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 and important building in Allenstown, New Hampshire. It's also known as the Old Allenstown Meeting House. This special building was built way back in 1815. It's the only one of its kind left in New Hampshire! It was used for both church services and town meetings. Imagine one building for both!
This historic building became a protected place in 2004. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in December 2004. Before that, it was listed on the New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places in July 2004. Today, the town of Allenstown takes care of it.
Contents
What the Meeting House Looks Like
The Allenstown Meeting House is located in a quiet, natural area. It sits on the north side of Deerfield Road. Even though it's inside Bear Brook State Park, the town of Allenstown owns and maintains it.
Building Design and Materials
This building is made of wood and has one story. It has a pointed roof, called a gable roof. The whole structure rests on a strong foundation made of granite. The building has a heavy timber frame inside. Its outside walls are covered with wooden clapboards. These are long, thin boards that overlap.
The front of the building faces the road. It has five sections, called bays. There is a main door in the middle. Two windows are on each side of the door.
Inside the Meeting House
When you go inside, you can still see many original features. It has its first box pews. These are like small, enclosed seating areas. The original pulpit is also still there. The pulpit is where the speaker would stand.
In 1985, a part of the building was damaged by fire. Luckily, it was carefully repaired. The inside floor slopes slightly. This was a clever design choice. It helped people sitting in the back see better.
History of the Meeting House
The Allenstown Meeting House has a long and interesting history. It served as a central place for the community for many years.
How it Was Built
The meeting house was built in 1815. The land for it 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 it. So, the town stepped in to help pay for its completion.
Serving the Community
From 1815 until 1876, the building was very important. It was the main place for both town meetings and religious services. After 1876, the town stopped using it for civic purposes. The small church group also moved to other churches nearby.
Later Years and Restoration
In 1908, the town gave its share of ownership to a local group. This group was part of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). The DAR chapter helped take care of the building.
After the fire in 1985, the DAR chapter offered the building to the state. The state then did some restoration work in 1993 and 1994. Finally, in 2004, the town of Allenstown bought the building back from the state. It is special because it's the only single-story meeting house from that time period still standing in New Hampshire.
More to Explore
- 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
