Old Grafton County Courthouse facts for kids
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Old Grafton County Courthouse
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1 Court St., Plymouth, New Hampshire |
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| Area | 0.2 acres (0.081 ha) |
| Built | 1774 |
| Part of | Plymouth Historic District (ID86000343) |
| NRHP reference No. | 82001677 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 29, 1982 |
| Designated CP | March 14, 1986 |
The Old Grafton County Courthouse is a very old and important building. It is located at 1 Court Street in Plymouth, New Hampshire. This simple wooden building was constructed in 1774. It was one of the first courthouses for Grafton County. The county had just been created at that time. This makes it one of the oldest public buildings still standing in New Hampshire. Today, it is the museum for the Plymouth Historical Society. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. It was also included in the Plymouth Historic District in 1986.
Contents
About the Old Courthouse
The Old Grafton County Courthouse is in the center of Plymouth. It stands on the south side of Court Street. It is just west of the town hall.
Building Design
The courthouse is a square building made of wood. It measures about 34 feet (10 meters) on each side. It has a special roof called a truncated hip roof. On top of the roof is a small tower called a cupola. This cupola is open and has square posts at its corners. It is covered by a low-pitched hip roof.
The front of the building faces north. It has three sections, or "bays." There are windows on either side of the main entrance. The entrance has a small, gabled roof over it. This roof is held up by simple triangular supports. A small section, called an ell, sticks out from the back of the building.
Inside the Courthouse
The inside of the building has one large room. The way it looks inside shows changes made in 1876. These changes updated the building's style.
History of the Courthouse
The courthouse was built in 1774. This was soon after Grafton County was formed. Plymouth was chosen as one of its main towns, called a shire town.
Early Years
When it was first built, people said it had "a stately cupola out of proportion to the diminutive size of the structure." This means the cupola looked very grand compared to the small building.
New Uses Over Time
In 1823, a new courthouse was built. The old building was then sold. It was moved to the edge of Plymouth. For a while, it was used as a shop for making and repairing wheels. Many changes were made to the building to fit this new purpose.
Saving a Historic Building
In 1876, a man named Henry W. Blair bought the building. He wanted to save this important piece of history. He had it moved back to its current spot. It was then changed to be used as a library. The Young Ladies' Library Association managed this library. The cupola, which had been removed when it was a shop, was put back on the building sometime before 1906.
The Courthouse Today
Today, the Old Grafton County Courthouse is home to the Plymouth Historical Society. It serves as a museum. Visitors can learn about the history of Plymouth and the surrounding area.
See also
