Here’s an example of a cellar hole in Canterbury. A couple centuries ago, some folks worked hard digging in the stony New Hampshire earth to make this hole, line it with stones, and build a house on it.

Now, two hundred years later, who could be interested in a hole in the ground lined with rough stones?

Eighteen Canterbury property owners have been. Plus the lead investigators from the Historical Society Cellar Hole Study, Bill Adams (Hackleborough Road) and Alan Stone (Shaker Road). That makes 20 of us!

Why study and document cellar holes?

We believe that understanding living patterns from the past will enrich our appreciation for our town and give us and our town leaders a window into vital facts that will aid us in making useful decisions about the future evolution of the town. To experience feelings of reverence for the optimism of these settlers.