Prepared by Thomas R. Smith
In the year 1780, under the leadership of Elder Benjamin Randall, the Freewill Baptist movement spread through New England. In 1779 Elder Winthrop Young came to the New Hampton, New Hampshire area and held revivals in homes and schoolhouses. In January of 1800 a church with 64 members was organized at the home of Captain Peter Hanaford. This is now the farm located on Magoon Road and most recently occupied by the Melvin and Gordon Huckins families. Construction of this meeting house began in the fall of 1800. Jeremiah Marston gave a $10 deed to the land on which the building still stands today. While the meeting house was being constructed, services were held at the barns of Captain Hanaford, Jeremiah Marston and Abraham Drake. Among the converts were Dr. Simeon Dana, Elder Samuel Thompson and Elder Thomas Perkins who would lead the church for many years.
The building was first used in December of 1802 with only basic benches to sit on. In 1810 the membership voted to have Stephen Magoon finish the interior and construct square “sheep-pen” pews for $300. Records mention “much discussion and conversation about the business”. Dissenting members felt their brethren were becoming too worldly and cared too much for their personal comfort in desiring their “luxurious” pews. Stephen Magoon resided in the home across the road from the meeting house, occupied for many years by the Raymond Smith family, and now by his son, Rev. Robert Smith.
Perhaps the most outstanding leader of the early Freewill church was Dr. Simeon Dana. He came to New Hampton in 1798 – having graduated from Dartmouth College with a medical degree – to take up practice of his profession or “if people desired it, to teach a district school, singing school, or dancing school”. Dr. Dana was 22 years old and the “stern old elders lost no time in putting the brash youth in his place”. They were delighted to have him take the district school and teach the three R’s and singing but a dancing school, no. Shortly after, he was converted and baptized by Elder Winthrop Young and for the next 50 years he ministered to the people of New Hampton and surrounding towns. “Wherever he went, whether to nurse the sick or preach the gospel, he was looked upon as a model of manhood”. Dr. Dana’s life might well be written in five words: “He went about doing good”. His home was located at the top of Dana Hill, one mile from the church. In recent years the house was in need of repair and was torn down. The church and this section of town (Dana Hill) were named in memory of Dr. Dana.
For many years the Dana Church was remarkably prosperous for one located in a farming community. However, by the early 1870’s it had lost many attendees because of death or moving to other parts of the country. In 1871 the Dana Hill Church united with the present New Hampton Community Church. For the next few years the meeting house was neglected and fell into poor condition. Thankfully there were brighter days ahead for this unique house of worship.
Over the year’s services were still conducted by the pastor of the village church or often by a visitor to the meeting house. One of these was Dr. A.J. Gordon, pastor of the Clarendon Street Baptist Church of Boston and founder of Gordon College; he returned summers to his native town. It was written in 1900 that “as a boy he visited the sacred edifice, and as age grew upon him, he loved to gaze upon its antique architecture”. In 1888 Dr. Gordon visited the meeting house and found it in poor condition. He called on the deacons and other families and suggested steps be taken to restore the building and that services be held once more. During that summer Dr. Gordon held several old-time, all-day services, donating the collections to the repair fund. Over the next few years the meeting house was restored and repaired with care taken to preserve its individuality in every respect. Located at the left of the pulpit is a list of 171 persons and business firms who contributed to the fund. We plan to have a similar frame installed with the names of the contributors of our current repair campaign.
Since Dr. Gordon’s passing, the Gordon family has continued their interest in the church. This commitment has been recognized by the pictures on the wall behind the pulpit. There are portraits of Dr. A.J. Gordon, Rev. Arthur Hale Gordon, Rev. John Manning Gordon and Rev. Gordon Poteat, A.J. Gordon’s grandson. Also, in need of mention is Ernest Gordon, who conducted Bible classes at the meeting house for many years, and Theodora Gordon Hall and her daughter who started Sunday school classes in the late 1930’s. The last photo is of Elder Thomas Perkins, a well-known preacher who for over 65 years held many positions in the Baptist organization. He was recognized for his high integrity.
For several years in the 1930’s, Rev. James T. Jones of Laconia conducted Sunday services. In the late 1940’s and early 1950’s, on Sunday afternoons pastors from the Christian Missionary Alliance Tabernacle in Laconia conducted services and Sunday school, which were attended by a number of families in the neighborhood.
Records show that major repairs were also accomplished in 1934 with generous support and help from many friends. In the last few years the building’s age has once again shown the need for extensive repairs. A campaign was started in 2010 to raise funds to preserve this historic home of religion. As of this date, some of the repairs have been accomplished, with the hope that the remaining work can be completed by the end of the year 2012.
The Dana Meeting House is a fine example of 19th century architecture, and the only one of its kind in New Hampshire. In the year 2000, the Dana Meeting House was included in the National Register of Historic Places. The meeting house is currently used for the annual New Hampton Old Home Day Service, as well as, an occasional wedding.
Sources
- “A Small Gore of Land”, a History of the Town of New Hampton.
- “New Hampton, A Brief History”, New Hampton Historical Society, the Bristol Enterprise, December 1909
- Historical Sketch of the Dana Meeting House, Raymond C. Smith, July 16, 1950
- The Granite Monthly, November 1900 Dana Meeting House, A Brief History, author unknown