historic sites
 
 
 


This region of rolling farmland and small towns takes its name from the towering Mount Monadnock, which, at a height of 3,165 feet, looms above the countryside and can be seen from almost everywhere. Mount Monadnock is believed to be the most frequently climbed mountain in the world. Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Mark Twain, and others hiked this mountain and wrote about it as a symbol of spiritual and environmental awareness.

Our concerts are held in the historic meetinghouses and churches of 17 towns within the Monadnock Region. Come explore these wonderful venues while enjoying music of the finest quality, played by virtuosos who travel here from throughout the United States and the world to play in these charming New England towns and villages.

"Each event was a beautiful combination of a scenic back roads drive to NH, architectural enjoyment of the concert hall and the music," a listener from Boston


Deering Community Church
Francestown Old Meeting House
Franklin Pierce University
Hancock Congregational Church
Community Church of Harrisville & Chesham
Jaffrey Center Meeting House
Marlow Jones Hall
Milford Town Hall
Nelson Congregational Church
Peterborough Town House
All Saints' Church, Peterborough
Sullivan United Congregational Church
Swanzey First Congregational Church
Temple Community Church
Walpole Unitarian Church
Washington Congregational Church
Wilton Center Unitarian Church

Monadnock Region

Deering Community Church

Deering Community church

763 Deering Center Rd.
Deering, NH 03244

After considerable arguing over where the exact center of town was, the good folk of Deering decided to build a meetinghouse. It was finished in 1788 and has been expanded since. Come see what the arguing was all about.

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Francestown Old Meeting House

Francestown Old Meeting House

Francestown, NH 03043

The Old Meeting House is but the focal point of a town without an architectural clinker on the Main Street. The Levi Woodbury Homestead is adjacent to the Old Meeting House, and across the way are fine house sheds near the Town Hall.

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Franklin Pierce University                                                                          (return to top)

pierce hall

20 College Road
Rindge, NH 03043

Overlooking Pearly Pond, Franklin Pierce University was named after the New Hampshire-born 14th President of the United States. Rindge tradition has it that the estate was once a stop in the Underground Railroad.

Map                                              Campus Map

Hancock Congregational Church
Hancock Congregational Church

47 Main Street
Hancock, NH 03449

It’s been said that the Main Street of Hancock looks like the Civil War has just ended. Hancock’s splendid Town Hall was rebuilt after a fire in 1820. and is now it is used as a combination Congregational Church and town offices. Well-preserved horse sheds are at the rear. At the top of the church is bell #236 cast by Paul Revere’s workshop. Norway Pond sets the town off picturesquely. The historic Hancock Inn—one of the oldest operating inns, is in the center of town. (Perfect for a pre-concert dinner. Reservations : 603 525-3318.)

Map

Community Church of Harrisville & Chesham

Community Church of Harrisville & Chesham

13 Canal St.
Harrisville, NH

The old Harrisville mills- they are still here! This old mill town is a brick beauty! The mill buildings on a lovely pond, are just as they were a hundred years ago, including "Peanut Row", the tiny houses where the mill workers used to live. The village is a frequently photographed example of old New England.Also, don't miss the Mill Shop where you'll find beautiful knit merchandise made of yarns from the mill.

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Jaffrey Center Meetinghouse                                                                          (return to top)
Jaffrey Center Meetinghouse

Route 124
Jaffrey Center, NH 03452

The Old Meeting House may date back to June of 1775, when the Battle of Bunker Hill could be heard in Jaffrey.   Many architectural gems are tucked away amonst the Jaffrey Center roads. Willa Cather wrote here. You can visit her tombstone and burial site in the cemetery right behind the Jaffrey  Center church. The Inn at Jaffrey Center is located here as well, a convenient place for dinner before the Jaffrey concert.

Map

Marlow Jones Hall
Marlow Jones Hall

12 Church Street
Marlow, NH 03456

Marlow is one of the most photographed towns in the area, and is famous for its beautiful lily pond with its adjacent historic buildings including Jones Hall. Perfect place for a picnic by the pond. The area is famous for minerals and stones.

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Milford Town Hall
Milford Town Hall

1 Union Square
Milford, NH 03055

The original Italianate Meeting House was crowned by a pine eagle which, after years of ice and snow, came crashing through the roof.  A replacement eagle spanning 8’10’’ and weighing 400 lbs. was fixed in place in 1999. The hall itself is beautifully restored with the original eagle on view and is well worth a visit as are the marble tablets dedicated to the veterans of the War of Rebellion in the entry.  The bell was cast by Paul Revere’s workshop.

Map

Nelson Congregational Church                                                                        (return to top)
Nelson Congregational Church

Nelson Harrisville Rd.,
Nelson, NH

One of the original border towns, Nelson was part of the territory first granted in 1752 as Monadnock No.6. It was well placed for a fort as one can see the White Mountains, many lakes and even a mountain in Maine from City Hill. In 1814 it was remaned in honor of Lord Horatio Nelson, who died on board the British ship Victory in the was against Napoleon. Nelson possesses a Guinness World Record for the longest-running public contradance

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Peterborough Town House
Peterborough townhouse

1 Grove St.
Peterborough, NH 03458

Site of “Our Town”. Home of the MacDowell Colony, where Thorton Wilder wrote his most famous play, inspired by the local village of Peterborough. (You an almost see Emily and George strolling down Grove Street!)  Also home of Monadnock Music, where weekend concerts are played in the Town Hall. The bulfinch-like Unitarian Church, the faneuil hall style Town House, and the cruciform Norman All Saints Episcopal Church are but a fraction of Peterborough’s architectural delights.

Map

Peterborough All Saints' Church
All Saints Episcopal Church

51 Concord St.
Peterborough, NH 03458

Among the artistically important adornments at All Saints' episcopal place of worship are the carvings in English Oak by world-renowned carver, John Kirchmayer. An old Flemish tapestry of the early XVII century is in the Baptistry. Throughout the church are stained glass windows worked in accordance with the principles of the XIII century, by Charles Connick Studios of Boston.

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Sullivan United Congregational Church                                                         (return to top)
Sullivan United Congregational Church

Center St.
Sullivan, NH 03445

The town was named in 1787 after General John Sullivan, who was elected president of New Hampshire in 1786. Near the village center is the 1848 church in Greek and Gothic Revival style.

 

Map

Swanzey First Congregational Church
Swanzey First Congregational Church

679 Old Homestead Hwy.,
Swanzey, NH 03446

You can see four historic covered bridges in Swanzy. Four (count ‘em) four covered bridges! These old bridges were covered to keep the rain and snow off the wooden floor of the bridge. It’s rare to find four of them in one town, so be sure to bring your camera for this one! Constructed in 1875-6, the church has elements of Federal, Gothic Revival, and Greek Revival styles.

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Temple Community Church
Temple Community Church

Temple, NH 03084

Named after colonial governor John Wentworth's Lieutenant Governor John Temple. The Temple glass factory was founded in 1780 by Robert Hewes who employed Hessian mercenaries from the British Army trained in the art of glassblowing. This early attempt to manufacture bottles and crude window-glass was the beginning of glass-making in New Hampshire. The Birchwood Inn, across from the church, has entertained notables including Henry David Thoreau.

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Walpole Unitarian Church                                                                                 (return to top)
Walpole Unitarian Church

Corner of Main and Union Streets
Walpole, NH 03608

Walpole was granted in 1736, called #3 in a chain of forts. It was named after British prime minister Sir Robert Walpole.  The church is in colonial style and is meant to compliment King’s Chapel in Boston. Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns' company, Florentine Films, is located here in Walpole.

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Washington Congregational Church
Washington congregational church

Washington, NH 03280

Granted in 1735 by Colonial Governor Jonathan Belcher of Massachusetts, the town was one of the fort towns designated to protect the colonies from Indian attack, named "Monadnock Number 8". On December 13, 1776, the newly established American revolutionary government incorporated the town as "Washington", after George Washington -- the first named in his honor.

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Wilton Center Unitarian Church                                                                            (return to top)
Wilton Center Unitarian Church

Wilton Center, NH 03086

Wilton was granted to soldiers from Salem, Massachusetts, who had served in 1690 under Sir William Phips in the war against Canada. "Salem-Canada" was one of the towns on the state's borders intended to provide protection against Indian attack. The Unitarian Church in Wilton Center has a fascinating history, and is part of the old and attractive cluster of buildings including Andy's Summer Playhouse.

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