THE MEETING HOUSE

The Old Baptist Meeting House is the home of the Salisbury Historical Society but was once the meeting house of the Baptists.

1791-Construction of the Meeting House began.

1794-Construction was completed. The style at the time was that the seating was in pews.

1839- Extensive renovations took place, straight line pews replaced box pews.  The entire church was moved back off the road, a backtower was removed, the north tower enlarged, galleries were removed, location of the pulpit changed, and new windows added, blinds were added and it was painted.

Later Josiah Green purchased a large clock and put it in the steeple.

1898- The interior of the  church was renovated by the congregation. It was the last major work done on the building while a church.

1920’s- In the  mid nineteen twenties the Baptists no longer held meetings there and the building became the property of the United Baptist Conference of the state. It was opened only for special occasions.

1938-The great New England Hurricane blew the steeple and weathervane off. A subscription was started to repair and replace them but funds never grew large enough to have the work done. 

1956- The Meeting House was deeded to the town and when the Historical Society was formed it was sold for $1 to the Society.

1966- The town used the money collected to have the exterior of the meeting house painted and handed sold to the Society.

“The Historical Society undertook extensive repairs. The old structure was jacked up and straightened, rewired, and repaired. The steeple, which had been blown off in the 1938 hurricane, was rebuilt as a gift of Mrs. Joseph Straight of Long Island, New York, a former summer resident. The old weathervane, which had been reconstructed, was replaced on the steeple, and the clock was made operational. The bulk of the repairs were the result of local fund-raising projects and work on the part of members and friends.

More recently the clock was rebuilt and put back in working order thanks to a contribution from Dr. John Kepper.”- Paul S. Shaw MD Historic Salisbury Houses 1995

2014- A much needed extensive exterior painting project took place during which time old paint was removed on both the Meeting House and Hearse House (adjacent Museum). This was done according to environmental regulations and at great expense to the Society but today both buildings stand quite crisp and tidy. Maintenance was done as well to assure their preservation.

 2021 August- Phase 1 extensive steeple repair work is done due to wood rot and weathering.

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Meeting House Location:

Salisbury Heights Route 4   Salisbury NH

Seasonal:

Fall and Winter Hours: Open by appointment. Please contact: shscurator@gmail.com or webmaster