On May 8, 1935 – exactly two years and a day after the great 1933 fire that left more than a 130 buildings damaged the new city hall opened for business. The construction project was awarded to Milliken & Shea of Ellsworth for a low bid of $102,839.50. Within the first month with ninety men on site from the federal Civil Works Administration, one worker was killed and another was injured after a 10-ton clay bank fell and crushed them.

March 1997 preliminary renovation plans include moving all municipal offices to the main floor; eliminating the auditorium, and a new second floor. Asbestos abatement, complete electrical rewiring, upgraded plumbing and heating systems, as well as exterior repairs to the roof, brick work and cupola. Two years later in March 1999 City Hall employees moved back into their newly renovated offices. The $2.3 million facelift was now completed.

Today City Hall is still the most photographed building in Ellsworth, with its’ granite steps, copper roof and the 18 – foot long, 13 piece wood carved city seal perched high atop the City Hall entrance, instilling a sense of community pride in residents.

Within the past four years new first and second floor windows replace old single pane windows, new thermostats and handicap access doors were installed, and work continues everyday, maintaining, repairing and upgrading this magnificent old building. Two maintenance people, Mike Larrabee afternoon custodian and Doug Kohute facilities supervisor take care of the building. This building is my daytime spouse according to Doug Kohute. She is old like me, leaks a little after a heavy rain, not like me. Has the class of fine old wine, but sometimes needs a little this and that like we all do as we get older. I’ll take care of her until someone needs to take care of me he said if I’m so fortunate!