North Town Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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North Town Hall
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 31 Princeton St., Chelmsford, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1853 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 15000732 |
| Added to NRHP | October 13, 2015 |
The North Town Hall is a historic building located in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. It stands at 31 Princeton Street, close to the North Chelmsford village center. This two-and-a-half-story wooden building was built in 1853. It features a special architectural style called Greek Revival, which was popular for important buildings in the 1800s.
For many years, the North Town Hall was a central place for the community. It served as a meeting spot for town decisions and later became a place for local events and voting. Today, after a big restoration, it continues to be an important community center for the people of Chelmsford.
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What is a Town Hall?
A town hall is like the main office for a town or city. It's where local government decisions are made and where people can go for different services. In the past, town halls were often where all the citizens would gather for "town meetings." During these meetings, people would vote on important issues and make decisions about how their town should be run.
Chelmsford, Massachusetts, actually had two historic town halls from the 1800s. The North Town Hall was one of them, and it shared duties with the Centre Town Hall.
Early Days as a Meeting Place
The North Town Hall was built in 1853. From then until 1885, it was used for important town meetings. People from Chelmsford would come here to discuss and vote on local matters. It was a place where everyone could have a say in how their community was governed.
New Uses Over Time
After 1885, the North Town Hall changed its role. It was no longer the main place for town meetings. Instead, it became a community meeting hall. This meant it was used for various local events, gatherings, and activities. It also served as a "polling station," which is where people go to cast their votes during elections.
This continued until 1967. At that point, the town decided to use the building for its school administration offices. This means it became the workplace for people who managed the town's schools.
A Fresh Start: Restoration
In 2011, the North Town Hall underwent a full restoration. This means the building was carefully repaired and brought back to its original beautiful condition. After this big project, the building went back to being a community center. Now, it's once again a place where people can gather, learn, and participate in community events.
A Special Historic Building
Because of its long history and importance to the community, the North Town Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2015. The National Register is a list of places in the United States that are considered important to history. Being on this list helps protect the building and recognize its value for future generations.
