Deerfield School Houses

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School houses in early Deerfield were arranged in districts within walking distance of nearly every student. Eventually there were sixteen districts, each electing its own moderator, clerk, auditors, and a Prudential Committee of three people, who were essentially the school board of that district.

Historic Map of Deerfield Schools as noted by Joanne Wasson
The map shows the locations of the fourteen school houses in Deerfield, and two others,( #14 where students went to school in Candia, and #16 located in Nottingham.) Map courtesy of Joanne Wasson

Cobbler Shop? Wash House? – Around Deerfield

You might see a noumber of these small outbuildings when driving around Deerfield. They were generally know as craft houses, cobbler’s or “ten footer” shops. Being a Yankee farmer often meant having many different income streams. One possiblity was to make shoes. Shoes were either made in these small houses or leather was cut in a central location ( Epping, Derry or Portsmouth) and farmed out to home piece workers to complete the work.

Shops had lots of window to provide light for the craftsman. Sometimes they were attached to the main house. This one on Church Street was changed to a laundry facility at some point in time. The inside has a double wash tub and has hooks on opposite walls to string laundry lines. Do you have “out buildings” attached or stand alone?

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Decorative Corbel – Around Deerfield

Decorative Corbels
Decorative corbels were often added
to older houses.

This decorative corbel is stripped for repair and restoration. Decorative corbels were often added to older home to upate them to a more “contemporary” Victorian look. This one in on a Deerfield home at the Parade. Can you find it? Do you have an interesting architectural detail on your Deerfield home?