The History of Wonderwell (Video Link)
In 1911, Nell and Joseph Stoddard built a grand summer house and barn in beautiful and rural Springfield, New Hampshire. The property featured an open meadow with views of surrounding forest and mountains and a well with great-tasting water that never ran dry, and the home became known as Wonderwell. A community of friends and family gathered here and enjoyed fellowship with meals, parties, and dancing mixed with countryside relaxation. They also did poetry readings, created plays, and held musical performances—imagine two baby grand pianos playing a duet with music wafting on summer breezes.
Wonderwell was built during a remarkable period of transition—from horse to car, oil lamps to electricity, and mail to telephones. This presentation about Wonderwell highlights the family’s time with this property, with historic photos, artifacts, and stories. The house moved into other hands in 1933, and was sold to the new owners with all of the original furnishings, which remained part of the home through the mid ’80’s. After serving as a summer family home, the house was transformed into a bed and breakfast and then a foster home, and was purchased in 2011 on its 100-year anniversary by Natural Dharma Fellowship, who renamed it Wonderwell Mountain Refuge.
The Barn Raising (Part 3)
Meet the volunteers who are helping to construct “The tool shed”
Heartbeat of the Meeting House
The clock story as told by Springfield resident Leigh Callaway.
– For more details about the clock, download the pamphlet.
– 1941 newspaper article “life ticks smoothly for collins” about the life of clarence collins
– Nh chronicle “keeping the clock in the tower clicking” about clock repair by phil d’avanza
The Barn Raising (Part 2)
SHS President Jim Bednar gives an update on the Tool shed construction
The Barn Raising (Part 1)
SHS President Jim Bednar Talks about the museum annex.
Brief History of Springfield NH
SHS President Jim Bednar gives a brief overview of the town’s history.
Forever Locked Moose
This film highlights the story of Forever Locked Moose. In 2003, a hunter exploring in the Gile State Forest, Springfield, NH, discovered two large bull moose who had engaged in a fight and died. During the battle, their two massive sets of antlers had become inextricably locked and the two moose eventually succumbed to nature. The antlers were restored and became part of a traveling educational exhibit sponsored by the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of NH.