Hall's Tavern (Cheshire, Massachusetts) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Hall's Tavern
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location in Massachusetts Show map of Massachusetts Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	41 North St., Cheshire, Massachusetts
Area	less than one acre
Built	1804 (1804)
Architect	Hall, Calvin; Leland, John, Jr.
Architectural style	Federal
NRHP reference No.	83000568
Added to NRHP	March 10, 1983

Hall's Tavern is a really old building in Cheshire, Massachusetts. It was built way back in 1804! This building used to be a busy tavern, which was like a hotel and restaurant combined. It's a great example of a building style called Federal architecture. In the 1800s, it was a very important place for people to meet up. Today, it's a private home. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 because of its history.

What Hall's Tavern Looks Like

Hall's Tavern is in the middle of Cheshire village. You can find it on the west side of North Street. It's right across from the First Baptist Church.

The building is made of wood and has two and a half stories. It has a large chimney in the middle. The front of the building has five sections with windows and a door. The main door is in the center. It has pillars on each side and a triangular shape above it. The windows are rectangular. They have flat wooden tops that spread out a bit.

Inside, the house has a classic layout. There are rooms on both sides of the central chimney. A narrow entrance hall leads to a winding staircase. The back part of the building has a large central room. This room was probably the kitchen a long time ago. There are also two smaller rooms in the corners.

A Look at Federal Style Architecture

The Federal style was popular in the United States from about 1780 to 1830. It came after the American Revolutionary War. This style often used ideas from ancient Roman and Greek buildings. You can see this in the pillars and triangular shapes on Hall's Tavern.

History of Hall's Tavern

The tavern was built in 1804 for a man named Calvin Hall. He was a soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War. This war was when the American colonies fought for their independence from Great Britain.

Hall's Tavern was a busy place. It served as a tavern, offering food, drinks, and a place to stay. It was also famous for holding British prisoners during the War of 1812. This was another war between the United States and Great Britain.

In the 1800s, the tavern also hosted meetings for a group called the Masons. They are a fraternal organization. Calvin Hall sold the property in 1816 to the Cole family. The Cole family owned the building for 130 years! After that, it was used as a private home. It was also a store for a while.