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Washington Meetinghouse 1781 |
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225th Birthday Celebration- August 11, 2012 |
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The Washington Meetinghouse |
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In 1752 when the settlement that later became Washington was granted a charter, it included the requirement that “a Convenient Meeting house be Built…and Finished within Ten Year.” But it was not until July 4th 1787 that the Meetinghouse frame was erected. This stately building stands 45 feet wide by 60 feet long, and has been the center of our community gatherings and governance for almost 225 years. Along with the Old School House (1883), the Congregational Church (1840), and the monument to Civil War soldiers (1867), Washington’s Meetinghouse defines the unique historic character of our town. It has served as church, cultural center, academy and Grange, and has been the Washington Town Hall since it was built. Its spacious rooms have hosted lectures, concerts, plays and community meetings of all kinds, including the annual town meeting for more than two hundred years. Of the remaining 35 classical-style Meetinghouses in our state, just 13 retain their original exterior profile. And of those few, only 3 have served as a community’s town hall continuously for over two centuries. Remarkably, ours has escaped the damages of modernization. Modifications were made in the mid-19th century, but the exterior has remained essentially unchanged since 1825 when the tower was added. Inside, a second floor was installed in 1842, and has hosted the town debating society, theater performances, dances, large meetings, graduations and more. Regrettably, the second floor has been closed to the public for more than twenty years since the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The design of the 1700s did not include 36” doorways and elevators, now required in the federally mandated building code. Further, a 1985 examination of the structure revealed the building was in need of a vapor barrier over the original dirt crawl space to protect the original structure and interior. That step was never taken, and the paint continues to shed from the dampness of the wood, no matter how many times it is applied. |
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Our Goal: |
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Phase 1:
Feasibility- In 2007 the town
leaders identified the need for more office space, storage and archives, along
with improved building security. The Selectmen chartered a group of residents
to study the feasibility of preserving our Meetinghouse and assuring its
continuing use for municipal and community functions, with full accessibility
per code. The New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources provided a free
historic building assessment and preservation guideline. The prognosis: Treat
the almost-intact structure with the reverence it deserves; adapt it to current
needs while maintaining the integrity of the historical architecture.
Phase 2: Planning-Although a 2009 Town Meeting warrant to develop a plan failed to generate enough support, many residents remained determined to explore the opportunity to preserve what many consider to be the heart of Washington. Coincidentally, the New Hampshire Land and Community Investment Program (LCHIP) began accepting grant proposals, so a team of Washington locals outlined the town’s need for a 2-year $25,000 Planning Grant, which requires a dollar-for-dollar match to demonstrate local support. The LCHIP award was granted, contingent upon a town-wide vote to approve a $25,000 appropriation to match funds. At the 2010 Town Meeting residents voted to pass the appropriation warrant for $25,000 “for the purpose of a two-year planning phase to develop building plans for the future preservation and rehabilitation of the Meetinghouse.” The Selectmen then created a new advisory committee to start the Phase 2 Planning from scratch. Since then almost $22,000 had already been raised, reducing the town’s contribution in 2011 to just $7,700.The design concept is this: The building will be lifted in place temporarily, a full basement will be excavated, and a foundation will be constructed underneath. The Meetinghouse will then will be lowered back to its original elevation. The south-facing front of our classic building will look unchanged. The new lower level will be used for Town Hall offices, archival storage and security upgrades, with a north-facing entrance that will incorporate a stairway and elevator, and will reopen access to the second level. The preliminary project estimate is similar in scope to the $1.2 million elementary school project approved in the 2001 town warrant. Phase 3: Fundraising and Construction-The Meetinghouse Preservation Fund hopes to raise funds and services from private sources to minimize the cost of preservation by taxpayers, relying on the contributions of many, just as the founders did almost 225 years ago. Together we need to continue to preserve our historic Meetinghouse and to revive the outstanding community building our town forefathers intended.For more information please contact the town's Board of Selectmen.
Our spectacular
Meetinghouse has been the heart of Washington for |
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Save the Date to Celebrate!
Join the Washington community to
celebrate the 225th birthday of our historic meetinghouse and
to see the premiere of Meetinghouse: The Heart of Washington, NH. Events planned include:
5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Share your ideas for the celebration or volunteer to make it happen. For more information please contact committee co-chairs:
Annie Bissonnette (495-0638) |
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Tour the 1787 Meetinghouse Tours of the Washington Meetinghouse are available by calling the Washington Selectmen’s office, 603-495-3661 or by contacting Carolyn Russell or Annie Bissonnette. |
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Donations to the Meetinghouse Preservation Fund The Meetinghouse Preservation Fund hopes to raise funds from private sources to minimize the cost of preservation by taxpayers, relying on the contributions of many, just as the founders did almost 225 years ago. We welcome your donation to preserve our historic Meetinghouse and to revive the outstanding community building our town forefathers intended. Please contact Carolyn Russell or Annie Bissonnette, or send a donation by US mail to:
The Meetinghouse Preservation Fund
Please make your check payable to: |
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