Work was progressing quickly on the new town building. The brickwork was completed by Nov. 20, and a team of ironworkers arrived from New Haven to build the roof. The roof frame and slating were quickly fitted. By December 5, the roof was in place and outside construction stopped for the winter. But internal work continued. The walls were plastered and the plumbing, gas lines, telephone lines and electric wiring were installed. Outside work resumed in April. Local resident Samuel Adams took down an old wooden building on the site, rebuilt it on High Street,and  added another story. He rented  the structure as tenements for  mill workers. In the fall of 1895 the idea was out forward to place two large bullfrogs to guard the entrance of the new town hall. Briggs was not keen on the idea, and the committee voted to see a model of the frog before a decision was made. On April 7, building committee Secretary George W. Melony received a plaster model of a bullfrog, molded by Dan C. French, a famous New York City sculptor. The following evening the building committee met in the Hooker House and voted to modify the town hall's gas lighting. They all loved the giant frog, but decided they could not afford to have two giant bullfrogs cast in bronze and placed at the entrance. The carpenters and painters worked hard, and in July the steps were laid to the front entrance and connections were made to the Main Street sewer. On Aug. 24, 1896, the town building was ready for inspecfion by the building committee, which consisted of Chairman  W.N. Potter, Secretary George  Melony, D.E. Potter, and twelve others. They spent several hours examining the handsome new  structure. At 1 p.m. they retired to the Hooker House and discussed issues over lunch with builder Jerry Sullivan.  On Sept. 16, O’Sullivan gave the keys to the building to committee, Chairman Potter and  the clock dials on the tower  were illuminated by electric  light at 1  p.m. until midnight. Briefly described as it was laid out at the time, the Town Hall was set up as follows. The ground floor at the time was called “the basement”. The Police Department occupied the front area. Located on the east side were the headquarters, captain’s office and patrolmen’s room. The central portion had the twelve cells of the lockup and the west side was for the police courtroom. The entrance was on High Street and on the right of the entrance were the Grand Army of the Republic rooms consisting of a meeting room, banquet hall and kitchen. In the very back of the building was the public library. The front of the first floor was for the town clerk and selectmen’s rooms, the city clerk and treasurer’s office and judge of probate’s offices. The rear part of the first floor was the two story high large public hall, the town hall. In the second story front were the superior court rooms, the common council chamber and the mayor’s office. There were also a few smaller rooms. When finally completed, including landscaping and site work, the total cost of the building, and all furnishings was $125,000.  It was not formally dedicated until March, 1897 when Willimantic’s Company “E” of the National Guard held a military ball there. It was the first time the public had an opportunity to see the new Town Hall. It had been lavishly decorated for the ball with, “the military men in full dress uniform, and on the floor formed a pleasing contrast with full dress of civilians and pretty gowns of the ladies. Members of the city and town governments occupied prominent positions in the audience.” After a long and tortuous process, Willimantic and Windham had their Town Hall. It may be interesting to note that, while the Grand Army of the Republic, the Police Department and the Library had been given a good deal of space in the Town Hall, the Fire Department had asked for some space in the building as well. At a town meeting, though, the Fire Department’s request was voted down. The Public Library moved to the Town Hall in April, 1897 as did the City Clerk and Treasurer. The Superior Court began meeting in the building in October. Between the years 1895 and 1897, Willimantic had seen the building of the Normal School 1895 , the High School and the Town Hall.

                       

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