Our architectural paradise

 The three main buildings in downtown Fairfield are iconic only to people who have a memory of the town. To each, there is a specific memory, or a general one. These old structures were just there, doing what they did in the hundred-plus years they existed. 

There might be evidence on their origins, what they cost, where the building materials came from, what their overall purpose served. Three-story buildings in the 1800s were considered skyscrapers.

Fairfield, as just 'another town' along the river, didn't merit these architectural shrines. Yet, there they stood, to the end. Floors were warped, the ceilings were water-stained and none of them cared if you couldn't climb the steps.

Those upper floors? Not for kids. Not for discussion.

Some of it was used for dwelling space. 

And over the years, for many goods and services. All of it interesting.

The Town Hall:

The K of P lodge (also apartments and various mercantile businesses):

The Masonic Hall:

Not much in these photos that reveals much. But if you are looking for the Golden Age of Fairfield and the East Fork, you found it. Note the architecture. If you know the trends, you can date the structures. The fire escape ladder on the Lodge wall is intriguing. Nobody ever had to use it. 

These photos do not represent their original charm, obviously, since the pictures were taken after Fairfield was doomed. Upkeep had long ceased. How much longer could these buildings have stood? 

Giza.