Bristol Girls' Club facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bristol Girls' Club
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 47 Upson St., Bristol, Connecticut |
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| Area | 1.5 acres (0.61 ha) |
| Built | 1931 |
| Architect | Palmer, Charles Scranton |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Dutch Colonial Revival style |
| NRHP reference No. | 87000347 |
| Added to NRHP | June 3, 1987 |
The Bristol Girls' Club is a special historic building in Bristol, Connecticut. It was built in 1931. People believe it was the very first building made just for a Girls Club of America branch. This club was a group that helped young girls learn and grow. The building itself is a great example of Dutch Colonial Revival style architecture. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. Today, the building is used by Chapter 126, a sports and fitness center for people with disabilities.
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What is the Bristol Girls' Club Building?
The Bristol Girls' Club building is located in Bristol, Connecticut. It is found on Upson Street, a few blocks south of the city center. The building has two main parts. The older part was built in 1931. It is a brick building with 2-1/2 stories. This part shows off the Dutch Colonial Revival style.
A Special Building Design
The older part of the building stands straight out from the street. A much larger, newer building is attached to it. This new part holds many sports facilities. The original building has a central section. On each side, there are smaller sections that stick out a little. Each part of the roof is shaped like a gambrel roof. This means it has two different slopes on each side. There are also dormer windows sticking out from the roof. Inside the old building, you can find offices, a kitchen, a dining room, and smaller gym areas.
How the Bristol Girls' Club Started
The Bristol Girls' Club began in 1928. At first, the club met in a rented space. It offered many fun activities for girls after school and in the evenings. These activities included learning how to cook and sew. Girls could also play sports like dance, volleyball, horseshoes, and baseball. There were many other social activities too.
Popular Activities for Girls
The club quickly became very popular. In its first month, 351 girls joined! The community saw how much the club was needed. So, they started raising money to build a permanent home for the club. This led to the construction of the building in 1931. Charles Scranton Palmer, an architect from New Haven, designed the building. The Bristol Girls' Club was one of the first clubs to join the national Girls Clubs of America organization. This national group was formed in 1945 in Springfield, Massachusetts.
