Bristol Town Hall facts for kids
The Bristol Town Hall is a special building in Bristol, New Hampshire. It's located at 45 Summer Street. This building is where important town meetings happen. It was built a long time ago, in 1849. It's a great example of Greek Revival architecture, which was a popular style back then. The Bristol Town Hall was the very first building made just for town meetings in Bristol. Even though town offices are now in a newer building, this historic hall is still used for meetings and voting. Because it's so important to history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.
Quick facts for kids |
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Bristol Town Hall
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | 45 Summer St., Bristol, New Hampshire |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1849 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 15000668 |
| Added to NRHP | September 29, 2015 |
Contents
What Does Bristol Town Hall Look Like?
A Classic Design
The Bristol Town Hall is on Summer Street. It's a single-story building made of wood. It has a roof that slopes down on two sides, like a triangle. The outside is covered with overlapping wooden boards called clapboards.
Front of the Building
The front of the building has three sections. These sections are separated by wide, flat columns called pilasters. The main entrance is in the middle section. It's set back a bit from the rest of the wall. On either side of the entrance are tall, thin windows. The pilasters go up to a decorative band under the roof's triangular part.
A Place for the Community
How Bristol Started
The town of Bristol was officially created in 1819. It was formed from parts of nearby towns. In the early days, town meetings were held in schools or the local church.
Building a Dedicated Hall
People started talking about building a special hall for town meetings in 1841. This idea finally came true in 1849. That's when the Bristol Town Hall was built. It was the first building made just for this purpose.
Changes Over Time
In 1872, the building was made bigger. About 20 feet (6 meters) were added to the back. This extra space was used to create a stage.
More Than Just Meetings
Besides town meetings, the hall was a busy place. It hosted plays and other performances. Many social events took place there. Local groups and clubs also held their meetings in the hall.
A Special Style
The Bristol Town Hall is unique in New Hampshire. It's a later example of Greek Revival architecture. This style was popular in the mid-1800s. It's also a smaller town hall compared to others built around the same time. This makes it a special piece of local history.
