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The Chester Meeting House
(pictures courtesy of chesterct.com)
Perched on the edge of the Chester Village Green sits
a beautiful white building known as the Chester
Meeting House. Erected in 1793
to serve as a church for the Fourth Ecclesiastical Society
of Saybrook, it became the Town Hall once the Town of
Chester purchased it in 1847, following the relocation
of the church. The price, a mere $300,
was considered a bargain even then. Town meetings were
held there, but it also served as a venue for various
theatrical productions, recitals, dances,
and weddings.
Tom Thumb, P.T. Barnum’s diminutive
star, appeared there, as did numerous musical attractions,
lecturers, etc. By l960, however, time had blurred the
charm and usefulness of the structure, which had been
in steady decline. Town Meetings were eventually moved
to the elementary school, and there was talk of demolition.
The Chester Historical Society came
to the rescue in l970. Having been the buildings last
remaining tenants they made it their goal to raise the
money needed to restore the lovely old building, now
called The Chester Meeting House. They also succeeded
in protecting it for future generations by getting it
placed on the prestigious National Register
of Historic Places.
Since then, the Meeting House has been used extensively
for Town Meetings, public hearings, the Robbie Collomore
Cultural Series and Craftworks, and productions by The
National Theatre of the Deaf and the Chester Meeting
House Players, as well as numerous community events.
The River Rep Theatre Company is thrilled that its 97th professional production will be held in this
esteemed location and is confident its audience will
enjoy not only the intimacy and charm
of this jewel-box theatre but also
the close proximity it offers to the many fine shops
and restaurants of Chester Village.
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