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 |