Walker Hall

The DeForest family contributed largely to the endowment of the Watertown Library built in 1883 and 1884. Architect R.W. Hill designed this gray Quincy granite of the building which was built by Flynt & Co. of Munson, MA. Mr. Hill is also known for his design of the Thomaston Opera House. This distinctive structure of the Richardsonian Romanesque style features an entry with a deep Syrian arch supported on short Romanesque-Revival style colonettes and flanked by Ionic pilasters that support a scrolled pediment. Above the pediment entry are paired windows and a cross-gable, decorated with granite blocks of different hues, forming a checkered pattern. Granite quoins and eave modillions further embellish the structure. Known As: Watertown Library; Trinity Lutheran Church

Established in 1865, the Watertown Library began in the Old Academy building – this building became its home in 1884. The DeForest brothers, Dr. John and Benajamin, donated well over $25,000 (worth almost ¾ million today) for the purchase of books and an endowment. The library was housed here until 1958 when it became a church, after which it was purchased by Taft School.

This continued to be the town library until the new library on Main Street was completed in 1955. The building was purchased by Trinity Lutheran Church in 1958 for $19,000; it was considered a satellite of the First Lutheran Church of Waterbury, which assumed financial obligations to ready the building for worship services. The dedication took place on February 8, 1959, and the congregation included 75 adults and 25 children. 

After Trinity Lutheran and Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Thomaston voted to become a consolidated, single brand new church, the building was sold to Dale Carlson and Virginia Kesler Carlson of Danbury for $175,000.  It was eventually purchased by the Taft School, and is now called Walker Hall and it is used as a performing arts space and chapel.