Town History A Brief History of Washington, NH Washington, New Hampshire is unique in that it is the first town incorporated under the name of George Washington. This occurred on December 13, 1776, while General Washington was serving as the Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, and over 12 years prior to his inauguration as our first President on April 30, 1789. (To read more, see the full article in our 2001 Spring Newsletter. ) The area was originally part of a larger land charter granted by the Province of Massachusetts on January 15, 1736, and called “Monadnock Number 8.” It was one of a succession of towns that ran from Merrimack to the Connecticut River meant to form a protective line of defense that also included Hopkinton Number 5, Henniker Number 6, and Hillsborough Number 7. Photo Archives Interested in seeing more archival photos of the area? Contact Us to inquire about seeing our historic Postcards, other photography, and archive materials. Click on an image to see more details . The Early Years New Concord / Camden In 1746, this land was purchased by the “Masonian Proprietors” who, on December 6, 1751 granted a portion of it to Capt. Peter Prescott of Concord, Massachusetts, who called it New Concord. Stephen Hosmer’s survey of 1753 found New Concord to be six and a half miles wide by eight miles long, and containing 33,280 acres. Still roughly the size of Washington today. The New Concord grant transferred to Colonel Reuben Kidder, Esq. of New Ipswitch in 1768, who renamed it Camden, after Royal Governor John Wentworth's friend, the Earl of Camden, Chief Justice of England. The first settlers arrived in May, 1768 and camped at the outlet of Millen's Pond. Each was granted 100 acres of land with the privilege of choosing land from any part of the township. The first census, taken in 1773, showed that Camden had 14 log houses, 7 framed houses, 6 barns, 44 "cattel," 12 sheep, and 263 acres of cleared land owned by 28 families. Total population was 132. Late 1700's – 1830 Washington Finds its Name On September 22, 1776, with the War for Independence under way, the inhabitants of Camden sent the petition to the New Hampshire General Assembly requesting the name change of their town from Camden to Washington mentioned above. This petition was granted on December 13, 1776. Washington was included in Cheshire County until July 5, 1827, and then became part of the newly incorporated Sullivan County, where it remains today. 1830's – 1930's A Thriving Community In 1830 the town population reached a peak of 1,135. Many mills were built along the streams and soon Washington was manufacturing lumber, barrel staves, shingles, chair parts, bobbins, whip sockets, hosiery, bricks and washboards. Farmers grew crops, and water-powered grist mills ground flour. By 1886 fifty-three tons of maple sugar was being produced annually, and wool and mutton had become important to the economy of the town. During the “railroad era” commencing in the second half of the 19th century, Washington became known for its mountain air, healthy water and its many hotels and tourist homes. With the discovery of rich prairielands in the western U.S., Washington’s farmers found it more difficult to compete. This caused many to abandon their rocky hill farms and join the migration westward. Washington Today Today Washington, NH is home to many people seeking a rural New Hampshire lifestyle, or vacationing on its 26 surrounding lakes and ponds. Click on an image to see more details . Washington, NH — An Inviting Place to Live Population continued to decline, and by the Great Depression of the 1930’s it reached a low below 200. Happily, people are returning and population has been climbing, reaching 1,123 with the 2010 census. Today, Washington's over 26 sparkling lakes and ponds , clear mountain air and beautiful scenery has largely made us a retirement and summer vacation community and inviting tourist area. As all those who visit or live here know, it is one of New Hampshire's best kept secrets! Read More About Washington, NH To learn more about the fascinating history of our town and its people, check out the following collection of materials available through our Gift Shop : The History of Washington New Hampshire 1768 – 1886 , Portrait of a Hill Town: A History of Washington, New Hampshire 1886 – 1976, and ..A Sacred Deposit. All three books are available at the Museum Store or online as individual books or a set of three. Saves $8! A Collection of History! Three Books $40.00 Price View Details

1ffa548a-3428-40e8-ac50-e9efba0374c3 < Back 2025 Spring WHS Newsletter Topics in this issue: President's Message; Washington Historical Society Officers; Schoolhouse Sites Search 2 by Ellen Hofford; Memories of Washington by Alan G. Perry; Calendar of 2025 Meetings; Contents of Research Binders Available in the Museum — Part 1 by Steve Yusko; Report from the Treasurer by Elaine Crandall; New Page of NH Chronicle — Fritz Wetherbee videos Featuring Washington by Bill Mulcahy; Volunteers Needed by Gwen Gaskell; A Postcard In the WNHHS Collection (location of Hixon's Store) by Bill Mulcahy OPEN / PDF Previous Next

945ef332-1bcf-4b8e-884e-02fe09c9cc9f < Back 2024 Spring WHS Newsletter Topics in this issue: President's Message by Steve Yusko; Washington Historical Society Officers; Louisa Phillis: Early Black Resident of Washington, NH and Member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church by Bill Mulcahy; News from the East Washington Schoolhouse Museum by Marian Baker; Munimap Application with the ability to overlay historical maps of Washington over present day tax maps by Mark Florence; Calendar of Upcoming Events 2023; Summer Saturdays at the Museum and the Barn; Summer Saturdays at the East Washington Schoolhouse; Membership form; Donation form. OPEN / PDF Previous Next

3c0ca1e0-5f25-42c4-b93d-6466eb711eda < Back 2006 Spring WHS Newsletter Topics in this issue: President's Message; Who Was Waldo Farnsworth?; Breaking News (Beede House Move); The Summer at the Museum (Summer Camps); The Slaughter Wheel; The Devil's Chair; By Special Request — Recipe Courtesy of Phil Barker; Maple Sugar Memories OPEN / PDF Previous Next

9525ff4c-be10-45b8-a409-7d81b69c5f69 < Back 2019 Fall WHS Newsletter Topics in this issue: President's Message by Bert Bodnar; A Year of Accomplishment and Change by Gwen Gaskell; Summer on the Town Common by Gwen Gaskell with photo of raised Center School and Annual Pie Sale; Little Boy Lost - The Search for the Identity of the "Boy Shot on Mill Hill" (Clifford C. Butler) by Bill Mulcahy; Items for Sale; Membership Form OPEN / PDF Previous Next

15cfddd8-4770-4ff1-aa71-31c3b9691eec < Back 1999 Fall WHS Newsletter Topics in this issue: President's Message; Museum Committee Report; District #5 Schoolhouse OPEN / PDF Previous Next

14175833-5435-4bc3-8113-4cbbea4cac0a < Back 2026 Summer WHS Newsletter Topics in this issue: President's Message by Bill Mulcahy; Washington Historical Society Officers; Calendar of In-Person Meetings for 2026 by Steve Yusko; This Summer at the Museum by Gwen Gaskell; Washington Old Home Days poster - July 3-5 2026; Old Home Day History (Excerpts from "Portrait of a Hill Town," pages 183-187; Memories of Old Home Day 1976 (Excerpt from "Forgotten County" by John Brighton OPEN / PDF Previous Next

70cb017f-abd2-4ed4-a249-2f4bf608ea36 < Back 2016 Spring WHS Newsletter Topics in this issue: Message from the Vice President; Washington Historical Society Officers; This Summer (2016); Items for Sale; Washington Historical Society Programs for 2016; Brockway Pond, now Millen Pond; Membership Form OPEN / PDF Previous Next

aa118c6c-c284-41c2-a0cf-0cd70783ae88 < Back 2003 Fall WHS Newsletter Topics in this issue: President's Message; Breaking News; Old Mills and Quilts; Old Mills; Old Quilts; The Second New Hampshire Turnpike; Dog Pelter OPEN / PDF Previous Next

2ce699a4-1678-4ab2-840b-62f7c28a3e37 < Back 2017 Winter WHS Newsletter Topics in this issue: President's Message; Washington Historical Society Officers; The Saga of One-Legged Capt. Samuel Jones; Thoughts from Gwen; In Memoriam (Vivian Hunter, Natalie Jurson, Marvin Jager, "Stubby" Graves, John Tweedy, Jane Wickens, Jeff Lawrence); Civil War Potholder Quilts; Items for Sale; Town Hall Foundation; Bandstand vs. Gazebo; A Brief History of Washington's Town Garages; Membership Form OPEN / PDF Previous Next

520f120b-b521-41a7-995c-f9002186778d < Back 2002 Winter WHS Newsletter Topics in this issue: President's Message; New Roof for Old Schoolhouse; A Patchwork of Quilts; The Founding of the Washington Historical Society; WHS State House Visit; Washington Works: A Word Search; Early Halloween: Bones OPEN / PDF Previous Next

b07e67fb-59ce-4438-91bc-10397e2a0caf < Back 2004 Spring WHS Newsletter Topics in this issue: President's Message; Barn Preservation Fund; Barn Preservation Report; The Season at the Museum; A Peek Into the Past; From the 1912 Town Report; From the 1924 Town Report; Researching "The Barn"; Barn Quilt; Correspondence from One of the Selectmen OPEN / PDF Previous Next