Literary Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Literary Hall
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Literary Hall, viewed from the south, facing West Main Street in Romney
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 Literary Hall
Location in Romney, West Virginia
Literary Hall
Location in Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia
Literary Hall
Location in West Virginia
Literary Hall
Location in the United States
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| Location | West Main & North High Streets Romney, West Virginia, United States |
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| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1869–70 |
| Architectural style | Federal, Greek Revival, Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 79002577 |
| Designated | May 29, 1979 |
Literary Hall is an old brick building in Romney, West Virginia. It was built between 1869 and 1870. This historic building has been a library, a meeting place, and a museum. You can find it where North High Street (West Virginia Route 28) meets West Main Street (U.S. Route 50).
Literary Hall was built by a group called the Romney Literary Society. This society was very important for learning in West Virginia. It was one of the first groups of its kind in the United States.
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What is Literary Hall?
Literary Hall is in the middle of downtown Romney, West Virginia. It sits at the corner of North High Street and West Main Street. The building is on a small piece of land.
Right next to it are the Hampshire County Courthouse and the Romney First United Methodist Church. Literary Hall is about 820 feet (250 meters) above sea level.
A Look Back at Literary Hall's History
The Romney Literary Society
The Romney Literary Society was started on January 30, 1819. Nine important men in Romney created it. This group was the first of its kind in what is now West Virginia. It was also one of the first in the entire United States.
The society started its library in 1819 with just two books. By 1861, the library had grown a lot. It had about 3,000 books on many topics. These included literature, science, history, and art.
The society also helped start a school for higher education. In 1846, they built a new place for the Romney Classical Institute. This building also held their growing library.
The Romney Literary Society and its school were very successful. They grew in importance until the American Civil War began in 1861.
The Civil War's Impact
During the Civil War, many members of the society fought in the war. Sadly, some were killed. The society's library suffered a lot. Union Army forces took or destroyed many of its 3,000 books.
After the war ended, only about 400 books could be found. Just 200 books were left on the library shelves.
Rebuilding and New Beginnings
The Romney Literary Society got back together on May 15, 1869. They decided to build a new home for their group. This new building was Literary Hall, built between 1869 and 1870.
They also worked to bring the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind to their old school campus. Building Literary Hall helped the society restart its activities. They also began to rebuild their library collection.
The library reopened with 700 books. For about ten years, Literary Hall was a center for learning in Romney. However, as older members passed away, interest in the society faded. Their last meeting was held on February 15, 1886.
The Clinton Lodge Masons
After the Romney Literary Society stopped meeting, another group used Literary Hall. This was the Clinton Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. They are a very old group, first started in 1825.
When Literary Hall was finished in 1870, the Masons used the first floor for their meetings. The Romney Literary Society used the second floor as their library. Even after the society closed, the Masons and another group called the Order of the Eastern Star continued to meet there.
In 1973, a lawyer named Ralph Haines bought Literary Hall. He wanted to save the old building from being torn down. He also helped the Masons get land for a new meeting place. Mr. Haines then fixed up Literary Hall. He used it as his law office and a private museum.
Literary Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 29, 1979. This list recognizes important historic places in the United States.
A Community Library
Literary Hall also served as a community library for a time. In March 1937, Romney's public library moved into the first floor of Literary Hall. This library had started in 1935 in the basement of the courthouse.
When the library's books grew too many for the courthouse, the Masons let them use Literary Hall. The library then expanded its hours. It was open five afternoons a week, thanks to help from government programs.
In 1942, the library moved again. It went to the second floor of the Hampshire County Courthouse. Later, in 1967, a brand new Hampshire County Public Library building was opened. The land for this new library was given by sisters Kate and Mary Davis. Their father had been a member of both the Romney Literary Society and the Clinton Lodge Masons.
Literary Hall's Design
Literary Hall is a two-story building made of red brick. It has a tall, rectangular shape with a sloped roof. The building mixes different old American styles. It has parts that look like early Federal and Greek Revival designs. But it also has details from the Victorian era.
Experts say Literary Hall is special because of this mix of styles. It has simple, classic shapes with fancy Victorian decorations. One historian called it "one of Romney's and Hampshire County's most notable landmarks."
The front of Literary Hall has three sections. The sides have five sections. Each section has a tall wooden window with nine glass panes. These windows have white wooden shutters. The bricks are laid in a pattern called "American bond."
Above the main front, there's a simple wooden trim. A half-circle window is in the center of the roof's triangle shape. This window lets light into the attic.
The windows and the main entrance have white wooden decorations above them. The main entrance has tall double wooden doors. Above the doors, there are four vertical glass panels. Outside, there's a large brick porch with steps leading up to it.
Literary Hall has two chimneys on its sides. The building sits on a foundation made of sandstone blocks. Its roof is covered with metal sheets.
