A Missionary's House by the Vories Office
The Allen Memorial Hall (アレン記念館) is a two-storey wooden house built in 1941 in Honcho, Kuji City, Iwate Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on November 29, 2016. It was built as the home of Thomasine Allen, an American woman missionary, and designed by the Vories architectural office (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Kuji City).
The Agency for Cultural Affairs records it as a two-storey wooden building with a copper roof and a building area of 65 square metres; registration number 03-0087, owned by the Tohoku Bunka Gakuen University educational corporation. The record also notes a renovation in 2008.
Thomasine Allen's Home
According to Kuji City, Thomasine Allen devoted her life to education and welfare in the Kuji area and is an honorary citizen of the city. This was her residence.
The design came from the office of William Merrell Vories, the American-born architect (Kuji City, Agency for Cultural Affairs), whose firm designed many houses, churches and schools across Japan; this modest house in Kuji is one of them.
Why It Was Registered
The Allen Memorial Hall was registered as a building that has become a model of design. The Agency for Cultural Affairs points to a plan centred on a guest room with a fireplace, a kitchen thoughtfully fitted with built-in furniture such as an ironing board, and an upstairs balcony, describing it as a house designed for a Western way of life.
What to Look For
The plan of the Allen Memorial Hall revolves around the guest room with its fireplace (Agency for Cultural Affairs), which puts the room for receiving visitors at the heart of the house.
The kitchen has built-in fittings such as an ironing board (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Outside, look for the balcony on the upper floor.
Visiting the Allen Memorial Hall
We found no official information on interior access or visits to the Allen Memorial Hall. It is owned by the Tohoku Bunka Gakuen University educational corporation and stands at 3-11 Honcho, Kuji City; check with the owner before visiting.
Q&A
- When was the Allen Memorial Hall built?
- In 1941 (Kuji City).
- Whose home was the Allen Memorial Hall?
- It was the home of Thomasine Allen, an American woman missionary and honorary citizen of Kuji.
- Who designed the Allen Memorial Hall in Kuji?
- The architectural office of William Merrell Vories (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Kuji City).
- What are the Allen Memorial Hall's notable features?
- A plan centred on a fireplace guest room, a kitchen with built-in fittings such as an ironing board, and an upstairs balcony (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Can you visit the Allen Memorial Hall?
- There is no official information on visits; check with the owner, Tohoku Bunka Gakuen University.
Basic Information
| Name | Allen Memorial Hall (アレン記念館) |
|---|---|
| Location | 3-11 Honcho, Kuji City, Iwate Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2016/11/29 (Heisei 28) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Wooden, 2 storeys, copper roof, building area 65 square metres |
| Owner | Tohoku Bunka Gakuen University (educational corporation) |
| Public Access | No official information on public access |
References
- Allen Memorial Hall (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00011232
- Cultural properties of Kuji (Kuji City)
- https://www.city.kuji.lg.jp/soshiki/bunka/1/3/2917.html
Last verified: 2026.10.06