Originally built in 1886 as the Hotel Russwin, the City of New Britain acquired this magnificent structure in 1909. It has been used as the City Hall ever since. Located at 27 West Main Street, City Hall is home to the tax office, building department, Mayor's office, Parks and Recreation, and other services.
Designed by Joseph M. Wells who had a connection to Cass Gilbert.
From the Minnesota Historical Society, the following:
"Another Wells design, the Russell and Erwin Building (also known as the RussWin Hotel) in New Britain, Connecticut, may have been a model for Gilbert and Taylor's organization of the Endicott facades, and the RussWin itself derived from another McKim, Mead, and White building. Gilbert knew about Wells's work in New Britain because Wells had written him in 1884: "I have one new work in hand, of considerable importance to me—An office building in New Britain, Connecticut. I think it will be more liked than Villard's Houses, though I have not aimed at Popularity. It looks very promising just now. It is a monumental work, where we had money to spend, and fair dimensions."
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