Azusa City Hall

213 E. Foothills Blvd., Azusa, CA
Phone:

East < GO > West

This civic center complex started out with a small Carnegie Library (center) in 1910, the City Hall (on the left) and Auditorium (on the right) were added in 1928 and included an arcade connecting the three buildings. In 1974 the old library, by then city administration offices, was demolished because of earthquake considerations. The other two buildings were built of reinforced concrete and continued to meet safe design standards. The original library location was used to build administration office space in 1975. A separate new library was built behind the auditorium in 1959.

The City Hall and Auditorium were designed by the architect Richard M. Bates, Jr. using the Spanish Colonial Revival style of architecture. The original library had been designed by architect Norman Marsh in a Classical Revival style. The complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.

The auditorium has served Azusa well over the years, at various times hosting the city council, movies, tap dance lessons and other events. Of particular note to travelers on the Will Rogers Memorial Highway, Route 66, is that Rogers reportedly had the pleasure of appearing before Judge John Durrell who held court in the auditorium. Rogers was fined $100.00 for speeding in the city. Judge Durrell retired in 1952, the same year the Will Rogers Hwy. was dedicated.

Photo(s): 2015