Welcome
The 1812 Hampshire House is a home decor shop featuring charming gifts for your home and garden.
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We offer:
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Join us in the celebration of community with something for everyone on your list. Our goal is to make your visit to our shop an enjoyable experience. We promise that you will receive the best customer care available and the friendly atmosphere will encourage you to return again and again. Visit the 1812 Hampshire House for the perfect purchase. From the practical to the whimsical, we have something for everyone. We look forward to being your destination for that special something.
About Us
Janet & David Allen opened the 1812 Hampshire House in July of 2009. Their desire was to run a cozy shop where customers come to enjoy browsing through the merchandise to find the treasure that is perfect for their home.
Janet Allen recently retired from the New Hampshire House of Representatives after serving for six years. She now puts her passion and excitement into creating a friendly, warm environment for shoppers and browsers alike to enjoy.
David is a retired Southwest Airlines captain. His talents include furniture making and turning wood. He is one of our featured artists and his creations are part of the wide range of specialty gifts made by various local artists and showcased at the 1812 Hampshire House.
We are pleased to have been featured in the October 15th edition of The Baysider (page A5). Link to Article.
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Featured Artists
David Allen, Woodworker
Also part-owner of the 1812 Hampshire House, David has learned the art of turning wood and is constantly expanding his creative knowledge. He has crafted furniture for many years and has also added the skills for creating bowls, boxes and goblets. He is a member of the Guild of New Hampshire Woodworkers.
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Bruce Cobb, Glassblower; Cobb Glass
Bruce began his training in glassblowing in 1976, as an apprentice at the Pairpoint Glass Company in Sagamore, Massachusets.
In 1981 he moved to New Hampshire to work as an assistant to Richard Harkness, a glassblower in Epsom. It was there that he applied the production-oriented techniques learned at Pairpoint to a studio situation, with the freedom to work with many different styles and a wide range of colors.
Finally, in 1985, he began operation of his own studio in downtown Pittsfield, NH, becoming a juried member of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen shortly thereafter.
Bruce works without a helper, and does not use molds. Each piece therefore is distincly his own, and is unique. He uses a technique based on the (19th century American) Lily Pad Design for much of his work.
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Theresa Balzer, RetroFit Aprons
RetroFit Aprons is about an era of fashion that Theresa loves. In the 1940s her mother was a dress designer and her grandfather was a tailor. In their "spare time" they worked together to tailor suits for her mom and dad. She still has one of her mother's wool twill suits that will eventually become part of the RetroFit line. Not long ago, aprons were essential accessories coordinated with clothing just like shoes or handbags. Women wore them all day even while shopping. Every apron, plain or frilly, dainty or industrial, starchy white or splattered, told a story. Now those endearing collectibles continue to remind us of our mothers, an aunt, a grandmother, and a time when there was another way to do things. Her apron design is a remembering of the 1940s.
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Joan Coburn, Photographer; Photo Cards
Joan is a baby boomer who grew up with "Look", "Life", "National Geographic" and Kodak, all of which greatly influenced her passion for photography. She fondly remembers her first camera, a hand-me-down, that her father had to load for her. Joan has lived in New Hampshire since the 70's and draws inspiration from New Hampshire's beautiful scenery. She began making photo cards in the early 80's after she received a 35mm camera for Christmas. Joan has perfected her craft over the course of several decades and also incorporates digital technology into her photography. Joan is presently retired and lives with her husband & their cat in Gilford, New Hampshire.
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Highland Roses Design
Highland Roses Design is the name of the collaborative craft studio where unique ornaments are all handmade.
The studio is located in the mountains of Colorado and at present, there are six individuals who have banded together to help make their dream a reality. According to founder Marla Paul, "We first started out as an informal art therapy group with people who have various disabilities. It didn't take us long to discover that we had some amazing talents and suddenly we were designing and making beautiful ornaments. Now we've started marketing them in an effort to become self-sustaining."
The craft studio provides individuals who live with disabilities and/or mental illnesses, as well as their family caregivers an opportunity to step toward independence through the sale of their own creations. They are privately funded and do not accept any government monies or grants.
Each ornament is crafted by several sets of hands ~ all working together to create that one unique decoration. 1812 Hampshire house is the only shop in New Hampshire that carries these distinctive ornaments.
Rosemary Sullivan, Photographer; Photo Cards
An Alton resident, Rosemary has always loved photography. A devoted "film" person for 25 years, she went digital in October of 2009 and wondered why she waited so long. All subjects are fair game for her artistic eye and she finds immense pleasure trying to capture the unexpected. When not wandering with her camera, she can be found working in her sun-filled gardens. She adopted the moniker of "The Transplanted Gardener" upon her retirement from teaching in Connecticut and moving to the peaceful community of Alton.
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Hours
Before May 21
Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays 10:00am - 5:00pm
Monday through Thursday closed
After May 21
Wednesdays through Sundays 10:00am - 5:00pm
Monday & Tuesday closed
Directions
From the north:
Approaching the Alton traffic circle, go through the circle taking the first exit (Barnstead/Manchester ~ route 28S). Follow route 28S for approximately one mile. We are located directly off of route 28 on the right hand side. The driveway is immediately before the Prospect Mountain High School driveway.
From the south:
Approaching the Epsom traffic circle, go through the circle taking the second exit (Pittsfield/Barnstead ~ route 28N). Follow route 28N for approximately sixteen miles. We are located directly off of route 28 on the left hand side. The driveway is immediately after the Prospect Mountain High School driveway.
Contact Us
Please feel free to contact us for any reason. We look forward to hearing from you!
phone:
603.875.6313
email:
post:
232 Suncook Valley Road Alton, New Hampshire 03809
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