Chair

Watchman's chair. A tall swivel chair once used by a watchman stationed at City Hall to spot fires. Chair has a curved back and arm rests supported by eight, turned-baluster spindles. A metal post at the bottom of the seat fits into the top of the base where it's supported from underneath by a curved metal brace. Each leg is attached to the top part of the base with a metal bracket. The upper part of the legs have been baluster turned, while the lower majority of them are simply round. Two tiers of rungs support the legs.

In 1871 the new City Hall was the tallest structure in town, and therefore the most sensible location for spotting a fire. Earlier watches had been kept in church steeples and the towers of the fire houses.