The Goffstown Edge

Civil War Speaker in New Boston

One hundred and fifty years ago, the Civil War was raging, with greater loss of American life than any war before or since.  Soldiers from New Hampshire fought valiantly, one New Boston man was killed in action at Gettysburg.

Civil War historian and author Steven Closs will present "Granite State Sacrifice during the American Civil War 1861-1865" in the Whipple Free Library at 7 pm on Thursday, February 23rd.  Mr. Closs will share stories about New Hampshire's participation in the war and what he has learned about some of New Boston's volunteers.

Refreshments will follow this free program, which is co-sponsored by the Whipple Free Library and the New Boston Historical Society.

New Boston Historical Society

POSTPONED- January 19, 7:30 pm

Visit the New Boston Historical Society on Thursday, January 12 at 7:30 pm, to enjoy NBVHS President Dick Moody's presentation, "An Armchair Tour of New Boston Village."

View many photos of New Boston then and now while learning the historical background of the bvuildings in the village center.  See how these buildings changed over the years: Dodge's Store, the New Boston High School, the Baptist Church and the Community Church.  Learn how buisnessman J. R. Whipple rebuilt the center of town after the great fire of 1887.

All are welcome to this free event.  Refreshments will be served and a business meeting will follow the presentation.

Attend early that evening to view the special exhibit "Ivan Byam's Attic Treasures."  Byam has many artifacts related to New Boston.  He also has an extensive collection of 174 New Boston post cards that is still growing.

For details about the New Boston Historical Society, visit www.newbostonhistoricalsociety.com.

New Boston Historical Society Open House

Come gather around a warm fire to sip hot mulled cider, nibble on goodies and chat with others at the Historical Society Open house on Sunday, December 18th from 1-4 pm.

Enjoy holiday music while gathered around the piano in the Wason Building, which will be decked out for the season.

See Ivan Byam's collection of New Boston memorabilia on loan to the museum as a special exhibit.  On display will be teaspons from Babson's Tea Room, a New Boston high School Sweatshirt, the F.F.A. (Future Farmers of America) banner from this 1950s high school group, and other treasures from Ivan's attic.

Everyone is welcome to attend this holiday event!

NB Historical Society Meeting

Come to the Annual meeting of the New Boston Historical Society to elect officers for the new year.  We will review 2011, plan for 2012, and discuss other business.  The meeting will begin at 7:30 pm on Thursday, November 10th in the Wason Memorial Building (the old library)
This is your last chance to view our temporary exhibit, “Baseball in New Boston,” that showcases past uniforms and photographs from both the Tri-Town Team and New Boston High School team.  Former New Boston ball players Wayne Daniels, Jerry Kennedy, Bob Todd and Merrick Kennedy have loand us memorabilia such as trophies, gloves, awards and photographs for this exhibit.
All are welcome.  You do not need to be a member to atttend, but only members may vote.  Refrushments will follow the business meeting.

Anique Appraisal in New Boston

Donna Welch, an antiques dealer for more than 25 years, will speak at the New Boston Historical Society on Thursday, September 8, at 7:30.

welch is a licensed auctioneer, appraiser, columnist and lecturer.  She is the proprietor of From Out Of The Woods Antiques in goffstown.

This conversation with Welch will provide us a new appreciation for antiques and antique collection, and she will appraise the value of a few antiques that have been pre-selected for this event.

If you are interested in having an antique item appraised, submit your name and phone number to Lisa Rothman of the New Boston Historical Society by September 6.  Email lisarothman@comcast.net or call 487-3867.

Five people will be chosen by lottery to have an antique item appraised by Wewlch free of charge.  You will be called September 7 if you are one of the lucky five.

"History of the New Boston Railroad" at NB Historical Society

David Woodbury, train enthusiast and former New Boston selectman, will speak about the "History of the New Boston Railroad" on Thursday, July 14, 7:30 p.m., at the New Boston Historical Society.

Included in his talk will be a brief history of the New Boston Railroad Company.  Local men with little knowledge of building and running a railroad pushed legislation through the State house in Concord and raised $100,000 by selling shares of stock in the New Boston Railroad Company.  All of this was to make their dream of a 5-mile spur from New Boston to Parker Station in Goffstown a reality.

David's love of trains began when he was growing up in Bedford.  From his home he could look across the then-open fields and see the trains in Manchester and hear their whistles.  Many years later, he restored an old railroad passenger car that was visible on McCurdy Road in New Boston.

This event is free and refreshments will be served.  A business meeting follows the presentation.

For details, contact Lisa Rothman at 487-3867 or lisarothman!comcast.net.  You may also visit www.newbostonhistoricalsociety.com.

NH's Grange Movement: Its Rise, Triumphs and Decline

Steve Taylor presents "New Hampshire's Grange Movement: Its Rise, Triumphs and Decline," on Tuesday, May 10, at 7:30 p.m.,at the New Boston Historical Society, 2 Central Square.

This program is co-hosted by the Historical Society and New Boston's Joe English Grange and sponsored by a grant from the New Hampshire Humaities Council.

Taylor, former New Hampshire commissioner of agriculture, recently spoke on "Cow and Communities" at the Whipple Free Library.  In this return visit to New Boton, Steve will speak on the Grange movement in New Hampshire.

In the late 19th century, much of rural New Hampshire was locked in a downward spiral of population decline, abandonment of farms, reversion of cleared land to forest and shrinking of villages.  All of this contributed to wide-spread feelings of melancholy and loss among residents of the Granite State.

The development of the Grange movement in the state in the 1880s and 1890s met people's need for a new way to draw communities together for social interaction, entertainment and mutual support.

The Grange brought an agenda that aligned closely with the Progresive wave that swept New Hampshire politics in the early-20th century, and many of the initiatives it advocated became law, placing the state at the leading edge in a number of areas of reform.  Mr. Taylor will address the rise, the triumph and the eventual decline of the Grange movement in New Hampshire.

New Boston's Joe English Grange, founded in 1875, has been a vital part of community life and the town's history for 136 years.  The New Boston Historical Society will display items from their collection of the Joe English Grange throughout the centuries, showing their impact here in town.  The program is free and open to the public.  Refreshments will be provided.

For details, contact Lisa Rothman at 487-3867 or lisarothman@comcast.net

New Boston Historical Society Open House

Don't miss the New Boston historical Society's Open House on Sunday, May 1st from 1-4 pm.  Come see the museum in our new location, the Wason Memorial Building, where the library used to be, across from Dodge's Store.  There will be free fun for all!

Listen to live traditional music as Sandy LaFleur and Bill Perry play their dulcimer and mandolin.  You may know this duo from their performances at the New Boston Farmer's Market last summer.

View our special temporary exhibit, "Toys from Yesteryear," and relive your childhood!  There will be old-fashioned table-top games like dominoes and pick-up-sticks for the children to play with.  No batteries required!

Tour the museum, which we've filled with photographs, books and articles from New Boston's past.  We have displays that feature the social life, schools, churches, local businesses, the railroad, household goods, the J.R. Whipple legacy, and the Tavern.  Large items include the Molly Stark Canon, the Tavern Carriage, "The Consititution"- a piece of early New Boston fire fighting equipment- and "The Pinball," a miniature pumper made for new Boston's junior firefighters.

Enjoy refreshments made using recipes from New Boston cookbooks printed by church groups, firemen and the school.  Some recipes date from as far back as 1897 and feature New Boston family names like Todd and Marden, whose descendants still live in town today.

Apple Cinnamon Puffs will be served, a recipe submitted by past member Rena Davis from a 1949 cookbook.  Rena founded the New Boston Historical Society in 1968 and worked tirelessly on its behalf for nearly 30 years.  We are eternally grateful to her for preserving New Boston's past.

At 2 o'clock we will celebrate the generosity of the Carr family and the Montgomery family, whose financial support made possible the move to our new location.   Make sure you don't miss this change to experience New Boston's history for yourself!  Please attend out Open House on May 1st.

NB Historical Society Hosts Glass Historian

Every wonder how old that bottle is that you dug up in your backyard?  Learn more about glass bottles when New Boston's Michael George speaks on "Glass Making in New Hampshire" at the New Boston Historical Society meeting on Thursday, March 10, at 7:30 pm.m

A glass historian, appraiser, and bottle collector, George recently was featured on the television show "New Hampshire Chronicle," showcasing his exhibit titled, "New Hampshire Glassmakers."

George will give an overview of the history of glass factories in New Hampshire and describe the different techniques that are used in glass making.  Learn how to identify and date bottles and glass.  George will also bring from his own extensive collection of New Hampshire bottles dating from 1780 to 1880.

George was born and raised in New Hampshire and currently resides with his family in New Boston.  His passion for glass has led to him becoming an avid collector and premiere antique glass dealer.

All of the Historical Society's programs are free of charge.  For details, call 487-3867.

New Boston Historical Society January Meeting

The New Boston Historical Society recently moved from the Old Engine House next to the Town Hall across the street to the former Whipple Free Library building.  Join us at our next business meeting on Thursday, January 13th at 7:30 p.m. in the Wason home.  For those of you who missed the New Boston Cemetery Tour in October, we will be showing a 23-minute video that highlights the New Boston historical characters portrayed that day by some of the New Boston's own actors and actresses.  Our business meeting will follow. Topics to be discussed are plans for an upcoming Open House for the public to show off our new space.  New faces with new ideas are always welcome!