Dover Friends Meetinghouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Dover Religious Society of Friends Meetinghouse
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Meetinghouse c. 1915
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | 141 Central Ave., Dover, New Hampshire |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1768 |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000421 |
| Added to NRHP | February 29, 1980 |
The Dover Religious Society of Friends Meetinghouse is a historic building in Dover, New Hampshire. It's a special place where Quakers, also known as the Religious Society of Friends, gathered for worship. This meetinghouse was built in 1768. It's very important because it's the only Quaker meetinghouse from the 1700s that is still standing in New Hampshire today. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, recognizing its historical value.
Exploring the Dover Meetinghouse
The Dover Friends Meetinghouse is found on Central Avenue in Dover. It is close to the Pine Hill Cemetery. The building is made of wood and has two stories. It is about 50 feet long and 37 feet wide.
In the 1800s, a small entrance area was added to the front. This part has a simple Greek Revival style. Inside, the meetinghouse has special features that were common in Quaker buildings from the 1700s. For example, there are two entrances on the long side of the building. These were used to keep men and women separate when they entered. There is also a wall in the middle of the main room that could be moved. This allowed the space to be divided or opened up. A special bench was also there for the elders, who were important leaders in the Quaker community.
A Look at Quaker History in Dover
Quakers first arrived in the Dover area in 1662. At that time, they faced strong opposition from the Puritan leaders who were in charge. However, the Quakers kept going. By 1680, they had formed their own group and built a meetinghouse on Dover Neck.
The meetinghouse standing today, built in 1768, was actually the third building used by this Quaker group. The Dover congregation became a "mother congregation." This means it helped start many new Quaker groups across New Hampshire and in southwestern Maine.
This building was used for regular worship until 1912. At that time, there were not enough members, so the meetinghouse closed its regular services. It was still taken care of and used sometimes until 1955. After that, regular services started up again, and the meetinghouse has been active since.
See also
