Submitted by Lorry Young, Granite State AmbassadorRadisson Hotel Class of 2006
The Manning House once was a private residence, but upon Mrs. Manning's death, the home was donated to the church. The chapel and church were added later. The property is on ten acres of land currently owned by the Brookside Congregational Church, which is located at 2013 Elm Street in Manchester, NH. The second floor of the Manning House is office space for the church, and the downstairs area is used for gatherings for many functions.
But I find the history so compelling. The Manning House and Carriage Barn was built as a wedding gift for Mary (Carpenter) Manning from her father, Mr. Frank Carpenter. Frank Carpenter was a philanthropist and owner of the mills. Both Mary and her father were longtime active members of the Franklin Street Church. By the mid-1950's, the Franklin Street was weakening structurally and major renovations were needed to make it safe. A decision had to be made either to fund expensive and extensive alterations or build a new church on another site. Mrs. Mary Manning offered her 10-acre estate on North Elm St. known as "The Brook" to the church if the congregation wanted to relocate and build new. The congregation voted to accept Mrs. Manning's offer. The Manning House and carriage barn were adapted for congregational use and connected to the sanctuary. The original chapel from Franklin Street was then incorporated into the Manning residence. 
I find this to be an interesting anecdote. A friend's uncle was married in the Franklin Street Chapel... many years later his wife passed away. He re-married in the same chapel, but it was moved to it's new location in the Manning House about a mile away.There is a Children's Memorial Garden on the property, a place of peace and serenity located at the South lawn of the Manning House. It is a place in honor and memory of all our children, grandchildren, and siblings. It is open to the public to visit anytime. In the fall, an annual butterfly release is held in the Memorial Garden. Mrs. Manning was also a bereaved parent, having lost her son at the age of 14.
The overall architecture is beautiful, and the interior carved wordwork is beautiful. There is so much to see in this lovely home. One interesting feature of the house is a classical temple like porch entryway. Somewhat out of character with the rest of the house and reflects an interest in Colonial Revival architectural style that existed side-by-side with the Queen Ann Revival during this period. The dining room even has leather wallpaper.
