Oshtemo Town Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Oshtemo Town Hall
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| Location | 10 S. Eighth St., Oshtemo Charter Township, Michigan |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1877 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 04000459 |
| Added to NRHP | May 19, 2004 |
The Oshtemo Town Hall is an old and important building located in Oshtemo Township, Michigan. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004 because of its history and special design.
A Look Back: History of Oshtemo Town Hall
European settlers first arrived in Oshtemo Charter Township in 1830. The township itself was officially started in 1839. Their very first meeting was held in a local church that same year.
The area was mostly farms, and the number of people living there grew slowly. By 1870, about 2,000 people lived in the township. This number didn't really grow much until after World War II.
In 1877, the township bought a piece of land. It was about half an acre, right in the middle of the area. They built this town hall there. It was used for all the township's government work.
But the hall was more than just a government office! It was also a busy place for the community. People gathered there for many activities. These included Sunday school classes, plays, and community dances. The township used this hall until 1968. That's when a new building was built to take its place.
What Does It Look Like?
The Oshtemo Town Hall is a rectangular building made of wood. It is 24 feet wide and 40 feet deep. The outside of the building is covered with white Dutch lap siding. It sits on a foundation made of rough stones.
The roof has a moderately steep pitch and slopes down from the front. The front of the building has a main door in the center. A small roof hangs over this door. On each side of the door, there are two tall windows. These windows are about eight feet tall and two and a half feet wide. They are "double-hung" windows, meaning both the top and bottom parts can slide open.
Each side wall of the building has three more of these same windows. They are spaced out evenly along the wall. On one side, there are also two smaller windows. These windows do not open and have six panes of glass. They are located about four feet above the foundation.
