Town History
Incorporation
The Town of Deerfield was originally
the southwestern part of Nottingham from the original Nottingham
grant of 1722. In 1766, the residents petitioned and received
permission from the royal governor to become a separate
town. Deerfield was settled in the late 1730's. A garrison
was built for protection from the Indians near the Parade
in 1742. The town covers 52 square miles. Its terrain is
largely rocky and hilly. Lying along the main route between
Concord and Portsmouth, the town soon became an active center
of trade and commerce and remained so throughout its early
history. Several small centers developed and thrived.
Shortly after its incorporation,
the residents erected a Meeting House on Chase's Hill or
what became known as the Old Center. Deerfield Parade, located
along the route to Portsmouth became quite a busy location
with an inn for travelers, a store, and an academy to educate
the sons and daughters of the doctors, lawyers, and other
prominent citizens, who lived in its fine homes. Leavitt's
Hill became the site for a store, a well-known creamery,
and a post office. South Road, which also lay on the main
highroad, quickly became a center, of trade, commerce, and
hospitality.
Education of its children has
been an important part of the history of Deerfield. After
choosing a site for the Meeting House and organizing a church,
one of the first matters the early citizens considered was
establishment of a grammar school. The first one-room schoolhouse
must eventually have been established, and by the mid-19th
century, the town had 15 school districts and 13 school
buildings - one within walking distance of almost all children.
Each school district operated almost autonomously with its
own moderator, school board, clerk, and auditor.
Four Periods of Deerfield
History
Today, forest has reclaimed much of
the town which had once been painstakingly cleared. Old
stone walls which marked the edges of mowed fields have
disappeared into the forest, and new trees choke old cellar
holes. It should be noted, however, that forest land is
important to the community for purposes of recreation and
conservation. This changing view of the forest's value provides
a way of dividing the town's history
into four periods.
Before 1770 - The earliest period, before 1770, was a time of clearing
the forest, settling the land, building houses, and erecting
the first meeting house. By 1773 the population had reached
911.
1770 to 1850 - The
next period was a busy and prosperous time for the town.
Several main roads had been laid through the town; one
lead from Exeter to Concord. Drovers and freighters brought
people and business to the town. They filled taverns like
the Mack Tavern on South Road, where a night's accommodations
including drink and song could be found. Water-powered
manufacturing was established on many of the brooks and
rivers. Blacksmiths, cobblers, and people pursuing every
occupation could be found working at home in early Deerfield.
These jobs supplemented the main work of farming. Skills
and houses passed from generation to generation. Much
of the town's land has remained in the same families for
200 years. By 1820 the population reached 2133, and the
forests had been almost completely cleared.
After 1850 - Deerfield's population began a steady decline which
continued for nearly 100 years. This third period saw forests
encroach upon farmland and church congregations dwindle.
Reasons for the decline included the unprofitability of
farming and the advent of railroads to the area. Deerfield
was bypassed because of its hilly terrain. Freighters and
travelers no longer frequented the Mack Tavern. The fiddlers
were silent. During this same period some old farms became
a summer getaway for tourists, and the lakes and ponds became
popular vacation spots. By 1850 the "New Center"
had three churches, a store, a hotel, and a new Town Hall.
During the 1880s the town began to develop as a modest summer
community, as tourists began to come to enjoy the nearby
lakes and mountains.
By the census of 1930, however, the town's population had
dropped to a mere 635 year-round residents. Following World
War II, however, this trend began to reverse as commuters
working in nearby cities began to buy homes in the country.
After 1950 - The
fourth and current period in Deerfield's history has been
chiefly characterized by a reversal of the long population
decline. A gradual increase after 1950 became rapid growth
during the 1980's. This time around, expansion of the
NH economy has had a different effect. Many new residents
have been attracted to Deerfield because of its central
location and natural and architectural beauty. By 1950
the town's population and traffic patterns had changed
sufficiently that the town felt it needed a central school.
In that year the George B. White School was built. It
was named in honor of Mr. George B. White of South Road.
Upon his death, his widow auctioned the estate and gave
the proceeds to help build the new school. During the
1970s and 1980s the town's population exploded. During
the decade the population increased by 67%, from 1,178
to 1,979. By 1990 the population was around 3,300. Forest
land is again being cleared for new housing and development
is bringing change to the town.
The town recognizes the need to provide
for growth. But it also recognizes how precious Deerfield's
heritage is and hopes that its special character will be
preserved as the town grows.
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