The 250th Birthday Celebration at the Jaffrey Meetinghouse, June 17, 2025

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 there was a celebration of the of the 250th Anniversary of the Raising of the Jaffrey 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 PM 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 delivered opening remarks, dressed as Laban Ainsworth and Mary Minot. Jaffrey selectmen Frank Sterling read a proclamation from the Jaffrey Board of Selectmen.

Cassius Webb read a poem he wrote for the occasion entitled, "For the 250th Anniversary of the Raising of the Jaffrey Meeting-House" (A formatted version provided by Rob Stephenson is linked here and may also be found in the at right).

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 PM. 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.

Advertisment/Flyer created by Hadley Greene. This image was placed on organizational web sites and sent via email to members.	Proclamation of the Jaffrey Board of Selectmen