44-457: Canterbury Shaker Village is a historic site and museum in Canterbury, New Hampshire , United States. It was one of a number of Shaker communities founded in the 19th century. It is one of the most intact and authentic surviving Shaker community sites, and was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1993. The site is operated by a non-profit organization established in 1969 to preserve
88-492: A gravel pit . Other income sources include production of fancy goods, basket making , weaving , printing, and the manufacturing of some small woodenware. Their operation is run with the help of six year-round employees and six seasonal employees. On January 2, 2017, the community announced that female community member, Sister Frances Carr had died that day. With Carr's death, Sister June Carpenter and Brother Arnold Hadd remained. The Spring/Summer 2019 issue of The Clarion ,
132-554: A Mother Ann cake is presented. The daily schedule of a Shaker in Sabbathday Lake Village is as follows: The last two Shakers own all the property communally, and confess their sins to each other. The village regularly receives visitors, and Arnold and June teach them how to make soap and bind books. The money generated from these workshops keeps the village alive. To preserve their legacy, as well as their idyllic lakeside property at Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village,
176-571: A hill near Canterbury Center, where the Pennacook people came to trade. The town would be incorporated in 1741. There were several garrison houses or stockades in the area as late as 1758. According to the United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 44.7 square miles (115.8 km ), of which 43.9 square miles (113.6 km ) are land and 0.81 square miles (2.1 km ) are water, comprising 1.86% of
220-597: A legal document taking the necessary vows and that document, the official covenant, is locked up in our safe. Membership is closed forever." By as early as 1980, Canterbury Shaker Village had opened to visitors as a historic site, with tours, greetings by some of the few remaining Shakers, and a gift shop, called "Simple Gifts". In 1992, it received 60,000 visitors from all 50 US states and 45 countries. In 1988, Eldress Gertrude Soule died, leaving only two Shakers left at Canterbury Village, Eldress Bertha Lindsay and Sister Ethel Hudson, aged 93 and 96, respectively. Bertha Lindsay,
264-400: A ministry, which governed over the individual communities. Finally, the fourth level was the bishopric, which governed the local communities. All of the following are filed under Shaker Village Road, Canterbury, Merrimack County, NH: 43°21′32″N 71°29′24″W / 43.35889°N 71.49000°W / 43.35889; -71.49000 Canterbury, New Hampshire Canterbury
308-487: A place for learning, reflection and renewal of the human spirit." Visitors learn about the life, ideals, values and legacy of the Canterbury Shakers through tours, programs, exhibits, research and publications. Village staff, largely volunteer, conduct tours, and its restaurant serves traditional Shaker lunches and dinners spring, summer and fall. The Canterbury site was one of two communities existing in what
352-526: Is 226.5 acres (91.7 ha). Images of Canterbury: Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village Other members Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village is a Shaker village near New Gloucester and Poland , Maine , in the United States . It is the last active Shaker community, with two members as of 2024 . The community was established in either 1782, 1783, or 1793, at the height of the Shaker movement in
396-478: Is a town in Merrimack County , New Hampshire , United States. The population was 2,389 at the 2020 census . The Canterbury Shaker Village is in the eastern part of the town. First granted by Lieutenant Governor John Wentworth in 1727, the town was named for William Wake , Archbishop of Canterbury . It was originally a militia timber fort and trading post of Capt. Jeremiah Clough located on
440-570: Is the Shaker Library, which houses a rich collection of Shaker records for historical research. Other historic buildings include the Cart and Carriage Shed, Ox Barn, The Girl's Shop, Herb House, Brooder House, Wood House, a garage built in 1910 for the group's first car, stable, Summer House, and the Laundry building. The village, which attracts up to 10,000 visitors a year, has been open to
484-716: The Mount Lebanon village of Shakers traveled to Canterbury and converted several prominent figures of the community. These figures included Benjamin and Mary Whitcher and the Wiggin and Sanborn families, who later donated land to house the Canterbury Village community of Shakers. Through a donation of land from local community members, the Canterbury Village was founded in 1792, led by Father Job Bishop. The village expanded over time, and in 1803 there were 159 members in three families . Nearly fifty years later in 1850,
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#1732783074536528-566: The Shakers accept new people who wish to join them. In 1957, after "months of prayer", Eldresses Gertrude, Emma, and Ida, the leaders of the United Society of Believers and members of another Shaker settlement, Canterbury Shaker Village , voted to close their Shaker Covenant, the document which they claimed that new members need to sign to become members. In 1988, speaking about the three men and women in their 20s and 30s who had joined
572-570: The Shakers and were living in the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, Eldress Bertha Lindsay said, "To become a Shaker you have to sign a legal document taking the necessary vows and that document, the official covenant, is locked up in our safe. Membership is closed forever." The Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village is a separate Shaker settlement in its own right and continues to seek new persons to become member Shakers. The Sabbathday Lake Shakers reopened their worship services to
616-492: The Shakers announced in October 2005 that they had entered into a trust with the state of Maine and several conservation groups. Under this agreement, the Shakers will sell conservation easements to the trust, allowing the village to stave off development and continue operations as long as there are Shakers to live there. The agreement does not specify whether the property will become a park, museum, or other public space should
660-554: The Shakers in Canterbury had dwindled to just 49, 47 women and two men. In addition, there were 12 females under the age of 21 as well as one non-Shaker who had been living in the village for seven years. The last male member of the Canterbury Village, Brother Irving Greenwood, died in 1939. In 1947, when LIFE reporter Nina Leen visited the village, there were 16 sisters remaining, ranging in age from 43 to 80. In 1957, after "months of prayer", Eldresses Gertrude, Emma, and Ida,
704-400: The Shakers tended to be more emotional and demonstrative in their worship. Shakers also believed that their lives should be dedicated to pursuing perfection, continuously confessing their sins, and attempting a cessation of sinning. The Shakers migrated to Colonial America in 1774 in pursuit of religious freedom . They built 19 communal settlements that attracted some 20,000 converts over
748-486: The Shakers took some preventive measures in 2001. Preservation and conservation easements were sold to Maine Preservation and the New England Forestry Foundation . These two groups, with the help of eight other public and non-profit agencies, are working to cover cost of the easements. The village and surrounding farmland and forests will be protected from development. Brother Arnold Hadd
792-563: The Shakers' newsletter, makes reference to an additional Shaker in the community, Brother Andrew. This community was one of the smaller Shaker groups during the sect's heyday. They farm and practice a variety of handicrafts; a Shaker Museum and Sunday services are open to visitors. Mother Ann Lee is celebrated on the first Sunday of August to commemorate the arrival of the English Shakers in America in 1774. The congregation sings and
836-627: The United States. The Sabbathday Lake meetinghouse was built in 1794. The entire property was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1974. The Shakers were originally located in England in 1747, in the home of Mother Ann Lee . They developed from the religious group called the Quakers which originated in the 17th century. Both groups believed that everybody could find God within him or herself, rather than through clergy or rituals, but
880-419: The age of 18 living with them, 67.0% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.2% were non-families. 15.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 2.91. In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.5% under
924-461: The age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 34.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males. The median income for a household in the town was $ 58,026, and the median income for a family was $ 62,583. Males had a median income of $ 41,302 versus $ 32,313 for females. The per capita income for
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#1732783074536968-614: The collection represents every Shaker Community known to have existed, special emphasis has been placed upon preserving the heritage of the Maine Shaker Communities, including Sabbathday Lake, Poland Hill , Gorham , and Alfred . As Shakers are celibate , new members cannot be born into the group and must join from the outside. Many prospective members regard celibacy as a major obstacle which keeps them from joining. Current members have taken steps to ensure that Sabbathday Lake Village will remain largely unchanged when
1012-564: The community. They built a mill and farm that enabled them to sell produce and commercial goods to the outside world. By 1800, more than 140 believers lived at Sabbathday Lake community. By 1850, seventy Shakers lived in the Sabbathday Lake Church Family at New Gloucester. The 1880 census listed 43 believers at Sabbathday Lake. Membership hovered around that level until the 1930s, when only about thirty members remained. Two members remain as of September 2024, though
1056-529: The final members of the group die. The 1,643 acres (665 ha) of land owned by the Shakers in both Cumberland County and Androscoggin County include Sabbathday Lake which is 340 acres (140 ha) with 5,000 feet (1,500 m) of undeveloped shoreline with a beach that is open to the public and the 150 acres (61 ha) Shaker Bog . Other dismantled Shaker villages were converted into housing lots or prisons. In order to avoid this fate at Sabbathday Lake,
1100-429: The heritage of the Canterbury Shakers. Canterbury Shaker Village is an internationally known, non-profit museum and historic site with 25 original Shaker buildings, four reconstructed Shaker buildings and 694 acres (2.81 km) of forests, fields, gardens and mill ponds under permanent conservation easement. Canterbury Shaker Village "is dedicated to preserving the 200-year legacy of the Canterbury Shakers and to providing
1144-470: The last Shaker eldress, died on 3 October 1990, leaving only one Shaker at Canterbury, Sister Ethel Hudson . By September 1992, she had died at the age of 96. The Shakers were organized in a hierarchical system of four levels. The first level to which every member of the community was involved was the family. Above the family were members known as elders and eldresses, deacons and deaconesses. The third level usually consisted of two men and two women who formed
1188-572: The leaders of the United Society of Believers and who were based out of Canterbury, voted to close the Shaker Covenant, the document which all new members need to sign to become members of the Shakers. In 1988, speaking about the three men and women in their 20s and 30s who had joined the Shakers and were living in the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village , Eldress Bertha Lindsay stated, "To become a Shaker you have to sign
1232-699: The next century. The first Shaker village was built in New Lebanon, New York , at the Mount Lebanon Shaker Society . The other 18 communities were built in Maine, New Hampshire , Massachusetts , Connecticut , New York, Kentucky , Ohio , Indiana , Georgia and Florida . Strict believers in celibacy , Shakers maintained their numbers through conversion and adoption of orphans. The group reached its maximum size of about 6,000 full members in 1840. The Shaker settlement at Sabbathday Lake
1276-540: The public in 1963. Membership to the community is still open, and occasionally "novices" explore joining the society. As of 2006, the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village has 14 working buildings, including the Central Dwelling House, which includes a music room, chapel , kitchen , and large dining room . The community still holds regular Public Meetings (worship services) on Sundays in the 1794 meetinghouse. Another building with historical significance
1320-555: The public since 1931, when the Shaker Museum and Library was established. The Sabbathday Lake Shaker Museum is the largest repository of Maine Shaker culture. Examples of furniture, oval boxes, woodenware, metal and tin wares, technology and tools, "fancy" sales goods, costume and textiles, visual arts, and herbal and medicinal products are among the 13,000 artifacts currently in the Sabbathday Lake collection. Although
1364-484: The road in 1795. The Sabbathday Lake community grew to a size of 1,900 acres (770 ha) with 26 large buildings by 1850. Buildings on the grounds included the meetinghouse and the Brethren's Shop, which still holds a working blacksmith shop and woodworking operation. A large new Central Dwelling House was built in 1883 or 1884. The Shakers strived to be as self-sufficient as possible, while being an active part of
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1408-513: The site contained 3,000 acres (12 km) with a community of 300 housed in 100 buildings. Other members Over the period in which the Canterbury Village existed as a working Shaker community, various inventions from mainstream society were adopted by its members. As Stephen Stein highlights in his definitive guide to the Shaker society, The Shaker Experience , "New means of transportation, sources of power, complex machinery, and communication devices transformed community life and came to symbolize
1452-535: The site is now a museum, founded in 1969, to preserve the heritage of the utopian sect . Canterbury Shaker Village is an internationally known, non-profit historic site with 25 original Shaker buildings, four reconstructed Shaker buildings and 694 acres (2.81 km ) of forest, fields, gardens and mill ponds under permanent conservation easement . It has been designated a National Historic Landmark for its architectural integrity and significance. Canterbury has an active historical society hosting events throughout
1496-493: The town fire department. The biggest attraction in Canterbury is the Shaker Village , established in 1792. At its peak in the 1850s, over 300 people lived, worked and worshiped in 100 buildings on 4,000 acres (16 km ). They made their living by farming, selling seeds, herbs and herbal medicines; and by manufacturing textiles, pails, brooms and other products. The last resident, Sister Ethel Hudson , died in 1992, and
1540-452: The town was $ 27,374. About 2.0% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line , including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 2.0% of those age 65 or over. On the last Saturday in July, the town hosts the annual Canterbury Fair, which includes artisan performances, music performances and a 5K run. The town hosts a regular Fourth of July parade as well a fireworks show by
1584-479: The town. The population density was 45.1 inhabitants per square mile (17.4/km ). There were 838 housing units at an average density of 19.1 per square mile (7.4/km ). The racial makeup of the town was 98.59% White , 0.25% African American , 0.25% Asian , 0.05% Pacific Islander , 0.10% from other races , and 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.51% of the population. There were 749 households, out of which 33.9% had children under
1628-649: The town. The town's highest point is an unnamed summit near Forest Pond and the town's northern border, where the elevation reaches approximately 1,390 feet (420 m) above sea level . Bounded by the Merrimack River on the west, Canterbury is drained on the east by the Soucook River . Canterbury lies fully within the Merrimack River watershed . As of the census of 2000, there were 1,979 people, 749 households, and 590 families residing in
1672-491: The views of modern Believers." In 1901 the New England Telephone Company installed telephones at the Canterbury Village site. As Stein outlined, this would have changed community life in the sense that the installation of the telephone eradicated the need for long distance travel between Shaker communities. The Canterbury Village had its own powerhouse constructed in 1910. The cost of the powerhouse
1716-687: The year and maintaining the Elizabeth Houser Museum in the old Center Schoolhouse (original one-room school house) as well as an archive of Canterbury-related materials dating to the early 18th century. Among notable works in the archive are the Lunther Cody Collection of Glass Negatives, documenting classic life in New England. Canterbury is home to Ayers State Forest and Shaker State Forest. Ayers State Forest covers 50 acres (20 ha), and Shaker State Forest
1760-408: Was $ 8,000, and at first the generator powered the electric lights in sixteen community buildings. The Canterbury members were also given a television set after its invention in the 1950s by friends of the community. The Shakers of Canterbury also had laborsaving inventions of their own, which contributed greatly to their economy. The Canterbury Shakers patented a washing machine, an accomplishment that
1804-534: Was established by a group of Shaker missionaries in 1782, and was then known as Thompson's Pond Plantation. The first members were from Gorham, Maine. The community grew to over two hundred members in less than a year. Its location in Cumberland County , Maine, made it the most northern and eastern of all the Shaker communes. They raised their meetinghouse in April 1794 and built their first dwelling across
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1848-531: Was known as the New Hampshire Bishopric, which contained Canterbury village and the Shaker Village of Enfield . A bishopric was composed of two or more communities in the same area or geographical location. They were designed as a way to organize communications and events amongst villages and acted as an administrative unit, which represented the governing body of the United Society of Believers. In 1782 Israel Chauncey and Ebeneezer Cooley from
1892-517: Was quoted by the Boston Globe in 2006. "We can't put up a Wal-Mart . Or a housing development. The land always has to remain for agricultural and forest purposes." The sale of future development rights has enabled the Shakers to restore and maintain the structures of the village. They also make money by leasing 29 cottage lots on Sabbathday Lake, leasing 1,000 acres (400 ha) of forests, 30 acres (12 ha) of farmland and orchards and
1936-532: Was recognized by mainstream society in the form of a gold medal at the Centennial Exposition in 1876. Music was an important part of Shaker life at Canterbury. Among the many Canterbury Shaker spirituals are the hymn "Celestial Praises" from 1841, and the song "We Will All Go Home with You" from 1862. Between 1842 and 1908 there were eleven different Shaker hymnals published by the Shakers at Canterbury. In 1905, there were 100 members, and by 1916,
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