Cheshire County Courthouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Cheshire County Courthouse
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | 12 Court St., Keene, New Hampshire |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1858–59 |
| Built by | Bullard, Joel |
| Architect | Bryant, Gridley James Fox |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000210 |
| Added to NRHP | December 13, 1978 |
The Cheshire County Courthouse is an important building in Keene, New Hampshire. It is located at 12 Court Street. This building is the main center for the government of Cheshire County, New Hampshire. It was finished in 1859. The courthouse was designed by a well-known architect named Gridley James Fox Bryant. Many people believe it is the oldest courthouse in New Hampshire that is still used today. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 13, 1978. This means it is recognized as a special historic place.
Discover the Cheshire County Courthouse
The Cheshire County Courthouse stands out in downtown Keene. It is found near Central Square. The building is made of strong red bricks. It sits on a sturdy base of rough-cut granite stones.
What Does a Courthouse Look Like?
The front of the courthouse has two main levels. The bottom level has five sections, and the top level has three. Most sections have rounded windows. The main entrance is in the middle of the building. It has a covered porch with a sloped roof. This porch is held up by pairs of square columns.
The top corners of the building have flat, column-like decorations called pilasters. The middle part of the top floor sticks out a little. It holds a large window in a special carved-out area. The roof has decorative brackets underneath its edge. On top of the roof, there is an eight-sided tower called a belfry. A weather vane sits on top of the belfry.
A Glimpse into History
Building the courthouse started in 1858. It was ready for use in 1859. This new building was built where an older storage building once stood. That old building kept important records safe. Parts of its stone foundation might have been used again for the new courthouse.
The architect, Gridley James Fox Bryant, was from Boston, Massachusetts. He was famous for designing many public buildings. The outside of the courthouse looks almost the same as it did when it was new. The inside has also changed very little. Only small updates, like adding modern plumbing and electricity, have been made.
