Each of the four owners of the Country Spirit was raised Henniker and live here still. Arthur Kendrick grew up in the neighboring town of Hillsboro, and tells a great story of hitching a ride or riding his bike to his father’s Henniker butcher shop after school. Sally Kendrick is a sixth generation resident, and her son Michael Kendrick is the seventh generation. Rick Hall grew up here, and his parents, grandmother, and brother all reside here. It’s a unique, friendly town that its residents cherish and visitors never forget.

The Country Spirit is designed to celebrate the unique charm of Henniker, with turn of the century décor that reflects the businesses, dress, and furnishings of the era. Stepping into the Spirit is a step back in time, when life was simpler. Yet, the same values of kindness, hospitality, and trust still endure in Henniker.

Founded in 1761, the Town of Henniker has the small town charm of a Norman Rockwell painting and a vibrance inspired by its restaurants, college, recreation, and residents. New England College is nestled in the downtown, and Pats Peak Ski Area serves as the town’s focal point and hub of entertainment in the winter. The Contoocook River winds under charming stone and wooden bridges, offering opportunities for kayakers, fishermen, and swimming.

According to the Henniker Historical Society, “In the Charter of 1768, Governor Wentworth named the town of Henniker in honor of his friend, John Henniker, Esq., a wealthy London merchant of leather and furs.”

The Historical Society notes that Henniker has been “home to several interesting and outstanding people: Ocean Born Mary, whose birth saved a boatload of colonists from a pirate's wrath; Edna Dean Proctor, nationally-known poetess; Amy Cheney Beach, pianist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and composer; James W. Patterson, educator; and Ted Williams, baseball player with the Boston Red Sox and fisherman.”