Editing Nelson, New Hampshire (section)

==History==

[[Image:The Common, Nelson, NH.jpg|thumb|left|The Common {{circa|1914}}]]
Originally named "[[Mount Monadnock|Monadnock]] No. 6", the town was granted in 1752 by Governor [[Benning Wentworth]]. It was first settled in 1767 by Breed Batchelder. On February 22, 1774, the town was incorporated by Governor [[Sir John Wentworth, 1st Baronet|John Wentworth]] as "Packersfield", after a major proprietor, Thomas Packer, the [[sheriff]] at [[Portsmouth, New Hampshire]]. The name was changed in 1814 to Nelson in honor of Viscount [[Horatio Nelson]], British admiral and naval hero.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=OcoMAAAAYAAJ&dq=coolidge%20mansfield%20history%20description%20new%20england%201859&pg=PA592 Austin J. Coolidge & John B. Mansfield, ''A History and Description of New England;'' Boston, Massachusetts 1859]</ref>

Located on the height of land separating the [[Drainage basin|watershed]]s of the [[Connecticut River|Connecticut]] and [[Merrimack River|Merrimack]] rivers, Nelson became primarily an [[agricultural]] community. The uneven surface proved good for [[grazing]]. But with streams rising from four ponds to provide [[water power]], it also developed industry. The village of Munsonville, situated on the [[stagecoach|stage]] line at the outlet of [[Granite Lake (New Hampshire)|Granite Lake]], manufactured [[cotton]] cloth and chairs. The L. J. Colony Chair Co. produced between 25,000 and 30,000 chairs annually, hiring women and children from local farms to [[weaving|weave]] the [[rattan]] seats and backs. At one time, Munsonville had 1,000 homesteads and 10 school districts. The mills have since closed, and Munsonville is today a resort of summer homes.<ref>[http://www.townofnelson.com/the-power-of-water Alan F. Rumrill, ''The Power of Water: Munsonville from 1850-1950'']</ref>

Nelson is the home of a popular Monday night [[contradance]]. Similar dances have been held for over 200 years in Nelson's town hall.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.concertina.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=1136|title=Contra Dances ?}}</ref> Many make the claim that this is the longest running public contradance in the world,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/jeanette_mill/2215963864/ |title = Nelson contra dance |date = January 23, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012701169949|title=Contra, a 'best kept secret' : Locals gather for three-day folk dancing workshop in Durham|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304142210/http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012701169949|archive-date=March 4, 2016|access-date=August 5, 2023}}</ref> though there have been no attempts to document this as an "official" record.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cowhampshireblog.com/2006/09/17/nelson-new-hampshires-moment-in-the-guinness-world-record-book/ |title = Nelson New Hampshire's Moment in the Guinness World Record Book |date = September 17, 2006}}</ref> The [[Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music]], a [[classical music|classical]] [[chamber music]] group which attempts to bring members of cultures in conflict closer together through music, is also in Nelson.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

<gallery>
File:Soldiers' Monument & Church, Nelson, NH.jpg|Soldiers' monument and church {{circa|1910}}
File:L.J. Colony Chair Co., Munsonville, NH.jpg|L. J. Colony Chair Co. at Munsonville {{circa|1914}}
File:Sawmill, Munsonville, NH.jpg|Old sawmill at Munsonville {{circa|1914}}
</gallery>