Ventress Hall, Marshfield, Mass. 22

Ventress Hall, Marshfield, Mass. 22

View of a large, shingle and clapboard structure named after its benefactor, Seth J. Ventress. It has a generous 3-story height, providing for high ceilings inside and large windows. The main part has a gable roof. A wing on the far side has a tall, steep, tower-like pyramidal roof. On the building's main facade, a large entry porch supports a deck above it. The second and third story is dominated by a monumental arched window arrangement. Two round plaques mounted on the wall read "SJV", and "1895", the building's construction date. A small water tower powered by a windmill mounted atop it stands in the background. According to a local newspaper article account, Ventress, a local mason, had left $10,000 to the town for the construction of a free library and hall useful for other town purposes. Over time the buiding has been used as also a high school, town hall, and police station. Recently it was renovated with community preservation funds for town offices and large gatherings.