| View this edition online»» | March 2007 | |||
| Society Acquires Presentation Inkwell |
Collections Committee Member Bill Upton recently alerted the Society to the sale of an important iconic object related to the late 19th-century urban and industrial development of New Hampshire. On Sunday, February 25, at Northeast Auctions in Portsmouth, NH, the Society acquired a sterling silver Concord Gas Light Company presentation inkwell made by the world-renowned silver manufacturer William B. Durgin of Concord. This unique piece of presentation silver, made as a miniature version of the Concord Gas Light Company’s gasholder house, was given to John M. Hill, treasurer and manager of the company in 1889.
The circular brick gasholder house building, measuring 86 feet in diameter and standing 80 feet high, was constructed in 1888. It was capable of holding 125,000 cubic feet of gas. The gasholder house was used until 1952 when the company hooked up to a larger network supplying natural gas. No longer needing to store gas, the company put the gasholder house out of service. The structure today is the only enclosed gasholder house in the United State to have survived intact. The recipient of the inkwell, John M. Hill (1821-1900), was the son of New Hampshire Governor Isaac Hill and Susanna Ayer of Concord, NH. The owner of the New Hampshire Patriot, in 1855 Hill became treasurer and manager of the Concord Gas Light Company, serving until January 1889. Interested in civic and state improvements, Hill also served as a member of the Concord Water Commission and Fire Department. He was the Democratic candidate for governor in 1884.
Because of its uniqueness, good condition, and association with New Hampshire silver manufacturing, this inkwell enhances the Society’s New Hampshire history and silver collections. Ron Bourgeault, Dr. David G. Stahl, Eleanor H. Stark, William W. Upton, Dr. & Mrs. Robert O. Wilson, and Gary F. Yeaton generously pledged funds to help the Society acquire the inkwell. | |||
| Ancestry Library Edition Now Available | ||||
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The Society recently purchased a subscription to Ancestry Library Edition (ALE), one of the largest online genealogy databases currently available. ALE comprises billions of names in over 4,000 databases, and new material is added constantly. The U.S. Federal Census Collection, the most used records, include original images and name indexes from 1790 through 1880 and 1900 through 1930. Other useful databases are the Social Security Death Index, World War I draft registrations, numerous immigration records and passenger lists, the American Genealogical-Biographical Index, and the Daughters of the American Revolution Lineage Books. There are many databases for other countries, particularly census or vital records from Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. In addition, ALE features a new viewer that makes 95% of the content accessible through a single interface, as well as offering online help for all users. Members who have used ALE in our library recently say that it is a great way to explore a variety of widely scattered resources, while saving the time and expense of travel to numerous libraries and archives. The census records, in particular, have been useful in making connections with long-lost relatives who left the New England area for points west and south. Ancestry Library Edition is available on two of the Society's public access computers in the main reading room. Come in and give this new database a try. | ||||
| NH Old House & Barn Expo | ||||
Celebrate the first weekend of spring by visiting the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance's New Hampshire Old House & Barn Exposition. The Expo, held on March 24 – 25 from 9 am to 5 pm at the Center of New Hampshire in Manchester, will help homeowners with practical advice on preserving and restoring older homes and barns. This popular one-stop-shopping trade show helps old house owners and enthusiasts with appropriate and affordable solutions. You'll have a chance to meet face-to-face with knowledgeable suppliers of repair and restoration products and services. You won't want to miss Researching Your Old House: Tips on Physical Investigation and Research presented by Society Executive Director Bill Veillette and Kimberly Alexander of Strawbery Banke Museum. Other lectures include architectural styles, historic paint color, old and new kitchens, tips for buying and selling older homes and much more. There will be on-going demonstrations including stone wall building and other stone work, timber framing, furniture refinishing, and stenciling. For more information visit the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance web site at www.nhpreservation.org. Remember to stop by our booth. It will be filled with books and some special gift items perfect for old house and barn enthusiasts. And, we'll have a free gift for New Hampshire Historical Society members only. See you at the Expo! | ||||
| Nuts About Nutting | ||||
The New Hampshire Historical Society will debut the first shirt in our new "historical quote series" at the New Hampshire Old House & Barn Expo. The 100% cotton shirts, available in men's and women's sizes, feature Wallace Nutting's quote "Whatever is new, is bad." After the shirts make their debut at the New Hampshire Old House & Barn Expo they will be available online and in our museum store. Wallace Nutting (1861–1941) was an entrepreneur who literally made an industry out of history. His motto, “whatever is new, is bad,” sums up the sentiment of the colonial revival movement, of which Nutting was arguably the leader.
The Pontine Theatre, the Wentworth-Gardner House, and the Portsmouth Public Library are all featuring Nutting-related events from April through September 2007. Watch their web sites for more information and a calendar of events. | ||||
| Subscription Information | ||||
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The mission of the New Hampshire Historical Society is to educate a diverse public about the significance of New Hampshire's past and its relationship to our lives today. In support of this mission, the Society collects, preserves, and interprets materials pertaining to New Hampshire history. All of the New Hampshire Historical Society's programs and services are made possible by dues and contributions from individuals, foundations, and businesses.  |
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