Caledonia Building facts for kids
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Caledonia Building
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Holyoke
Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 185-193 High St., Holyoke, Massachusetts |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1874 |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Part of | North High Street Historic District (ID86001376) |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000346 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | July 3, 1979 |
| Designated CP | June 26, 1986 |
The Caledonia Building, also known as Caledonian Hall, is a special old building in downtown Holyoke, Massachusetts. It was built in 1874 and is a great example of Victorian architecture, which was popular during the time of Queen Victoria.
This building is also important because it shows the history of the Scottish people who came to live in Holyoke. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 3, 1979. This means it's recognized as a place important to the history of the United States. Later, it became part of the North High Street Historic District in 1986.
What Does the Caledonia Building Look Like?
The Caledonia Building is in the busy downtown area of Holyoke. It's a tall, four-story building made of brownstone, which is a type of reddish-brown sandstone. It stands right next to other buildings. The top of the building has a special roof called a mansard roof, which has slopes on all sides.
On the ground floor, there are four different spaces for shops. These shop fronts have fancy decorated columns called pilasters. The main entrance to the building is in the middle. Above the ground floor, there's a decorative ledge called a cornice. The upper floors have many windows, separated by more decorative stonework. The windows have fancy tops called lintels. The roof is made of slate, and it has small windows sticking out, called dormers.
A Look Back at Its History
The Caledonia Building was built in 1874 for a local businessman named Roswell P. Crafts. He was also an important politician and even became Holyoke's second mayor! Because of him, the building was first known as the Craft Building.
When it first opened, the ground floor had shops. The second and third floors were used for offices. The very top floor, the fourth floor, was a big open space like a ballroom.
In 1879, a group called the Caledonian Benefit Society started meeting on the top floor. This society was formed to help Scottish immigrants who were moving to Holyoke. They bought the entire building in 1909.
From 1910 to 1966, the third floor of the building was a special place for the Holyoke Caledonian Pipe Band. They used the banquet hall there as their regular practice space.
