The meetinghouse in Fremont, NH was what started me on this project
of photographing colonial meetinghouses.
The Fremont Historical Society had an open house
in their meetinghouse, and there was an article in the paper.
I saved the article,
and about a year later I dug it out, contacted the society, and visited the place.
The rest is history, as they say.
When it was originally constructed, the Province Road Meeting House in Belmont, New Hampshire was thought to have conformed to the classic meetinghouse design:
the building measured 52 feet by 40 feet with the south-facing main entrance along the long wall,
two story open interior with galleries (balconies) on 3 of the walls, a raised pulpit on the 4th (north) wall,
additional doors on the east and west walls, and box pews.
For over 200 years, Langdon residents have appreciated the role that their Town Hall (the Meetinghouse) has had in their lives.
It began as both a place of worship and the seat of town government, and is still used as the center of social and community activities.
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The Old Narragansett Church in Wickford, Rhode Island is the oldest Episcopal church building north of the Potomac River.
Among its interesting features are its box pews, Palladian windows, oversize reading desk, and old fashioned wine glass pulpit.
The organ was built by Bernard Smith in England circa 1660, and it has been restored to this state by Richard Hedgebeth.
It has 196 speaking pipes, all of wood.
It is believed to be the oldest church organ in use for church services in the United States.
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