Birchwood Inn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Birchwood Inn
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | 340 NH 45, Temple, New Hampshire |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1892 |
| NRHP reference No. | 85001194 |
| Added to NRHP | June 6, 1985 |
The Birchwood Inn is a historic building in Temple, New Hampshire. It's a famous old inn and restaurant. This building shows how places for travelers changed in New Hampshire a long time ago. The inn has been called "The Birchwood" since 1892. For most of the 1800s, it was the only place for visitors to stay in town. Today, it's still a restaurant and inn. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. In 1981, the inn was even used to film parts of a movie called Summer. This movie was based on a book by Edith Wharton.
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Discovering the Birchwood Inn
The Birchwood Inn is located right in the middle of Temple village. You can find it on the east side of New Hampshire Route 45. The main building is quite large, with two and a half stories. It's made of both brick and wood. The front part of the building is covered in brick. The back part is made of wood and has clapboard siding.
A porch goes all the way across the front of the building. It also wraps around the sides. This porch is held up by square columns. Inside, some of the walls have special paintings. These were done by a famous artist named Rufus Porter. The inn also has a very old and well-kept taproom. A connecting building, built around 1847-1848, was once a barn for horses. Above the barn, there's a big open hall.
A Long and Lively History
We don't know exactly when the Birchwood Inn was first built. But its style suggests it was built between 1790 and 1830. It has always been a welcoming place for people. For many years, the building was used for town meetings. It also served as the town's post office and general store.
In 1847-1848, the inn got bigger. This allowed it to offer more fun activities. The ballroom on the second floor even had a special "sprung" wooden floor. This type of floor was great for dancing! The front porch was added in 1892. At that time, new owners bought the inn. They turned it into a boarding house for tourists. In the 1930s, the inn was updated again. It got indoor plumbing and electricity, which were big improvements!
Modern Updates and Local Craftsmanship
The Birchwood Inn had a big restoration project in early 2020. The goal was to keep its historic look and feel. They made sure to buy all the building materials from local businesses. For example, the high tables and bar top in the tavern are very special. They are made from a cherry tree that fell in a big ice storm in 2008. This tree came from the nearby town of Sharon.
Music and Community Fun
Since April 2020, the Birchwood Inn has been hosting live music. These performances happen outdoors, right in front of the tavern. People from the town can stop by and enjoy the music. The musicians' performances are also streamed live. You can watch them on the Birchwood Inn’s social media page. It's a great way for the inn to connect with the community.
