In the early 20th century, the New Hampshire Board of Agriculture launched a program to boost the rural economy and to promote tourism through the sale of abandoned farms to summer residents. After introducing the country house movement, Cristina Ashjian focuses attention on some of the great country estates featured in the state publication New Hampshire Farms for Summer Homes between 1902 and 1913. Which private estates were recognized as exemplary, and who were their owners? Using historic images and texts, Ashjian discusses well-known estates now open to the public such as The Rocks in Bethlehem, Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site in Cornish, with special emphasis on The Fells Historic Estate and Gardens on Lake Sunapee. This event is generously supported by a grant from New Hampshire Humanities. Event is free and open to the public. Meets in the classroom of the Gatehouse. Advance registration requested. To register, call 603-763-4789 x3.

Cristina Ashjian is an art historian and an independent scholar based in Moultonborough, where she is presently the chair of the Moultonborough Heritage Commission. Her current research focuses on late 19th and early 20th century country estates. Ashjian holds an MA in the History of Art from the Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London and a PhD in Modern Art and Architecture from Northwestern University.