Center Meetinghouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Center Meetinghouse
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | NH 103, Newbury, New Hampshire |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1832 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000201 |
| Added to NRHP | December 19, 1979 |
The Center Meetinghouse is a historic building in Newbury, New Hampshire. You can find it on NH 103. This special building was constructed around 1832. It was built in a style called "Federal," which was popular for buildings at that time. It replaced an older meetinghouse from 1797.
This meetinghouse is quite unique in New Hampshire. It's believed to be the only Federal-style church where the speaker's stand, called a pulpit, is located at the back of the main room. Originally, different religious groups used the building. Today, a local non-profit group runs it as a community center for everyone. The Center Meetinghouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
Contents
Discovering the Center Meetinghouse
The Center Meetinghouse stands in an important spot in Newbury's main village. It looks out over the southern part of Lake Sunapee. You'll find it at the corner where New Hampshire Routes 103 and 103A meet. It's a single-story building made of wood. It has a pointed roof and its outside walls are covered with overlapping wooden boards called clapboards.
Building Style and Features
The front of the building has decorative blocks called modillions. These blocks are also found under the main roof edges. A part of the front wall sticks out a little. On each side of this part are tall windows. These windows have half-round fan shapes at the top. There are two doors, placed evenly on the front. Each door has flat, column-like decorations called pilasters next to it. These pilasters reach up to a curved arch design above the doors.
A two-part tower rises above the front of the building. The first part of the tower has arched openings with slats, called louvers. This part is topped with a decorative edge and a railing. The second part of the tower is open. It has square, clapboard-covered columns. These columns support a similar, but smaller, decorative edge and railing. A tall, pointed spire sits at the very top of the tower.
Inside the Meetinghouse
Inside, the meetinghouse still has many of its original features. It has the old-fashioned box pews. These are like small, enclosed seating areas. They face the back of the main room. The beautifully carved pulpit is raised up at the back, between the two entrance aisles.
History of the Meetinghouse
The meetinghouse was built in 1832. At this time, the Federal style was slowly being replaced by a newer style called Greek Revival. However, the woodwork inside this building is a great example of the Federal style. It shows no signs of the newer Greek Revival influence.
A Unique Design Choice
It's thought to be the only Federal-style church in New Hampshire that still has its pulpit at the back. During the 1800s, many churches changed their pulpits to face the front. But this meetinghouse kept its original design.
Built for Everyone
A group called the "Religious Toleration Society" built the meetinghouse. They made it available for several local church groups to use. This meant different faiths could share the space.
Restoration Efforts
Later in the 1800s, the building started to show its age. The town's population also became smaller. In 1892, a local resident named John Hay helped with an early restoration. In 1932, the building was given to a group of trustees. However, they didn't have much money, and the building again needed repairs in the 1900s. Finally, a new community group fully restored the meetinghouse in 2005.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Merrimack County, New Hampshire
- New Hampshire Historical Marker No. 81: Center Meeting House
