Meredith's business community has for the
past century-and-a-half been the principal champion of
promoting the many virtues of Meredith. After the split
of Laconia from Meredith, the town's leading businessmen
formed the Meredith Mechanic Association in 1859 to attract
new industries like Hodgson's Hosiery Mill to town. In
1892, a new Meredith Board of Trade was formed, taking
over the promotion of the town's business climate. Businessmen
like George F. Sanborn and E.C. Mansfield were instrumental
in bringing electricity and municipal water to the village
in the 1890s. After a couple of decades, the Meredith
Chamber of Commerce evolved and over the years has promoted
not only business improvements, but civic betterments
as well. In the 1920s the Chamber conducted a contest
to choose a motto and symbol for the town, and as a result
adopted the saying "Meredith: Latchkey to the White
Mountains." The terms Latchkey and Keytown are still
used frequently today. The current Chamber headquarters
and the nearby Chase's Restaurant are on the site of the
former Meredith Casket Factory.
Chamber of Commerce
can be found by taking Route 3 to Dover Street. Turn left
onto Dover Street. Chamber of Commerce is on the left,
across from the Inn at Mill Falls.