Gov. John Butler Smith House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Gov. John Butler Smith House
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | 29 School St., Hillsborough, New Hampshire |
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| Area | 1.2 acres (0.49 ha) |
| Built | 1892 |
| Architect | William M. Butterfield |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| NRHP reference No. | 02000959 |
| Added to NRHP | September 14, 2002 |
The Gov. John Butler Smith House is a special old building in Hillsborough, New Hampshire. It is also known today as the Community Building. This large house was built in the beautiful Queen Anne style.
It is important for a few reasons. A famous New Hampshire architect named William M. Butterfield designed it. It was also the home of John Butler Smith. He owned a big local factory called Contoocook Mills. John Butler Smith also served as the governor of New Hampshire from 1893 to 1895. Because of its history and design, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. This means it is a protected historic site.
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What Does the Governor's House Look Like?
The Governor John Butler Smith House is in the middle of Hillsborough village. It is a big, sprawling house with two and a half stories. The bottom part is made of brick with granite stone details. The upper parts use wooden clapboards and decorative shingles.
Cool Features of the House
The house has some really interesting parts. On the front right corner, there is a round tower called a turret. It has a pointy, pyramid-shaped roof. On the left side, there is a large, sticking-out section with a triangular roof, called a gable. A porch runs across most of the front of the house. It is held up by groups of columns. Inside, the house has lots of fancy wooden details. There is also a separate building called a carriage house on the property. It was built in 1892.
How the House Changed Over Time
This historic house started as a smaller building in 1866. Back then, it was built in the Italianate style. This style often has flat roofs and tall windows.
Big Changes in 1892
In 1885, the house got a new roof called a mansard roof. This roof has slopes on all four sides. But the biggest changes happened in 1892. John Butler Smith hired architect William M. Butterfield for a huge renovation. They actually turned the original 1866 house around! Then, they moved it further back on the land. A whole new front section was added to the house. This made the building more than twice its original size.
The House Today: A Community Hub
After John Butler Smith passed away, his family gave the building to the town of Hillsborough. The town has turned this grand house into a useful space for everyone. It now holds town offices, the local library, and rooms for community meetings. It is a great example of how old buildings can find new life.
