NEWS
AND NOTES 2009
December
2009 Christmas Social
The
Epsom Historical Association held its Annual
Christmas Social on Sunday December 6 at
the Epsom Public Library. The event is a
thank you to members for their continued
support. Refreshments included manychoices
taken from the new "Kitchen Memories"
Cookbook. A brief review of the past year
was given and recognition made to Nancy
Claris, Carole Brown, Penny Graham and Joyce
Heck for their work during the past year.
About 25 members participated. [Photos]
BICKFORD
AND HUCKINS MILL
November
Program
On
Sunday November 15 at 2:00 pm, the final
program of the Epsom Historical Association
was presented at the Epsom Public Library.
The program was the history of the Bickford
and Huckins mill with personal anecdotes,
photos and stories concerning the mill presented
by Al Bickford. Residents will best remember
the building as the Old Mill Restaurant.
The meeting will also include election of
officers and refreshments.
WEBSITE
EpsomHistory.com
GETS
NEW DESIGN AND CONTENT
After
nearly 3 years with the blue screen css
based website, EpsomHistory.com got a new
design, reverting back to a more graphic
oriented site, similar to those it used
in the past. New buttons and navigation
make it even easier getting around the different
sections without getting lost in the vast
content which makes up website. One of the
new features is the ability to view the
original scanned documents by picking pages
out of thumbnails, then read the pages in
order using new NEXT/PREVIOUS buttons. This
replaces the simple page links which forced
users to backspace and pick a new page to
view.
Other
site additions include two new albums of
photos, including over 100 captioned pictures
from the Verna Wells Hunt Collection, loaned
to the Historical Association by the Kevin
Reeves family. A second album of 21 photos
were loaned by Bruce Coutu. A photocopy
of a small silhouette of the likeness of
General Michael McClary was given by John
Atwood. This would be the earliest known
likeness of an early Epsom settler. The
new website launched October 4, 2009 and
includes a new forum and local links on
the homepage. Mike Jacobs scripted the new
document viewer.
REVOLUTION
& THE STONE
WALL ERA
History of Epsom Part 2
Following
the French and Indian War, the town of Epsom
still had not met the requirements of its
1727 charter. ‘Revolution and the Stone
Wall Era’ picks up the history of the town
with the establishment of the first church,
the first schools, early roads and the settling
of the outlying lots. Most of the stone
walls in the state were made during the
1780-1830 time frame, which covers the most
interesting period in the development of
Epsom. The lecture also covers the period
of the Revolutionary War and the War of
1812. The early settlers struggled financially
to get the town on a strong footing prior
to the Revolution, and after the population
exploded, laws of religious tolerance were
changed, and many families and individuals
entered the history books. The lecture was
sponsored by the Epsom Public Library and
was presented by the Epsom Historical Association,
following the previous part one on the settling
of the town. The program was presented Friday
evening, October 16, 2009 at 7 pm. Refreshements
were served. [transcript]
History
of the
OLD MEETINGHOUSE
September
Meeting Sunday the 13th - 2 pm - Epsom Public
Library
The
Epsom Historical Association held its third
program of the year at the Epsom Public
Library Sunday afternoon, September 13th
at 2 p.m. The program was a history of the
old meetinghouse, originally built by the
Free Will Baptist Society in 1861. As background,
a brief history of the Society leading up
to the building of the structure was included.
The program also focused on the related
parsonage building which stood on the corner
of Route 4 and Black Hall Road.
With the LChip work and stain glass window
restoration complete, the program was timely,
as discussion for the possible future use
of the building is under discussion.
About 25 members attended and a short business
meeting, including selecting a nominatng
committee for the 2010 officers, preceded
the program followed by refreshments. [pdf
transcript]
"KITCHEN
MEMORIES" COOKBOOK
DEBUTS
AND SELLS OUT
The
Epsom Historical Association debuted it's
new cookbook "Kitchen Memories"
on Sunday July 12th, complete with samples
of selected recipes, at the Epsom Public
Library. One hundred of the cookbooks were
sold during the day, and the remainder were
sold within days of the event. The 170 page
cookbook features submitted and other recipes
along with related historical photos from
the Association's digital archives, with
some old remedies from various sources.
Complete with a helpful index, the book
is divided into seven catagories: Appetizers
& Dips: Breakfast, Brunch and Breads;
Cookies and Bars; Desserts; Main Dishes
and Caseroles; Salads, Sides, Soups and
Stews; and finally, This & That. The
book also has an index, a list of contriutors
and list of credits, common recipe substitutions
and measuring equivalents chart. The committee,
which completed the elegant in appearance
cookbook, included Carole Brown, Margaret
Porter, Nancy Claris, Mary Frambach, Betsy
Bosiak, and graphic design, Bridget Remare.
The
outstanding response to this wonderful cookbook
has forced a second printing to be ready
by Epsom Old Home Day. Copies can also be
found in select area shops. Cost of "Kitchen
Memories" is $14.95. [additional
photos]
EPSOM
PUBLIC LIBRARY
HISTORICAL
CENTER
HAS
NEW SIGN
The
Trustee's of the Epsom Public Library has
erected a new sign at the old public Library
at 1776 Dover Road. The sign, very much
like the one it replaced, now reads "Epsom
Public Library Historical Center" with
the words 'Historical Center' in a bold
back background. The Historical Center is
the home of the Epsom Historical Association
and work is being completed during the summer
to open the facility as a museum sometime
in the fall.
EPSOM
HISTORY THROUGH OLD NEWSPAPERS
The
Epsom Historical Association met for their
second program of 2009 at the Epsom Public
Library March 17th. The program was looking
at Epsom History through old newspapers.
The news was presented in a simulated newscast
complete with powerpoint photos illustrating
the different reports. Over 60 news items
were featured, from 1759 to 1925. Accounts
of political activities, tragic deaths and
accidents, real estate dealings, crime and
other events were all part of past news
items delivered during the program. [transcript
of presentation]
The
program was preceded by a short business
meeting and refreshments followed..[ more
photos]
EARLY
EPSOM HISTORY Part 1
Carleton
Rand presented a reprise of a program on
early Epsom History first given in 2001.
The event, sponsored by the Epsom Public
Library, repeated the program in preparation
for Part 2 to be given in the fall. Mr.
Rand, a past president of the Epsom Historical
Association covered the formation of the
town and the settlers who occupied the first
twenty homelots. Among the families discussed
were the McCoy's, Wallace's and McClary's.
Fifty
people attended the Friday evening program
which concluded with questions and refreshments.
Part Two is scheduled for October.[ more
photos]
N.H
and the Revolutionary War
Thomas
Graham, historian for the New Hampshire
National Guard presented a program on 4
historic events of the Revolutionary War
with direct connections to New Hampshire.
His presentation kicked off the new season
of programs to be presented by the Epsom
Historical Association in 2009. The event
opened with a brief business meeting, Mr.
Graham's program, and ended with refreshments.
Mr.
Graham's presentation focused on the raid
of Fort William and Mary; the battles of
Lexington and Concord; Bunker Hill; and
finally the battle of Bennington. The program
also made note of the participation in some
of these events by Epsom's Andrew and Michael
McClary. [ more
photos]
RECIPES
WANTED
FOR
NEW COOKBOOK
The
Epsom Historical Associaton wants to include
your recipes in its cookbook! All
categories welcome--time-tested, new discoveries,
quick and easy, family favorites, seasonal,
and anything from Epsom cooks and kitchens.
Whether you're new to town or lived here
forever, or used to live here, join in this
important fundraising project! Credit will
be given to all participants. Also seeking
any photos of local cooks, restaurants,
gatherings, and local lore, with permission
for use. Submission deadline: March 1, 2009.
Email entries to epsomcookbook@dishmail.net
or mail to: EHA Cookbook Project, PO Box
814, Epsom NH 03234.
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