Sugar Hill, New Hampshire, is a beautiful small town with a population of less than 600. Its name came from the area having a large grove of sugar maples.
In the late 1800’s, with its tremendous views of the White Mountains, Sugar Hill became a fashionable resort destination with visitors arriving by train in nearby Lisbon from Boston, New York and Philadelphia. The summer population would increase to nearly 10,000 filling its hotels to capacity.
In the mid 1890’s, Architect, Jonathan Withers of New York City, was commissioned to create a ‘building of simple design’ where the summer population could hold Episcopal services.
St. Matthew’s Chapel was dedicated in 1896 and is now open from May through October for services including weddings, baptisms, and memorial services. The Chapel has 15 rows of pews that hold 120-150 people and there is parking for 28 cars.
Until 1962, Sugar Hill was part of the town of Lisbon where my grandparents lived. My two uncles, Allen and John, who died in WWII, worked at the historic hotels during their high school years.
When you turn from Lisbon to head to Sugar Hill, the Old Man of the Mountain road marker was made by my great-uncle, Carl Austin. I also have a small one he created for his sister, Bertha, my grandmother.
If you ever visit Sugar Hill, plan to enjoy breakfast at Polly’s Pancakes which has been serving pancakes with real NH maple syrup since 1938.
Visiting Sugar Hill and checking out these beautiful doors felt a lot like going home, which is always a good thing. The oatmeal buttermilk pancakes with maple hurricane sauce wasn’t bad either. 🙂
Linked to Norm Frampton’s Thursday Doors.
Another interesting peek into your beautiful corner of the world. Great post Judy ☺
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Thought you’d like this tiny little church in a town of a few hundred overlooking the White Mountains. 🙂
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The color of the doors is rather unusual and lovely, as is the building itself. Enjoyed reading the background of the town–wonderful you have the family connection to this place.
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It’s a beautiful little spot and it is like home. 🙂
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What a pretty church building, doors, stained glass, steeple and all. It must be nice to return to a place where you have prominent roots.
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It is such a lovely ‘little’ town. The blue/purple Lupines bloom in June so that adds to the beauty. 🙂
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The church is beautiful! The town sounds so quaint. Awesome to see some of the handy-work of a relative from so long ago.
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I knew my great uncle had designed that monument so decided on the last visit to get out of the car and walk around it and was I surprised to find the marker. 🙂
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Very pretty. I love the simple design and the way the design elements are repeated in the windows. The color is beautiful. It stands out from the white church but it still lets the siding details share in the view. This is a very nice design and I’m happy to see it being maintained. And, you had me a pancakes.
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Oh, the pancakes. They were delicious. 🙂
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I need to get up to the Whites this summer. Great post.
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That little church is just beautiful…so many of the Episcopal churches I’ve seen in New England have so much character and this one is no exception.
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Thanks for introducing me to Sugar Hill. Would love to see that little church with the yellow door — well, I’d like to see all of New Hampshire to tell the truth! Lovely.
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You can’t blink going through Sugar Hill, but it sure is a pretty spot. Come on up, I’ll buy you lunch. 🙂
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Judy! Another pretty magical door that tells a story! I have been in Lisbon and Sugar Hill on Old Man in the MOuntain road on one of our travels. It is so beautiful too…hopefully there will be a next time and I will pay attention to that marker! xo Johanna
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Oh my goodness – you’ve been there. That’s terrific. 🙂
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Pretty yellow door on a pretty little church – that opens us up to the charming story of a New England town. I love it! (Adding Sugar Hill to my list) 🙂
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Such a pretty white church and then a punch of yellow to make it really unique. Looks like a great place to visit.
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Love those sunflower yellow doors! Very interesting history background and I can just imagine how good those pancakes are!
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Hello lovely post as always Judy thanks! We are off to Dartmouth in Devon tomorrow with our friend from New Hampshire.
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What a perfect little chapel, with its bright sunny door, Judy! I can just imagine an lovely, intimate wedding ceremony there! You are blessed to have such a strong family connection to the special town of Sugar Hill. I think it’s time to plan another visit to New Hampshire! We have dear friends in Durham who keep asking us to come visit. What are we waiting for?? ♡
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Small world. We live six miles from Durham, and I belong to the Durham Garden Club. 🙂
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Can’t believe that, Judy! You live in such a beautiful area!! I have visited a few times. My friend used to be a professor at the University. They truly love the Durham area! It’s definitely time to plan another visit. ♡
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Delightful and interesting post, Judy. Now that the Old Man of the Mountain is no more, are they continuing to use the icon anyway?
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Good question. Yes, they still use the icon on a lot of things but when you visit the Old Man you just read about it and see photos. I was one of the minority who would have preferred if they had replaced it. It is such a big part of the state history but the purists felt it should just be as it is. (My two uncles were part of a crew that climbed out and repaired it at one point.)
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It’s cool that your family are part of state history! Restoration probably boiled down to money– they might have felt it was throwing funds away. It does seem like something important was lost, however.
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The door is wonderful and I love that you give us such great history lessons! Sure wish I was there to eat some of those pancakes with you!
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If you and I had been there, we’d have chatted so long someone would probably have had to ‘suggest’ we move along. 🙂
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I love that road marker. What a wonderful thing to have so many intimate connections to this beautiful town.
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It is cool isn’t it. 🙂
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How lovely. The description of those pancakes is making my tummy rumble!
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Your church looks just like ours, except yours is perfectly maintained and ours is abandoned, for sale, and falling to pieces from neglect. It reminds me how lovely these churches are when they are cared for.
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What a beautiful building Judy! Churches in our area of France are all very old and beautiful to be sure but the freshness and simplicity of that, with the beautiful yellow is stunning! I suspect Sugar Hill must be an enchanting place, certainly sounds like it should be!
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Glad you liked it. Sugar Hill is enchanting, but you can’t blink because it is so tiny. But good things come in small packages a lot of times. 🙂
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Quite so Judy! Sounds like our village!
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Such a lovely old chapel. The pancakes sound delicious, too.
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What a charming church. I love the white and yellow combo. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a church like that. Nice photos.
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Really beautiful door and church.
Great shots!!
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This door is the most inviting to me of any you have shown over the past weeks – and there have been some beauties! I am reminded of what a priest invited us to do once – come to visit Our Lord during the day, and just sit, wordlessly, in his presence. This would be my ideal place to do exactly that!
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Oh, what a nice sentiment. I have done that a time or two and I’m guessing you have also. 🙂
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