcome his Holiness in grand style, a huge stage was
set up outdoors, complete with a red carpeted welcome runway. The event
took place on the Parkway at the foot of the Art Museum, and when it was
over, the City crews found themselves with a huge roll of brand new carpeting.
It didn't take the City fathers long to decide what to do with it. It ended
up right here, and you are now standing on the same carpeting that was
tred upon by the Pope.
he south side of the building will
be our next stop, as we leave the leglislative and executive area to visit
the part of the building dedicated to the courts. While the Court of Common
Pleas occupies most of the rooms here, the State also has a presence in
room 454, home of the STATE SUPREME COURT. 
