Historic and Architectural Significance of Bath, NH

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The Bath Historic District is an area of historic preservation strongly mandated by a poll of the townspeople through their recognition of the importance of the history of Bath Village. This tiny village is now frozen in time, for all to see, as if the clock stopped, in the 1800's.

Bound by the Connecticut River and bisected by the Ammonoosuc River the town of Bath offered a unique combination of arable land and waterpower that attracted some of the most enterprising people of the North Country to settle here. In its early history the town of Bath was strongly considered as a site for Dartmouth College . In the 1800's Bath had grown to have thirteen school districts, an academy, two hotels, and had 36 businesses operating in the center of the village. At that time the town of Bath was known for having more professionals (attorneys and physicians) per capita than any other city or town in the state of NH. Today this town's greatest wealth is in its history.

Built in 1810, the Moses P. Payson Mansion is the oldest building in the center of Bath Village .

To understand the significance of this residence it is helpful to recount a brief overview of the historical importance, impact and role of the professionals of the town of Bath and their influence both within the State of New Hampshire and in national politics. Indeed many renowned personages established friendships with members of the Bath community such as the United States President, Franklin Pierce, who visited here after retirement from his term as the 14th President of the United States .

The town of Bath, New Hampshire gained its greatest distinction among all the towns of the State of New Hampshire from its reputation of having the highest per capita of judges, lawyers, doctors, and educated professional residents of any town within the state. For half a century it was considered the legal center of the North Country . In this distinguished small town during the early 1,800's there resided the Chief Justice.