Armstrong Memorial Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Armstrong Memorial Building
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | 3 N Lowell Rd., Windham, New Hampshire |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1899 |
| Architect | William Weare Dinsmoor |
| Architectural style | Shingle; Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 100002974 |
| Added to NRHP | September 11, 2018 |
The Armstrong Memorial Building is a special old building in Windham, New Hampshire. You can find it at 3 North Lowell Road. This building was finished in 1899. It was the very first building made just for the town's library! The library stayed there for a long time, until 1997. Today, this historic place is home to the town's museum. Because it's so important, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2018.
Contents
What Does the Building Look Like?
The Armstrong Memorial Building is right in the middle of Windham. It's surrounded by other town buildings. It sits on the northwest side of North Lowell Road. It even shares a driveway with the old town hall.
Building Style and Materials
This building has just one story. Its outside walls are made of fieldstone, which are natural stones found in fields. The roof is a hip roof, meaning all sides slope downwards to the walls. You can see the ends of the wooden beams (called rafters) under the roof's edge.
Special Roof and Window Features
The roof also has small, sloped windows called dormers on the front. The building's windows are made of several small panes of glass. They are called casement windows and have a cool diamond pattern.
The Main Entrance
Right in the center of the front is the main door. It has a special covered porch called a portico. This portico has a gabled roof, which means it's shaped like a triangle. It is held up by strong square stone columns.
A Building with a Story: From Library to Museum
The Armstrong Memorial Building has a rich history. It started as a library and now serves as a museum.
How Windham Got Its First Library
Windham had an early library way back in the 1700s. It was a shared project with the nearby town of Salem. People had to pay to use it. Then, in 1874, Windham got its first free public library. This was thanks to money from Colonel Thomas Nesmith, who grew up in Windham. This first free library was located in the town hall.
A New Home for the Library
In 1897, another Windham resident, George Washington Armstrong, gave money to build a brand new library building. This is the building we know today! It was finished in 1899. A local architect named William Weare Dinsmoor designed it. A skilled builder named Loren Emerson Bailey constructed it. The library stayed in this building until 1997. After that, it moved to a newer, bigger place.
The Building Today
Now, the Armstrong Memorial Building is home to the town museum. It helps tell the story of Windham's past.
See also
