Chronology

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1. Early twentieth century · 1900–1944

2. summer 1938
   Law, policy or court · Chapel Hill Town Hall, Rosemary and Columbia streets, Chapel Hill Chapel Hill voters approve bonds for the new town hall

   The bond issue for the town's share of the town hall went to the voters in July 1938 and passed 211 to 27. The campaign drew the Weekly's first calls for more citizen part in town affairs.

3. July 1, 1938
   Protest or organizing · Franklin Street, Chapel Hill John M. Booker offers to buy a Franklin Street lot for the new town hall

   In a letter to the Chapel Hill Weekly, professor John M. Booker objected to the hurried choice of the old site and offered to buy and give a lot on Franklin Street, hoping it would start a civic center. Editor Louis Graves backed the idea and called for town planning.

4. July 1938
   Construction or physical change · Chapel Hill Town Hall, Rosemary and Columbia streets, Chapel Hill Chapel Hill auctions off its old town hall to clear the site for a new one

   With WPA money available for 45 percent of a new building, the town decided to rebuild on its own lot at Rosemary and Columbia streets. The old town hall, whose courtroom the Weekly called filthy, was sold at auction and hauled away.

5. August 1938
   Chapel Hill John M. Booker calls for town-sponsored planning in Chapel Hill

   After voters approved financing for the new town hall 211 to 27, John M. Booker wrote a longer letter to the Chapel Hill Weekly faulting the rush with which it was planned and proposing planning as a town function, with public planning meetings citizens could attend. Editor Louis Graves took up the call.

6. April 14, 1941
   Founding or opening · Chapel Hill Chapel Hill appoints its first town planning commission

   After more than a year of urging by the Chapel Hill Weekly, the town named a five-member planning commission to review the design of new and remodeled buildings. It set the Colonial Revival look of downtown for the next decade.

7. 1943
   Life event · Chapel Hill Engineer Thomas C. Atwood dies, ending the firm of Atwood and Weeks

   Atwood's death in 1943 closed the partnership that had carried out much of the university's building since the 1920s.

8. Civil rights era · 1945–1975

9. about 1963
   Construction or physical change · Chapel Hill Town Hall, Rosemary and Columbia streets, Chapel Hill Chapel Hill Town Hall is remodeled with a mezzanine over the old fire bays

   A general remodeling added a mezzanine over the first-floor fire engine garage and a new stair, and the engine doors on Columbia Street were later filled with windows.

10. Recent decades · 1976–2026

11. 1989
    Health or relief action · Chapel Hill Town Hall, Rosemary and Columbia streets, Chapel Hill The Interfaith Council begins turning the old town hall into a homeless shelter

    In 1989 the building was leased to the Interfaith Council, which was rehabilitating it as a shelter for homeless people with donations and a town grant.

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Compiled and maintained by the Friends of the Orange County Public Library from county records, the sources named on each card, and the index’s event pages. Last updated October 4, 2026.