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:
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 saddle-back hipped roof covered with red-orange terra cotta tiles, finials, and ridge crest and ridge capping \ Attic dormer details:
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:
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 |