Colony's Block facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Colony's Block
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | 4-7 Central Square, Keene, New Hampshire |
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| Area | 0.2 acres (0.081 ha) |
| Built | 1870 |
| Built by | J. M. Buzzell |
| Architect | E. Boyden & Son |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| NRHP reference No. | 83001134 |
| Added to NRHP | March 24, 1983 |
The Colony's Block is a very old and important building in Keene, New Hampshire. It stands at 4-7 Central Square. This five-story brick building was built in 1870. It was designed by architects E. Boyden & Son from Worcester, Massachusetts. The Colony's Block is a great example of a building style called Second Empire architecture. For many years, it was a busy place for shops and businesses. From 1870 to 1877, it even held the city's public library! This special building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
Contents
What Does Colony's Block Look Like?
The Colony's Block is in the center of Keene, on the east side of Central Square. It is a wide building made of brick. It has four full floors, plus a fifth floor hidden under its special mansard roof. A mansard roof has slopes on all sides, often with dormer windows.
The Ground Floor
The first floor of the building has three modern storefronts. Each shop has an entrance that is set back a bit from the street. They also have large display windows to show off products. The main entrance to the building is next to the middle shop.
Upper Floors and Windows
The upper floors have many windows. These windows are arranged in groups. The building's design has some interesting details. For example, some windows on the second floor are shaped with rounded arches. Other windows are arranged in a style called Palladian, which means they have a tall arch in the middle with smaller windows on each side. The dormer windows in the mansard roof also have decorative shapes.
A Look Back: History of Colony's Block
The Colony's Block was built in 1870. This happened after a big fire in 1865. That fire destroyed many of the shops on this side of the square.
Who Built It?
The building was constructed by Timothy Colony. He was a very important businessman in the area. He was also the treasurer of the Cheshire Mills in Harrisville.
Early Uses of the Building
When it first opened, the Colony's Block was home to many different businesses. The public library was on the second floor from 1870 to 1877. A drugstore on the first floor stayed open for a very long time, even into the 1980s!
The Architect's Vision
The building was designed by Elbridge Boyden. He was an architect from Worcester, Massachusetts. Boyden had designed other buildings in Keene before he created the Colony's Block. He also designed the Bank Block, which is right next to the Colony's Block. These two buildings were meant to look like one large structure. However, the Bank Block was changed later on, so it now looks a bit different.
