Hills House (Hudson, New Hampshire) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hills House
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | 211 Derry Rd., Hudson, New Hampshire |
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| Area | 2.5 acres (1.0 ha) |
| Built | 1890 |
| Architect | Ripley, Hubert G. |
| Architectural style | Shingle Style |
| NRHP reference No. | 83001141 |
| Added to NRHP | April 8, 1983 |
The Hills House is a special old building in Hudson, New Hampshire. It's located at 211 Derry Road. This house was built in 1890 as a summer home for a kind person who gave a lot to the community. It's a great example of a building style called Shingle style architecture. Today, the local history group uses the Hills House as a museum and a place for meetings. It became a protected historic site in 1983, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
A Unique Summer Home
The Hills House is in northern Hudson, across the street from Alvirne High School. It's a large, two-and-a-half-story building made of wood. The house has many interesting features. You'll notice different roof shapes, parts that stick out, and welcoming porches. There's even a small tower, called a turret, with a pointy roof.
The main roof is very steep. The outside of the house is covered in wooden shingles, which gives it its name, "Shingle style." Most of the windows are rectangular. Look closely, and you might spot a small, narrow window on a front-facing wall. There's also a cool oval window on another side. An "eyebrow dormer" (a small window that looks like an eyebrow) adds to its unique look.
The Hills Family and Their Gifts
The Hills House was likely designed by a Boston architect named Hubert G. Ripley. He was just starting his career when he designed it in 1890. The house was built for Albert and Ida Verginia Hills to be their summer home. Albert Hills was originally from Hudson. He became a doctor and worked in New York City.
The Hills family loved their property. They named it "Alvirne," combining parts of their first names: Albert and Verginia. Albert Hills was a very generous person. He decided to give his land to the town of Hudson. He wanted a high school to be built there. That's why Alvirne High School stands on land that used to belong to the Hills family.
The Hills family also gave money for other important buildings in Hudson. They helped build the Hills Memorial Library, which was also designed by Hubert G. Ripley. They also funded the nearby Hills Memorial Chapel. Their gifts helped make Hudson a better place for everyone.
See also
- Hills Memorial Library, another building designed by Ripley for the Hills family
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire
