Birchwood Inn
Birchwood Inn is a historic inn, tavern, and restaurant in the central village of Temple, New Hampshire.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Birchwood Inn is a historic hospitality establishment on New Hampshire Route 45 in Temple, New Hampshire. Its building occupies a prominent position in the town's central village, at the junction of NH 45 and General Miller Highway, and has functioned as a place of lodging, food, drink, commerce, and community activity for roughly two centuries. Although the precise date of its original construction is not documented, the principal structure is generally associated with the Federal period of the early nineteenth century. The property is architecturally notable because it preserves several layers of rural New Hampshire hospitality history. The main block is a two-and-a-half-story structure combining a brick-faced front section with a wood-frame rear portion covered in clapboards. A broad porch wraps around the front and sides, while an attached ell connects the inn to a barn-like building constructed around 1847–1848. That secondary structure originally supported horse stabling on the ground floor and included a large upper hall. The property also retains a period taproom and interior wall paintings attributed to muralist Rufus Porter. For much of the nineteenth century, the inn was Temple's only public accommodation. Its role extended beyond overnight lodging: the building hosted town meetings and social gatherings and also served at different times as the local post office and general store. The 1847–1848 expansion enabled larger entertainment and community functions, including a second-floor ballroom with a sprung wooden floor. In 1892, new owners added the front porch and repositioned the business as a boarding house serving tourists. The establishment became identified as "The Birchwood" in that year. Further modernization in the 1930s introduced indoor plumbing and electricity. Birchwood Inn's current identity combines historic preservation with hospitality operations. The property remains in use as an inn and restaurant, while its historic character is a central part of its appeal. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985, recognizing its architectural and historical importance. A major restoration undertaken in January and February 2020 focused on preserving the building's historic atmosphere and used locally sourced materials. Interior improvements included tavern tables and a bar top made from cherry wood recovered from a tree brought down by a 2008 ice storm in nearby Sharon, New Hampshire. The inn has also served as a cultural location. In 1981, the building and surrounding area were used for filming the movie Summer, based on an Edith Wharton novel. In April 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Birchwood Inn began presenting outdoor live music in front of the tavern, with performances also streamed through social media so residents could participate while public-health restrictions were in effect. The establishment later stopped offering copyrighted music because of licensing requirements, but continued to accommodate local musicians performing old-time and original material in exchange for compensation from food, beer, and tips.
History
Birchwood Inn occupies a historic building in the center of Temple, New Hampshire, where it stands along NH 45 at the intersection with General Miller Highway. The exact date and circumstances of its original construction are unknown, but architectural evidence places the principal building within the Federal period, broadly corresponding to the early nineteenth century. From its earliest documented use, the property served travelers and functioned as a center of local public life. The building's design reflects several phases of expansion. The principal block is a two-and-a-half-story rectangular structure with a five-bay brick-faced front and a wood-frame rear section covered with clapboards. A porch later extended across the front and around the sides, supported by chamfered square columns. The interior preserves a period taproom, and some walls contain murals associated with Rufus Porter. These features contribute to the property's significance as a surviving example of changing rural inn architecture. An important expansion took place around 1847–1848, when an ell and barn-like addition were built. The lower level of the new structure provided stabling for horses, an essential feature for a nineteenth-century roadside inn, while the upper level contained a large open hall. The enlarged premises supported entertainment and civic events, including use of a second-floor ballroom equipped with a sprung wooden floor. Over the course of the nineteenth century, the establishment was not merely a lodging business: it hosted town meetings and social occasions and at various times housed the town's post office and general store. For most of that century, it was Temple's only public accommodation. A change in ownership in 1892 brought a further change in the property's commercial identity. The front porch was added, and the establishment was converted into a boarding house aimed in part at tourists. The name "The Birchwood" dates from this period. By the 1930s, the inn had been updated with indoor plumbing and electricity, illustrating the transition from traditional travel accommodation to more modern guest services while retaining its historic form. The property gained twentieth-century recognition both as a historic site and as a cultural setting. In 1981, Birchwood Inn and the surrounding area were used in the production of Summer, a film adapted from an Edith Wharton novel. In 1985, the inn was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its significance rests on its architecture, its long association with travel and hospitality, and its role in Temple's civic and commercial history. The building continued operating as an inn and restaurant into the twenty-first century. A comprehensive restoration was undertaken in January and February 2020. The work emphasized retaining the atmosphere and character of the historic structure and relied on materials purchased from local sources. Among the resulting tavern improvements were high tables and a bar top made from cherry wood salvaged from a tree that fell during the 2008 ice storm in nearby Sharon. In April 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Birchwood Inn added outdoor live music in front of the tavern. Performances were streamed through the inn's social-media presence, creating a form of local entertainment that could reach residents under pandemic conditions. The inn later discontinued copyrighted music because of licensing requirements, while continuing to provide opportunities for local musicians who perform old-time and original music for compensation connected with beer, food, and tips. The establishment's present identity therefore combines historic lodging and dining with preservation, local community use, and small-scale cultural programming.
- 2020
Restoration of the historic building
[1]Restoration work undertaken in January and February focused on preserving the property's historic atmosphere and improving tavern elements with locally sourced materials.
- 2020
Outdoor and streamed music programming launched
[1]The inn began hosting outdoor live music and streaming performances through social media during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 1985
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
[1]The inn received formal recognition as a historic property through listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1981
Used as a film location
[1]Birchwood Inn and its surrounding area appeared as filming locations for Summer, based on an Edith Wharton novel.
- 1930
Modern utilities introduced
[1]The inn was updated with indoor plumbing and electricity during the 1930s.
- 1892
The Birchwood name and tourist boarding-house role established
[1]New owners added the front porch and converted the establishment into a boarding house catering to tourists. The property has been identified as The Birchwood since this period.
- 1847
Stabling and event space added
[1]An ell and barn-like addition, built around 1847–1848, expanded the inn with horse stables and an upper hall that supported entertainment and civic events.
Products and positioning
A historic New Hampshire inn and tavern positioned around heritage hospitality, preserved architecture, local food-and-drink service, and community-oriented cultural programming.
Accommodation
Historic lodging
Guest accommodation in a preserved historic inn building in Temple's central village. The lodging offer is closely tied to the property's nineteenth-century architectural features, including its traditional exterior, period interiors, porch, and long-standing role as a traveler accommodation.
Dining
Restaurant
Restaurant service operated within the historic inn. The restaurant forms part of the property's continuing use as a hospitality venue and complements its tavern and accommodation functions.
Food and beverage
Tavern
A period-oriented tavern retaining historic character and a preserved taproom. Following the 2020 restoration, the tavern included high tables and a bar top made from locally recovered cherry wood.
Cultural events · 2020
Local music programming
Small-scale live music presented outdoors in front of the tavern. During the COVID-19 pandemic, performances were also streamed through social media. After copyrighted music was discontinued because of licensing requirements, the program focused on local musicians performing old-time and original music.
Marketing campaigns
- 2020Outdoor and streamed local music
Temple, New Hampshire · Online
Birchwood Inn introduced outdoor performances in front of the tavern during the COVID-19 pandemic and streamed musicians through social media, providing residents with accessible local entertainment while public gatherings were constrained.
Outcome. The inn later discontinued copyrighted music because of licensing requirements but continued to host local performers specializing in old-time and original music.
Brand decisions
2020
Restore the inn using locally sourced materialsStrategyBackground
The historic inn required extensive work while retaining its architectural atmosphere and heritage character.
Action taken
A restoration was carried out in January and February, with materials purchased exclusively from local sources. Tavern furnishings included wood recovered from a storm-damaged cherry tree in nearby Sharon.
Aftermath
The building remained in use as a restaurant and inn, with renewed tavern facilities and an emphasis on historic continuity.
2020
Introduce outdoor and online music during the pandemicOtherBackground
The COVID-19 pandemic created restrictions and practical challenges for conventional indoor entertainment and community gatherings.
Action taken
The inn moved live music outdoors and streamed performances through social media.
Aftermath
Because of licensing laws, copyrighted music was later discontinued. The venue continued to work with local musicians performing old-time and original material.
Recent events
- 2020
Historic restoration completed[1]
Other
A substantial restoration carried out during January and February sought to preserve the building's historic atmosphere while renewing parts of the inn and tavern with locally sourced materials.
- 2020
Outdoor live music introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic[1]
Campaign · Other
The inn began hosting outdoor performances in front of the tavern and streaming them through social media, allowing local residents to participate during the pandemic.
- 1985
Birchwood Inn added to the National Register of Historic Places[1]
Other
The historic inn was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in recognition of its architectural character and importance to the history of rural hospitality in New Hampshire.
- 1981
Birchwood Inn used as a filming location for Summer[1]
Other
The inn and nearby surroundings were used in the filming of Summer, a movie based on an Edith Wharton novel.
Sources2 sources
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