Dr. Van de Poll will give a presentation on what edibles lie just outside our backdoors. He will treat us to a wild soup and tea as well as a little “walk out back” to find some tasty morsels waiting in our woods.
Our Timeless Textiles Exhibit will be held Saturday July 6th from 10 am– 3 pm and will feature displays, demonstrations and scheduled lectures. This year’s featured quilter is Michelle Plourde. Michelle is an active member of the Belknap Mill Quilt Guild in Laconia. At 10:30 am she will speak informally and share her quilting story. Not only will the day feature gorgeous textiles across the sheep pens in the Meeting House, but there will be hourly talks by visiting artists, demonstrations and Textile Historian, Stephanie Drake will lead a talk at noon on how to date quilts. Visitors are invited to bring textiles from home for Stephanie to comment on. Textile artist Sara Goodman will speak inside the Meeting House at 11:15 about her wide-ranging work, including her weaving and her use of Shibori resist-dye techniques. At 1:30 pm, she will conduct a demonstration outside on dyeing with indigo. Sara is the lead dye studio instructor at Sanborn Mills Farm in Loudon, NH. She also maintains a studio in Center Harbor on Squam Lake.
Impressive Music from the Baker Valley Band AND an Ice Cream Social! Come explore the Dana Meeting House and bring a blanket to enjoy music—and ICE CREAM— on the lawn. The Band is comprised of musicians ranging in age from mid-teens to mid 80s. They perform music from the 1860s to the present day. A HUGE Thanks to The Common Man for the Ice Cream donation!
Join us at the meeting house for a worship service of New Hampton's 125th Old Home Day Weekend!
Join us for a carol sing, bonfire and lighting of the Christmas Tree on the lawn with live candles! This is a special event to mark the holiday season, imagine what the Meeting House was like 200 years ago and have a chance to visit with neighbors and new friends.
Dana Meeting House will host a Memorial Day Service with Rev. Campbell Lovett of Holderness. Rev. Lovett will lead a meditation and prayer service. He will incorporate prayer, song, scripture and meditation. This is a unique opportunity to sit in stillness in your own antique “sheep pen” pew and reflect on this somber holiday. It is a time of reflection and gratitude to pay tribute to all those who fought, and died, for our freedom. We hope you will join us for this special and first event of 2025 at the Dana Meeting House. Following the Service there will be a bell ringing for Veterans from New Hampton.
The Dana Meeting House Association will hold its 5th Annual Meeting on June 28th. There will be a short business meeting and refreshments from 3:30-4:30 followed by a presentation by Barry Draper. Life science teacher Barry Draper will talk about the natural world that surrounds us no matter where we are. With every step, there’s something new to discover right under our feet. Weather permitting we’ll explore the world outside the Dana Meeting House and see what we find and hear and smell.
DMHA signature event, Timeless Textiles Day will take place on Saturday July 5th from 10-3. The Meeting House comes alive with colors as historians, quilters and textile artists adopt pews for the day and display beautiful textiles. Elizabeth Humphrey will demonstrate various techniques of working with wool. At noon, Textile Historian Stephanie Drake will speak about dating quilts. She will highlight quilts from Tamworth History Center and talk about these “mystery textiles.” Attendees are also invited to bring forward their own quilts for identification and discussion. In honor of Independence Day, this year’s featured quilts will be presented by Quilts of Valor Foundation. Donna Swanson, state coordinator for NH Quilts of Valor Foundation, will speak about the work the non-profit Foundation does across the country. Quilts of Valor Foundation began in 2003 with a dream. Founder Catherine Roberts’ son Nat was deployed in Iraq. According to Catherine: “The dream was as vivid as real life. I saw a young man sitting on the side of his bed in the middle of the night, hunched over. The permeating feeling was one of utter despair. I could see his war demons clustered around. I next saw him wrapped in a quilt. His demeanor changed from one of despair to one of hope. The message of my dream: Quilts = Healing.”
Author Michael Tougias will be giving a slide presentation on his book Extreme Survival: Lessons from Those Who Have Triumphed Against All Odds. The event will be held at the Dana Meeting House on Wednesday, July 23rd from 5 - 7 PM. Tougias uses slides from some of the survival events to give the audience an edge-of-your-seat experience that also provides useful techniques that we can all use when faced with adversity or aspire to achieve a difficult goal. The author has interviewed over 100 people who survived against all odds, and researched many historical figures who have achieved the near-impossible. He supplements their stories with a handful of first person accounts from some of the toughest survivors in history. In this book, Extreme Survival, Tougias shares what he has learned about decision making under pressure and the mindsets and techniques survivors used to channel their energy into proactive decisions that saved their lives. He demonstrates that the same techniques can help anyone be more resilient when feeling overwhelmed or facing a seemingly insurmountable challenge in their personal or professional life. The methods shared can also be used by anyone who has an important goal – they provide inspiration and step by step practices to overcome obstacles and achieve a person’s full potential. Tougias has written seven survival and rescue books and Extreme Survival is the culmination of his life’s work of interviewing and researching the toughest survivors over the past three decades. Some of the survivors from history include John [...]
[The Baker Valley Band and Ice Cream Social will be back again on Saturday July 26 from 5-7 pm. Join us for some good old-fashioned music, dancing on the lawn and Ice Cream generously donated by The Common Man. It’s a fun time and you can tour the Dana Meeting House and meet friends and neighbors!
Join us for a heartfelt celebration at the Old Home Day Service in New Hampton, NH, held at the historic Dana Meeting House on Sunday, August 10th, 2025, from 10:00 to 11:00 AM. Led by Rev. Campbell Lovett, this cherished gathering will feature an uplifting message, inspiring music, and warm fellowship. It's a time to reconnect with neighbors, reflect on our shared history, and enjoy the beauty of one of New Hampton’s most treasured landmarks. Whether you're a longtime resident or a returning friend, all are welcome to share in this meaningful tradition.
You are warmly invited to our Annual Tree Lighting and Caroling Event at the beloved Dana Meeting House in New Hampton, NH, on Sunday, December 7th, 2025, at 5:00 PM. Gather with friends and neighbors as we usher in the holiday season with the glow of twinkling lights, the joy of timeless carols, and the spirit of community. Step into the charm of this historic setting, sip something warm, and sing along as we celebrate the magic of the season together. A festive tradition for all ages—come share the light!