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 very old building in Dover, New Hampshire. It's a special place where a group called the Quakers have met for worship. This meetinghouse was built way back in 1768. It's the only Quaker meetinghouse from the 1700s that is still standing in New Hampshire today. Because of its history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
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What is the Dover Friends Meetinghouse Like?
The Dover Friends Meetinghouse is located in Dover, near the Pine Hill Cemetery. It's a two-story building made of wood. It is about 50 feet long and 37 feet wide.
Unique Features of the Building
The building has some special features that were common for Quaker meetinghouses in the 1700s:
- It has two entrances on the long side. These were used so that men and women could enter separately.
- Inside, there's a wall that can be moved. This wall could divide the main room into two parts.
- There's also a special bench for the older members of the congregation.
History of the Dover Quakers
Quakers first came to the Dover area in 1662. At first, the local authorities, who were mostly Puritans, did not welcome them. But the Quakers kept their faith strong.
Early Quaker Gatherings
By 1680, the Quakers in Dover had formed a group. They built their first meetinghouse on Dover Neck. The building you see today, built in 1768, was actually their third meetinghouse.
A "Mother Congregation"
The Quaker group in Dover became very important. It was like a "mother congregation" for many new Quaker groups. These new groups started all over New Hampshire and in parts of Maine.
Changes Over Time
This meetinghouse was used regularly for worship until 1912. At that time, there weren't as many members, so it closed for a while. The building was still cared for and used sometimes. Then, in 1955, regular services started up again.
See also
Images for kids
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The Dover Friends Meetinghouse
