Tamworth, NH - “New England as it was when it was New”
The Barnstormers--the oldest professional summer theater in the country.
Tamworth began with the granting of a charter from
enjoy the scenic beauty and outdoor activities. Later
George the Third of England to the town in the name of
many chose to stay on as second home owners or per-
Benning Wentworth in 1766.
manent residents. Perhaps the most famous was Pres-
By 1790 there were 47 heads of families in Tamworth;
ident Grover Cleveland, whose son Francis Cleveland
126 by 1800. Parson Samuel Hidden was ordained here
founded The Barnstormers
in 1792 and led the town for nearly fifty years.
The hardy people of Tamworth, sustained, by strong
Theatre with his wife Alice in 1931. -the oldest profes-
Everything in one store.
religious faith, able to survive through the smallpox epidemic of 1813;
sional summer theater in the country. Gorver’s
and ’17; the “siege of the wolves” on Great
With this cultural roots in the 1700s, it is no
the “cold years” and famines of 1815, ’16, Hill in 1820; and the year 1827, when it snowed in every month.
As soon as the first farms were estab-
home is just up the street from Fleetwood Farm.
surprise that Tamworth is still known today for
its artistic, literary and religious organizations.
The town currently
lished, saw mills, shingle mills, and turn-
boasts two public libraries, an art gallery, the Arts
ing mills proliferated in every part of
Council of Tamworth, the Tamworth Historical
were built close to them, forming the vil-
The Barnstormers, and many resident authors,
town. Houses, churches, and schools
Society, the Tamworth Foundation, six churches,
lages of South Tamworth, Whittier Vintage Tamworth, NH
Chocorua, Wonalancet and Tamworth. In-
dustry and inventiveness flourished. Log-
poets and artists.
Cook Library, 1895
It is a town that stands still in time, yet still has an active rich history
gers, blacksmiths, millers, shoemakers, storekeepers, furniture- and
still moving forward. Professional plays are
Tamworth and surrounding towns gained an economic base from the
can have a home cooked meal at The Other
barrel-makers plied their trades. Nearly all were farmers too.
surrounding beauty of the spectacular mountains and valleys, lakes and rivers, fields and forests that New Hampshire is still known for. To supply
the growing number of visitors with places to stay and food, the farmers and their wives opened their homes to summer
boarders. In the 1870s, the Blaisdales charged up to 12 quests at $1 per day or $5 for a week at the Fleetwood Farm
(then called the “Fairview”)
Many of the newcomers originally came as tourists to
©2014, Michael Travis,
Historic Lyceum
still being performed, It is a town where you
Store surrounded by everything you would
find in a general store from hardware, fising
lures, kids toys magazines
and fishing poles. Tamworth is New England like it was
when it was “New”. Its charm
and natural beauty never gets old.
Tamworth, NH • • • •
Contains 60.7 square miles Elevation” 542 feet Incorporated 1766 Includes the towns of Chocorua, South Tamworth, Wonalancet
• Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm • The Barnstormer • The Lyceum • Cook Library • The Other Store