Colony House (Keene, New Hampshire) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Colony House
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | 104 West St., Keene, New Hampshire |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1819 |
| Built by | Timothy Hall |
| Architectural style | Early Republic |
| NRHP reference No. | 05000969 |
| Added to NRHP | September 9, 2005 |
The Colony House is a really old and special house in Keene, New Hampshire. It was built way back in 1819. Later, around 1900, it got a bit bigger. This house is a great example of the Federal period style of building. It's also famous because of Horatio Colony, who was a very important businessman and the very first mayor of Keene.
Today, the Colony House is a cozy bed and breakfast where people can stay. Because it's so important, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.
Contents
The Colony House: A Historic Home in Keene
The Colony House is located just a few blocks west of Keene's main town square. You can find it at the corner of West Street and School Street. It's a two-story building made of brick with a special kind of roof called a hip roof.
What Does the Colony House Look Like?
The outside of the house has a simple but elegant style from the Federal period. The main entrance is quite pretty. It has tall, narrow windows on the sides of the door. Above the door, there's a half-circle window with a fan-like design. A small porch covers the entrance.
Inside, the house has beautiful wooden details. These designs were inspired by books from a famous architect named Asher Benjamin. Around 1900, an addition was built at the back of the house. It was made to match the old part, using similar styles and materials.
Who Was Horatio Colony?
The front part of the Colony House was built in 1819. A local merchant named Timothy Hall was the builder. In 1863, a man named Horatio Colony bought the house. His family owned it for a whole century!
Horatio Colony was a lawyer. He became very involved in the local textile industry, which made fabrics. He even became the president of a big company called Cheshire Mills. When Keene became a city in 1874, Horatio Colony was chosen as its very first mayor. He served two terms, helping to lead the new city.
The House's Journey Through Time
The Colony family lived in this house until 1966. After they moved out, the house had a new purpose.
From Family Home to Public Space
Between 1974 and 1991, the Colony House became the home of the Historical Society for Cheshire County. It was their main office and also a museum. People could visit and learn about the area's history.
The Colony House Today
Later, there was a worry that the house might be torn down. But in 2001, a person from the Colony family bought it back! This saved the historic building. Now, the Colony House is used as a bed and breakfast. This means visitors can stay there overnight and experience a piece of Keene's history.
