Chase’s
Tavern sits on the Center Road looking out over the Unity Common towards the
Second New Hampshire Turnpike and the Unity Town Hall.
The Tavern was built about
1800 and in architectural style is transitional between the 18th century
Georgian and the early 19th century Federal. It has two large chimneys, resting
on impressive vaulted foundations in the basement. The fireplaces are of the
Count Rumford type (a model which became popular in the late 1790’s).
In the 19th century a wing, which seems to have combined living
space and a carriage barn, was added. This was replaced about 1989 by a much
smaller addition, which will be removed. The floor plan of the building has
been altered very little over the centuries and many of the original internal
features have survived. Most of the flooring appears to be original, as are
almost all of the doors.
Chase’s Tavern recalls the
days, from 1800 to 1850, when traffic on the Turnpike made Unity a prosperous
and bustling town. Before the completion of the Sullivan Railroad from Windsor
to Bellows Falls in1849 a large share of the traffic from this part of New
Hampshire and from northern Vermont came through Unity, headed for Amherst,
Nashua, and points south. Not only did heavily laden wagons in large numbers
lumber through Unity, but large herds of sheep and cattle were driven through
on their way to the stockyards in Boston.
Once the railroad went into operation, the traffic on the
turnpike dropped off and Unity went into a population decline for most of the
next century. The population reached a plateau of almost 1300 people in 1820,
1830, and 1840 and then declined steadily for the next ninety years, reaching a
low of 501 in 1930. It did not regain its earlier level until quite recently.
The history of the Tavern is
quite well documented in photographs taken over the last 100 years. These show
the original wing (which had a porch), a large hay barn, and a smaller shed. We
are actively soliciting additional information about the history of the
building and are conducting archival research.
Although an impressive
structure, the building has sat vacant and neglected for more than a quarter of
a century and has deteriorated somewhat over this period The Unity Historical
Society is working with the Town of Unity on a plan to preserve and restore
Chase’s Tavern and put it to use in service to the community.
In addition to purchasing
the building, the Town has spent $5,000 on emergency repairs to stabilize the
condition of the building and prevent further deterioration. The Historical
Society has supplemented these funds with a modest contribution and has
organized volunteer workers to help with this work.
The
Selectmen, working with the Historical Society, have developed a plan for the
thorough historic restoration of the Tavern (including reconstruction of a
portion of the original 19th century wing) for use by the Town and the
Historical Society. It would provide space for Town offices, police office,
Unity Free Library, Unity Historical Society museum and archives, and a meeting
room.
The
Selectmen have applied to the New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage
Investment Program (LCHIP) to receive State assistance on this project. If this
proposal is accepted, funds will be available from the State to match whatever
resources the Town puts into the project and whatever contributions others may
make to it. This would include funds to match the money already spent to
purchase the property, the expenditures last fall by the Town and the
Historical Society on emergency repairs, and
future Town expenditures and private contributions.
The Historical Society has
worked with the Selectmen to craft this proposal; we think we have made a very
strong case for this restoration project and are very hopeful that it will be
approved. We will learn in early March, about 2 weeks before Town Meeting, how
much funding will be available from LCHIP. The citizens of Unity will then
decide at Town Meeting whether we should move ahead with the project.
The Historical Society is
soliciting private contributions to supplement the Town and State money, and
has set a goal of $12,000 to be raised by the end o the year 2002. If the LCHIP
application is approved, this $12,000 will be matched by another $12,000 from
LCHIP.
Please send your
tax-deductible contribution to:
Chase’s Tavern Restoration Project
c/o Unity Historical Society
HCR 66, Box 176
Newport, NH 03773
Chase’s Tavern has stood for 200 years, witnessing many changes and weathering many ups and downs, especially during the last thirty years of neglect. But the enthusiastic response to the restoration project leads us to believe that it will stand for at least another hundred years, looking out over the Unity Common.