Thursday Doors is a weekly feature allowing door lovers to come together to admire and share their favorite door photos from around the world. Feel free to join in on the fun by creating your own Thursday Doors post each week and then sharing it, between Thursday morning and Saturday noon (North American eastern time), by using the blue link-up button below.
Town Square – Lebanon, New Hampshire
This week I’ll start by wishing a Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends in the United States, and as a tip of the hat to our southern neighbors I thought I’d take you on a walking tour of the Town Square of the lovely little New England town of Lebanon, New Hampshire.
Lebanon was one of 16 New England towns on the Connecticut river that were chartered by Colonial Governor Benning Wentworth on July 4, 1761.
Situated in the western central part of the state, about a 4-hour drive south/south-east of Montreal, and about two-hours north of Boston, Lebanon has a population of just under 15,000.
The river which is the dividing line between New Hampshire and Vermont also separates the towns of Lebanon and White River Junction, where I have family; which is the reason why I get down that way at least once or twice a year.
City Hall also serves as the town’s Opera House and primary concert venue. I’ve had the pleasure of catching a few shows there over the years.
When we were there in September we tried to get tickets for the Esperanza Spalding show coming up the month after in October, but it was already long sold out 😦
I haven’t seen her live yet but hopefully she’ll come to the Jazz Festival this summer in Montreal.
One of the things I find most charming about smaller towns all over New England is the city design, putting the hub around a town square, usually a mall (large open space) or rectangular park, where townsfolk gather for special events.
Aside from the City Hall/Opera House, you’ll find the firehouse.
One of the towns oldest churches.
The town library.
Some big beautiful old historic homes.
And what turned out to be my favorite door in the square…
the old Soldiers Memorial Building.
I’d love to tell you about all the wonderful tourist attractions and exciting things there are to do in Lebanon but aside from the Opera House, a few nice mid-range restaurants, and the occasional events held in the square, there’s really not much to talk about 😉
It’s just a peaceful, quiet, typically charming New England town that is well worth a visit even if just for a pleasant afternoon doorscursion.
Want to join in on the fun and share your own Thursday Doors post with other door lovers? Click on the blue button below to add the link to your Thursday Doors post to our link-up list.
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As always I thank you for looking 🙂
Oh, never mind (about the link up), I figured it out.
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Gorgeous doors! I’m always so grateful when the beauty of the traditional buildings (and doors!) is maintained. Too often beautiful wooden doors are replaced with modern entrances and the character is lost.
Btw, I’m trying to link up my Thursday Door post and am having trouble seeing where to do that once I get to the page showing all the links.
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Thank you for hosting Norm. Sorry, time got away, trying to spin several plates in the air at the same time. Am so glad Christmas won’t be on a Thursday this year:):) Love the Library entrance, very tastefully done!
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Thanks for the trip around town! I love the symmetrical styling of city hall 🙂
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I love all the doors. That church looks nice too.
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I do so like the concept of your doors thing, I just never get around to doing a post on doors. But I like looking at yours!
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Wonderful collection of doors here; I like the colonial towns and their architecture.
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Charming architecture.
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Thanks, I agree 🙂
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Well apart from not having much to talk about, Lebanon has some pretty superb doors,door lovers could talk for a log while about them I suspect! Thanks for taking us there Norm. I have to wonder why it’s called Lebanon, in New England of all places, did this Lebanon get named first?
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It was named after a town in CT.
From what I understand the one in CT was a biblical reference, due to the area having lots of cedars and hills.
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All so beautiful! But I have to give the library my vote, because of the columns and the window treatment above the door. Wow!
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Thanks Marian – The library is such a beautiful building 🙂
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I love the Library, and City Hall buildings and doors the most! Such stately and beautiful buildings abound in this town! I wondered if the Library was/is a Carnegie Library?
I hope you get to see Esperanza Spalding in person one day.
Thanks for this tour it looks like a special place to me!
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Thanks Deborah. I hope you’re enjoying your Thanksgiving weekend 🙂
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Thank you as well Norm. 🙂
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Lots of pretty architecture there. I loved the city hall trio, but alas, your favorite set is my favorite set. Old soldiers memorial doors FTW! Love how the posts are giant shells, too.
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Thanks Joey. Next time we go down we’re going to explore some of the other small towns in the area.
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Thanks Norm – those small New English towns are charming but they can be highly suspicious of strangers baring cameras – I’m thankful you made it out alive!
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Oddly I’ve never had a problem – I must have an honest face 😉
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Nice collection! I like when you come closer and closer.
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Thanks 🙂
I like to show the whole building but sometimes the door ends up being too far so I’ll gradually take shots moving in closer to the door.
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Oh, your post really makes me want to visit New Hampshire. I have only been to New England once in my entire life,
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It’s a beautiful part of the country and well worth the visit if you get the chance 🙂
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Norm, I adored the last photograph of the Old Soldiers Memorial Building, with the beautiful brickwork and those little circles of beauty. No wonder you liked this one “best,” Norm! It reminded me of the frosting dabs and rosettes decorations on cakes!
The Lebanon Opera house was very impressive with its deep set in doors and the white contrasting well with the brick! As Dan mentioned, all are worthy of their own postcard!
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Thanks Robin – I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving 🙂
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My Thanksgiving was great but two days later, Mom was in the hospital. I live nearly three hours away. . . My brothers live closer. She is going to recover from a fever and a few health difficulties. Anyway, I am sorry to belatedly respond and life is good, could be worse! Take care and God bless, Norm.
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Nobody seems to do “New England” as well as those folks in New Hampshire. Everyone of those buildings could be on a postcard, Norm. Great photos. Thanks for highlighting another place in my extended back yard that I need to get to at some point.
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Thanks Dan. I think you’re right. There are so many picture-postcard little towns in NH. We just love exploring when we can 🙂
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I like that red, firehouse side door, the brick really makes it stand out.
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It certainly does – thank you!
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Norm, I can never tell the difference between all the different types of columns, doric, ionic, corinthian, whatever. But they look great surrounding a substantial door. I have another 4 from Old Delhi for you. My stock of door photos should last until Christmas at this rate.
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Thanks Ian. I’m not an expert on columns either, but I do know that I like them 😉
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Did you have to alter my URL again Norm?
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Yes. I’m not sure where you are copying your links from. In the post editor, after you save or schedule your post, look for the “get shortlink” button. This will give the correct link to your post.
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OK I’m going to try it now and schedule my post for next Thursday
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There is only an insert/edit link button which looks like a paperclip leaning over. I can edit the post URL next to the title.
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I have tried to do it, but of course it isn’t scheduled until next week. I used inlinkz. Oh bother!
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I was leaning towards, metaphorically speaking, the red door with the red in the window above it until I got to the soldiers door. I’ll go with a tie. Although you’re not celebrating Thanksgiving there (or elsewhere in the world), it’s always a good idea to think about your blessings. Thanks for the ongoing fun of Thursday Doors!
janet
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Thanks Janet. Counting my blessings is something I make a point of doing each morning. Plus I had my latest follow-up with my cardiologist yesterday; all my tests came back showing that things are still stable – that’s always a reason to be thankful right there.
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Great news, indeed, Norm!
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I love that arched entrance to the opera house. The white really stands out against the brick. The buildings in Lebanon are gorgeous.
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Thanks Jean. The New England landscape is dotted with quaint idyllic little towns like this. It’s really fun to just stop and explore 🙂
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There is a grandness to this town in all her old buildings. The town hall reminded me of the movie Back To The Future. I half expected to see Marty McFly come by 🙂
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Thanks Joanne. I loved your post today 🙂
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Nice doors, Norm. I like the red fire door and the proportions of glass to door made me smile. Of course I’m partial since you were about 100 miles from me when you were in the White River Junction area. I’m seeing Dartmouth/Hanover doors down the road somewhere. 🙂
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Come to think of it, I should make a point of stopping in Hanover the next time I’d down there. I’m sure I’d find tons of material for doors posts.
Next time we head down I’ll let you know in advance and we’ll figure out how and where to get together for coffee 🙂
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I love that red door!
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Thanks, that one seems to be a popular choice 🙂
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Great trip around a quiet town,thanks for taking us with you! All the door are very smart but the red fire door takes my eye. 😊
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Thank you!
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