Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building (West Newbury, Massachusetts) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 363 Main St., West Newbury, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1900 |
| Architect | Henry Gore |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival architecture |
| NRHP reference No. | 16000544 |
| Added to NRHP | August 22, 2016 |
The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building is a special historic building in West Newbury, Massachusetts. It's located at 363 Main Street. This building was finished in 1900. It was built to remember the brave people from West Newbury who fought in the American Civil War.
The building is a great example of a style called Gothic Revival architecture. Over the years, it has been a meeting place for groups of military veterans. For a long time, it was home to the local American Legion post. It also held the town's public library for 12 years. Because of its history and unique style, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. This means it's officially recognized as an important historical site.
Contents
What Does the Building Look Like?
The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building is in the middle of West Newbury. You can find it on the south side of Main Street. This street is also known as Massachusetts Route 113. It's just a short walk west of the town offices.
Building's Design and Features
This building is made of brick and has two stories. It has a roof that slopes down on two sides, called a gabled roof. A cool part of the building is an eight-sided tower. This tower is on the front right corner.
The tower has windows shaped like pointed arches. These are called Gothic arches. There are two levels of these windows. The very top of the tower has a decorative wall that looks like a castle. This is called a crenellated parapet.
Main Entrance and Windows
The main door is right in the middle of the front of the building. It's set back deep inside a tall, arched opening. This arch goes all the way up into the gable area of the roof. Above the door, there's a large Gothic window made of several parts.
To the left of the main entrance, you'll see another Gothic window. This one has two parts. There's also a small Gothic window right at the very top point of the gable. These details make the building look very grand and old-fashioned.
History of the Memorial Building
The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building was built in 1900. It was designed by an architect named Henry W. Gore. He was from Braintree, Massachusetts. This building is one of only three known Gothic-style buildings in West Newbury.
How the Building Was Funded
The money to build this hall came from a gift left by Moses Warren Edwards. He lived in West Newbury his whole life. Mr. Edwards wanted to create a special place to honor the people from town who fought in the American Civil War. He also wanted to provide a space for the town's public library.
Early Use and Organizations
The first group to use the hall was the local chapter of the Grand Army of the Republic. This was a group for Civil War veterans. Later, on July 12, 1923, the building was given to the Charles L. Carr American Legion post #240. The American Legion is another group for veterans.
The town's library was located in the building from 1927 to 1939. The American Legion post allowed the library to use the space for free. Today, the building is still an important meeting spot. It is mainly used by local groups that support veterans.
