Allenstown Meeting House facts for kids
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Allenstown Meeting House
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Allenstown Meeting House
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | Deerfield Rd., Allenstown, New Hampshire |
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| Area | 0.4 acres (0.16 ha) |
| Built | 1815 |
| Architect | Kenison, James, Samuel & Nathaniel; et al. |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 04001327 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 06, 2004 |
The Allenstown Meeting House is a very old building in Allenstown, New Hampshire. It was built in 1815. This special building is the only one of its kind left in New Hampshire. It's a single-story building in the Federal style.
For many years, it was used for two important things. People gathered there for religious services. It also served as a place for town meetings. This means it was both a church and a community center. The building is now owned and cared for by the town of Allenstown. It became a protected historic place in 2004.
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Discovering the Allenstown Meeting House
The Allenstown Meeting House is located in a quiet, natural area. You can find it on the north side of Deerfield Road. Even though it's inside Bear Brook State Park, the town of Allenstown owns it. This building is made of wood. It has a sloped roof and sits on a strong granite base.
What the Building Looks Like Inside and Out
The meeting house has a sturdy frame made of heavy timber. Its outside walls are covered with wooden boards called clapboards. The front of the building faces the road. It has a main door in the middle. Two windows are on each side of the door. This makes five sections across the front.
Inside, the building still has its original features. You can see the old box pews. These are like small, enclosed seating areas. There is also the original pulpit. This is a raised platform where a speaker would stand. The floor inside slopes slightly. This design helped everyone see better, even those sitting in the back.
Restoring the Meeting House
In 1985, a fire caused some damage to the building. The northwest corner was affected. Luckily, the damage was carefully repaired. The building was restored to look like it did before. This helped keep its historic look and feel.
The History of the Meeting House
The Allenstown Meeting House was built in 1815. The land for the building was given by Judge Hall Burgin. It was first planned to be only a church. However, the church group didn't have enough money to finish building it. So, the town helped pay to complete the construction.
How the Building Was Used Over Time
From 1815 until 1876, the meeting house was very important. It was the main place for both town meetings and religious gatherings. After 1876, the town stopped using it for civic purposes. The small church group also started going to other churches nearby.
In 1908, the town gave its share of ownership to a group called the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). This group helped take care of the building. After the fire in 1985, the DAR offered the building to the state. The state then helped with more restoration work in 1993 and 1994. Finally, in 2004, the town of Allenstown took ownership again. This building is special because it's the only single-story meeting house from that time period still standing in New Hampshire.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Merrimack County, New Hampshire
- New Hampshire Historical Marker No. 193: Old Allenstown Meeting House / Meeting House Burying Ground
