Society for the Preservation of the Old Meeting House in Webster, NH

The Society for the Preservation of the Old Meeting House in Webster, NH is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and maintaining the Old Webster Meeting House, a historic building in Webster, New Hampshire. The society was established in response to the threat of demolition posed by a flood control project in the early 1940s.

History

The Old Webster Meeting House was originally built in 1791 as the "Westerly Meeting House" when Webster was part of the Town of Boscawen. It served both as a place of worship and a venue for town meetings. In 1941, faced with the demolition of the building due to a flood control project, a group of local residents formed the Society for the Preservation of the Old Meeting House. They successfully relocated the building to higher ground and have since been responsible for its upkeep and preservation[1][2].

Preservation Efforts

The society's efforts have been instrumental in maintaining the integrity of the building. Over the years, various restoration projects have been undertaken to ensure the structure's stability and integrity. Notably, in the late 1970s, modern footings were added to support the granite foundation. Recently, the society has focused on addressing moisture issues and conserving the building's original features, including the windows and clapboards[4].

Current Use

Today, the Old Webster Meeting House operates as a local museum, providing insight into the historical significance of 18th-century meeting houses in New England. It remains one of the few well-preserved examples of this architectural style in the region, serving as a cultural and educational resource for the community[1][2].

Recognition

The Old Webster Meeting House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985, which underscores its historical importance. Additionally, the Society for the Preservation of the Old Meeting House has received recognition for its dedicated efforts in preserving this significant piece of American history[4].

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Webster_Meeting_House [2] https://websterhistoricalsociety.org/?page_id=76 [3] https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/master/pnp/habshaer/nh/nh0000/nh0080/data/nh0080data.pdf [4] https://www.nhpreservation.org/blog/2023-award-winner-webster-historical-society [5] https://www.colonialmeetinghouses.com/locations_00.shtml