Cliffwood Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Cliffwood Hall
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 15 Rebel Hill Rd., Clifton, Maine |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1892 |
| Built by | Local residents |
| Architect | Calvin Winfield Campbell |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 08000666 |
| Added to NRHP | July 16, 2008 |
Cliffwood Hall, once known as Clifton Town Hall, is a really old and important building in Clifton, Maine. You can find it at 15 Rebel Hill Road. This building was built way back in 1892! For almost 90 years, it was the main place where town meetings happened and where people gathered for fun events. Today, Cliffwood Hall is home to the Clifton Historical Society's museum. It's now called the Clifton Town Hall Museum. The Historical Society also takes care of the nearby Harold Allan Schoolhouse. Because of its history, Cliffwood Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.
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What is Cliffwood Hall?
Cliffwood Hall is located on the southwest side of Rebel Hill Road. This road is also known as Maine State Route 180. It's a short distance south of where it meets Maine State Route 9. The hall stands right next to the Harold Allan Schoolhouse. Both buildings are now owned by the local historical society.
Building Design and Features
Cliffwood Hall is a two-story building made of wood. It has a pointed roof and its outside walls are covered with overlapping wooden boards called clapboard siding. The building sits on a strong foundation made of granite. It has a simple but elegant style, typical of the late 1800s.
The front of the building looks the same on both sides. There's a double door in the middle, protected by a small roof supported by decorative brackets. On each side of the doors, you'll see single windows. Above the double doors are two tall windows. On the sides, there are more tall windows. Even higher up, in the attic area, are two regular-sized windows. All the windows have decorative tops that stick out a little.
Inside the Hall
When you go inside, the downstairs has an entry area, a kitchen, and a large main hall. This main hall now holds many museum exhibits. One interesting item you can see there is the old town hearse, which was used to carry coffins. The upstairs of the hall is mostly unfinished, but it has a nice pine wood floor.
History of Cliffwood Hall
The hall was built in 1892 by a group of people who lived in the area. They wanted a place where everyone could come together for social events and cultural activities. It was a community effort to create a gathering spot.
From Town Hall to Museum
In 1899, the town of Clifton bought the building. It then became the official town hall. For many years, it was the center of local government. Town offices were located there, and important town meetings were held in the hall. It was also a place where people would go to vote.
The building served as the town hall until 1999. After that, it was given to the Clifton Historical Society. Since then, the society has used Cliffwood Hall to house its museum. It helps preserve the history of Clifton for everyone to learn from.
See also
