Charlestown Town Hall facts for kids
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Charlestown Town Hall
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | 29 Summer St., Charlestown, New Hampshire |
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| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | 1872 |
| Built by | A. P. Clifford |
| Architect | Edward Dow |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Part of | Charlestown Main Street Historic District (ID87000835) |
| NRHP reference No. | 84003252 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | March 15, 1984 |
| Designated CP | June 10, 1987 |
The Charlestown Town Hall is a really important building in Charlestown, New Hampshire. It's where the town's government works, helping to run things for everyone who lives there. You can find it at 29 Summer Street, not far from Main Street.
This historic building was built a long time ago, between 1872 and 1873. A famous architect named Edward Dow designed it. Because it's so special, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. It's also part of the larger Charlestown Main Street Historic District.
Contents
What Does the Town Hall Look Like?
The Charlestown Town Hall is in the middle of the town's village. It sits on the north side of Summer Street, just a bit east of Main Street.
It's a two-story building made of strong brick, resting on a solid granite base. The roof has a classic "gabled" shape, meaning it slopes down on two sides.
Italianate Style Details
The building has a special look called "Italianate" style. This means it has fancy details inspired by Italian architecture.
You'll see brick columns, called pilasters, separating different sections of the building. There's also a cool brick design, called a corbelled cornice, between the first and second floors.
The windows have rounded tops, like arches, with special "keystones" at the very top. Each window opening actually has two rounded-arch windows inside it.
Inside the Town Hall
On the ground floor, you'll find offices where town workers do their jobs. There was also a space that used to be a courtroom.
A big, welcoming lobby leads to a grand staircase. This staircase takes you up to a large auditorium on the second floor.
History of Charlestown Town Hall
The town hall was built between 1872 and 1873. The land it stands on was bought from a person named Simeon Cooley. In exchange for the land, he was allowed to run a grocery store in one of the ground-floor spaces.
Designed by a Famous Architect
The building was designed by Edward Dow. He was one of New Hampshire's most important architects during that time. The Charlestown Town Hall is one of many town buildings he designed. These projects helped make him very well-known.
Modern Updates Over Time
Even though it's an old building, the town hall has been kept up-to-date. In 1908, electricity was added to the building. Since then, its internal systems have been regularly updated to keep it working well for the town.
