Chesterfield New Hampshire Historical Society
Events
Chesterfield Historical Society Meetings
The CHS Board has been meeting on the 4th
Tuesday of the Month at 7PM
Contact CHS via e-mail for location
2024 Events
"That Reminds Me of a Story"
by Rebecca Rule
Wed. May 8th
6:30PM
Chesterfield Town Hall
Rt. 63
Stories speak to us of community. They hold our history and reflect our identity. Rebecca Rule has made it her mission over the last 20 years to collect stories of New Hampshire, especially those that reflect what's special about this rocky old place. She'll tell some of those stories - her favorites are the funny ones - and invite audience members to contribute a few stories of their own. (Event rescheduled from Oct. 2023)
About the Presenter
Rebecca Rule hosted the New Hampshire Authors Series for ten years on NHPBS and now hosts Our Hometown on NHPBS She’s been telling stories in New England, especially NH, for more than thirty years. She hasn’t visited every town in the Granite State, but has found her way to many of them — speaking at libraries, historical societies, church groups, and charitable organizations. She likes collecting stories because “they’re free and you don’t have to dust them." She also writes the monthly AYUH column in New Hampshire Magazine, humor of our region and our time.
Her books include N is for New Hampshire, an ABC book with photographs by Scott Snyder; The Iciest Diciest Scariest Sled Ride Ever!, a picture book illustrated by Jennifer Thermes; Headin’ for the Rhubarb, A NH Dictionary (well, kinda); and The Best Revenge, which was named one of five essential NH Books by New Hampshire Magazine. Her latest book is That Reminds Me of a Funny Story, Hobblebush Press.
Past 2023 Programs
The Surveys and Surveyors
Part 3
Roads and Bridges
Wed. Sept. 20th at 6:30pm
Chesterfield Town Hall
Free Program
In Part 3, David Mann will present several different subjects:
- The program will look deeper into the importance of building River Road especially for the military.
- Historically the connection from Chesterfield to Vermont was by either the Upper or Lower ferry. In the winter, folks walked across the ice. It wasn't until 1888/9 that a bridge was built from West Chesterfield across the Connecticut River. How it came to be, is quite a story.
- David will introduce a new historical map of Chesterfield compiled from past surveyors’ data. Copies will be available at the program.
- In addition, he will revisit Mrs. Rowlandson 17th Century Ordeal some new information.
About the Presenter:
David A. Mann is a land surveyor living in Chesterfield New Hampshire. He is currently almost retired. Old surveyors never really retire, they just fade away into the landscape! David and his wife Toni moved to Chesterfield in 1978. They raised three children in Chesterfield before a short stint in Keene to care for ailing parents. David is a Past President of the Chesterfield Historical Society, Past President of the New Hampshire Land Surveyors Association (NHLSA), Former Publications Director and Editor of NHLSA's Journal “The Benchmark”, Former Editor of the Vermont Society of Land Surveyors (VSLS) Journal “The Cornerpost”. David is a member of the National Society of Professional Surveyors.
“Kchi Pontegok”
The Historic Landscape of the Bellows Falls Petroglyphs
By Annette Spaulding & Archaeologist Gail Golec
Wednesday August 16
6:30PM
Chesterfield Town Hall
In-Person Only
Kchi Pontegok or “The Great Falls”, is a Western Abenaki sacred site on the
Connecticut River. Both Annette Spaulding and Gail Golec are part of a
seven member team conducting the Bellows Falls Petroglyphs Project.
Gail Golec will begin the program by outlining the past 13,000 years from glacial retreat to the thousands of years of Native American habitation. Then, Annette Spaulding will present her underwater findings of the Bellows Falls spiritual petroglyphs through the use of slides and video. This will include the area’s amazing geological formation of potholes and whirlpools and some of the wildlife that call it home. It will also feature newly discovered sacred offerings of white quartz made hundreds of years ago by Native Americans. Are there more petroglyphs hidden underwater? The team continues to explore the possibilities.
About the Presenters:
Master UCI Diver Annette Spaulding has enlightened us for several years with her many underwater exploits. In the past, she has taken us to the 1887 Lake Spofford wreck of the steamboat Allegretto, showed petroglyphs found in the confluence of the Connecticut and West River, and discussed the discovery of Navy Bombs in Spofford Lake. It is always an entertaining adventure with Annette.
Project Archaeologist for Monadnock Archaeological Consulting LLC, Gail Golec holds a degree in anthropology from Mercyhurst College, where she received extensive training in forensic anthropology and zooarchaeology. Working for the New York State Museum, she analyzed human skeletal remains for NAGPRA repatriations, and has over two decades of archaeological field experience. She has been on numerous digs throughout Northern New England and has taught CALL Classes for Keene State.
Outhouse Americana
The Iconic Necessity
Wed. July 12th
6:30PM
Town Hall
In-person Only
Presented by Georg Papp, Sr.
Although taken for granted, the outhouse is a chronicle of America’s development and certainly has enriched our folk lore. This presentation includes interesting props and models. What can modern day outhouse misconceptions teach us about colonial literacy? What's the meaning of kybo and just how do you play woo-woo in the privy? Come and join us for this well-researched, folksy, factual, and entertaining talk by a true craftsman.
About the presenter:
Georg Papp, Sr. builds the "best outhouses this side of the nineteenth century," and properly restores historic ones. Since prior to the turn of the century, his full-time job was restoring historic outhouses and crafting new ones by using methods he has learned from old and new sources. Few people have practical, proven knowledge or have gained as much insight into the folklore and traditions of this icon of Americana. Mr. Papp has appeared on several TV programs, plus Public Radio, and has been featured in Farm Show & Cottage Life magazines.
The Surveys and Surveyors Part 2
Boundaries, First Proprietors & Roads
Wed. June 21
6:30pm - Chesterfield Town Hall
In-Person Only
Presented by David Mann
TThis program will explain the Lot and Range system that laid out many colonial frontier towns such as Chesterfield. The lots were then distributed among the First Proprietors. Who were they and were they the actual first settlers? When and where were the first town roads constructed and how were they financed? When did they eventually connect to other towns within the county and state? These questions will be answered by David Mann in Part 2 of Surveys and Surveyors.
The newly restored c1760 Proprietors Chart will be on display.
All are welcome.
Refreshments will be served.
Wednesday, April 19th - Part 1
6:30PM - 8:30PM
Chesterfield Town Hall
In-Person ONLY
