Memorial Town Hall

Monson Memorial Town Hall is located on a one acre lot facing west on Main Street in the town's commercial/civic center. Set back 100 feet from the street on a site which slopes to the east, the building stands on property donated in 1884 by the Reynold's family, Monson's leading industrialists in the 19th century. This large stone structure stands out from its commercial and residential neighbors as an important local landmark. In keeping with its memorial character, two cannons- one from the Civil War, the other from World war I- and a monument grace the front lawn. Memorial Hall was designed in 1885 in the Victorian Gothic style by local architect George Potter.

Although rather complex in its roofline and massing, the Town Hall is basically T shaped in plan with a four story rectangular tower at its northwest corner, an octagonal turret at its southwest corner, a gabled pavillion centered on the facade (west elevation), and a cross gable on the south elevation. This two story structdure is constructed of rock faced random laid granite ashlar. Decorative trim used throughout the building includes heavy stone modillions at the roofline and alternative blue and white granite voussoirs forming the gothic arches which frame most entries and window openings and are a noted feature of the structure. The building is covered by a slate roof which consists of three components.

These include a front hip portion which is broken by a cross gable on the west elevation, a gambrel roof mid-section, and a gable roof at the rear of the building. These roof components also delineate the use of interior space which from front to back are: town offices and GAR Hall, auditorium and balcony, and a stage area. All ridges of the roof are trimmed with copper cresting.

/Architect George E. Potter Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) Monson Memorial Town Hall posseses integrity of location, design, materials, workmanship, setting, and association. It is significant as the community's most important piece of public architecture built of a material (granite) quarried locally, and endowed by a family prominent in Monson during the 19th century. In addition, it possesses enduring associations with the civic development of the community. Thus, the Memorial Hall meets criteria A, B, and C of the National Register of Historic Places. A cornerstone building in the center of Monson, the Memorial Hall building stands as a credit to the town and an honor to the patriot soldiers in whose memory it was designed and built.

The Reynold's family who proposed the project were generous and public-spirited; they conceived of the building to be a lcoal landmark, constructed by local builder's with local materials, for local war heroes. The idea for the Memorial Hall originated at the annual town meeting in 1884. A proposition was made by Rice M. Reynolds to donate a site and along with his brother Ted, both offered to donate $5,000 to the building fund. Their father, Joseph Reynolds, also offered a like sum, on the condition that the town contribute $20,000. It was further stipulated that the building be a memorial structure, be constructed of granite and be completed before May 1, 1885.

The Reynolds family holds a distinguished place in Monson's history; its members were astute businessmen and industrialists and generous, public-spirited citizens. Joseph Reynolds, the patriarch, came to Monson in 1821. He was at the forefront of the industrial revolution, and in his youth, had worked under Eli Whitney, inventor of the cotton gin, at Whitneyville, CT.