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Oakes Ames Memorial Hall facts for kids

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Oakes Ames Memorial Hall
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property
Oakes Ames Memorial Hall (North Easton, MA) - front facade.JPG
Location Easton, Massachusetts
Built 1879-1881
Architect Henry Hobson Richardson
Architectural style Richardsonian Romanesque
Part of H. H. Richardson Historic District of North Easton (ID87002598)
Quick facts for kids
Significant dates
Designated NHLDCP December 23, 1987
Designated CP November 3, 1972

Oakes Ames Memorial Hall is a historic hall designed by noted American architect H. H. Richardson, with landscaping by Frederick Law Olmsted. It is located on Main Street in the village of North Easton in Easton, Massachusetts, immediately adjacent to another Richardson building, Ames Free Library.

History

The Town Hall, North Easton, Massachusetts
A drawing of the Hall by Harry Fenn, currently in the Metropolitan Museum of Art

The hall was built 1879–81 as a gift to the town from children of Congressman Oakes Ames. It was originally intended for use as a Town Hall but in practice has mainly served as a meeting space for private groups. It was due to dissent amongst different groups in the town at the time that the Oakes Ames Memorial Hall was never used for its intended purpose as the town hall, and to this day the Frothingham House is used for this purpose. [1]

Features

The structure's main facade, altogether 96 feet (29 m) long by 51 feet (16 m) deep, presents an arcade of five massive arches with a row of windows set above and an octagonal tower at its right corner. Its first floor is constructed of native, pinkish-gray North Easton granite with Longmeadown brownstone trim. The second floor is brick, with a north-facing dormer half finished in timber and stucco. The steeply peaked roof above is finished in red tile. The front's third-floor, dormer window is wreathed with sculpted foliage, and displays the initials O. A. and twelve signs of the zodiac.

The main hall inside is on the second floor, and 59 feet (18 m) long by 47 feet (14 m) wide with a 20-foot (6.1 m) height. It contains a stage (26 by 18 feet). This arrangement proved impractical due to inadequate stairway access to the hall. The first floor contains a small meeting room and service rooms; the attic contains a Masonic hall.

Gallery

  • RichardsonNEaton

    Oakes Ames Memorial Hall

  • Oakes Ames Memorial Hall (North Easton, MA) - side view

    Side view

  • Oakes Ames Memorial Hall (North Easton, MA) - facade detail

    Facade detail

  • Oakes Ames Memorial Hall (North Easton, MA) - detail

    Detail

  • Oakes Ames Memorial Hall (North Easton, MA) - tower detail

    Tower detail

  • Oakes Ames Memorial Hall and Ames Free Library (North Easton, MA)

    Oakes Ames Memorial Hall with Ames Free Library in background

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