Discover & Learn

The Enfield House, 1826/1918

Enfield House was originally constructed in 1826 as the office of the Second Family. In 1918 the structure was moved about 400 meters south to the Church Family, and two elevated entrance porches were added on the south side. After masonry work, cementing, and plastering on the new foundation, the project of relocating this building cost a total of $7,405.38.

The Shakers moved into the house in November 1921, and it subsequently housed elderly sisters who moved to Canterbury from the Shaker Village in Enfield, New Hampshire, in 1923. In addition, the cellar was the location of the village's poplar wood industry.

Enfield House became the most popular residence for Canterbury Shakers in the 20th century because it was more modern than the Dwelling House. Today it houses the collections department and is used for artifact and archival document storage. It is open to the public by appointment only, with the exception of September 2010 when it will be closed.

Source: David R. Starbuck, Neither Plain Nor Simple: New Perspectives on the Canterbury Shakers