The Grange Hall in Antrim was one of five new properties added to the New Hampshire Register of Historic Places, according to a recent announcement from the state Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

“The building is important as an example of a rural meetinghouse that has been adapted through the generations to fit the changing needs of the community,” said historic preservation consultant Mae Williams, who was hired in 2019 to help develop a restoration plan for the historic building.

Originally constructed to serve as the town meetinghouse in 1785, it was used for both civic and religious purposes until the separation of church and state was mandated by the 1817 Toleration Act. It was deconstructed in 1832 and moved to the bottom of Meetinghouse Hill, where it was repurposed for use as a town hall. It was renovated again in 1894 for use by Antrim Grange No. 98, which still uses the building to this day. 

Williams noted that architectural changes reflect each chapter of the building’s history, “first as a Georgian meetinghouse, then as a Greek Revival-influenced town house and finally as a late Victorian Grange hall.” 

The Grange Hall has been the focus of a significant restoration effort after structural instability was discovered. Andrew Cushing of the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance, who worked with Williams to submit the building for consideration for the register, stated that its inclusion will help the Grange pursue grant funds to help the ongoing restoration. 

“It’s a nice ‘feather in the cap’ for a group that has so patiently and carefully stewarded the building for nearly 140 years,” he stated.

Grange representative Beth Merrill said that the restoration had been waylaid to help prevent further damage to the foundation caused by water runoff from Meetinghouse Hill. A retaining wall has been constructed and work on the building will resume in the warmer months.

The Antrim Grange Hall joins about 500 other New Hampshire sites that have been added to the state historic register since 2000. To be considered for inclusion on the register, a site must be at least 50 years old, although exceptions are made if the historical significance is clear. Inclusion is typically based on association with a historical event or figure. Sites that have served a significant role in the community, such as a town hall or meetinghouse, are also considered. 

Inclusion on the list comes with a variety of benefits, including protection from development, qualification for state financial assistance and special consideration in regulatory processes such as building codes. 

More information about the Grange Hall can be found at the Grange website, www.grange.org/antrimnh98 or the Antrim Grange #98 Facebook page.