Holderness Inn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Holderness Inn
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | US 3, Holderness, New Hampshire |
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| Area | 0.8 acres (0.32 ha) |
| Built | 1895 |
| Built by | Davison, John S. |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 84000523 |
| Added to NRHP | December 13, 1984 |
The Holderness Inn is an old hotel building in Holderness, New Hampshire. It was built a long time ago, in 1895-1896. This inn is special because it's the only hotel from that time still standing near Squam Lake. Back then, many hotels were built around the lake for visitors.
The Holderness Inn was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. This means it's an important historical building that should be protected. Today, the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center owns the building. You can visit it during certain times of the year to see an art gallery and craft showroom.
Contents
What the Holderness Inn Looks Like
The Holderness Inn is a large building made of wood. It has three and a half stories. The outside is covered with clapboard siding. It has a special roof called a gabled mansard roof.
A smaller part of the building, called a wing, sticks out from the main part. This wing also has a similar roof. There's also a two-story addition on the north side of the wing. A big porch wraps around three sides of the main building.
Inside, the ground floor used to have common areas. These included a lounge, meeting rooms, a reception desk, a kitchen, and a dining area. The upper floors were where guests slept in their rooms. Even though it's used differently now, many of the original details are still there. You can see the old plaster and woodwork.
History of the Holderness Inn
Building After a Fire
The Holderness Inn was built by a man named John Davison. He started building it in 1895 and finished in 1896. Before this, John Davison had another hotel. That hotel was an old church building that he had changed into a hotel. Sadly, that first hotel was destroyed in a fire.
The town of Holderness really wanted John Davison to rebuild his hotel. His business was very important for the town's economy. Because of this, the town decided to help him. They said he wouldn't have to pay taxes on the new building for ten years if he rebuilt it. The town even offered a reward to catch the person who started the fire!
Name Change and New Purpose
When the new hotel first opened, it was called the "Central Inn." But soon after, its name was changed to the Holderness Inn. The Davison family owned and ran the inn for a very long time, until 1967.
After 1967, the Holderness Inn was given to the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center. Today, it's no longer a hotel. Instead, it's used by the science center and hosts an art gallery and craft showroom. It's a great example of an old building finding a new purpose!
