Chandler Music Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Chandler Music Hall and Bethany Parish House
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 Location in Vermont
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| Location | 71 Main St., Randolph, Vermont |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1907 |
| Built by | Teachout, W. S. |
| Architect | Ernest N. Boyden |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000196 |
| Added to NRHP | July 16, 1973 |
The Chandler Music Hall (also known as the Chandler Center for the Arts) is a special old building in Randolph, Vermont. It's a place where people go to enjoy music, plays, and other fun performances.
It was built in 1907. It was designed to be both a music hall and a parish house for the nearby Bethany Church. Inside, it has one of the best-preserved old theater designs in northern New England. The town of Randolph owns the building, and it's still used for many entertainment events today. The part that used to be the parish house is now an art gallery. This building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, under the name Chandler Music Hall and Bethany Parish House.
What Does the Chandler Music Hall Look Like?
The Chandler Music Hall is in the middle of downtown Randolph. It's on the east side of Main Street. It's a big, two-story building made from strong, rough-looking concrete blocks. The roof is flat on top with sloped sides. It has a classic, sturdy style with arched doorways. It also has a mix of arched and rectangular windows.
There are two main entrances for the theater. Another entrance used to lead to the church's parish house. These entrances are under a small, sloped roof that sticks out from the front of the building.
Inside the theater, you'll find a lobby area with a ticket booth. Stairs on both sides lead up to the balcony. The main seating area has a wooden floor that slopes down towards the stage. The balcony is held up by columns. There are special theater boxes on each side near the stage. The stage itself has a colorful arch around it. The ceiling is made of decorative metal.
The Story of Chandler Music Hall
The idea for building the music hall came about in 1905. This was when two churches, the Christian Church and the Congregational Church, decided to join together. They were very similar and even shared a minister.
After they agreed to merge, a man named Col. Albert B. Chandler offered to pay for a music hall. It would be built where the Christian Church used to stand. The new combined church, now called Bethany, paid for the attached parish house.
The music hall was a very popular place for local events. This lasted until the end of World War II. After that, it slowly became less used. In 1947, the theater was given to the town. The town has continued to run it ever since. In the 1970s, the church and the town traded parts of the building. The church got a house next to it, which now serves as its parish house.
