New Durham Town Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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New Durham Town Hall
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Town Hall in 1908
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | Main St. and Ridge Rd., New Durham, New Hampshire |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1908 |
| Architect | Alvah T. Ramsdell |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000313 |
| Added to NRHP | November 13, 1980 |
The New Durham Town Hall is an important building in the town of New Durham, New Hampshire. It's located right in the center of town, where Main Street and Ridge Road meet. This building was finished in 1908 and is the second town hall New Durham has had. It was designed by a famous architect named Alvah T. Ramsdell from Dover. Because of its special design, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
About the New Durham Town Hall
The New Durham Town Hall stands out in the middle of the village. It's a two-and-a-half story building made of wood. The outside is covered with horizontal wooden boards called clapboards. It has a sloped roof that goes down on all sides, known as a hip roof.
Its Unique Design
The building has a special mix of two old architectural styles: Colonial Revival and Italianate. The front entrance is set back a bit and has a fancy decorated cover above it. On the northeast side of the building, there's a tall tower, about 55 feet (17 meters) high. This tower has decorative columns, called pilasters, on its corners. It also has a hip roof with a weathervane on top.
Inside the town hall, you'll find the town's offices on the first floor. Upstairs, there's a large room called an auditorium and other spaces for meetings.
A Bit of History
The New Durham Town Hall was built in 1908. It took over the job of the town's first meetinghouse, which was built way back in 1770. That older building still stands in a different part of town called New Durham Corner.
The town decided to build a new town hall in a new spot because things in New Durham were changing. New roads were built, and the railroad arrived in the 1850s. These changes shifted where people lived and worked in the town.
Besides being the place for town business, the upstairs hall is also a community hub. Many local groups use it for meetings and events. The architect, Alvah Ramsdell, was well-known in the area. He designed many other town halls, schools, and business buildings.
