Franklin Block (Portsmouth, New Hampshire) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Franklin Block
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | 75 Congress St., Portsmouth, New Hampshire |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1879 |
| Architect | Vinal, Arthur H. |
| Architectural style | Victorian Commercial |
| NRHP reference No. | 84003228 |
| Added to NRHP | June 7, 1984 |
The Franklin Block is a really old and important building located at 75 Congress Street in downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It was built in 1879. This three-story brick building is the biggest Victorian-style building still standing in the city. It takes up a whole city block between Fleet Street and Vaughan Mall. Vaughan Mall used to be a street but is now a special area just for people to walk. The Franklin Block was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984 because it's so important to history.
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What Does the Franklin Block Look Like?
The Franklin Block is in the middle of downtown Portsmouth. It's just one block west of the city's main area, Market Square. The building is made of three stories of brick and is shaped like a "U".
Details of the Building's Design
The front of the building, which faces Congress Street, has many shops on the ground floor. Brick columns separate these shops. The main entrance to the building is near the middle. It has fancy stone decorations around it.
On the second floor, the windows are grouped in fours. The two outer windows in each group have a rounded top. The two middle windows are rectangular. They are topped together by a rounded arch made of brick and stone.
On the third floor, the windows are either single or in pairs. They all have rounded arches made from brick and stone. At the very top of the building, there are decorative bricks that create a small wall.
A Look Back in Time: The History of the Franklin Block
The Franklin Block was designed in 1879 by an architect named Arthur H. Vinal from Boston. He designed it for Alfred Stavers, who was a local business owner. People believe this building is the oldest design by Arthur H. Vinal that is still standing today.
What Was the Building Used For?
The Franklin Block was built to replace an older building called Franklin Hall, which had been destroyed by a fire. When it was first built, the ground floor had shops facing Congress Street. The upper floors had meeting rooms and places for performances, like a theater.
Around 1902, these upper floors were changed into offices. However, some of the original details from the theater inside the building can still be seen today. The building was part of a plan to make the city's downtown area bigger towards the west in the late 1800s.
