651 Old Turnpike Road
Salisbury, NH 03268
Open Saturdays, 1:00–3:00 p.m. during the summer season and on Salisbury Old Home Day.
Chronology of the Hearse House
1885 – A storage shed was built for the Salisburys’ horse-drawn hearse.
1912 – A larger addition was made for a snow roller.
1927 – The snow roller was replaced by a Tractor and Plow. We wonder what ever happened to the snow roller.
1967 – The formation of the Salisbury Historical Society was signed and registered with the Secretary of State.
1967 – The Town of Salisbury then sold the Clerical Desk and Hearse, located in the Hearse House, to the Salisbury Historical Society for $1. With covenants ensuring those items remain public within Salisbury.
1967 – A right-of-way easement was issued to Mildred Noelte for passage to her property.
1990 – The Museum was opened by our then-President, Anne G. Smith. It was her vision to turn this Hearse House into an appropriate space to display the Town’s horse-drawn hearse, Clerical Desk, and many other Salisbury artifacts that had been donated to the Society for preservation. We remain grateful to Anne Smith’s vision and determination, and to all those who worked to create and preserve the Hearse House museum. Additionally, the site features a reconstruction of a country store with goods, an old Salisbury Post Office unit complete with mailboxes, an old Salisbury telephone switchboard system, and various tools. Salisbury Quilts, Samplers, an old medical kit, and objects of historical interest are on display.
1995 – A new deed for the Hearse House was filed with the Registry of Deeds, giving the Salisbury Historical Society ownership of the Hearse House, replacing all former deeds for the property. The deed contains covenants on the property.
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 in accordance with environmental regulations and at considerable expense to the Society, but it was necessary. Maintenance was also performed to ensure their preservation.
2015 – A new roof was installed
2025 – The Hearse House Museum was certified and added to the New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places.
May 2026 – SHS was awarded a 50/50 match grant to paint the Hearse House, which was completed in September. Our thanks go out to Tim Ryan Painting.
May 18th, 2026, Press Release: N.H. Preservation Alliance Awards Grants to Eighteen Community Landmarks in Partnership with The 1772 Foundation
On August 1st, we got the great news that our painter was ready to start work on the Hearse House. We’re excited that this long-awaited project is finally in motion and so grateful to the Preservation Alliance and the 1772 Foundation for their matching grant, which made this important restoration possible.
The Salisbury Historical Society
PO Box 263
Salisbury, NH 03268
A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization