SNEAK PEAK
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Community Church
(Start of Tour)
Newfields was once home to four churches: The first Methodist Academy in New England was established here in 1817, and the Methodist Church was constructed in 1836. Soon after, the Congregational Church was built in 1839, followed by the Universalist Church in 1873.
In 1933, the three congregations joined as one in the Newfields Community Church, holding worship in the Universalist Building, which is the only one of the three original church buildings remaining. The Newfields Community Church houses a historic organ, made by Joel Butler circa 1880.
A concert and tours of the church will take place in the church, while bracelet and brochure pick-up and snacks will be available in the main hall downstairs.
The William Cario House
Cario was one of the most well-known silversmiths of the Revolutionary period from 1785 to 1809. The home is a “simple Georgian Colonial” with a center-stacked chimney and five fireplaces. A highlight is the large original keeping room fireplace, uncovered in the recent renovation with original cooking implements and a working beehive oven intact.
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The Peter Hersey House
It is a center chimney, 2 ½ story Georgian, post and beam structure, the interior has been carefully restored by several past owners, including refurbishing the Georgian paneling on the fireplace walls in the dining room. The barn and family cemetery are also included on the tour.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
This church was once one of four in Newfields. The home conversion includes former church relics such as stained glass, candles, and the baptismal font. The home has been converted to pay homage to the former church while offering modern comforts and charm to its occupants.
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Ordway Homestead
The original home and attached barn were built circa 1806, when local shipwright Michael Shute gifted this land as his daughter’s dowry to her young Ordway suitor. The barn was shifted away from its original location while a new foundation was prepared; the barn returned and was converted to living space in 2017. The barn wing incorporates various architectural remnants salvaged from the original Ordway homestead, such as the stair post which was a floor joist in the old home.
The Spead Home
James Spead owned the Newfields General Store, now the Newfields Country Store, and he also worked in printing and jewelry. Speed was a renowned bicyclist and known for riding his big-wheeled bike all over the Seacoast. The home was built prior to 1873 and was owned by James Spead’s father George. The home features an original grain silo in the barn conversion at the back of the home, which now houses a staircase.
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Sylvia's Place of Peace
This carriage house home conversion was originally part of the Amos Paul Estate. The home has kept its original carriage house features while becoming a cozy abode.
The Michael Shute Home
Originally built in 1755 with the rear portion of the home erected in 1723. The home has had a varied history through the centuries, from being an inn and tavern to a boarding house for the ironworks, back to being a single-family residence. The current owners are avid gardeners, and the grounds and the dock are included in the tour.
