Dana Meeting House

Old Home Day Service
2026-08-09 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | 288 Dana Hill Road, 288 Dana Hill Road, New Hampton, NH, 03256, United States
Join us at the meeting house for a worship service of New Hampton’s 127th Old Home Day Weekend!

Jeff Warner's "Music in My Pockets" Presentation
2026-08-02 16:00 - 17:30 (America/New_York) | 288 Dana Hill Road, 288 Dana Hill Road, New Hampton, NH, 03256, United States
Bring the whole family to Jeff Warner’s “Music in My Pockets” Presentation on Sunday, August 2nd, from 4 – 5:30 PM at the Dana Meeting House! Singing games, accessible “pocket instruments” like spoons and dancing puppets, tall tales, funny songs, old songs and songs kids teach each other in the playground-all “traditional” in that they have been passed down the generations by word of mouth-will be seen, heard and learned. We will revisit 1850 or 1910 in a New England town, with families gathered around the kitchen hearth, participating in timeless, hearty entertainment: a glimpse into how America amused itself before electricity. This program is recommended for adults and children ages 6 and above.

Baker Valley Band & Ice Cream Social
2026-07-25 17:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | 288 Dana Hill Road, 288 Dana Hill Road, New Hampton, NH, 03256, United States
The Baker Valley Band and Ice Cream Social will be back again on Saturday July 25th 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!
This is also Trisha Craig’s fifth anniversary with the Baker Valley Band, and the band will be playing the premiere performance of composer Jonathan Santore’s original piece called “FUN!”, inspired by the Baker Valley Band’s philosophy.

Timeless Textiles
2026-07-11 10:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | 288 Dana Hill Road, 288 Dana Hill Road, New Hampton, NH, 03256, United States
Enjoy a day of textile displays, demonstrations and talks. Admire fabulous antique and modern quilts; listen to featured quilter Ginny Canning speak about her work, visit displays and demonstrations, and vote on your favorite quilt!

Annual Meeting: Berries, Banter, and Farms
2026-06-27 16:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | 288 Dana Hill Road, 288 Dana Hill Road, New Hampton, NH, 03256, United States
The Dana Meeting House Association will hold its 6th Annual Meeting on June 27th fron 4 to 6 PM. We will meet at the Dana Meeting House and commence with our business meeting and voting of the Board of Directors promptly at 4 PM. Following the short business meeting, Jonann Torsey will lead a presentation on the farms and farming history of Dana Hill. Jonann gave this talk to the New Hampton Historical Society last year, and it was so highly praised we invited her to speak at our annual meeting!

Following the meeting, attendees are welcome to enjoy refreshments, including strawberry shortcake (biscuits made by Baked and Brewed of Alton, New Hampshire, and strawberries donated by the Common Man)!

Memorial Day Service
2026-05-25 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | 288 Dana Hill Road, 288 Dana Hill Road, New Hampton, NH, 03256, United States
Dana Meeting House will host a Memorial Day Service with Rev. John Bascom of Bristol Baptist Church. Rev. Bascom will lead a message and prayer service. 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.

Musician Matt Mitchell will be present to play Taps and another patriotic song. The conclusion of this service will include a bell ringing for Veterans from New Hampton. We hope you will join us for this special and first event of 2026 at the Dana Meeting House.

5th Annual Lighting of the Tree and Carol Sing
2025-12-07 17:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | 288 Dana Hill Road, 288 Dana Hill Road, New Hampton, NH, 03256, United States
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!

Old Home Day Service
2025-08-10 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | 288 Dana Hill Road, 288 Dana Hill Road, New Hampton, NH, 03256, United States
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.

Baker Valley Band & Ice Cream Social
2025-07-26 17:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | 288 Dana Hill Road, 288 Dana Hill Road, New Hampton, NH, 03256, United States
[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!

NY Times Bestselling Author To Speak on Extreme Survival
2025-07-23 17:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | 288 Dana Hill Road, 288 Dana Hill Road, New Hampton, NH, 03256, United States
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 McCain, Mary Rowlandson (captive during King Philip’s Indian War), Howard Blackburn, Captain Bligh, Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl, mountainman Hugh Glass, Admiral Byrd, Shackleton, WWII pilot James Whittaker, Teddy Roosevelt, JFK (PT109), USS Indianapolis survivors, and many more from mountain climbers to early explorers of the new world.
Tougias has earned critical acclaim and literary awards for his 30 bestselling non- fiction narratives. Some of his books include The Finest Hours (now a Disney movie), A Storm Too Soon, Overboard and The Waters Between Us. He is also author of books for middle readers in his “True Rescue Series” and “True Survival Series.”
www.michaeltougias.com

Timeless Textiles Day - "Quilts of Valor"
2025-07-05 10:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | 288 Dana Hill Road, 288 Dana Hill Road, New Hampton, NH, 03256, United States
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.”

DMHA Annual Meeting
2025-06-28 15:30 - 17:30 (America/New_York) | 288 Dana Hill Road, 288 Dana Hill Road, New Hampton, NH, 03256, United States
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.

Memorial Day Service & Bell-Ringing
2025-05-26 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | 288 Dana Hill Road, 288 Dana Hill Road, New Hampton, NH, 03256, United States
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.

Fourth Annual Lighting of Tree and Carol Sing
2024-12-08 17:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | Dana Meeting House, 288 Dana Hill Road, New Hampton, NH, 03256, United States
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.

Old Home Day Service & Bell-Ringing
2024-08-11 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | Dana Meeting House, 288 Dana Hill Road, New Hampton, NH, 03256, United States
Join us at the meeting house for a worship service of New Hampton’s 125th Old Home Day Weekend!

Baker Valley Band & Ice Cream Social
2024-07-27 17:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Dana Meeting House, 288 Dana Hill Road, New Hampton, NH, 03256, United States
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!

Timeless Textiles
2024-07-06 10:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | 288 Dana Hill Road, 288 Dana Hill Road, New Hampton, NH, 03256, United States
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.

Wild Edibles in New Hampshire with Dr. Rick Van de Poll
2024-06-11 17:30 (America/New_York) | Dana Meeting House, 288 Dana Hill Road, New Hampton, NH, 03256, United States
The Dana Meeting House Association will host an evening of Wild Edibles of New Hampshire with Dr.Rick Van de Poll on Tuesday June 11 th from 5:30-7 at the Dana Meeting House on Dana Hill Road in New Hampton.
he Meeting and presentation are free and open to the public.
Dr. Rick Van de Poll will give a colourful slide show to introduce participants to the common plants and mushrooms that have been used for centuries by Europeans and Natives alike. Dr. Van de Poll is a botanist and mycologist with several decades of experience in wildcrafting and preparing a variety of wild edible and medicinal plants and fungi. He has taught courses in both subjects since 1977 to students of all ages and helped found two mushroom clubs in N.H. He and his wife ran a small herbal apothecary out of their home for many years in Sullivan, and they continue to make natural harvests part of their daily lives.
Dr. Van de Poll will go over what wild foods and medicinals are available in our region of central New Hampshire region. Reference works will be reviewed and a special soup for the day will be prepared for optional sampling. This will be followed by a short, easy hike around Dana Meeting House in search of what is out and identifiable. Come learn about the amazing and delicious wild plant right outside your own door as well as have a chance to tour the Dana Meeting House.
Dana Meeting House Association is a 501c3 formed in 2019 to protect, preserve and promote the historic Dana Meeting House in New Hampton, New Hampshire. Construction of this building began in 1800 and was first used in 1802 by the Freewill Baptist movement. It is a fine example of 19th century architecture and the only one of its kind in New Hampshire. It was included in the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.

2024 Annual Meeting
2024-06-08 15:30 (America/New_York) | Dana Meeting House, 288 Dana Hill Road, New Hampton, NH, 03256, United States
The Dana Meeting House Association will hold its third Annual Meeting on Saturday June 8 from 3:30-6 pm at the Dana Meeting House at 288 Dana Hill Road in New Hampton, New Hampshire followed by a presentation with Stone Wall historian, teacher, and actor, Kevin
Gardner. The Meeting and presentation are free and open to the public and this event is sponsored by New Hampshire Humanities to Go.
There will be a business meeting, election of officers and refreshments from 3:30-4:30.
The meeting is open to the public and is a great time to learn more about the Dana Meeting House and sign up to be a volunteer for the Summer 2024 season. Thomas Smith, President, will lead the meeting with updates from others including Greg Flowers, Treasurer, Bill Huckins, Vice President and Board Members, Blair Folts and Nick and Lucienne Brown. The position of Secretary is open and attendees will be invited to consider volunteering for this seat. Summer
editions of the Newsletter will be on hand as will the summer event schedule. Attendees are invited to bring ideas or questions for further promotion of the Dana Meeting House.
Following the business meeting, Kevin Gardner will give a presentation on Finding New England Stone Walls. Kevin’s informal talk covers a few of the main topics of his book about New England stone walls, The Granite Kiss (Countryman Press), touching on history, technique, stylistic development, and aesthetics. He explains how and why New
England came to acquire its thousands of miles of stone walls, the ways in which they and other dry stone structures were built, how their styles emerged and changed over time, and their significance to the famous New England landscape. Other topics may include: differences in approach between historical and contemporary wall-builders, a
discussion of restoration tips and techniques, and information about design, acquisition of materials, preservation, and analysis. There is always a generous question-and-answer period, during which listeners are encouraged to bring up specific problems or projects on their own properties.
During the presentation, Kevin occupies himself by building a miniature wall or walls on a tabletop, using tiny stones from a five-gallon bucket. It is a fascinating way to connect viewers to his talk and everyone will leave with new knowledge about the stone walls we all love.
Kevin Gardner is a lifelong resident of Hopkinton, NH. Like many independent rural Yankees, he’s been a jack of many trades, a builder, logger, writer, teacher, radio voice, even an actor and director. For more than forty years he has been a stone wall builder in a family business widely known for traditional New England stonework, particularly for historic restoration of antique structures.
Come learn more about the Dana Meeting House and Association. Dana Meeting House Association is a 501c3 formed in 2019 to protect, preserve and promote the historic Dana Meeting House in New Hampton, New Hampshire. Construction of this building began in 1800 and was first used in 1802 by the Freewill Baptist movement. It is a fine example of 19th century architecture and the only one of its kind in New Hampshire. It was included in the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.
DMHA is especially grateful to New Hampshire Humanities to Go for sponsorship of this unique event. We look forward to seeing you on June 8 th .

Fourth Annual Lighting of Tree
2023-12-10 17:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Dana Meeting House, 288 Dana Hill Road, New Hampton, NH, 03256, United States
Fourth Annual Lighting of Tree and outside Carol Sing. Join us for a carol sing, bonfire and lighting of the Christmas Tree on the lawn.

Old Home Day Service, Bell Ringing and Open House.
2023-08-13 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | Dana Meeting House, 288 Dana Hill Road, New Hampton, NH, 03256, United States
Please come join us for some or all of the events and enjoy a tour of the restored Meeting House!

Ice Cream Social
2023-07-30 17:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Dana Meeting House, 288 Dana Hill Road, New Hampton, NH, 03256, United States
Date change due to Weather. The event is now Sunday July 30th. Hope to see you there.
Ice Cream Social, Music, Foot tapping and Dancing on the lawn to Baker Valley Band. 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.

Summer Prayer and Reflection Services
2023-07-30 17:00 - 18:30 (America/New_York) | Dana Meeting House, 288 Dana Hill Road, New Hampton, NH, 03256, United States
Last Sunday in June, July and August
Summer Prayer and Reflection Services on Dana Hill are an opportunity to sit in the stillness of a classic New England Meeting House and commune with the Creator. These thirty minute services will include simple songs, prayers of the people, reading of scripture, a brief meditation, and a sending forth into the coming
week. We hope you will depart from the service refreshed and renewed! Services will be arranged by Rev. Campbell Lovett of Holderness and will feature a variety of readings and music.
Come Gather with us on: June 25, July 30, August 27

New Hampshire’s One Room School Houses-the Romance and the Reality
2023-07-15 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Dana Meeting House, 288 Dana Hill Road, New Hampton, NH, 03256, United States
Historic presentation by Stephen Taylor on New Hampshire’s One Room School Houses-the Romance and the Reality. Hundreds of one-room schools dotted the landscape of New Hampshire a century ago and were the backbone of primary education for generations of children. Revered in literature and lore, they actually were beset with problems, some of which are little changed today. Steve Taylor is farmer, writer and longtime scholar of the state’s rural history and culture.
We are grateful to “NH Humanities to Go” program, the co-sponsor of this event.

Timeless Textiles Exhibit
2023-07-08 10:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Dana Meeting House, 288 Dana Hill Road, New Hampton, NH, 03256, United States
Enjoy a day of displays, demonstrations and talks about early and contemporary textile work in New England. There will be demonstrations in quilting, spinning natural dyeing, and historical dating of textiles and quilt patterns. There will also be an antique sock machine on hand. Inside the Meeting House, there will be displays of traditional and antique quilts as well as contemporary quilts from around New England. Hourly discussions with visiting speakers will provide information on different fiber arts. For kids, there will be hands on activities outside under the tent and light refreshments will be served.

Third Annual Tree Lighting Service
2022-12-11 17:00 - 19:00 UTC | Dana Meeting House, 288 Dana Hill Road, New Hampton, NH, 03256, United States
Third Annual Lighting of Tree and outside Carol Sing.

Old Home Day Service
2022-08-14 10:00 - 12:00 UTC | Dana Meeting House, 288 Dana Hill Road, New Hampton, NH, 03256, United States
Bell Ringing and Open House

Old Home Day Open House
2022-08-13 13:00 - 16:00 UTC | Dana Meeting House, 288 Dana Hill Road, New Hampton, NH, 03256, United States
Following OLD HOME DAY lunch at the Town House, the Dana Meeting House will host an Open House. Board Members and volunteers will be on hand to answer questions and invite visitors to enjoy a chance to sit in their own “sheep pen.”

Ice Cream Social
2022-07-30 17:00 - 19:00 UTC | Dana Meeting House, 288 Dana Hill Road, New Hampton, NH, 03256, United States
Come explore the Dana Meeting House and then 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.

13,000 Years Ago in the Granite State
2022-07-16 18:00 - 20:00 UTC | Dana Meeting House, 288 Dana Hill Road, New Hampton, NH, 03256, United States
Historic Presentation by Archaeologist Dr. Robert Goodby
More than 13,000 years ago, small groups of Paleoindians endured frigid winters on the edge of a small river in what would become Keene, New Hampshire. In 2009, an archaeological survey for the new Keene Middle school discovered the remains of their stay and brought to light one of the oldest Native American sites in New England. The remarkably intact site produced evidence of four separate dwellings containing over 200 stone tools and fragments of burned animal bone. These early people, rather than being isolated stone-age nomads, were part of a social network that extended across much of northeastern North America.
