Smith Chapel (Durham, New Hampshire) facts for kids
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Smith Chapel
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | 45 Mill Pond Road, Durham, New Hampshire |
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| Area | 1.84 acres (0.74 ha) |
| Built | 1900 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 13000009 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 13, 2013 |
Smith Chapel is a special old building in Durham, New Hampshire, United States. It was built in 1900 as a memorial, which means it was made to remember someone important. This chapel is located in a family cemetery, a place where family members are buried.
The chapel is a great example of Late Gothic Revival architecture. This style looks like old European churches with pointed arches and tall windows. Today, Smith Chapel is part of a small public park that everyone can visit. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013. This list helps protect important historical places across the country. It was also added to the New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places the same year.
Contents
Discovering Smith Chapel
What is Smith Chapel?
Smith Chapel is a small, one-story building. It sits in a park that is about 2 acres (0.8 hectares) big. From the park, you can see the Oyster River. This area was once part of a much larger summer home owned by the Smith family.
The chapel is built from strong granite stone blocks. These stones were dug up right there in the local area. The roof is very steep and pointed, which is a common feature of Gothic style buildings. The corners of the chapel have special supports called buttresses. These help make the building strong.
A Look Inside and Out
On the sides of the chapel, you'll see two tall, pointed windows. These are called Gothic windows. The main entrance is at one end of the building. Above the entrance, there's another pointed window. The window on the opposite end is even larger.
All the windows in the chapel have beautiful stained glass. These colorful glass designs were made by a company called Redding and Baird in Boston, Massachusetts. Inside, the chapel continues the Gothic style. The roof is supported by special wooden beams called scissor trusses. There is also a small altar area inside.
The Story Behind the Chapel
The Smith Chapel was built in 1900. It stands on the site of the Smith family's cemetery. A woman named Alice Smith had the chapel built to remember her husband, Hamilton Smith. He was a very successful mining engineer.
The person who designed the chapel is not known today. The chapel and the small cemetery stayed with the Smith family for many years. In 1979, the family gave the property to the town of Durham. This means it became a public place for everyone to enjoy. The cemetery is unique because it holds both family members and their pets.
See also
