Greenwich Town Hall (Connecticut) facts for kids
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Greenwich Town Hall
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 299 Greenwich Avenue, Greenwich, Connecticut |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1905 |
| Architect | Mowbray and Uffinger; Smith, W.J. |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| Part of | Greenwich Avenue Historic District (ID89001215) |
| NRHP reference No. | 87000807 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 21, 1987 |
| Designated CP | August 31, 1989 |
The Greenwich Senior Center is a special old building in Greenwich, Connecticut. It used to be the Greenwich Town Hall, where the local government worked. Built in 1905, it's a great example of a building style called Beaux Arts architecture. This building was the heart of Greenwich's government until 1977. Later, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 21, 1987, which means it's an important historical site.
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Discovering the Old Town Hall
The former Greenwich Town Hall is located right in the middle of Greenwich's main shopping area. You can find it on the east side of Greenwich Avenue, near Havemeyer Place. It's a tall, cube-shaped building with three floors. It also has smaller, one-story sections on each side.
What Does It Look Like?
The first floor of the building is made of rough, textured stone. This style is called "rusticated stone." The upper floors are smoother and more detailed. You'll see two-story tall columns, known as Ionic columns, reaching up to a special roof called a mansard roof. This roof has a gentle slope on all sides.
Above the roof, there's a copper edge and a clock tower with a dome on top. The main entrance is very fancy. It has decorative pillars, called pilasters, that lead up to a heavy, triangular shape known as a gabled pediment.
A Look Back: History of the Building
This beautiful building was designed in the Beaux Arts style by a team of architects named Mowbray and Uffinger. It was built in 1905 by W.J. Smith. The main purpose of the building was to serve as the Town Hall for Greenwich.
Who Helped Build It?
The money to build this important town hall came from Robert M. Bruce and his sister Sarah. Robert Bruce was a successful cotton merchant from New York City. He was also a kind person who gave a lot of money to good causes. His home is now the Bruce Museum of Arts and Science in Greenwich. The Bruce family was well-known for helping their local community.
New Home for Town Government
In 1977, the town government offices moved to a different building. Their new home used to be the Greenwich High School on Field Point Road. After the government moved out, the old Town Hall found a new purpose. Today, it is used as a senior center, providing a place for older adults in the community to gather and enjoy activities.
