Alstead is a small town with deep roots and a proud legacy. With a history stretching back several centuries, it has evolved from a hub of mills, mining, and agriculture into a pristine rural community shaped by creativity, skill, and a strong sense of stewardship. Many families have called Alstead home for generations, cultivating a deep pride in town services and rural life.
Originally granted as "Newton" and renamed Alstead in 1763, the town briefly aligned with Vermont after the Revolutionary War before rejoining New Hampshire. Alstead holds the distinction of hosting the state’s first paper mill, established on Cold River in 1793 by Ephraim and Elisha Kingsbury.
Though primarily agricultural, Alstead’s waterways once powered numerous small mills—one of the last working turbine water mills still stands in East Alstead. Landmarks like the Shedd-Porter Memorial Library (built in 1910), and gifts from philanthropists like John G. Shedd and Charles M. Vilas—including a recreation area, school, and Cheshire County’s only carillon—highlight the town’s legacy of generosity and civic pride. Alstead was also home to noted arts and crafts chronicler Marion Nicholl Rawson, adding cultural depth to this historic New England gem.