Old Town Hall (Chester, Connecticut) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Old Town Hall
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | On the green between Liberty St. and Goose Hill Rd., Chester, Connecticut |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1793-1794 |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001310 |
| Added to NRHP | February 23, 1972 |
The Old Town Hall in Chester, Connecticut is a really old and important building. It was built way back in 1793! For a long time, it has been a central place for people in Chester to gather. It has hosted church services, important town meetings, and even fun plays. This historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, which means it's officially recognized as a special place worth protecting.
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What Does the Old Town Hall Look Like?
The Old Town Hall is located in the traditional center of Chester. You can find it at the north end of the Chester Green, between Liberty Street and Goose Hill Road. It's a two-and-a-half-story building made of wood. The outside is covered with wooden boards called clapboard. It has a steeply sloped roof that comes to a point, like a triangle. This type of roof is called a gable roof.
Special Features of the Building
The ends of the building, where the roof forms a triangle, have fancy entrances. These entrances are in a style called Federal style. They are not used anymore. The building also has two smaller parts that stick out. One of these is a bigger entrance area, and the other is a stage.
A Building with Many Lives
The Old Town Hall was first built in 1793. It was used as a meeting house. This meant it was a place for the local church group, the Congregational parish, to meet. At that time, Chester was still part of Old Saybrook.
From Church to Town Hall
The building served as the meetinghouse for the Congregational Church until 1845. That's when a new church was built on West Main Street. In 1847, the building was sold to the town of Chester for $300. Chester had become its own town in 1836. After being bought by the town, it became the town hall. It was used to hold important town meetings where people discussed local issues.
A Stage for Performances
In 1876, the building was changed quite a bit to become a theater. It was used for local plays and even high school graduation ceremonies. Even with these changes, it continued to be the place for town meetings until 1960. The Old Town Hall has truly been a busy and important spot for the community for over 230 years!
See Also
