Oakes Ames Memorial Hall - Table of Contents  ......................  Architecture Around the World

2013 photos
Exterior -
Oakes Ames Memorial Hall
3 Barrows St, North Easton, MA 02356
Official Website

Date: 1879-1881

Architect:

H. H. Richardson
Landscape architect:
Frederick Law Olmsted

Style:

Richardsonian Romanesque
Status:
Contributing member of the H. H. Richardson Historic District of North Easton, Massachusetts

Illustrations on this page, below:

Facade - East elevation


 Source: History of Easton, Mass., by W. L. Chaffin, 1886, pp. 687-688 (online June 2013)



Right: Ames Free Library. Both buildings designed by Richardson in his Richardsonian Romanesque style.



Facade/east elevation.
The massive structure sits high above the street on granite outcropping with a commanding view of the surrounding historic district.

The children of Oakes Ames commissioned H. H. Richardson to design the Memorial Hall as a tribute to their father and a gift to the town. It was originally intended for use as a Town Hall, but in practice has mainly served as a meeting space for private groups.

Details of the building below:




Attic:



Attic saddle-back hipped roof covered with red-orange terra cotta tiles,  finials, and ridge crest and ridge capping


\
Attic dormer details:
  • Polychromy
  • Bud finials made of reddish brown Longmeadow brownstone
  • Warm light brown Monson granite voussoirs
  • "OA": Oakes Ames" (The hall was built  as a gift to the town from children of Congressman Oakes Ames.)
  • Three granite engaged columns
  • Two stained glass windows



 Northeast octagonal, polychromatic tower - on the frieze are carved the twelve signs of the zodiac



Northeast octagonal tower: Stone roof ... On the frieze are carved the twelve signs of the zodiac.
 Detail below:



Northeast octagonal tower:



Left: Brick second story with windows and surround made of reddish brown Longmeadow brownstone.
Right: Northeast octagonal tower constructed of warm light brown Monson granite



Second story



Second story:



First story. Details below:



First story.  3 details below:



Detail #1 ; Lion's face ... Double row of dentils ... Grape(?) carving



Detail #2



Detail #3 - Bead-and-reel molding  ...   Greek cross in the center of Celtic guilloches



First story polychromatic  arcade features five massive Syrian arches ...  Northeast octagonal tower



First floor: 
  • Polychromy
  • Top center: Native, pinkish-gray North Easton granite
  • Voussoirs: Warm light brown Monson granite trimmed with reddish brown Longmeadow brownstone
  • Capitalcolumn shaft and balusters constructed of reddish brown Longmeadow brownstone



First floor.
Capital: carved Scottish thistle, thistle leaves, and animal faces (next photo below;)


First floor.  Capital: animal face emerging from Scottish thistle leaves


First floor.  Capital: animal face emerging from Scottish thistle leaves


South Elevation


South and east elevations.
A lower gable roof, also of red-orange terra cotta tiles, extends over the southern section of the hall.



South elevation.  Polychromy


South elevation.  Greek cross and finial at top ... Trefoil carved in lintel



South elevation



South elevation



South elevation



Native, pinkish-gray North Easton granite



North elevation


  North elevation



  North elevation.  Polychromy


  North elevation.  Northeast octagonal tower. On the frieze are carved the twelve signs of the zodiac. The three signs in this photo: Virgo (The Maiden), Libra  (The Scales), Scorpio  (The Scorpion)


  North elevation. Northeast octagonal tower:
On the frieze are carved the twelve signs of the zodiac. The three signs in this photo: Libra  (The Scales), Scorpio  (The Scorpion), Sagittarius (bow and arrow)


      North elevation



      North elevation
    Note lion  scupper at left (detail in next illustration below:)



      North elevation
      Lion scupper



      North elevation.  Polychromy


      North elevation




    Special thanks to Board of Directors member John Morgan for his assistance in 2013

    Photos and their arrangement © 2013 Chuck LaChiusa
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