Fremont in Rockingham County, New Hampshire — The American Northeast (New England)
Meeting House and Hearse House
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2017
1. Meeting House and Hearse House Marker
Built in 1800, this steepleless structure, originally unheated, was used for both town and church meetings. This and a similar building in Rockingham, Vt., are the only two survivors of some 70 meeting houses with twin end "porches" (stairwells) built in New England in the 1700s. The building retains box pews (once privately owned) and a high pulpit. "Singing seats" in the gallery reflect the introduction of choral music in the late 1700s. The nearby hearse house (1849) marks a transition in local funerals from a hand-carried bier to a horse-drawn vehicle.
Erected 1991 by State of New Hampshire. (Marker Number 167.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Churches & Religion. A significant historical year for this entry is 1800.
Location. 42° 58.975′ N, 71° 7.7′ W. Marker is in Fremont, New Hampshire, in Rockingham County. Marker is on Main Street (New Hampshire Route 107) ¼ mile north of Scribner Road, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located beside the road, directly in front of the Meeting House. Marker and Meeting house are directly across Main Street from the Fremont Village Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 464 Main Street, Fremont NH 03044, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this
this page online
Regarding Meeting House and Hearse House. National Register of Historic Places (1993)
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Only two remaining twin-porch meeting houses in the United States.
Also see . . .
1. Fremont Meeting House.
(This link presents many interior pictures of the Meeting house, as well as extensive interior architectural and functional details.)
The twin porches located at each end of the building contained the stairs leading to the second floor gallery. During various annual Militia Muster Days, licensed tavern keepers used these side twin porches to sell spirituous liquors to the large assemblage of on-lookers that always attended these popular military training events. This is the only known meetinghouse in New Hampshire,
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2017
2. Meeting House and Hearse House Marker (tall view)
2. Fremont, New Hampshire - Celebrating 250 years - 1764-2014.
This meeting house was used for town meetings between 1801 and 1911. Church services by various denominations took place here for over 65 years until the Union Church was built in Fremont Village in 1865. Wood stoves for heating the interior were not installed until 1840. (Submitted on April 1, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
3. Fremont Meeting House.
The Fremont Meeting House is a well-preserved example of a Federal-period meeting house, and is the only surviving example in the state with two porches, a once-common variant of the building type. It is one of the last in the region to be built in the old style, with the main entrance on the long side and without a steeple. The interior retains some of its original box pews, and its pulpit, portions of which retain original marbleized paint finish. Other surviving interior elements include some rare period music supports in the gallery. The property also includes a 19th-century hearse
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2017
3. Meeting House and Hearse House Marker (wide view; Meeting House in background)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2017
4. Meeting House (1800)
Credits. This page was last revised on April 4, 2018. It was originally submitted on April 1, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 305 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 1, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
