City Hall is an imposing presence in the small town of Mellen, where its central location symbolizes its local importance. An octagonal bell tower, whose ogee-arched open belfry, enclosed with a turned wood balustrade, houses an operable bell.

Mellen City Hall was the first building in the community to house city government offices such as civic, fire and police. It was also the focus of many social, educational and cultural events in the large open second floor room called the "Opera House." In 1927 a local woodsman helped establish a community library here that has since occupied the building.

The city hall appeared in a 20th Century Fox movie, Hemingway's Adventures as a Young Man, released in 1962. It was selected as a location for this film adaptation of Hemingway's semi-autobiographical "Nick Adams" stories because of its Midwest village charm.

The building continues operate as city hall. It also houses the Mellen Historical Museum, open during regular hours.