Clawson residents voted to incorporate as a village in 1920 and the community became a city in 1940. A single-story building just east of this location served first as the village offices and then as the city offices. City business offices were on the main floor, and the police department operated out of the basement. These offices remained there until the current City Hall was built on North Main Street in 1963, and the earlier building was eventually torn down to make way for more parking.