Founded 1913

Founded 1913

23 Main Street, New Ipswich, New Hampshire 03071

The Historical Society will be open to the public on Saturdays from June 9 through September 29, 2007 and open for special events as published here and by appointment. Please send us an email at Marilyn@NewIpswich.org if you wish to make an appointment.

In 1913, a group of town residents concerned about preserving the town's historical resources founded the New Ipswich Historical Society. The hopes and goals of the founding members, Sarah Fiske Lee, William A. Preston, Mary F. Preston, Herschel W. Lewis, Helen M. Brooks, and Helen A. Sargent, have persisted for all of these years. Their original mission was "to discover, secure, and preserve whatever may relate to the natural, civil, literary, family, and ecclesiastical history of the town." Although the Society has grown, relocated, and modernized, it remains essentially an expression of those original sentiments--an institution committed to preserving and presenting the history of New Ipswich, in as many ways as we can imagine.

Today, the collection of the New Ipswich Historical Society includes books, photographs, maps, letters, paintings, samplers, trade signs, bandboxes, furniture, cooking implements, tools, clothing, firefighting equipment, and a myriad of other historical artifacts that enrich our understanding of the history of this place.

2007 Programs

We're open to the public on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month from 1 to 4 pm starting June 9 and going through September 29, 2007.

April 22, 2007
Susan Well and Louise Bloomberg present
Elisha Hammond - Builder, Painter, and Abolitionist
Susan Well and Louise Bloomberg will share their research and insights on the life of
Elisha Hammond who was "one of those thoroughly good men who make the world better for having lived in it." Well-deserved praise for a man of many talents – an artist who painted a landscape of New Ipswich and portraits of William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass, a builder who specialized in masonry and stucco work, and a social reformer active in abolitionist and temperance work. He lived in New Ipswich from 1825 to 1844 and in Northampton, MA from 1844 to 1882. When they moved, the Hammonds could not sever their connection to NH because of Eliza Preston Hammond’s family ties. Eliza Preston was the daughter and grand daughter of local doctors, both named John Preston. Elisha returned in the 1850’s to build the Appleton Academy and later to renovate Frank W. Preston’s house.

Time: 2:30
Location: New Ipswich Library
Contact: Susan Williams at Marilyn@NewIpswich.org for more information.

June 9, 2007 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
June 10, 2007 from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Open House
Souhegan Chamber of Commerce Historical Societies

Location: New Ipswich Historical Society
Contact: John Rosenfelder at Marilyn@NewIpswich.org for more information.

July 21, 2007 at 2 p.m. at the Barrett House
Sarah Zimmerman of Historic New England presents
Your Old House
How to maintain it
Deal with renovations
Avoid mistakes
Choose a color scheme

Sally Zimmerman, Historic New England's Preservation Specialist, will offer practical advice on maintenance and how to enhance your home's appearance and protect the value of your investment. Ms. Zimmerman manages Historic New England ’s Historic Homeowner membership program. She is co-author of Painting Historic Exteriors: Colors, Application, and Regulation.

Bring a photo of your house and receive tips on its architectural style and suggestions for appropriate paint schemes.

By attending, you could win the door prize of an individual membership in Historic
New England, the oldest, largest, and most prestigious regional preservation society
in the country. http://www.historicnewengland.org/

Click here to download the Historic New England flyer in .pdf format for more details.

Time: 2 p.m. FREE to the public
Location: The Barrett House,79 Main Street, New Ipswich
Contact: John Rosenfelder at Marilyn@NewIpswich.org for more information.

Annual Meeting
August 23, 2007
John Rosenfelder presents
1907 Town Report
New Ipswich's John Rosenfelder will present his research on what was life like in New Ipswich in 1906-07

Time:
Location:
Contact: John Rosenfelder at Marilyn@NewIpswich.org for more information.

Haunted New Ipswich

The Haunted New Ipswich program has been postponed until next year.

Past Programs

Thank you for visiting and please come back often.