Laconia District Court facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Laconia District Court
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | Academy Sq., Laconia, New Hampshire |
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| Area | 0.7 acres (0.28 ha) |
| Built | 1886 |
| Architect | Frederick N. Footman |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| NRHP reference No. | 82004990 |
| Added to NRHP | November 9, 1982 |
The Laconia District Court building is a historic landmark in Laconia, New Hampshire. You can find it at 26 Academy Street. This building was first built in 1886-1887. It was originally designed to be the city's high school. The building has a unique style called Second Empire architecture. A well-known architect, Frederick N. Footman from Boston, created its design. Because of its history and style, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
What the Building Looks Like
The Laconia District Court building is south of downtown Laconia. It stands on the east side of Academy Street. This building is 2-1/2 stories tall. It is made of strong brick walls with granite stone details.
The roof is very tall and has a special shape called a mansard roof. On top, there is a square bell tower with a pointed roof. The front of the building has seven sections, giving it a stepped look. The middle part sticks out a bit. The main entrance is also set forward. It has a gabled roof above it.
You can see a stone line between the first and second floors in the middle section. The windows on the second floor are set back. The main entrance is a wide, rounded archway. Above this entrance, there are two windows. A decorative half-round panel sits above these windows.
A Building with a Past
Laconia's first high school was in an old building. By the mid-1880s, it was too crowded for all the students. So, the city decided to build a new, bigger school. The building you see today was finished in 1887.
It was used as the city's high school until 1922. After that, it became the Academy Elementary School. Many younger students learned here until 1975. The building was then empty for a short time.
In 1977, the building got a big makeover. It was repaired and updated. After this work, it was changed into a courthouse. It has been serving as the Laconia District Court ever since.
