Stevens Memorial Hall is the historic

town hall In local government, a city hall, town hall, civic centre (in the UK or Australia), guildhall, or a municipal building (in the Philippines), is the chief administrative building of a city, town, or other municipality. It usually houses ...

Chester, New Hampshire Chester is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 5,232 at the 2020 census, up from 4,768 at the 2010 census. It was home to the now defunct Chester College (formerly White Pines College). History From ...

. The building, a large wood-frame structure completed in 1910, is located in the center of Chester at the junction of New Hampshire Routes 121 and

102 102 may refer to: * 102 (number), the number * AD 102, a year in the 2nd century AD * 102 BC, a year in the 2nd century BC * 102 (ambulance service), an emergency medical transport service in Uttar Pradesh, India * 102 (Clyde) Field Squadron, Royal ...

. The building was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

in 2004. It served as the center of the town's civic business until 2000, when town offices were relocated to a former school.

Description and history

Stevens Memorial Hall occupies a prominent site at the southwest corner of New Hampshire Routes 121 and 102. It is a large two-story wood-frame structure that is basically

Colonial Revival The Colonial Revival architectural style seeks to revive elements of American colonial architecture. The beginnings of the Colonial Revival style are often attributed to the Centennial Exhibition of 1876, which reawakened Americans to the archi ...

in style, with some Queen Anne touches. It is covered by a hip roof, with a square belfry at the northwest corner, covered by a bellcast roof. The main facade is divided into three sections, with an asymmetrical arrangement of windows, and a center entrance sheltered by a porch supported by slender round columns mounted on square bases. The inside ground floor historically housed town offices. The basement level, originally unfinished, was adapted for use as a police station in the 1970s. The upper floor consists of a large auditorium space used for civic and social functions, with a stage, dressing room, and balcony. The hall was designed by

Lawrence, Massachusetts Lawrence is a city located in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, on the Merrimack River. At the 2020 census, the city had a population of 89,143. Surrounding communities include Methuen to the north, Andover to the southwest, and Nort ...

, architect George G. Adams, and was built over a three-year period. It was formally dedicated in 1910, and was retired from town functions in 2000. It is the only purpose-built town hall in the town, with its civic functions now located in a former elementary school at the western end of the Chester Center village. From 1930 to 1981, this building also housed the Chester Free Library. The auditorium space, in addition to being used for town meetings until 2000, was used for local community group meetings, theatrical productions, and other civic events.

References

{{NRHP in Rockingham County, New Hampshire City and town halls on the National Register of Historic Places in New Hampshire Event venues on the National Register of Historic Places in New Hampshire Queen Anne architecture in New Hampshire Buildings and structures completed in 1910 Buildings and structures in Rockingham County, New Hampshire National Register of Historic Places in Rockingham County, New Hampshire Chester, New Hampshire 1908 establishments in New Hampshire

Description and history

See also

References