National Register of Historic Places

Chesham Village District

Harrisville, Cheshire County, New Hampshire
Listed
December 29, 1986
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
86003102

About this property

Chesham is an unincorporated community within the town of Harrisville in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. Part of the village is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Chesham Village District, while the southernmost portions are included in the Pottersville District, also listed on the National Register. Chesham began as a nucleus of agricultural development in the early 19th century; the area saw increased development with the arrival of the railroad in 1880. This included the construction of the depot, and the adaptation by George Bemis of his property (across the street from the depot) as a livery stable. The area was given its name by George Chase, a summer visitor whose nearby estate in Dublin was called Chesham. Chase named it after the town of Chesham in Buckinghamshire, England, where the Chase family originated from in the 1600s. The area's economic activity began to subside after the end of railroad service in 1936. Chesham has an elementary school called Wells Memorial School. It has approximately 55 pupils up to grade 6. The Community Church of Harrisville and Chesham was formed from Chesham Baptist Church and Harrisville Congregational Church. Chesham Baptist Church dates back to 1785. The church building was originally built in 1797, re-modeled in 1830, and again re-modeled in 1844. The historic district consists mainly of a stretch of Chesham Road, extending eastward from its junction with Roxbury and Silver Lake Roads. The junction is one of the village's central points, where the railroad station and a surviving store building are located, as is the temple-fronted Greek Revival house of George Bemis. There are six houses in the district, ranging in style from the Greek Revival to the Colonial Revival.

Location

Harrisville, Cheshire County, New Hampshire
42.93571, -72.14489

Categories

TRANSPORTATIONEXPLORATION/SETTLEMENTARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
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The Community
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Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Nearby Historic Sites

Bemis, Elbridge G., House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Bemis, George, House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Pottersville District
Listed
0.4 mi
Silver Lake Farm
Industrial
0.4 mi
Needham House
Industrial
0.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Chesham Village District listed on the National Register?

Chesham Village District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 29, 1986.

What type of historic resource is Chesham Village District?

Chesham Village District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Chesham Village District?

The period of significance for Chesham Village District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Chesham Village District?

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