G.A.R. Hall and Museum Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
G.A.R. Hall and Museum
U.S. National Register of Historic Places

Grand Army of the Republic Hall
Location in Massachusetts Show map of Massachusetts Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Lynn, Massachusetts
Built	1885
Architect	Wheeler & Northend
Architectural style	Romanesque
NRHP reference No.	79000331
Added to NRHP	May 7, 1979

The G.A.R. Hall and Museum is a special historic building in Lynn, Massachusetts. It's located at 58 Andrew Street. This building was once a meeting place for soldiers who fought in the American Civil War. Today, it serves as a museum, helping us remember an important part of American history.

A Look at the Building's History
From Meeting Hall to Museum
- A Recognized Landmark
- The Architect's Legacy
Protecting the Museum's Future
See also

A Look at the Building's History

The G.A.R. Hall was built in 1885. It's a four-story building made of brick. The design uses a style called Romanesque. This style often features strong, rounded arches and sturdy walls.

Who Built It?

A company called Wheeler & Northend from Lynn designed the building. Frank G. Kelly was the contractor who built it. They constructed it for a group called the Grand Army of the Republic. This group was made up of veterans, or former soldiers, who fought for the Union in the American Civil War. Specifically, it was built for their local chapter, the General Frederick W. Lander Post 5.

What Was Inside?

The building had different sections for different uses. On the ground floor, there were two storefronts, like small shops. The second floor had offices and a library. This library was quite large and could hold 1500 books! The top two floors were home to a big meeting hall. This hall was where the veterans would gather.

The building was quite modern for its time. It was built with electric lights, thanks to the Thomson-Houston Electric Company. This company had just moved to Lynn a couple of years before the hall was built.

Changes Over Time

Some parts of the building have changed since 1885. The roof used to have fancy brick decorations, but these were taken off in the mid-1900s. The first two floors have also been changed over the years. However, the large meeting hall on the upper floors still looks almost exactly as it did when it was first built.

From Meeting Hall to Museum

As the years passed, fewer and fewer Civil War veterans were still alive. This meant the Grand Army of the Republic group had fewer members. In 1919, the building was given to the city of Lynn. This happened because of a special law passed by the state of Massachusetts. Since then, the city has run the building as a museum.

A Recognized Landmark

The G.A.R. Hall and Museum is considered a very important historical site. In 1979, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of buildings, sites, and objects that are important in American history.

The Architect's Legacy

The G.A.R. Hall was one of the first known projects by Holman K. Wheeler. He was a very busy architect in Lynn. He designed and built over 400 structures in Lynn and nearby towns. These included homes, schools, businesses, factories, and even monuments. Five of his buildings in Lynn are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Interestingly, the father of William Wheelwright Northend, one of the co-architects, was Massachusetts State Senator William Dummer Northend. When he was a child, he became good friends with General Frederick W. Lander. This is the same General Lander for whom the Lynn G.A.R. Post was named.

Protecting the Museum's Future

In 2018, people started a fundraising effort to help the museum. They wanted to raise as much as $10 million. This money is needed for important repairs and updates to the building. It will also help preserve the museum's collection of artifacts.

Some of the plans include making the building easier for everyone to visit. This means adding things like an elevator to make it ADA compliant. A new climate control system is also needed. This system will help protect the old artifacts in the museum from damage caused by changes in temperature and humidity.

Because of its importance and the need for repairs, the museum was named one of the top 11 most endangered historic places in Massachusetts for 2018 by Preservation Massachusetts. This means it's a special place that needs our help to be saved for future generations.

G.A.R. Hall and Museum facts for kids

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