The Koop

Last Thursday’s Doors were captured when a friend and I went to what you might call an indoor flea marketing held in a chicken coop in Lee, New Hampshire.

The ‘Koop’ is owned by a fellow Master Gardener, and it is open once a month. As we were driving there, we discussed how this sale could be held in a chicken coop. I’m pretty familiar with chicken coops, and I wasn’t picturing it.

When the GPS announced we were at our destination, it was quite a surprise to see a three-story chicken coop. It was a challenge to back up far enough across the road to attempt to capture it from end to end.

It was even more surprising when we walked in to find the place painted white, cleaner than some homes, and all of the items for sale sparkling in the sunlight.

There was a ton of stuff that I could have picked up but settled for a chicken waterer that will become a planter, a white rattan magazine rack for the porch, and a set of antique metal measuring cups that are identical to ones my grandmother used. Fun stuff.

Now, for a little history.

A few years ago, my friend, who lives on the neighboring farm purchased the chicken coop building when it went into foreclosure. She wanted to make sure she knew who the new neighbor was going to be and that the land was kept as is.

After purchasing the building, she and two friends decided to clear out their attics. These are not regular attics, these are 15 room farm house attics holding generations of accumulated treasures. So, the coop became the Koop.

These ladies are also very involved in their community church and take donations. The money earned from the donations is then returned to a church fund. Local people who need a helping hand to make a deposit on an apartment or furniture to furnish it can apply for assistance. They’re paying it forward, which is always a good thing.

She also told me that during the WWII years, the chicken coop shipped chickens to Baltimore, MD, where the meat was destined for our soldiers. The Thursday Doors building last week with its large garage door was used to house and perform maintenance on the trucks used for transporting the chickens.

During our conversation she also mentioned that there was a 1800’s cemetery and a wood boiler behind that building. The boiler produced heat that was delivered through a pipe under the road to the chicken coop to keep the chickens warm in the winter. Road trip. 🙂

I’ve asked more questions and touched base with another MG friend from Lee to see if I can learn anything else because so far I am fascinated.

New England is an interesting place with all of its early history but normally as you drive by an old building or barn there isn’t a source to question. Here’s hoping I can learn more about the life of these buildings and pass it on.

May the sun shine bright on you this week, and here’s wishing you have a great one. I’ll be outside doing chores or inside working on my apron project. 🙂

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