KINGSTON NH

KINGSTON NH

The Plains

Built - 1875

The southern New Hampshire town of Kingston was once a bustling carriage building industrial town and holds dear the title of "Carriage Towne," still used by several local businesses. Four buildings in town, including the old firehouse, serves as a historic museum which displays one of the carriages produced in the town many years ago along with a horse-drawn hearse also once produced in Kingston by their very skilled craftsmen.

A drive through the center of Kingston still shows a glance of the past in its long common area, known as the Plains of Kingston which features its century and a quarter + bandstand which still stands proudly after all of the many years of its existence. It is located parallel to thehome of Josiah Bartlett who was the first Governor of the state of New Hampshire. Needless to say, thousands of concerts have taken place on this structure over the years and it was once the home of the Kingston Brass Band which was formed at around the same time the bandstand was built. The band played to large crowds for many years until disbanded in 1932. Kingston's bandstand has always been considered to be the centerpiece of the town and it and the common area, palyed host to many concerts, fairs, antique shows and the now occasional band concerts which is now starting to unfortunately show its age. At one time, the Plains also hosted Colonial militia drills and was a cow pasture but, as of late, serves as the 300-year old community meeting place for its citizens and visitors.

Little other information is available on the bandstand itself but it can be positively stated that it has always served the community well and has distinguished itself as one of the oldest in the New England area.

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY:
Nichols Memorial Library