Academy Hall (Rocky Hill, Connecticut) facts for kids
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Academy Hall
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Academy Hall, in 2010
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 785 Old Main St., Rocky Hill, Connecticut |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1803 |
| Architect | Jaggers, Abraham |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Part of | Rocky Hill Center Historic District (ID07000111) |
| NRHP reference No. | 77001419 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 7, 1977 |
| Designated CP | March 9, 2007 |
Academy Hall is a very old building in Rocky Hill, Connecticut. It was built way back in 1803. This building is a great example of a special kind of design called Federal style. It used to be a school! Today, it's home to the Academy Hall Museum, run by the Rocky Hill Historical Society. This important building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977, which means it's recognized as a significant historical place.
Contents
What is Academy Hall?
Academy Hall is located right in the middle of Rocky Hill. You can find it on the west side of Old Main Street, where it meets Center Street. It stands between the town's main office building and the Rocky Hill Congregational Church.
Building Design and Look
The building is made of brick and has two and a half stories. It has a roof that slopes down on two sides, called a side gable roof. The front of the building is quite wide, with eight sections for windows or doors. It is only two sections deep.
The windows and doors on the first floor have special flat stone tops. These are called splayed brownstone lintels. The windows on the second floor are placed very close to the roof's edge.
The bricks are laid in a pattern called Flemish bond. This means the long and short sides of the bricks alternate in each row. There's also a small brick ledge that sticks out slightly between the first and second floors. Inside, the building has changed a lot over the years. Not much of the original inside design is left.
History of Academy Hall
Academy Hall was built in 1803 by a person named Abraham Jaggars. It is one of the few school buildings from the early 1800s that are still standing in Connecticut. It's also special because its outside look hasn't changed much since it was built. This makes it a rare example of Federal style architecture.
From Private School to Public Use
The building was used as a school for a very long time, from when it was built until 1941. At first, it was a private school. But in 1839, a fire badly damaged the building. After the fire, it became a public school.
The public school used the first floor until 1916. The upstairs part of the building was used as a community center. This was a place where people could gather for different activities.
Later Uses and Restoration
In 1941, a new school called Center School was built next door. This new school is now the town offices. After the new school opened, Academy Hall was used for town offices. Later, a local group called the American Legion also used part of the building.
By 1963, the building was in poor condition. The Rocky Hill Historical Society decided to lease it. They worked hard to fix it up and bring it back to its original beauty. The society's museum, the Academy Hall Museum, opened in 1965. It has been sharing the history of Rocky Hill ever since.
See also
