Lyndeborough Center Historic District
Encyclopedia
The Lyndeborough Center Historic District, located in the town of Lyndeborough, New Hampshire
, consists of three structures: the Town Pound, Town Hall, and Congregational Church. The district was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1984. In 2010, by town meeting
vote, this district became part of a larger, officially zoned local historic district.
The Town Hall is Lyndeborough's fourth hall, and the second to occupy a site in the Historic District. (The town's third Town Hall, a two-storey 50-foot-by-40-foot meetinghouse, occupied roughly the same site from c. 1769 until 1845.) The current hall is a -storey Greek Revival building, constructed in 1845 as a 35 by building with a meeting hall, two anterooms, and a small foyer. In 1883, at the urging and with the help of the Pinnacle Grange (the local chapter of The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry), the town significantly enlarged the building by adding a 12.5 feet (3.8 m)-deep addition to the back of the building and an ell
to the southwest corner. In 1890 the town increased the pitch of the roof, thereby adding space in the attic for dinners and other functions. At this time a metal roof was added to the building, though it was removed in 1920. A metal ceiling was installed in the meeting room in 1912, and a stage sometime between 1912 and 1919. A storage area was added behind the stage in the 1920s. The attic was remodeled in 1934, and electricity was installed in the building 1937. Since 1975, the building has appeared on Lyndeborough's unofficial town seal.
The Greek Revival-style Congregational Church dates from 1836, when pressure from the Baptist Society resulted in the church moving out of the third town hall. The interior of the church was extensively remodeled in the 1890s, and the entire structure underwent major structural repairs in the mid-1980s. Since the merging of the Baptist and Congregationalist churches in town, the church has been under the control of the United Church of Lyndeborough. Currently it is used for summer services, as the building is not heated.
From 1837 until about 1920, horse sheds occupied the area between the Congregational Church and the Town Pound.
In 1940 the town added a flagpole to the district; the current fiberglass pole which replaced it dates from approximately 1999.
for 99 years at $1 per year. It continues to serve as the Artillery's headquarters. The building occupies a site immediately adjacent to the former location of the town's old late-nineteenth-century hearse house.
controls the Town Hall and Town Pound. The local Cemetery Trustees oversee the cemetery (which is part of the local historic district, but is not part of the federally recognized historic district). The Lafayette Artillery Company
rents the Town Barn. The United Church of Lyndeborough controls the church building, though technically it continues to belong to the Congregational Society. From the late 1980s until 2010, the local Meetinghouse Committee recommended repairs to the Town House to the Board of Selectmen. Starting in 2010, an Historic District Commission has overseen issues relating to historic preservation and zoning for the entire district, with special attention to the maintenance, repair, and restoration of the Town Hall. Finally, the Lyndeborough Trails Association has worked to improve, for the use of horse traffic, an otherwise abandoned (but legally extant) class-VI town road that passes through the district.
on matters relating to the upkeep to the Town Hall, suggested that the Selectmen approve the permanent removal of the town's war memorials and Civil War-era Hartshorn Memorial Cannon
to the historic district. The monuments were moved to the center temporarily, but who moved them—and on whose authority—remains unknown. Subsequently, in 2010, a town Monuments Committee determined that the move was not appropriate, as it created a new focal point which detracted from the historic district's authenticity. In April 2010, the Board of Selectmen voted to move the monuments to South Lyndeborough, from which they had been taken.
Lyndeborough, New Hampshire
Lyndeborough is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,683 at the 2010 census.- History :Originally granted by the Massachusetts General Court to veterans of New England's first war with Canada from Salem, Massachusetts, the area was known as Salem-Canada...
, consists of three structures: the Town Pound, Town Hall, and Congregational Church. The district was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1984. In 2010, by town meeting
Town meeting
A town meeting is a form of direct democratic rule, used primarily in portions of the United States since the 17th century, in which most or all the members of a community come together to legislate policy and budgets for local government....
vote, this district became part of a larger, officially zoned local historic district.
Historic structures
The Town Pound is a square-shaped stone structure, open at the top and entered through a gate. It was constructed in 1774, and originally was topped with a wooden enclosure.The Town Hall is Lyndeborough's fourth hall, and the second to occupy a site in the Historic District. (The town's third Town Hall, a two-storey 50-foot-by-40-foot meetinghouse, occupied roughly the same site from c. 1769 until 1845.) The current hall is a -storey Greek Revival building, constructed in 1845 as a 35 by building with a meeting hall, two anterooms, and a small foyer. In 1883, at the urging and with the help of the Pinnacle Grange (the local chapter of The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry), the town significantly enlarged the building by adding a 12.5 feet (3.8 m)-deep addition to the back of the building and an ell
Ell (architecture)
In architecture, an ell is a wing of a building that lies perpendicular to the length of the main portion.In connected farm architecture, the ell is often extended to attach the main house to another building, usually a barn. It takes its name from the shape of the letter L.-External links:*...
to the southwest corner. In 1890 the town increased the pitch of the roof, thereby adding space in the attic for dinners and other functions. At this time a metal roof was added to the building, though it was removed in 1920. A metal ceiling was installed in the meeting room in 1912, and a stage sometime between 1912 and 1919. A storage area was added behind the stage in the 1920s. The attic was remodeled in 1934, and electricity was installed in the building 1937. Since 1975, the building has appeared on Lyndeborough's unofficial town seal.
The Greek Revival-style Congregational Church dates from 1836, when pressure from the Baptist Society resulted in the church moving out of the third town hall. The interior of the church was extensively remodeled in the 1890s, and the entire structure underwent major structural repairs in the mid-1980s. Since the merging of the Baptist and Congregationalist churches in town, the church has been under the control of the United Church of Lyndeborough. Currently it is used for summer services, as the building is not heated.
From 1837 until about 1920, horse sheds occupied the area between the Congregational Church and the Town Pound.
In 1940 the town added a flagpole to the district; the current fiberglass pole which replaced it dates from approximately 1999.
Newer structures
The historic district also includes a noncontributing (newer) structure, the Town Barn. Constructed c. 1938, the building housed the town's highway department until the mid-1980s. In 1997, the town rented it to the Lafayette Artillery CompanyLafayette Artillery Company
The Lafayette Artillery Company was founded in Peterborough, New Hampshire, in 1804 as the Artillery Company of the 22nd Regiment. It was part of the State of New Hampshire's artillery system, a forerunner to the National Guard. The group has continued to operate continuously since its founding,...
for 99 years at $1 per year. It continues to serve as the Artillery's headquarters. The building occupies a site immediately adjacent to the former location of the town's old late-nineteenth-century hearse house.
Controlling organizations
Currently, several entities oversee the properties that compose the Lyndeborough Center Historic District. By state statute, the Board of SelectmenBoard of selectmen
The board of selectmen is commonly the executive arm of the government of New England towns in the United States. The board typically consists of three or five members, with or without staggered terms.-History:...
controls the Town Hall and Town Pound. The local Cemetery Trustees oversee the cemetery (which is part of the local historic district, but is not part of the federally recognized historic district). The Lafayette Artillery Company
Lafayette Artillery Company
The Lafayette Artillery Company was founded in Peterborough, New Hampshire, in 1804 as the Artillery Company of the 22nd Regiment. It was part of the State of New Hampshire's artillery system, a forerunner to the National Guard. The group has continued to operate continuously since its founding,...
rents the Town Barn. The United Church of Lyndeborough controls the church building, though technically it continues to belong to the Congregational Society. From the late 1980s until 2010, the local Meetinghouse Committee recommended repairs to the Town House to the Board of Selectmen. Starting in 2010, an Historic District Commission has overseen issues relating to historic preservation and zoning for the entire district, with special attention to the maintenance, repair, and restoration of the Town Hall. Finally, the Lyndeborough Trails Association has worked to improve, for the use of horse traffic, an otherwise abandoned (but legally extant) class-VI town road that passes through the district.
Local monuments controversy
In 2009, a controversy erupted over the historic district when the Meetinghouse Committee, which at the time advised the Board of SelectmenBoard of selectmen
The board of selectmen is commonly the executive arm of the government of New England towns in the United States. The board typically consists of three or five members, with or without staggered terms.-History:...
on matters relating to the upkeep to the Town Hall, suggested that the Selectmen approve the permanent removal of the town's war memorials and Civil War-era Hartshorn Memorial Cannon
Hartshorn Memorial Cannon
The Hartshorn Memorial Cannon is a decommissioned American Civil War naval cannon that forms the centerpiece of the South Lyndeborough Village Common in Lyndeborough, New Hampshire...
to the historic district. The monuments were moved to the center temporarily, but who moved them—and on whose authority—remains unknown. Subsequently, in 2010, a town Monuments Committee determined that the move was not appropriate, as it created a new focal point which detracted from the historic district's authenticity. In April 2010, the Board of Selectmen voted to move the monuments to South Lyndeborough, from which they had been taken.
Sources
- D. Donovan and Jacob Woodward. 1906. The History of the Town of Lyndeborough, New Hampshire, 1735–1905. H. W. Whittemore and Co.
- History of Lyndeborough, New Hampshire, 1905–1955. Lyndeborough: Town of Lyndeborough, NH, 1956.
- "Library Plan Could Displace Memorials," The Cabinet (Milford NH) October 1, 2009.
- "Lyndeborough Village Common Cleanup Planned for Saturday," The Cabinet (Milford NH) April 22, 2010.
- Nick Martin, "Who Moved Lyndeborough's Monuments?" Ledger Transcript (Peterborough NH) November 10, 2009.
- Stephanie Abbot Roper and Scott C. Roper. 2004. Citizen Soldiers: New Hampshire's Lafayette Artillery Company, 1804–2004. Portsmouth, NH: Peter E. Randall, Publisher.