The House
Our space is a 1920’s craftsman-style home on Main Street in Bethlehem, New Hampshire.
On the east wing of the house, there is a large kitchen, breakfast nook, and private bedroom with an ensuite bathroom. The west wing has two more private bedrooms and bathrooms. Connecting both wings of the house is an expansive living room, centering around a large hearth around which we hope you gather.
The property is about an acre of land, half of which is fenced. Lupines bloom in the back, and bear or moose can sometimes be seen ambling through the front yard.
The Town
Named the poetry capital of New Hampshire, Bethlehem has long been a place of clarity and creative thought. Enjoying a simple walk down Main Street, the Presidential Range in view, it is easy to see why. Though the town is small, the “arts district” is mighty.
The house is on the west end of Main Street, within walking distance of:
- Wren – an art gallery and shop that supports local artists
- Cold Mountain Cafe – a farm-to-table restaurant where you’re sure to find delicious cuisine and a top notch glass of wine
- Legacy Used Books – the most charming used books store in the North Country
- The Colonial Theatre – a hub for arts, film, music, and culture in the North Country, offering a full slate of world class performances and the best indie films each summer season
- Rek’Lis Brewing Company – a community-centered brewery, often hosting live music and other community events
- The Maia Papaya – voted the best vegetarian spot in NH, Maia Papaya is the go-to for coffee, smoothies, and sandwiches
The White Mountains
The White Mountains are the current and traditional homelands and waters of the Abenaki people of the Wabanaki Confederacy.
What we now call the White Mountains are a collection of the tallest peaks in the Northeast United States. These peaks, valleys, and rivers have enchanted artists and writers like Henry David Thoreau, Thomas Cole, and Robert Frost.
We know that time spent in nature stokes the creative spirit.
Our Story
Headwaters sprung forth from the dream and passions of a mother and daughter duo.
Robin Grubby was a creative healer and life-long student of contemplative practice. She moved to Northern New Hampshire in 2005 and worked as a hospice nurse, oncology nurse, acupuncturist, and yoga instructor over the years. Robin dreamed of transforming this space into an intimate retreat center for physical and spiritual healing.
Emily Grubby followed her mother north for college. She studied English at Plymouth State and spent every spare moment hiking, running, paddling, and skiing around the Whites. Thrilled by the intersection of literature and environmental ethics, she left the east coast to earn an MA in Environmental Arts and Humanities from Oregon State where she worked at the Spring Creek Project for Ideas, Nature, and the Written Word, helping to design and deliver arts and humanities programming that restore or reimagine just and joyful relations between people and planet.
When Robin retired from nursing in 2016, the pair founded Bethlehem’s used books store, then known as “Beannacht.” The bookstore, a century-old space, packed to the ceiling with an intentional curation of titles, became a beloved hub for the community, Robin often staying late to share old stories, new ideas, raucous laughter, and under-the-table glasses of wine with locals or travelers, alike.
It was over many conversations between Robin and Emily that the idea for Headwaters began to emerge.
Robin passed away in 2020. It is in her memory and legacy that Emily opens the door to this space. Come. Relight yourself by the fire. Immerse yourself in the mountains. Create.
Headwaters 