Sandown Old Meetinghouse facts for kids
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Sandown Old Meetinghouse
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | Fremont Rd., Sandown, New Hampshire |
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| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | 1773 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000219 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 09, 1978 |
The Sandown Old Meetinghouse is a very old and special building in Sandown, New Hampshire. It was built way back in 1773. This building is a great example of a Colonial-era meeting house.
It was used for both town meetings and religious services. What makes it so unique is how well it has been kept over the years. Both the inside and outside look almost exactly as they did centuries ago. Today, a group of people who care about history take care of it. The meetinghouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places.
What the Meetinghouse Looks Like
The Sandown Old Meetinghouse sits on a small hill. It is located on the east side of Fremont Road. This building has two stories and is made of wood. It has a sloped roof and its outside walls are covered with original wooden boards called clapboards. These boards are held on with old iron nails.
The roof has decorative blocks called modillions. These are small supports under the edge of the roof. The building is almost square. Each side has five sections with windows or doors. There are three main entrances. These are on the east, south, and west sides. Each entrance has decorative columns called pilasters. They are topped with triangular shapes called pediments.
The east and west doors are a little off-center. They have small windows above them called transom windows. These windows let in extra light.
Inside the Meetinghouse
The inside of the meetinghouse is very well preserved. It still has its original pulpit. This is a raised stand where a speaker would give sermons. It also has a sounding board. This is a canopy above the pulpit that helped project the speaker's voice.
You can also see the original box pews. These are like small, enclosed seating areas. They were common in churches long ago. Over time, a few changes were made. Wood stoves were added in the 1800s to keep people warm. Also, a small area was changed for a choir and an organ.
The railings in the gallery used to have small, decorative posts called balustrades. Most of these posts are now gone.
History of the Building
The meetinghouse was finished in 1773. It is located near the middle of Sandown town. It is also across from the old town pound. A town pound was a place where stray animals were kept.
This building was used for church services until 1834. It also served as the place for town meetings until 1929. After that, a local group took over its care. They work to keep this important piece of history safe. It is thought to be one of the best-preserved buildings of its kind in New Hampshire.
