UNION HALL, NORTH HAVEN
Built in 1874 and also known as Crockett’s Hall and later as the North Haven Grange Hall, this building served as the space for high school classes from 1887 to 1906 prior to the construction of the High School - Center School. James A. Lewis, recalled attending high school at Union Hall, where he learned to dance:
A number of us learned to dance while attending High School, the year High School was held upstairs in what is now the Grange Hall -- my first year. This made a good school room, light and warm…For dancing we cleared a space in front of the desks at noon time…Lester Stone, then the oldest boy in school, and about the best dancer in town, was our teacher…Lester was an excellent instructor. He played the harmonica, prompted, and danced, sometimes doing all three at the same time. We were good pupils, anxious to learn. Dancing was an important feature of the social life of the town.
James A. Lewis, NHHS Class of 1908, alumni submission in the 1956 yearbook
Grammar school classes were also held at Union Hall in 1905 and 1906 after the West District and Pulpit Harbor schools closed. Once the High School - Center School opened in 1907, all classes ended at Union Hall. The space continued to be used over the years for school functions, meetings, dances, and even basketball games.
A number of us learned to dance while attending High School, the year High School was held upstairs in what is now the Grange Hall -- my first year. This made a good school room, light and warm…For dancing we cleared a space in front of the desks at noon time…Lester Stone, then the oldest boy in school, and about the best dancer in town, was our teacher…Lester was an excellent instructor. He played the harmonica, prompted, and danced, sometimes doing all three at the same time. We were good pupils, anxious to learn. Dancing was an important feature of the social life of the town.
James A. Lewis, NHHS Class of 1908, alumni submission in the 1956 yearbook
Grammar school classes were also held at Union Hall in 1905 and 1906 after the West District and Pulpit Harbor schools closed. Once the High School - Center School opened in 1907, all classes ended at Union Hall. The space continued to be used over the years for school functions, meetings, dances, and even basketball games.