National Register of Historic Places

Founder's Hall

Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts
Listed
April 13, 1980
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
80001678

About this property

Founder's Hall, also known as Haskell Hall, is a historic academic building located on the campus of Atlantic Union College in Lancaster, Massachusetts, United States. Constructed in 1883, it holds the distinction for being the oldest educational building constructed for a Seventh-day Adventist institution. The notable building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, recognizing its significance in American history and architecture. Founder's Hall is situated near the center of the Atlantic Union College campus, located on the west side of Main Street (Massachusetts Route 70) in South Lancaster, Massachusetts. It is a charming 2.5-story wood-frame building, with a hip roof and a projecting gable section crowned by a square tower. This tower has an open upper level, with arched openings supported by square posts. A shed-roof porch, adorned with Victorian trim, extends across the projecting section. The building's exterior has remained largely intact, with the only significant modifications being the addition of small exit doors which provide access to an iron fire escape staircase. Originally known as South Lancaster Academy, the school was established in 1883 by Stephen N. Haskell, an elder of the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) church. The building was designed by Worcester architects Barker & Nourse, and is the oldest educational SDA facility standing. It was built using mainly donated labor, from wood cut nearby. The building has seen a succession of educational uses, housing the music department and religion center, as well as a collection of SDA memorabilia. The institution changed names, first to Lancaster Junior College, and then to Atlantic Union College, whose administrative offices it now houses. National Register of Historic Places listings in Worcester County, Massachusetts

Location

Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts
42.44520, -71.68558

Categories

EDUCATIONARCHITECTURERELIGION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

South Lancaster Engine House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Middle Cemetery
Listed
0.6 mi
Thayer, Nathaniel, Estate
Industrial
0.6 mi
Old Settlers' Burying Ground
Listed
0.7 mi
Atherton Bridge
Industrial
0.7 mi

Nearby Battles

First Lancaster Raid
1675Colonial
0.7 mi
Attack on Lancaster 1676
1676Colonial
0.9 mi
Raid on Lancaster MA (King Philip's War)
1676Colonial
0.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Founder's Hall listed on the National Register?

Founder's Hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 13, 1980.

What type of historic resource is Founder's Hall?

Founder's Hall is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Founder's Hall?

The period of significance for Founder's Hall is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Founder's Hall?

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