Hampstead Meetinghouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hampstead Meetinghouse
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | Emerson Ave., Hampstead, New Hampshire |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1749 |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000301 |
| Added to NRHP | April 10, 1980 |
The Hampstead Meetinghouse is a very old building in Hampstead, New Hampshire. It was also known as Hampstead Town Hall. This special building was used for two main things: religious services and town meetings.
Work on the building started in 1749. However, the inside wasn't completely finished until about 1768. The Hampstead Meetinghouse is one of the best-preserved 18th-century meeting houses in southeastern New Hampshire. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This means it's an important historical place in the United States.
What Does the Meetinghouse Look Like?
The Hampstead Meetinghouse is in the middle of Hampstead village. It is a two-story building made of wood. It has a pointed roof and its outside walls are covered with overlapping wooden boards called clapboards.
Unlike churches built later, its main door is on the long side of the building. This door is in the center of the front. It has decorative columns on each side and a triangular shape above it. A tall bell tower stands next to the main part of the building. It has another entrance at its base. The tower goes up to an open, eight-sided section where the bell hangs, topped with a spire.
A Look Inside and Its History
When it was first built, the inside of the meetinghouse was one big room. It had a balcony, called a gallery, around three sides. The main floor likely had special seating areas called box pews. There was also a raised pulpit for speakers, with a sounding board above it to help voices carry.
Building the meetinghouse began in 1749. But it took a long time to finish. The inside walls were finally plastered in 1768. The bell tower was added later, in 1793, during some updates. A porch was also built at that time.
The bell in the tower was put there in 1809. This bell is very special. It was made by a company that included Paul Revere, Jr. He was the son of Paul Revere, who was famous during the American Revolution. This bell might be the only one left from their company.
The building stopped being used for church services in 1837. In 1856, the gallery level was fully enclosed. This created a complete second floor. This new second story was then used for plays and other performances.
More to Explore
- New Hampshire Historical Marker No. 247: The Bell of Hampstead Meetinghouse
