THE OLD BRICK CHURCH BELL PROJECT - The Brick Church in Richmond is a historic Greek Revival structure built in 1838 by a Unitarian society, which sold a half interest in the building to the First Baptist Society before construction was completed. Located at 11 Fitzwilliam Road, the church is recognized for its distinctive brick pilasters and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in March 1983. Distinguished from earlier Federal-style churches by the decorative brick pilasters that span its façade and create the appearance of a classical portico, the Brick Church is the earliest and southernmost church in a series of related nineteenth-century brick churches along the Connecticut River Valley. For nearly two centuries, one of its most prominent features was the belfry that rose above the church tower and housed its historic bell. That bell, weighing approximately 900 pounds, was cast in 1840 by the Holbrook Bell Foundry of East Medway, Massachusetts. It remained in service at the church until 2025, when significant rot was discovered in the belfry and its supporting structure. Because the deterioration posed a safety hazard, the belfry had to be removed. Although the church roof has since been repaired, the congregation could not afford the substantial cost of rebuilding the belfry and its support system. As a result, the bell now rests on the ground beside the church. Concern for preserving this important historic artifact prompted the Richmond Historical Society to become involved. The bell itself is an important piece of New England industrial and religious history. Its maker, Major George Holbrook, was born in 1767 in Wrentham, Massachusetts. As a teenager, he apprenticed under Paul Revere as a machinist and clockmaker. In 1797, Holbrook established a factory in Brookfield, Massachusetts, where he manufactured bells and clocks. After relocating to East Medway in 1812, he founded a new bell foundry in 1816 following a commission to cast a bell for a newly planned meeting house. In 1820, Holbrook's son, Major George Handel Holbrook, assumed leadership of the business and expanded its production of church and meeting-house bells. The foundry became known for casting medium-sized bells, typically weighing between 500 and 1,500 pounds. The Brick Church bell is one of these surviving examples and bears the inscription: GEORGE H. HOLBROOK, MEDWAY, MA. 1840 The foundry remained a family enterprise for several decades. In 1868, Major Holbrook's grandson, Edwin Handel Holbrook, joined the business. Following Major Holbrook's death in 1875, Edwin took over operations before ultimately selling the foundry in 1880, bringing the Holbrook family's involvement in the bell-making business to a close. Today, the Brick Church bell stands as both a historic artifact and a tangible link to this important New England manufacturing tradition. Because the church roof can no longer safely support the weight of the bell and belfry, the Richmond Historical Society is exploring ways to preserve and interpret the bell for future generations. The Society proposes to design and construct a freestanding belfry on a concrete foundation near the church's front entrance. Modeled after the original structure that once crowned the church tower, the new belfry would protect the bell while providing visitors with a visual reminder of the church's architectural and historical significance. In addition, the Richmond Historical Society plans to install interpretive signage that tells the story of the bell, the Holbrook foundry, and their connection to the history of the Brick Church and the Richmond community.

MEMORIAL PARK located next to Veterans Hall. Granite markers honor Richmond veterans who served their country during the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. In 2025, the Historical Society installed an additional monument to honor Richmond veterans from all branches of the military.

TELEPHONE BUILDING located on Rte 32 next to Veterans Hall. Restored in 2016, the Richmond automatic telephone exchange building was originally constructed in 1938 as one of the first such buildings in N.H.

TOWN POND This 40' x 40' stone structure, constructed in 1802 and reclaimed in 2023, was used to corral stray livestock until 1886.

TRAMP HOUSE located near the Richmond Firehouse. One of the few remaining such structures in N.H., this building was originally constructed in 1914 and restored in 2015. It served as a one-night refuge for passing vagrants.

BREWER PARK located at the intersection of Rte 32 & Rte 119 by the Heritage Commission. Sign reads: "This intersection was the site of Richmond’s Town Common before the turn of the 20th Century. It held a town well, pump, watering trough, hitching post and road signs directing travelers to towns at each compass point. There was also a grist mill wheel believed to have been moved from the Great Steam Mill (est. 1855) located 1/4 mile to the east. This private park is named in honor of Geraldine Brewer, who lived in the adjacent house, which was built in 1798 and once known as the Widow Haines Tavern. She worked for 48 years in the former A & W’s Store that stood directly across the road to the west. Gerry was Richmond’s unofficial greeter, much beloved by residents and visitors."

TOWN WELL, PUMP & WATERING TROUGH Site of the Richmond Town Well, a place where animals and people could gather for refreshment. In 1953, Richmond resident Emerson H. Pearson, a carpenter, built and installed the pump and watering troughs. Later, the well was restored by local volunteers.

The Richmond Historical Society is a nonprofit 501c3 organization. We are grateful to the members of our community who support our work restoring our town’s historic sites.