For over a century the "Sanborn Block" has been
a focal point of social and business activity in Meredith
Village. The building represents the gradual conversion
of a house into commercial use. The original house faced
onto Water Street, and its five bay, 2'/2-story, twin-chimney
form with a rear two-story ell is still very much in evidence.
Dr. George Sanborn was the principal town doctor in the
late 1800s and operated his practice from this building.
Dr. Sanborn's son George Freeman Sanborn founded a printing
company in 1871 and the town's community newspaper. The
Meredith News, in 1880, both in the north annex of the
building. In 1882, he offered a room next to the newspaper
office to launch the Meredith Public Library, and he served
as the town's first librarian. In 1884, George F. Sanborn
opened a drug store on the opposite corner of Water and
Main Street, and in 1909 he added the projecting storefront
to his home and relocated the store. On either side of
the diagonal entrance, he installed leaded glass lights
with stained glass pharmacy symbols that still decorate
the entrance to the old "Sanborn Drugs."
Sanborn House/Drug
Store can be found by taking Route 3 to the lights in
Meredith. Turn left and go up the hill onto Lower Main
Street. Sanborn House is on the right, at the corner of
Main and Water Streets.
