[2] Saugus Town Hall was built on a low, wet piece of land purchased from Samuel A. Parker.

The land was filled at great expense and construction of the town hall put Saugus in a $50,000 debt.

The second story originally served as a community room that hosted a number of events including town meetings, political rallies, high school graduations, plays, boxing matches, puppet shows, firemen's balls, banquets, and school dances.

The local American Legion post wanted to hold the lying in state on a date the conflicted with a dance held by the Saugus Canoe and Tennis Club.

The club chose not to postpone its dance, citing short notice and the great expense that had gone into the event.

The fire started in the cell room of the police headquarters and ate through the floors and partitions of the building.

[12] From December 8 to 11, 1947, the body of Staff Sergeant Arthur F. DeFranzo was laid in state at the town hall.

The theft occurred two weeks after a set of keys was taken from a custodian who had left them in a ladies room door.

[17][18] In 1998, The Friends of Town Hall was formed to raise money to complete several projects not covered by the plan.

[19] The town hall was closed during the renovations and the offices were moved to the former high school extension building on Main Street.

Board of Selectmen chairman Janette Fasano served as the master of ceremonies and delivered the opening and closing remarks.

Town Manager Steven Angelo, former town manager Richard Cardillo, Secretary of the Commonwealth William F. Galvin, Historical Commission chairman Stephen Carlson, United States Representative John F. Tierney, Massachusetts Senate President Tom Birmingham, and State Senator Edward J. Clancy, Jr. spoke.

Selectmen Richard Barry, Jon Bernard, Chris Ciampa, and Anthony Cogliano also made remarks.