Why Save The Old Town Hall?

A Committee was established on February 7, 1853, to find a site for a Town Hall. They opted for the Upper Town of Paris; Architect John Maxwell and contractors Gardner and Strickland were appointed for the project. Departing from conventional norms, Scottish-born John Maxwell designed the Civic Hall in the Gothic style, a departure from the prevalent classical tradition referencing Ancient Greece and Rome, often influenced by Renaissance, Baroque, and/or Neo-Classical styles

By 1859, Gothic had become the preferred style for the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, although it never replaced the classical tradition for monumental public buildings in Canada. The Paris Town Hall was a significant milestone in the history of Gothic architecture in Canada, showcasing John Maxwell's profound knowledge of contemporary British practices and theories regarding Gothic architecture. Gothic wasn't entirely unprecedented for public buildings in Ontario. The Middlesex County Building in London, Ontario, designed by John Ewart between 1827 and 1831 with subsequent additions, and Thomas Young's Wellington District Courthouse in Guelph (1837-44 with additions) displayed elements of a 18thcentury Castellated Gothic style.

John Maxwell's approach to designing the Paris Town Hall diverged from 18th-century Gothicism, aiming for a precise reference to medieval architectural styles through illustrations from the English architectural press The Gothic style was chosen to differentiate the Town Hall from the Greek Revival mansions of the town's mill owners, reflecting a desire to adopt British associations and etiquette In 1834, the Houses of Parliament in London, England ravaged by fire, were rebuilt in the Gothic style by Sir Charles Barry andAugustus Welby Pugin, setting a precedent for Gothic government architecture. Despite this, Gothic architecture remained uncommon for town-halls in England, as highlighted by Sir George Gilbert Scott in his 1857 publication "Remarks on Secular and Domestic Architecture: Present and Future."

John Maxwell's completion of the Paris Town Hall three years before Scott's publication was indeed remarkable, emphasizing the hall's unique place in Canadian Gothic architecture history. The hall's design drew inspiration from medieval Gothic guildhalls in England, reminiscent of structures like St Mary's Guildhall in Coventry and the London Guildhall with elaborate wooden roofs akin to the Paris Town Hall. Continued on page 19