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Erin Hammerstedt, Executive Director of Canterbury Shaker Village

In September, the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail welcomed Erin Hammerstedt as the new Executive Director of Canterbury Shaker Village. A longtime member institution of the Trail, the Village is designated as a National Historic Landmark with 25 restored original Shaker buildings and four reconstructed Shaker buildings.

“We are honored to welcome Erin,” said Trail President Jeff Barraclough. “She brings a wealth of historic preservation experience that is truly unmatched. Erin is an asset not only to Canterbury Shaker Village but to the entire Trail.”

Hammerstedt most recently served as Director of Historic Harrisville, Inc., a local nonprofit that rehabilitates historic buildings in the mill town of Harrisville, New Hampshire. She holds a Master’s degree in Historic Preservation and has worked in multiple nonprofit roles involving the preservation and use of historic structures. She has also worked as a consultant on public projects that include historic resources and as a staff member for a historic district commission.

“I am a firm believer in the importance of authenticity,” said Hammerstedt. “Materials can be made to look like things, but they are not the real thing. Here, at Canterbury Shaker Village, things are as real as they get.”

During her first year as Executive Director, Hammerstedt said she plans to “learn as much as [she] can about the place and the things that have happened [there] from its origination to the present.” “I want to make sure we retain its important essence while allowing it to live on well into the future,” she added.

Describing the Village as “magical,” Hammerstedt said she was drawn to the combination of Shaker quality and Shaker story as well as “the amazing” staff already in place. “I am honored to be part of this amazing team in this truly one-of-a-kind place,” she noted.

Click here to learn more about Canterbury Shaker Village, including its ongoing celebration, Commemorating 250 Years: Shakerism in America. In addition to Canterbury Shaker Village in Canterbury, member institutions on The Trail are located in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, Merrimack Valley, and Seacoast.