Knowlton Memorial Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Knowlton Memorial Hall
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 5 Town Hall Rd., Ashford, Connecticut |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1924 |
| Architect | Loud, Herbert |
| Architectural style | Rustic |
| NRHP reference No. | 94000252 |
| Added to NRHP | March 17, 1994 |
Knowlton Memorial Hall, also known as Ashford Town Hall, is an important building in Ashford, Connecticut. It was built in 1924 to serve as the town's main office and public library. This special building was a gift from Charles Knowlton, whose family had lived in the area for a long time.
When it was first built, Knowlton Memorial Hall had many modern features. These included electricity, which was made right there at the building, and steam heating. Besides housing town offices and the library, it also has a large room called an auditorium. This room is used for important town meetings where people discuss local issues. The building was recognized for its history in 1994 when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Knowlton Memorial Hall: A Community Hub
Knowlton Memorial Hall stands out in the center of Ashford's main village. You can find it at the corner of Pompey Hill Road (United States Route 44) and Town Hall Road. It is a two-story building made from natural fieldstones. These stones are laid in a random pattern with wide, strong mortar between them.
The building has a sloping roof with the ends of the wooden beams showing. There is also a stone chimney at one end. The windows have arched tops made with special brick-like stones and flat blue stones above them. The main entrance has tall, narrow windows on each side of the door.
A Special Gift to Ashford
The town of Ashford has a long history, starting as a town in 1714. However, its original town center became part of Eastford in 1847. For many years, Ashford was mainly a farming community and did not have a clear town center.
This changed when Knowlton Memorial Hall was built in 1924. It was a gift from Charles Knowlton, who grew up in Ashford. He became very rich from a textile (fabric) factory business in Putnam. Even though he lived in New York City, he often spent his summers in Ashford.
Charles Knowlton gave this building to the town to honor his father, John Knowlton. He also wanted to remember an important family member, Thomas Knowlton, who was a hero in the American Revolutionary War. The building was designed by Herbert Loud, an architect from New York.
