Ashland Town Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Ashland Town Hall
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | 10 Highland St., Ashland, New Hampshire |
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| Area | 0.4 acres (0.16 ha) |
| Built | 1871 |
| Built by | Jewell, John |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 83001138 |
| Added to NRHP | March 24, 1983 |
The Ashland Town Hall is a special building in Ashland, New Hampshire. It's located at 10 Highland Street. This building was constructed in 1871. It looks like a classic New England town hall, but with a unique Victorian style. For many years, it has been used for important town activities. It even served as a school for a while! In 1983, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.
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What Does Ashland Town Hall Look Like?
The Ashland Town Hall stands on the north side of Highland Street. It looks over the town center. The building has a distinct Victorian design. You'll notice its round-arch windows, which are part of the Italianate style. Above the main double doors, there are more round-arch windows. These are called transom windows. A porch was added later to cover the front entrance. Its arched shape fits well with the building's original design.
Inside the Town Hall
The inside of the building has changed over time. The lower floor was once a large open space. Now, it has many smaller offices for town staff. This helps the town serve its people better. The upper floor, however, is still mostly an auditorium. This means it's a large room used for meetings or performances.
A Brief History of the Town Hall
The Ashland Town Hall was built in 1871. This was just three years after Ashland became its own town. Before that, Ashland was part of Holderness. Holderness kept its original town hall. So, Ashland needed a new place for its town meetings.
From Fire to New Beginnings
Before this building, town meetings were held in a private hall. This hall was on the same spot. Sadly, it burned down in April 1871. After the fire, the new town hall was quickly built. It became the main place for town meetings and elections. This continued until 1950.
New Uses for the Building
In 1950, a bigger building was constructed across the street. This new building took over the main town meeting duties. From 1950 to 1970, the old town hall had a new purpose. It was used by the local school district. Many students attended classes inside its historic walls.
In 1972, the building returned to its original role. It once again became a place for town government. Today, it houses many town offices. It continues to serve the community of Ashland.
