Second Historical Meet-Up

The Haverhill Historical Society has announced its second historical meet-up for Thursday, September 17, at 5:30 PM. (The start time is thirty minutes later than the first meet-up.) The location will once again be Shiloh's Restaurant in Woodsville.

The meet-up is an opportunity for area residents who are interested in local history to come together and share knowledge, reminiscences, and questions in an informal setting over dinner. There is no charge for the program and no registration is required, but participants must pay for their own meals.

The first meet-up, held in April, was well attended and the discussion covered a wide range of local historical topics.

More information about the meet-up can found on this flier.

We hope to see you there!

Annual Meeting and Upcoming Events

The Haverhill Historical Society has announced a number of events for the coming months, beginning with our annual meeting and program on June 16. All events are free and open to the public except where noted. Click on the links for more details:

Tuesday, June 16, Alumni Hall

• 6:30 PM:  Annual Meeting, including election of officers; read the president's letter here. Open our membership form here.
• 7:00 PM:  Program: "On This Spot Once Stood: Remembering the Architectural Heritage of New Hampshire," Maggie Stier.

Tuesday, July 14, Alumni Hall

• 7:00 PM:  Program: "Big House, Little House, Back House, Barn: The Connected Farm Buildings of New England," Thomas H. Hubka.

Sunday, August 9, Lime Kiln Road

• 2:00 PM:  Ice Cream Social Fundraiser hosted by Betsy Bouveroux, $15 per person.

Tuesday, August 18, Stoddard Building, North Haverhill Fairgrounds

• 7:00 PM:  Program: "New Hampshire's Long Love-Hate Relationship with its Agricultural Fairs," Steve Taylor.

Thursday, September 17, Shiloh's Restaurant

• 5:30 PM:  Historical Meet-Up: Our second open meet-up to discuss local history; there is no cost to participate in the discussion, but you must pay for your own meal. 

We hope to see you at these events!

Announcing a Local History "Meet-Up"

The Historical Society will sponsor a local history “meet-up” on Thursday, April 9 at Shiloh’s Restaurant in Woodsville, beginning at 5:00 PM.

The meet-up is an opportunity for area residents who are interested in local history to come together and share knowledge, reminiscences, and questions in an informal setting over dinner. There is no charge for the program and no registration is required, but participants must pay for their own meals.

This will be the first in what the Historical Society hopes will be a series of such meet-ups. Representatives of the Historical Society will be on hand to introduce the event and facilitate, but the discussion will be driven by the interests of the attendees. Whether recalling historically significant milestones or simply the daily customs of bygone times, participants will be invited to “hear a story / share story.”

Meet-ups are an increasingly popular format for events at which people gather regularly to discuss shared interests, often over meals. Rather than offering presenters and programs, meet-ups draw on the knowledge and enthusiasm of the participants themselves.

“Part of the mission of the Historical Society is to foster and support our neighbors’ interest in local history,” notes Robert Roudebush, a trustee of the Society and the coordinator of the meet-up. “We hope to create a regular event at which people will be able to share their own personal knowledge of our region’s history.”

Though registration is not required, since this is the first such event, the Historical Society would appreciate hearing from people who plan to attend. They may call or e-mail Roudebush at 603-787-6549 or roudewine1@charter.net.

Grant Awarded

The Historical Society has been awarded a grant by the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) to continue its restoration work on Pearson Hall.

The latest round of LCHIP grants was announced in early December and was featured in a story in the Valley News, which quotes HHS President Wayne Fortier.

Congratulations to HHS past president Edith Celley, who led the effort to prepare the grant proposal.

The Old Jail

The Valley News recently published a story about the 1845 Grafton County Jail in Haverhill Corner, now a private residence.

HHS past-president Edith Celley is quoted. The story can be found here.

Whither the Wind

Thanks to Dick Ekwall and Doug Henson, a new weathervane now graces the top of Pearson Hall, recalling as closely as possible the original fixture:

This photograph was taken by Mike Marshall on one of our recent beautiful fall days.

Saving the Mountains Program

The Historical Society will sponsor its third and final 2014 summer program on Tuesday, August 12 at 7:00 PM at Alumni Hall on Court Street in Haverhill. Marcia Schmidt Blaine of Plymouth State University will present "Saving the Mountains: New Hampshire and the Creation of the National Forests," which will address New Hampshire’s early role in the creation of the National Forests. Admission is free and open to the public.

New Hampshire’s White Mountains played a leading role in events leading to the Weeks Act, the law that created the eastern national forests. Focusing on Concord’s Joseph B. Walker and the Forest Society’s Philip Ayres, Blaine explores the relationship between our mountains and the economic, environmental and aesthetic questions posed by the individuals involved in the creation of the National Forest.

Marcia Schmidt Blaine is a historian of New Hampshire and New England history and Chair of the Department of History, Philosophy and Social Studies at Plymouth State University. While her academic work focuses on the development of American identity, eighteenth-century New Hampshire women, and Anglo captives of the Abenaki, Blaine also explores various aspects of White Mountains history through her work with the Museum of the White Mountains in Plymouth.