Jonesboro Grange No. 357 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Jonesboro Grange No. 357
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Harrington Rd. (US 1), Jonesboro, Maine |
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| Area | 0.22 acres (0.089 ha) |
| Built | 1916 |
| NRHP reference No. | 10001035 |
| Added to NRHP | December 15, 2010 |
The Jonesboro Grange No. 357 is a special old building in Jonesboro, Maine. It stands on Harrington Road, which is also known as United States Route 1. This building was constructed between 1908 and 1916.
For over 100 years, the Grange hall has been the main place for social gatherings and community events. It is a very important part of this small, country town. Because of its history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.
Contents
What is the Jonesboro Grange Hall?
The Jonesboro Grange building is located in a spread-out rural area. It is on the south side of Harrington Road (US 1), which is a major road in the region. The building is one and a half stories tall.
It is made of wood and has a roof that slopes down on two sides to form a point at the front. The outside walls are covered with overlapping wooden boards called clapboard siding. The building sits on a strong concrete foundation.
Looking at the Outside
The front of the building looks the same on both sides. It has two large windows with panes that slide up and down, called sash windows. In the middle, there is a double door for entering. Above the door, there is a smaller window with three sections, called a transom window.
A small sash window is also placed higher up in the pointed part of the roof. The windows on the first floor, both front and sides, have decorative wooden shutters. Small flower boxes are placed just below the window sills.
Inside the Grange Hall
When you go inside, you first enter a small entryway, or foyer. From there, you can go into the main hall. Stairs in one corner of the foyer lead up to a balcony. Other stairs go down to the full basement.
The walls in the foyer and main hall have special wooden panels. These panels are called vertical bead-board wainscoting. Above these panels, the foyer walls are covered in plaster. The main hall ceiling is made of painted tin, which often has decorative patterns.
The basement area is partly finished. It has a kitchen and a dining space. There is also room for storage. This makes it a useful place for many different activities.
The Grange's Story: How it Began
The Jonesboro Grange organization started in 1900. This was a time when many Grange groups were forming in Maine. At first, they met in the town's office building.
In 1904, people began planning to build their own meeting hall. Land was bought in 1907. The outside of the building was finished by 1910. The inside was completed in 1916.
Moving the Building
The building was not always in its current spot. It was originally located about 18 feet (5.5 meters) west of where it is now. In 1956, the building was moved. This happened because Harrington Road was being made wider.
When the building was moved, a new concrete foundation was built. All the things from the old basement were moved to the new one. In 1927, electricity was added to the building.
A Hub for Community Life
Since it started, the Jonesboro Grange has been very important for organizing community events. Its hall has always been a place for social gatherings and town activities. The Grange organizes events for the Fourth of July. They also hold events during the Christmas holidays.
The Grange hall has the only public kitchen in this rural community. This makes it a vital spot for many town functions. In the late 1950s, the building even served as a temporary school. This happened while the town's high school was being renovated.
See also
