Norfolk Grange Hall facts for kids
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Norfolk Grange Hall
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Norfolk Grange Hall
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 28 Rockwood Rd., Norfolk, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1863 |
| Architectural style | Italianate, Georgian |
| Part of | Rockwood Road Historic District (ID100000850) |
| NRHP reference No. | 89000438 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 25, 1989 |
| Designated CP | April 10, 2017 |
The Norfolk Grange Hall is a very old and important building in Norfolk, Massachusetts. It's located at 28 Rockwood Road. This building was first built in 1863. It used to be a church called the First Baptist Church.
Since 1921, a group called the Norfolk Grange # 135 has owned it. They use it as their meeting place. The building is special because it's one of the few old public buildings left from the 1800s in Norfolk. Because of its history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. This list helps protect important places in the United States.
Contents
What the Hall Looks Like
The Norfolk Grange Hall is on the east side of Rockwood Road. This road is also known as Massachusetts Route 115. The building is made of wood and has one story. It has a roof that slopes down on two sides, with the front part pointing up like a triangle.
The outside walls are covered with overlapping wooden boards called clapboard siding. The building sits on a strong foundation made of granite stone. The middle part of the front of the building sticks out a little. On top of this part is a tall tower with two sections. The tower has a roof that flares out at the bottom.
The corners of the building have special decorative blocks called quoins. The front triangular part of the roof, called a pediment, is fully decorated. It has small, block-like decorations called modillions along its edges. There are two entrances on the front of the building. Each entrance has a half-round window above it.
A Look Back at Its History
From Church to Grange Hall
The Baptist church group in Norfolk started around 1800. Back then, this area was known as North Wrentham. Norfolk became its own town in 1870. The Baptists first met in a nearby town called Medfield. Later, in 1842, they moved into an old church building in Norfolk.
By 1861, that old building needed a lot of repairs. So, the church decided to build a brand new one. This new building, which is now the Grange Hall, was finished in 1862. The church used it for many years without making many changes. But by 1921, fewer people were attending the church. So, they sold the building to the local Grange group.
The Grange's Role in the Community
The Grange group in Norfolk started in 1886. At that time, Norfolk was mostly a farming community. The Grange played a very important role in helping farmers and the community. They still do today. When the Grange took over the building, they made some updates. They added electricity and plumbing, which made the building more modern.
Over the years, the Grange Hall has been used for many different community events. It has hosted social gatherings and important town meetings. From 1922 to 1949, the town even held its official meetings here. This happened after the town hall burned down. Also, the public library was located in the back of the building from 1922 to 1956.
The Norfolk Grange Hall is a very old building. Only one other public building in town, the Federated Church, is older. That church was built in 1832. The Grange Hall shows how important community groups and buildings were in the past.
See also
