Freese's Tavern facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Freese's Tavern
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Location | 1011 Whittier Hwy., Moultonborough, New Hampshire |
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Area | 0.8 acres (0.32 ha) |
Built | 1780 |
NRHP reference No. | 82001668 |
Added to NRHP | April 29, 1982 |
Freese's Tavern is a very old building in Moultonborough, New Hampshire. It is located at 1011 Whittier Highway, where New Hampshire Routes 109 and 25 meet. This historic place has been many things over the years. It has been a tavern, a general store, a post office, a library, and even a town hall.
The building started around 1780. This makes it one of the oldest places of its kind in the United States. Today, it is known as The Old Country Store. You can also find museum displays inside that tell its long story. In 1982, Freese's Tavern was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a special place worth protecting.
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Exploring The Old Country Store
The Old Country Store is in the center of Moultonborough village. It sits at the corner of Whittier Highway (NH 25) and Holland Street (NH 109). The building is two and a half stories tall. It is made from strong, rough-cut wooden beams. The outside is covered with overlapping wooden boards called clapboards.
Building Features and Changes
You will see single-story porches on the sides that face the streets. A smaller building, which used to be a stable for horses, is attached to the south side. In 1870, a small addition with a pointed roof was built on the north side. Two more parts were added to the building in the 1950s. These additions helped the store grow over time.
A Building with Many Lives
The oldest part of the building was built around 1780. It was built by a man named George Freese. He was important in the local community. During his time, town meetings started to be held right here. This shows how central the building was to the town's life.
Later, David Bean became the owner. He also served as the town's postmaster. This meant the building was where people picked up and sent their mail. In the late 1800s, the town library was located upstairs. People could go there to borrow books. The building stopped being a post office in 1967.
Today, The Old Country Store continues its long history. It is a place where you can learn about the past. You can also buy things, just like people did many years ago.