Apex Town Hall (historic)
Encyclopedia
The Apex Town Hall, called Apex City Hall in the National Register of Historic Places
is a historic town hall at 237 N Salem Street in the historic district
of downtown Apex
, North Carolina
. It was built in 1912 after the June 12, 1911 fire destroyed several downtown buildings including the previous home of the town hall, Poe Brother's Store.
The ground floor housed a farmer's market with fresh meat preserved by ice boxes, vegetables, chickens on the sidewalk out front, and two jail cells, segregated
by race. Upstairs had an auditorium, opera stage, dressing rooms and the mayor's office. The building was heated by wood stoves and lighted by oil lamps.
The auditorium hosted silent movies, Chautauqua
s, dramas, and other community cultural events.
The Apex Volunteer Fire Department was formed in 1927 and took its first residence the town hall, parking a fire engine in the left bay of the building, which parked there through 1957. The Fire Department built a separate building across the street in 1958.
Apex had a public works building attached to the back for a time, but it was removed to make parking spaces.
The DMV
had an office in the building for a time.
The Town Hall function moved from the building in 1978 to 205 Saunders St. The building was condemned. The town refurbished it and it served as home to the Apex Parks and Recreation department through 2007.
Additions to the building include a glass-enclosed grand staircase and elevator on the south side and an extension on the back.
The renovations were recognized by the AIA-Triangle Merit Award and the 2008 Anthemion Award from Capital Area Preservation.
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
is a historic town hall at 237 N Salem Street in the historic district
Apex Historic District
The Apex Historic District is the historic commercial and residential center of Apex, North Carolina, a satellite town of the state capital Raleigh. The district revolves around Salem Street, the main thoroughfare in downtown Apex. In 2007, CNNMoney.com ranked Apex as the 14th best place to live in...
of downtown Apex
Apex, North Carolina
Apex is a town in Wake County, North Carolina and a suburb of Raleigh. The population was 37,476 according to the 2010 census., wakegov.com-Geography:Apex is located at ....
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. It was built in 1912 after the June 12, 1911 fire destroyed several downtown buildings including the previous home of the town hall, Poe Brother's Store.
The ground floor housed a farmer's market with fresh meat preserved by ice boxes, vegetables, chickens on the sidewalk out front, and two jail cells, segregated
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
by race. Upstairs had an auditorium, opera stage, dressing rooms and the mayor's office. The building was heated by wood stoves and lighted by oil lamps.
The auditorium hosted silent movies, Chautauqua
Chautauqua
Chautauqua was an adult education movement in the United States, highly popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Chautauqua assemblies expanded and spread throughout rural America until the mid-1920s. The Chautauqua brought entertainment and culture for the whole community, with...
s, dramas, and other community cultural events.
The Apex Volunteer Fire Department was formed in 1927 and took its first residence the town hall, parking a fire engine in the left bay of the building, which parked there through 1957. The Fire Department built a separate building across the street in 1958.
Apex had a public works building attached to the back for a time, but it was removed to make parking spaces.
The DMV
Department of Motor Vehicles
In the United States of America, a Department of Motor Vehicles is a state-level government agency that administers vehicle registration and driver licensing. Similar departments exist in Canada...
had an office in the building for a time.
The Town Hall function moved from the building in 1978 to 205 Saunders St. The building was condemned. The town refurbished it and it served as home to the Apex Parks and Recreation department through 2007.
Halle Cultural Arts Center
The Halle Cultural Arts Center has occupied the building since dedication January 10, 2008. It offers an art gallery downstairs and a performance hall upstairs, with the original flooring from the original auditorium.Additions to the building include a glass-enclosed grand staircase and elevator on the south side and an extension on the back.
The renovations were recognized by the AIA-Triangle Merit Award and the 2008 Anthemion Award from Capital Area Preservation.