landmarks
United Church Of Acworth , South Acworth - The early and mid 1800s was a period of religious tolerance and many churches were organized in the small town of Acworth . Originally the Baptist Church , the United Church of Acworth was built at Lynn Hill, east of Acworth in 1818. In 1844 to attract more parishioners, the church was dismantled and moved less than a mile to the common land in Acworth. As the mill communities became the population centers in the mid 1800s, attendance dropped off and it was decided that the church would be moved again. Windows, pews and belfry were removed and the building shell was moved over three miles and downhill almost 700 feet in elevation. Six team of oxen were used to move the church using logs as rollers down Acworth Town Road . It is now located on the north side of Rt. 123A and is open for winter services. Shedd Porter Library, Alstead - An elaborate structure built in the neo-classical style called Ecole des Beaux Arts, This library was designed by the Boston architects William H. McLean and Albert H. Wright. Built in 1909 as gift from John Graves Shedd and Mary Roenna Porter to the towns of Langdon and Alstead, it boasts granite and marble stone-work, mahogany paneling, mosaic floors, and gold leaf embellished on the interior of the dome. Shedd had roots here and had lived in these two towns until he was 16. The design of this building was studied and written about by Dan Bartlett from the Boston Architectural Center of Boston in Renaissance Influence on the Shedd-Porter Library, Nov. 1993. |
Grange Hall, South Acworth - What was once the Methodist Church of Acworth is almost as well traveled as the old Baptist church. This building was dismantled in 1854 and rebuilt south of the Cold River , east of Beryl Mountain Road . It reopened on July 1855. It was sold and become the Grange Hall in the early part of this century. (The Grange Hall was purchased by the Town in the 1980's and subsequently reroofed with town funds.) Hutton House, River Road , Alstead - Hutton House was built in 1839 by Thomas Prentiss. It was the first house on River Street . In the mid 1800's it served as residence for the pastor of the Third congregational Church, Pastor Seth Arnold, who had returned from Acworth to preach in the town he had ministered in for many years Kingsbury grist and sawmill, Alstead - Built by Elisha Kingsbury in 1793, this small brick mill survived the industrial revolution as industry moved from small streams to large centers of hydro power. It is presently used as a residence and antique shop. It is located on the north side of Rt. 123, east of Alstead. Drewsville Mansion - Old Cheshire Turnpike, Village of Drewsville , Walpole - The Drewsville Mansion is thought to have been built by architect/builder William Pitt Wentworth in 1880 in the Eastlake style that popularized the time. Noteworthy feature is the double-door entry-way with ornate porch. Window bays are located above the porch on the second and third story. All are decorated with jigsaw cut ornamentation. The mansion was built for Sarah Lathrop Lovell and Bolivar Lovell. Mr. Lovell was a prominent lawyer and server as an elected member of the Governor's Council in 1873-74. (The Drewsville Mansion has more recently been used as low income housing.) |
bridges
McDermott Covered Bridge , Langdon (AKA Cold River Covered Bridge) - Three bridges previously stood on this site. The first was built in 1790. The current bridge was built by Albert S. Granger in 1869. The style is town lattice truss with light arches. The total length is 81' 0" an has a clear span of 76' 0". In 1961 it was estimated that it would cost $7,000 to restore the bridge, over 15 times the original cost of $450. At that time the town decided to build a modern bridge beside the old covered bridge, which was finished in 1964. McDermott Bridge was close to vehicular traffic and retained for historic reasons. At present there is an organization that is raising money for this bridge and the Prentiss Bridge which spans Great Brook in Langdon, to save these pieces of history. |
Unnamed, Honey Brook, Acworth - Stone bridge over Honey Brook slightly more than 1/4 mile upstream from confluence with Cold River. |
historic markers
“Town of Newton ” plaque, Alstead town square - Alstead first proclaimed as Town of Newton , 1763, in a grant to John Towlet and others. New charter granted to Charles Chase and others in 1766. Civil War Monument, Vilas Cemetery, Alstead |
Paper Mill Village sign, Millot Green, Alstead - One of the first mills in Alstead, the paper mill was built in 1793. Paper was produced from linen and cotton rags. In the 1820's a lesser quality paper was also produced, made of straw. The mill survived several fires until in 1880 it burned to the ground. Honor Roll for World War I and II plaque, east of Alstead town square |
National Register of Historic places within watershed outside of corridor
Prentiss Covered Bridge , Little Brook/Cheshire Turnpike, Langdon |
Congregational Church, Acworth |
Lempster Meetinghouse |