Comstock-Cheney Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Comstock-Cheney Hall
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 103 Main St., Ivoryton, Connecticut |
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| Area | 0.6 acres (0.24 ha) |
| Built | 1910 and 1938 |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 82003769 |
| Added to NRHP | April 15, 1982 |
Comstock-Cheney Hall, also known as the Ivoryton Playhouse, is a famous theater building. It is located in the small village of Ivoryton, which is part of the town of Essex, Connecticut, in the United States. This building is very special because it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Many people believe it is the very first summer theater in the U.S. that has been open and putting on shows without stopping for a long time.
Building History
The construction of Comstock-Cheney Hall started in 1910. It was finished in 1911. The building was first made to be a fun place for workers at the Comstock-Cheney factory. It was a place where they could relax and enjoy themselves.
The building has a special look called Classical Revival architecture. This style uses ideas from old Greek and Roman buildings, like tall columns and grand entrances. When the building was added to the National Register, it included three important smaller buildings on a piece of land about 0.6 acres (0.24 ha) in size.
A Special Theater
The Ivoryton Playhouse is thought to be the first "self-supporting" summer theater in the United States. This means it earned its own money to keep going, instead of relying on rich families or special groups to give it money.
There were other older theaters, like ones in Dennis, Massachusetts, and Skowhegan, Maine. However, these theaters received money from wealthy families or foundations. They were not self-supporting like the Ivoryton Playhouse. The famous Westport Country Playhouse was started just one year after the Ivoryton Playhouse opened its doors.
You can see that the Playhouse is on the National Register of Historic Places. There is a sign on the front of the building that shows this important recognition.
See also
