Maintaining and preserving the historic Park Hill Meeting House

The Park Hill Meeting House is located in Westmoreland, set atop the north end of Park Hill Common, where its gilded weathervane sweeps across the sky. It is widely recognized as one of the finest examples of its kind. As author Eva Speare wrote, “The entire setting of Park Hill village is one of the richest gems of the landscape of New Hampshire.”

The Meeting House was originally built in 1762 near the North Cemetery, about a mile and a half from its present site. Completed in 1764, the structure was described at the time as “very plain, without belfry or ornament of any kind, but adequate to the spiritual needs of the small community.” In the summer of 1779, it was dismantled and moved by ox team to its present location at Park Hill.

Over the years, the building has undergone several significant changes. In 1826, it was moved approximately 90 feet north to the head of the sloping green. At that time, it was also extended by 20 feet, and a steeple, Palladian window, and portico were added. The columns were shaped and turned on site. The following year, a bell cast by Paul Revere & Sons of Boston was installed in the steeple, where it still hangs today.

Today, the Meeting House is owned and cared for by the Westmoreland Historical Society & Park Hill Meeting House, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. While the building and Society have no religious affiliation, the space remains an active part of community life. It hosts weddings, anniversary celebrations, and services of remembrance, along with seasonal concerts, meetings, and workshops throughout the summer months. The Meeting House continues to serve as a shared community resource, and the Society warmly encourages its use and enjoyment.