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Bloomfield Blossoms: p. 146-147

Smith, Kay, 1925-

Bloomfield Township Public Library

Public buildings -- Michigan -- Bloomfield Township

Bloomfield Township (Mich.) -- Politics and government -- History

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GB01a075

part of 'Bloomfield Blossoms' by Kay Smith

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THE OLD BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP HALL AND THE NEW ONE The original seat of Township government was in the houses of its first settlers, notably those of John Hamilton, James McHenry, Wilkes Durkee, Scriba Blakeslee and Jacob Baker. Next the annual meetings were held at the Bagley Tavern at Bagley's Corners. The original official township hall was located in Birmingham and the second at Long Lake just east of Woodward, and is pictured on page 146 as it's now the city hall of Bloomfield Hills. When the two cities of Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills incorporated out of Bloomfield Township in 1932 and 1933 respectively, the City of Bloomfield Hills received the previous township hall, which was within its boundaries, and the city of Birmingham got the township park, Springdale. The Township's share was a gravel pit and $23,000. They added enough to it to make $30,000 and built a new township hall in 1938. The population then was about 2,000. By 1961, a population of 22,103 demanded an addition to the city hall and last year, with 48,000 residents and 200 employees, a further addition was added with expanded public safety and fire department facilities. Robert Snell is police chief, and Volly Yanuszeski fire chief. Through it all, the little cupola which graced the first brick building has been kept. It and the apple blossom are the symbols of Bloomfield.