Salisbury Heights or Center Village

Over the decades, Salisbury Heights has undergone numerous changes.

In Chapter XXX of John Dearborn’s History of Salisbury, NH, published in 1890 on pages 393 and 394, there is a description from 1823. It states that Center Road Village, also called Salisbury Heights, refers to the village situated along the Old Turnpike, now known as Route 4, and not along Center Road or Center Range Road.

According to Mr. Eastman, writing in the year 1823, “The Center Road Village is pleasantly situated one and a half north west of the South Road Village, on the same mail route. Here also are about 30 dwelling houses, a Baptist church, erected in 1791, three stores, one tannery, two shoemakers’ shops, two cabinet makers’ shops, one blacksmith’s shop, and a law office”.

“The church and dwellings remain, but age has left its marks upon them. A few of the residences have been improved. Now and then, one that was prominent years ago has been taken down or removed. Some trade is still conducted there, and limited mechanical work is performed. Recently, a hotel was opened. Here, near the church, on the common, stands the Town Hall, where the public meetings of the town and other organizations are held. A schoolhouse has long stood in the west section of the village, on the road to the mills.”

TAVERN: Ca 1775-early 1800s, at the Abel Elkins House across from Old Baptist Meeting House (Kepper House), home existing
INN: Ca 1804 likely, Amos Pettengill had a second hotel in this part of town, just north of Oak Hill Road on Route 4. Not in existence.
TAVERN/INN: ca 1816-1877 “Bell Tavern” Or “Traveler’s Home” A.M. Pettengill purchased the farm from Reuben True House and created a tavern known as one of the best hotels in this section. It was not unusual to see a hundred horses stabled at night and a house full of guests. Barns were 40×40 and 40×100. Located at the junction of Route 4 and West Salisbury Road.
WHEELWRIGHT/Blacksmith Shop in the workshop building on the same land, existing shed structure.
POST OFFICE and Drew’s Store. Previously, J.P. Webster’s Store was owned from 1801 to 1858. Located (wedged) between Abel Elkins House and Thomas and Eliphalet William House. Destroyed by fire.
STORES: 1792 Thomas and Eliphalet Williams House, built 1792 ( Corner of Oak Hill Road and Rte 4). Originally housed a store and a meeting hall upstairs. The store portion probably included all of the west side of the house, and the Hall was immediately above the store. 1970s Nan Dexheimer’s gift and craft shop in the 1970s was located in an adjacent building. Remaining as a resident.
TAILORING SHOP: 1795 William Cate, See Heaths Filling Station Below
SCHOOL: 1778 West Salisbury Road, just off the junction of Route 4 and West Salisbury Road, now removed.

SCHOOL: abt 1877, which is now the Salisbury Free Library, existing.
MEETING HOUSE: Baptist Meeting House, completed 1794, which now houses the Salisbury Historical Society Offices, exists.
CEMETERIES: Baptist Graveyard behind the Baptist Meeting House, existing. Oak Hill (Road) Cemetery was laid out in 1868, uphill from Salisbury Heights.
HEARSE HOUSE: built in 1886 for the new Salisbury horse-drawn hearse and was the shed for the town’s Snow Roller. It was a partial library at one time and now houses the horse-drawn hearse with the Salisbury Historical Society’s Museum. The museum was founded in 1990.

TOWN HALL: Salisbury Town Hall, ca 1839-1840. In use.
BLACKSMITH George Calef Blacksmith, Carriage and Clock repair shop, Route 4, torn down ca 1925
FILLING STATION: Heath’s Filling Station & the William Cate House (built 1795). In the year 2000, Mary Perry was the owner and operated an Antique Shop that sat further back from the road.
Heath’s Filling Station
This property was in the Heath family from 1905-1957.