Comstock-Cheney Hall : Construction, Theatre Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Comstock-Cheney Hall

United States historic place


Comstock-Cheney Hall
U.S. National Register of Historic Places


41°20′55″N 72°26′32″W / 41.34861°N 72.44222°W / 41.34861; -72.44222
Area	0.6 acres (0.24 ha)
Built	1910 and 1938
Architectural style	Classical Revival
NRHP reference No.	82003769^[1]
Added to NRHP	April 15, 1982

Comstock-Cheney Hall, also known as Ivoryton Playhouse, is a theater building located in the village of Ivoryton in the town of Essex, Connecticut, US. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The theatre is believed to be the first continuously operating summer theatre in the United States.

Construction

Construction began in 1910 and was completed 1911 as a recreation hall for the Comstock-Cheney factory.^[2] The building includes Classical Revival architecture. When listed the property included three contributing buildings on an area of 0.6 acres (0.24 ha).^[1]^[3]

Theatre

The theatre is believed to be the first self-supporting summer theatre in the United States.^[3] Although there were older theatres in Dennis, MA and Skowhegan, ME, they were endowed by foundations of wealthy families and not self-supporting. The Westport Country Playhouse was established one year after the Ivoryton Playhouse.

The Playhouse is on the National Register of Historic Places, as is indicated on the front of the building.^[4]

References

^ ^a ^b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
^ "Our History".
^ ^a ^b David F. Ransom (November 10, 1980). "NRHP Inventory-Nomination: Comstock-Cheney Hall / Ivoryton Playhouse". National Park Service. and Accompanying eight photos, exterior and interior, from 1980 (see photo key page 13 of text document)
^ National Register of Historical Places - CONNECTICUT (CT), Middlesex County