Cheshire Town Hall Complex facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Cheshire Town Hall Complex
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Cheshire Town Hall
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 80-84 Church & 23 Depot Sts., Cheshire, Massachusetts |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1898 |
| Architect | Ellsworth, Emory |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 100000719 |
| Added to NRHP | March 7, 2017 |
The Cheshire Town Hall Complex is a group of three important buildings in Cheshire, Massachusetts. These buildings are located where Church Street and Depot Street meet. The main town hall building was built in 1898. It shows off a cool style called Colonial Revival architecture. Together, these buildings create a grand and important spot in the center of the village. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2017 because of their historical value.
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What is the Cheshire Town Hall Complex?
The town of Cheshire is a small, quiet community in central Berkshire County, Massachusetts. The main part of the village is close to the Hoosic River. The town's important buildings are on a triangle-shaped piece of land. This land is bordered by Church Street to the north and Depot Street to the south.
The Main Town Hall Building
The most noticeable building is the town hall and library. It faces the main intersection. This building is made of brick and has two stories. It has a special cross shape and a hip roof. Its design features, like its columns and windows, are typical of the Colonial Revival style.
Other Important Buildings
Right behind the main town hall is a smaller, one-story building. This building now holds the town's building department offices. It used to be a ticket office and waiting room for the local streetcar. Across the parking lot, at the east end of the property, is another two-story brick building. This building used to be the power station for the trolley. Today, it houses the town's police and fire offices. The parking area itself was once where the Berkshire Street Railway trolleys would turn around.
Honoring History and Heroes
In the grassy area in front of the town hall, you'll find two special memorials. One is a fountain that remembers Cheshire's part in the American Revolutionary War. The other is a monument honoring the town's soldiers who served in World War I. These monuments help us remember important moments and people from the past.
When Was the Cheshire Town Hall Built?
Cheshire's earlier town hall, which was made of wood, was located on State Road. That building is no longer standing. The current town hall was built in 1898. This happened after the state decided that all town records needed to be kept in fireproof places. At the same time, the Cheshire Library Association, which started in 1866, needed a bigger space for its books.
Who Designed the Town Hall?
The new town hall building was designed by an architect named Emory Ellsworth. He created the Colonial Revival look that we see today.
From Trolleys to Town Offices
The two other buildings in the complex, which used to be part of the trolley system, were built after 1904. The trolley service itself had started in 1902. The trolley line stopped running in 1932. In 1935, the town bought these two buildings. The old ticket office became the town's post office in 1937 and stayed that way until 1971. The power station building became home to the town's fire and police departments in 1935.
