Cumberland Town Hall Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Cumberland Town Hall Historic District
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Cumberland Town Hall
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 Location in Rhode Island
Location in the United States
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| Location | 45 Broad St. and 16 Mill St., Cumberland, Rhode Island |
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| Area | 1.2 acres (0.49 ha) |
| Built | c. 1890; 1894 |
| Architect | William R. Walker |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 100004532 |
| Added to NRHP | October 21, 2019 |
The Cumberland Town Hall Historic District is a special area in Cumberland, Rhode Island. It includes two important buildings. These buildings are the town hall and another building next to it. They are important because of their history and how they look.
The town hall is at 45 Broad Street in a part of Cumberland called Valley Falls. The other building is at 16 Mill Street. It used to be a store and a library. The town hall was built in 1894. It was the first building made just for the town's government. A famous architect from Rhode Island, William R. Walker, designed it. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2019. This means it is a place worth protecting because of its history.
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What Does Cumberland Town Hall Look Like?
Cumberland Town Hall is a tall building with three floors. It is made of brick with stone and terra cotta decorations. Terra cotta is a type of baked clay. The building has a sloped roof and a tall clock tower. You can see the clock tower from far away!
The Building Next Door
Right next to the town hall is a two-story brick building at 16 Mill Street. This building used to be a business. It has two main entrances, like two separate stores. Each entrance has large glass windows for showing off items. Above these windows are arched windows. The top of the building has a decorative brick design.
Why Was the Town Hall Built?
For many years, after Cumberland became a town in 1746, the town's important papers were kept in the town clerk's home. Town meetings happened in people's houses or local shops. This continued even as the town grew bigger in the 1800s.
A New Home for Town Government
In 1892, the town decided it needed a proper building. A group was chosen to plan and build a town hall. The land for the town hall was given by the Valley Falls Mill Company. This company was the biggest business in the area. The new town hall was finished in 1894.
Who Designed the Town Hall?
The town hall was designed by William R. Walker. He was a well-known architect in Rhode Island. The building looks similar to the town hall in Warwick, which he also designed.
The Neighboring Building's History
The building at 16 Mill Street was built around 1890. It was first used as a company store and the local library. Later, the store space became the Valley Falls post office. This happened because the post office had to move when the new town hall was built.
