All organizations and businesses struggled in 2020 due to the pandemic. You can imagine how difficult the lockdown was for a newly formed non profit, the Dana Meeting House Association. Only a few months old, the budding non-profit had to pivot and scale back on plans to host events and show case the historic building. When the Town of New Hampton opted to cancel Old Home Day, volunteers decided that the annual service at the Dana Meeting House had never missed that event and they would opt for a service that would include an outside tent for gathering, windows open and socially distancing within the building. It worked and brought the courageous, committed few together in a strong way—what
else could they do to continue to promote this special building that has been the town gathering place for several centuries?
With that energy still in place, volunteers have crafted a wonderful calendar of events for the 2021 summer season. The events begin Memorial Weekend with a vespers service on Sunday May 30 at 6 p.m. arranged by Rev. Cambell Lovett followed by an open house. There will be an historic presentation on archaeological finds in NH by Dr. Robert Goodby on July 17th and sponsored by NH Humanities to Go program; a Quilt Show curated by Eileen Lovett on August 7th and a series of vesper services to name a few of the events.
The first Annual Meeting will take place on June 13th. Founding Board President, Tom Smith will lead the business meeting and election of officers. This meeting will be followed by an open house and an opportunity to meet the Board and sign up for the many volunteer positions available. Come help celebrate this unique and historic Meeting House and be a part of the history of New Hampton. If you have never experienced sitting in an antique box pew and listening to a speaker, this is a great chance to think about how our ancestors gathered.