Keen Hall Rehabilation

Located at the intersection of Main Street and Route 137 in Freedom, near the recently restored Freedom Mill, Keen Hall was once the family home of Carter B. Keen (pictured left). Keen, a graduate of Freedom Academy, pursued a legal career in Washington, D.C., and in the 1910s became the first director of the Postal Savings System—a U.S. Postal Service initiative providing banking alternatives for immigrants and the working class.

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Even before his professional success, Keen was a generous supporter of Freedom Academy, funding repairs to its 1836 building (which no longer stands). Later, he transferred ownership of Keen Hall to the Academy for use as the Principal’s residence. In more recent years, the building housed the offices of Farmstead Press before returning to private residential use.

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Keen Hall has stood vacant for over five years and was recently acquired by the town of Freedom due to tax foreclosure. When the town put the property up for bid in the summer of 2014, the Freedom Historical Society was the sole bidder. However, issues with the property title delayed the transfer, postponing the planned renovations. Now that these legal hurdles have been resolved, the Historical Society must raise the necessary funds to restore the building.

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The Freedom community has successfully completed two adaptive reuse projects in the village in recent years, demonstrating a strong commitment to historic preservation. The Freedom Historical Society, in collaboration with local residents and a preservation architect, has developed a plan to transform Keen Hall into a library and community center.

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The proposed renovation includes:

• Office space

• A library and archives

• Exhibit and community meeting areas

• A second-floor studio apartment to generate rental income

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This adaptive reuse model not only helps sustain the Historical Society but also serves as a blueprint for preserving historically significant properties across the state. Financial support is crucial to bringing this vision to life and ensuring Keen Hall remains a vital part of the community for generations to come.