The 250th Birthday Celebration at the Jaffrey Meetinghouse, June 17, 2025
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| Neige Christenson recreates John Eaton's famous ridgepole headstand 250 years later. | David and Kathy Torrey, as Laban Ainsworth and Mary Minot, welcome attendees to the Meetinghouse. | Cassius Web reads his poem, For the 250th Anniversary of the Raising of the Jaffrey Meeting-House |
On June 17, 2025 a celebration of the of the 250th Anniversary of the Raising of the Jaffrey Meetinghouse was held at the Meetinghouse. It began at 5:00 PM. The Little Red Schoolhouse and Melville Academy were both open to visitors. Members of the Lafayette Artillery Company were scheduled to fire their brass cannon, in response to the cannon fire reportedly heard during the raising of the Meetinghouse from the Battle of Bunker Hill, but, unfortunately, that event was cancelled because of rain.
At approximately 5:50, Neige Christenson re-enacted a famous headstand executed by John Eaton on the ridgepole of the Meetinghouse on the day it was raised in 1775. David and Kathy Torrey then delivered opening remarks, dressed as Laban Ainsworth and Mary Minot. Jaffrey selectmen Frank Sterling then read a proclamation from the Town of Jaffrey.
Cassius Webb read a poem he wrote for the occasion entitled, "For the 250th Anniversary of the Raising of the Jaffrey Meeting-House"
Then Carol Compton and Randy Miller played "Fisher's Hornpipe" which was the first tune played on a wooden organ that once sat in the Meetinghouse.
Laban Ainsworth and Mary Minot then led a "promenade" or "march" around the interior of the Meetinghouse, which concluded the program.
After the promenade, the benches were cleared for a contra dance that lasted until about 8:00. Refreshments were provided by the Jaffrey Center Village Improvement Socity and organized by JCVIS president, Toni Gildone
The event was sponsored by The Meetinghouse Committee, The Jaffrey Center Village Improvement Society, The Jaffrey Historical Society, The First Church in Jaffrey, the Amos Fortune Forum, and the Descendants of Laban Ainsworth.
