1840s architecture

Old Wayland Town House – Lovell’s Market // 1841

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The Old Wayland Town House on Cochituate Road is an imposing Greek Revival temple-front building that has served various uses for the community. The structure was built in 1841 to serve as Wayland’s first municipal building and it was referred to as the Town House, with a large classroom and a small entry space on the first floor and a town meeting hall on the second. In 1850, the Wayland Free Public Library was opened in the building, in a small room in the front of the building. The small building was quickly outgrown for its civic uses, and in 1878, Wayland built a new, large Stick style town hall (demolished in 1958). The old Town House was sold to Lorenzo Knight Lovell (1837-1909), who soon after converted the Town House into a dry goods and grocery store known as Lovell’s Market. Following Lorenzo Lovell’s death, his son William S. Lovell ran the store until about 1922 when he leased the building to Lawrence Collins, who remained here for nearly 60 years operating his own store. Collins Market was eventually purchased in the late 1980s and converted to office space, which remains today.

Scotland Congregational Church // 1842

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The main visual anchor of the charming town green of Scotland, Connecticut, is this building, the Scotland Congregational Church. Built in 1842 as the congregation’s third building, this Greek Revival style edifice features stately proportions, temple-front with four large Doric columns supporting the portico, and a two-stage belfry. The chapel (some say it was converted from the original town hall) was acquired by the congregation in 1867, and has remained in its new location ever since. Later alterations include the stained glass windows and clock in the pediment, which dates to the early 20th century.

Eastford Baptist Church // 1843

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One thing so many small New England towns have are charming wood-frame white churches from the first half of the 19th century, Eastford, Connecticut is no exception. In 1793, a Baptist Society was organized at Northford (then a part of Ashford), and the first pastor, Daniel Bolton, oversaw construction of the first church there. Fifty years later, the congregation grew and their finances allowed for the construction of this Greek Revival style church in 1843. The building was added onto for a Ladies Benevolent Society and a Sunday School, giving the structure its larger appearance today. While the church is today is covered in later siding, the building is well-maintained and the original siding is likely underneath for a future restoration.

Liberty Street School // 1847

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The Liberty Street School building in Warren, Rhode Island, was built in 1847 and beyond its clear architectural significance, it is significant as the third high school building constructed in the state, and is the oldest survivor of its type. Architect Thomas Alexander Tefft, one of the nation’s first professionally trained architects, designed the school when he was just 21 years old! The young architect would later take an excursion around Europe in the mid 1850s, but would fall ill with a fever in Florence, Italy and he died there in 1859. He was just 33 years old when he died. The Liberty Street school building was eventually closed and has sat largely vacant for years. A recent proposal to restore the building and add onto the rear for condominium units has been a site of contention for the town in recent years.