It was decided to build some nice facility for magistrates in Chernivtsy in 20 years of XIX century. Firstly they planned to built the city hall in in quite another area of the city, on the outskirts, on a high cliff over the river Prut. But engineer Adolf Marin, German from Kalush, understood that city would develop in the opposite south direction. He had been proving the rightness of his views for 18 years, and won. The decision about the place of construction was made in 1830.

But 11 years past and 14 of March, 1841 Chernivtsy municipality confirmed contract, drawn up between Dr. Christoph Von Petrovich and magistrate on land №298, which belonged to brothers Christoph, Jacob and Peter Petrovich. Land was purchased by magistrates for 8000 florins for the construction of City Hall by decree dated April 24, 1841 (number 7872). The foundation stone of future City Hall was laid 19 of April, 1843. According to tradition, a few gold coins and parchment deed with a message to posterity were put to this stone.

A place for the building was chosen ideally, instead of making typical project of City Hall in Vienna.

The building in the style of late classicism with a high tower and courtyard grew in four years in the center of rapidly developed city. At first it was a two-storey building. The decision about building the third floor appeared in 1847 during construction.

And since then this building was always used for its direct purpose: Chernivtsy city hall saw the Austrian governance, Romanian occupation and Russian officials. Now Ukrainian blue and yellow flag flies over it, and emblem of the city adorn the façade of city hall.

As it is shown on old postcards, the City Hall was decorated with huge gilded double-headed eagle, the symbol of Austro-Hungarian Empire. This “bird”, covered with gold, appeared on the roof immediately after building of City Hall was over and “lived” there until 1914. 1903 the bird was renovated, because gold had been washed away with snows and rains… And then The First World War began, and Russian soldiers took the city three times.

On the 2 of September, 1914 Vice-governor of the Bessarabia province Sergey Yevreyinov ordered to remove enemy’s “bird” (That`s paradox, but Russians also have the similar double-headed nonsense on their emblem). So burgomaster ordered the firemen to remove it. But they sabotaged this order and just cover the “bird” with three-colored flag.

Authorities changed several times, and every times it was the same order to remove “bird” from the city hall. But weather helped lazy firemen. It was really cold, so it was impossible to work.

Russian authority hired architect to remove “the eagle” and take it to the province’s police department as valuable trophy. But Austrian army attacked again and Russians forgot about the “bird” in hurry, and firemen had a chance to steal it and take it to the fire brigade building.

When Austrian authorities again settled in the city, firemen immediately boasted their feat. Recovery of “eagle’s nest” on the roof of the tower was the first decision of new magistrate. Also they ordered to make a wooden copy of “bird”.

Tradition of making “eagles” was born in Vienna. So during military times in Austro-Hungarian Empire people collected additional funds for charity. A man could buy nails for wooden “eagles” to give this money for charity to help orphans and widows.

“Eagle” was solemnly set on the previous place only June 16, 1916. But not for long. Russian army seized the city for the third time and took off the “trophy bird”. And wooden copy of the eagle traveled with Austrian army to the Prague.