Centennial Hall (North Hampton, New Hampshire) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Centennial Hall
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | 105 Post Rd., North Hampton, New Hampshire |
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| Area | Less than one acre |
| Built | 1876 |
| Architectural style | Stick Style |
| NRHP reference No. | 16000144 |
| Added to NRHP | April 5, 2016 |
Centennial Hall is a special old building located at 105 Post Road in North Hampton, New Hampshire. It was built way back in 1876. This hall is a great example of a unique building style called Stick Style architecture. For most of its history, Centennial Hall has been a school and a place where people in the town could meet. Because of its importance, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2016.
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Exploring Centennial Hall's Design
Centennial Hall stands on the northeast side of the town green in North Hampton. This green is a triangular park where Post Road (New Hampshire Route 151) and New Hampshire Route 111 meet. The building faces west, just next to the Congregational church.
What Does It Look Like?
Centennial Hall is a two-story building made of wood. It has a special roof shape called a "truncated hip roof." The outside of the building is covered with overlapping wooden boards called clapboards. The front of the building has three sections. The middle section sticks out a little and goes up to an open bell tower with a pointed roof.
Cool Architectural Details
Look closely at the roof! The edges have fancy wooden decorations called brackets. The front of the bell tower also has special wooden designs, which are typical of the Stick Style. The windows on the first floor have small, decorative gables above them, also with brackets. The main entrance has a covered porch with a hip roof, and it also features Stick Style decorations.
The Story of Centennial Hall
Centennial Hall was built between 1875 and 1876. The money for its construction was given by John W. F. Hobbs. He was born in North Hampton but became very successful in Boston.
Why Was It Built?
Mr. Hobbs wanted to help his hometown. The old schools in North Hampton were very old and too crowded. So, Centennial Hall was built to provide new, modern school facilities for two of the town's school districts. The land for the building was kindly given by the church next door.
How the Building Was Used Over Time
The first floor of Centennial Hall was used for classrooms. The second floor was a large meeting hall for the community. Later, a dining area was even added to the attic! The building served as a school for elementary and junior high students until 1949.
After being a school, the building was used for light industrial work from the 1950s to the 1980s. This caused some issues because the area was later zoned for homes. In 1998, a local non-profit group bought the building. They worked hard to protect and preserve this important piece of North Hampton's history.
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