greektownhall

Greek Revival Town Hall

Set back approximately twenty feet from Route 12A, the main thoroughfare in Plainfield, the Town Hall is a rectangular one story clapboard structure with a broad gable front facing westward. The Town Hall is comprised of three sections. The original structure with three bay wide side elevations was supplemented by a rear stage addition of the same height in 1916, approximately a third of the size of the original section and containing two additional bays. On the side elevations, interruptions in the siding and differing windows indicate the distinction between the original structure and addition. A shed addition spans the rear of the stage section. The original building is supported by a fieldstone foundation while the remainder is set upon a concrete foundation. The roof of the shed is sheathed in asphalt shingles, the gable roof is covered with 18" slate shingles of many different hues.

The facade of the Town Hall is dominated by a windowless projecting gable. The central entrance contains a six panel wooden door capped by a six light transom above which a wooden plaque reads: "Town Hall/Plainfield N.H./ Inc.1761". Three concrete steps with a cast iron pipe railing on the right, rise to meet the doorway. To the right of the entrance is a glass-enclosed notice board. To each side of the doorway is a twenty light fixed sash window, half the size of the windows on the slide elevations. Although it may appear that the windows were originally larger and the upper portion was filled-in with clapboarding, the original construction agreement for the building specifies the half windows seen today. Blinds. apparently originally flanked the windows. The only other window on the facade is a small 6/6 doublehung sash above and to the left of the main doorway. Six inch wide plain cornerboards and a wide clapboarded baseboard frame the simple structure which features a projecting boxed cornice. In the front gable the eaves do not protrude from the front wall surface. Symmetrical plantings on either side of the concrete steps partially obscure the the facade. This landscaping consists of lilac trees, fir trees and assorted shrubbery. In front of the greenery on either side of the stairs is a concrete flower box, presently unfilled.

On the south elevation, three tall 20/20 doublehung sash windows with simple surrounds mark the original section of the building. A single casement window is cut into the fieldstone foundation. In the original section but adjacent to first addition, is a four panelled wooden door. Seven cast iron steps complete with a handrail lead to this side entranceway. The south elevation of the stage addition contains two 15/15 doublehung sash windows. There are only two other features on this section's south elevation: a single light casement window in the concrete foundation and a single panelled wooden door leading under the stage area. The south side of the shed addition, which.is only ten feet wide, contains a square panelled door leading into a storage area.

The rear or east elevation of the shed section contains two 15/15 doublehung windows, behind which are the dressing rooms for the stage area. A tall brick chimney projects from the shed roof north of the ridge.

Five windows light the north elevation. Like those on the other side elevation the two of the rear section are 15/15 while the three in the front are 20/20. A corbel-capped brick chimney protrudes from either side of the ridge near the front of the building.

A dirt driveway is located along the south side of the Town Hall with the remains of an outbuilding's concrete foundation located at the end of the driveway.

Interior Description:

The interior of the Town Hall is very simple, limited to a large hall with four main sections: the foyer containing the restrooms and the kitchen; the meeting hall itself; the stage and two dressing rooms in in the rear. Today, as when the structure was first built eight feet is partitioned off the west end for two rooms, one at each end of the lobby. A single room was later made over those at the front of the building with stairs to it. The stage, with its elaborate light system and set design appears to be virtually unchanged since it was installed in 1917. Above the stage is an exposed rafter ceiling.

The original floor of the town hall was laid with floorboards salvaged from the old meeting house located in another part of town. The Town Meeting of 1846 describes the seating: "The seats are the same thickness stuff as those in Lebanon (NH) townhouse and finished in the same manner with good merchantable pine stuff."(1)

In 1908 the tiers of seats were removed and the floor relaid. The seats were replaced with benches and .tables, and at the same time kerosene lighting was installed. In 1915, the kerosene lighting was replaced with electricity.

The most important aspect of the interior is the stage set designed by local resident, Maxfield Parrish in 1916. The backdrop portraying nearby Mt.Ascutney, adds color and life to the entire auditorium. Painted in tones of blue and purple, the backdrop was designed to portray varying skies, from daybreak to dusk depending on the stage lighting used. Parrish also designed the six side props which flank the woodland scene, consisting of birch and oak trees with large boulders. The set and props were painted by unidentified professional scenepainting technicians, following Parrish¹s design, using gouache or tempera paints.

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	Greek Revival Town Hall Set back approximately twenty feet from Route 12A, the main thoroughfare in Plainfield, the Town Hall is a rectangular one story clapboard structure with a broad gable front facing westward. The Town Hall is comprised of three sections. The original structure with three bay wide side elevations was supplemented by a rear stage addition of the same height in 1916, approximately a third of the size of the original section and containing two additional bays. On the side elevations, interruptions in the siding and differing windows indicate the distinction between the original structure and addition. A shed addition spans the rear of the stage section. The original building is supported by a fieldstone foundation while the remainder is set upon a concrete foundation. The roof of the shed is sheathed in asphalt shingles, the gable roof is covered with 18" slate shingles of many different hues. The facade of the Town Hall is dominated by a windowless projecting gable. The central entrance contains a six panel wooden door capped by a six light transom above which a wooden plaque reads: "Town Hall/Plainfield N.H./ Inc.1761". Three concrete steps with a cast iron pipe railing on the right, rise to meet the doorway. To the right of the entrance is a glass-enclosed notice board. To each side of the doorway is a twenty light fixed sash window, half the size of the windows on the slide elevations. Although it may appear that the windows were originally larger and the upper portion was filled-in with clapboarding, the original construction agreement for the building specifies the half windows seen today. Blinds. apparently originally flanked the windows. The only other window on the facade is a small 6/6 doublehung sash above and to the left of the main doorway. Six inch wide plain cornerboards and a wide clapboarded baseboard frame the simple structure which features a projecting boxed cornice. In the front gable the eaves do not protrude from the front wall surface. Symmetrical plantings on either side of the concrete steps partially obscure the the facade. This landscaping consists of lilac trees, fir trees and assorted shrubbery. In front of the greenery on either side of the stairs is a concrete flower box, presently unfilled. On the south elevation, three tall 20/20 doublehung sash windows with simple surrounds mark the original section of the building. A single casement window is cut into the fieldstone foundation. In the original section but adjacent to first addition, is a four panelled wooden door. Seven cast iron steps complete with a handrail lead to this side entranceway. The south elevation of the stage addition contains two 15/15 doublehung sash windows. There are only two other features on this section's south elevation: a single light casement window in the concrete foundation and a single panelled wooden door leading under the stage area. The south side of the shed addition, which.is only ten feet wide, contains a square panelled door leading into a storage area. The rear or east elevation of the shed section contains two 15/15 doublehung windows, behind which are the dressing rooms for the stage area. A tall brick chimney projects from the shed roof north of the ridge. Five windows light the north elevation. Like those on the other side elevation the two of the rear section are 15/15 while the three in the front are 20/20. A corbel-capped brick chimney protrudes from either side of the ridge near the front of the building. A dirt driveway is located along the south side of the Town Hall with the remains of an outbuilding's concrete foundation located at the end of the driveway. Interior Description: The interior of the Town Hall is very simple, limited to a large hall with four main sections: the foyer containing the restrooms and the kitchen; the meeting hall itself; the stage and two dressing rooms in in the rear. Today, as when the structure was first built eight feet is partitioned off the west end for two rooms, one at each end of the lobby. A single room was later made over those at the front of the building with stairs to it. The stage, with its elaborate light system and set design appears to be virtually unchanged since it was installed in 1917. Above the stage is an exposed rafter ceiling. The original floor of the town hall was laid with floorboards salvaged from the old meeting house located in another part of town. The Town Meeting of 1846 describes the seating: "The seats are the same thickness stuff as those in Lebanon (NH) townhouse and finished in the same manner with good merchantable pine stuff."(1) In 1908 the tiers of seats were removed and the floor relaid. The seats were replaced with benches and .tables, and at the same time kerosene lighting was installed. In 1915, the kerosene lighting was replaced with electricity. The most important aspect of the interior is the stage set designed by local resident, Maxfield Parrish in 1916. The backdrop portraying nearby Mt.Ascutney, adds color and life to the entire auditorium. Painted in tones of blue and purple, the backdrop was designed to portray varying skies, from daybreak to dusk depending on the stage lighting used. Parrish also designed the six side props which flank the woodland scene, consisting of birch and oak trees with large boulders. The set and props were painted by unidentified professional scenepainting technicians, following Parrish¹s design, using gouache or tempera paints. Click Back on your Browser