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. It was built in 1900 as a memorial chapel. This beautiful chapel is located at 45 Mill Pond Road. It was once part of a family cemetery for the important Smith family.
Today, Smith Chapel is part of a small park that belongs to the town. It is a great example of Late Gothic Revival architecture. This style of building looks like old European churches. The chapel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in February 2013. It was also listed on the New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places in April 2013.
Contents
What Smith Chapel Looks Like
Smith Chapel sits in a small park that is about 2 acres in size. It looks out over the Oyster River. This area was once part of a large summer home owned by the Smith family. Now, the land around it has houses.
Building Materials and Design
The chapel is a single-story building shaped like a rectangle. It is made from rough granite stone blocks. These stones were dug up right there in the local area. The roof is very steep and pointed, like a triangle. The corners of the building have strong supports called buttresses.
Windows and Inside Features
Each side of the chapel has two tall, pointed windows. These are called Gothic windows. One end of the building has the main entrance, which also has a pointed window above it. The other end has a much larger window.
All the windows have beautiful stained glass. These colorful designs were made by a company called Redding and Baird in Boston, Massachusetts. Inside the chapel, you can still see the Gothic style. The roof is held up by special wooden beams called scissor trusses. There is also a small altar area.
History of Smith Chapel
The Smith Chapel was built in 1900. It stands on the spot where the Smith family had their cemetery. The Smith family was very well-known in the area.
Why the Chapel Was Built
A woman named Alice Smith had the chapel built. She wanted it to be a memorial for her husband, Hamilton Smith. Hamilton Smith was a rich mining engineer who had recently passed away. We do not know who designed the chapel.
From Family to Town Property
The chapel and the small cemetery stayed with the Smith family for a long time. Both family members and even their pets were buried there. In 1979, the Smith family gave the property to the town of Durham. Now, everyone can visit this historic and peaceful place.
See also
