Amherst Village Tomorrow

Dear fellow Amherst Historic Society  members,

Some of you may be aware that there is a study underway regarding the future of Amherst Village. This study is meant to help develop a long-term strategic plan for the Village. 

As stewards of two buildings/museums in the historic district it is important that our membership gets involved. The link below will direct you to a survey titled Amherst Village Tomorrow. By participating in this survey your input will help identify the most pressing issues facing the Village and help formulate strategies to address them.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/?sm=CHRcY%2bA0JloH7cAuWsOQmRbdhoMiDIl6RHzLsjy7MQc%3d

Thank you in advance for your time and attention.

Dave Clark

President

The Historical Society of Amherst, NH... 

supports two museums, both located on Middle Street in Amherst Village.

Their hours are available on our website and are well worth the visit.

The Chapel Museum, built in 1858, is the white building to the right in this postcard.

A more recent photo of the Chapel Museum taken in 2012.

And now we have yet another reason to visit the Chapel Museum as Martha Cox, Katrina Holman and Susan Fischer prepare to re-hang the restored painting of Amherst citizen Barnabas David. If you'd like to see this portrait before its conservation click HERE, then drop down to the second row of photos and go to the far right. The difference is remarkable.

Please read Katrina Holmans story below.

Information and group photo above provided by Katrina Holman.

Information on the back of the Barnabas David portrait

Katrina Holman is an independent historical researcher and president of the Nipmugs chapter of Questers. Her historical articles appear regularly in the Amherst Citizen and the Historical Society of Amherst, NH's newsletter.

Historic Painting Returns to Amherst After Restoration

The large oil portrait of Barnabas Bradt David (1802-1883), painted in 1884 by Boston artist Thomas H. Badger (1820-1897) for Barnabas’s son James, looks fabulous after its recent professional conservation, including careful cleaning and repair. Mr. B. B. David was a partner in the whip man- ufacturing business of Melendy & David, who employed men and women in their factory in Amherst Village for four decades. Holding the painting, back again in its original frame, on the day of its return to the museum, October 21, 2014, are Martha Cox of Maine, painting conservator (on left); Katrina Holman, president of Nipmugs Questers; and Susan Fischer, curator for the Historical Society of Amherst. The conservation cost of $2,365 was funded by Nipmugs, a 24-member local chapter of The Questers, a non-profit organization headquartered in Philadelphia, thanks to a combination of a Questers preservation & restoration grant of $1,700 and proceeds from the sale of Historic Amherst suncatchers by Nipmugs. 

From the Amherst Citizen, Page 5, 10/28/14

Historical Society Meeting

20 October 2014

Congregational Church, Amherst, NH Village.

Amherst Historical Society president David Clark addresses the gathering with news, information concerning maintenance projects and our current financial status. The September ANTIQUES ON THE GREEN he advised, was, in spite of the less than perfect weather, another success. Continue below for a blogpost and photography concerning this annual event.

Neil Benner introduces Michael Warren from Mont Vernon, NH who is a "history enthusiast, metal detectorist and public speaker" who was here tonight to enlighten us concerning his metal detecting adventures.

Michael brought with him a varied selection of artifacts that he has discovered over the last few years. They include coins, belt buckles, nails, buttons; some that date to the 18th century. Would you like to have Michael come and search your property? You can reach him at: michael.warren007@gmail.com

He passed several pieces around with his 10X loupe for members to inspect.

Michael brought this detector with him as well as an underwater version and another small, handheld unit that he uses as he digs. He explained how he chooses areas to search, such as near a back door, which is the most utilized door in a New England home; near an old well, which again is an active area and near old cellar holes and barns.

Father and son, Aaron and Caleb Porter from Milford attended the meeting because they're avid metal detectorists themselves and were anxious to hear Micheal speak.

Caleb showed me many of his most recent finds and how he photographs and catalogs his collection.

Within a few days of Michael Warrens presentation, Dave and Sue Clark invited him to scan their property on Mack Hill Road. Rather than me describing his finds, please read Michaels email to the Clarks concerning his discoveries.

Dave,

Here is some information surrounding a Spanish New Years tradition. It calls for sweeping the old year out the front door and then sweeping in coins for good luck. Perhaps Glen was sharing traditions that he learned about in his travels and lost the couple coins that I found?

Additionally, I found a couple other neat items at your home this week. Picture attached. Of most interest is an English Half Penny that I am 99% sure is 1746 based on the bust of King George II and the almost legible date. This was located ~20' to the left of the front well, ~1/2 way on the hill.  It is anyone's guess as to whether the coin was in pocket in 1773 when you believe the original house was built. Could mean some activity on the property at an earlier date. 

Enjoy,

 Michael

To read more about Michael Warren, click HERE.

And, don't forget to join us for a meeting, bring a friend, maybe two as Neil continually strives to find interesting speakers to entertain the group. We meet five times annually, every other month during the third Monday from October through May at the Congregational Church in Amherst Village. Click over to our websites, HERE or HERE for membership information as well as great sources of information concerning town history.

Our next meeting is on Monday 8 December from 7:30 pm until 9:00 pm where we'll learn about NH ON SKIS, by John Allen.

Exploring New England #1

From time to time we'll post interesting day trips, historical in nature, from around New England. Got any ideas? Submit them.

A Boston Duck Tour

For 20 years we've wanted to do this and finally got around to it. It was a beautiful, August summer morning so we purchased tickets on line for the noon tour and set out to see sights that we were very familiar with, but from a slightly different angle. 

From the Prudential Center on Huntington Avenue.

This is a DUKW which is an acronym for "1942 designed, utility, all wheel drive, dual rear axles." In English, it's a 1942, GMC, amphibious vehicle designed for the military during WWII by a reserve Naval officer at MIT. Soldiers simply called it a DUCK! 21,000 were manufactured by General Motors and Boston Duck Tours operates a fleet of 28 from three Boston locations; the Prudential Center, Museum of Science and the NE Aquarium almost continuously throughout the day from March 18 through November 30. They seat approximately 30 passengers in small seats; it's a little crowded and the last row back will afford the most space after the ramp is retracted.

Passing the State House on Beacon Street

Tickets are in the $35 range, ours cost $30 with a "senior" (I hate that term) discount. The tour lasts about 80 minutes, visits the usual sites along the Freedom Trail and is delivered by very "enthusiastic" tour guides. We had Professor Quackenstein and he was worth the price of admission. 

Augustus Saint Gaudens memorial to Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and the Massachusetts 54th, across the street from the State House on Boston Common.

The highlight of the tour and what separates it from other tours is that your DUKW, near the Museum of Science, drops into the Charles River. If you have kids, the tour guides will have them come up and steer the boat. It gave a nice view of the Boston Skyline and of MIT on McGrath and O'Brian Highway in Cambridge.

USS Constitution, or Old Ironsides, the nations oldest commissioned warship as we pass by the Charlestown Naval Shipyard. Launched in 1797 and commissioned by George Washington as one of six frigates to be constructed, her sister ship USS Constellation is on display in Baltimore Harbor. 

Built by Boston Merchant Peter Faneuil in 1742, he gifted Faneuil Hall to the City to promote trade. In the background is the Customs House Tower, completed in 1847 and was Boston's tallest building into the early 1950's. There's much to see and do here at the Faneuil Hall Marketplace including America's oldest restaurant, The Union Oyster House. The Green Dragon Tavern where the Son's of Liberty congregated and Durgin Park. 

A view from our Duck approaching Boston's oldest building, the Old State House built in 1713. The Declaration of Independence was first read to the citizens from a balcony on this building on July 18, 1776. The same day coincidentally that Sheriff Moses Kelly read the Declaration to Amherst citizens on our town common. The Boston Massacre took place at the east end of this building that you can see here on March 5, 1770. Nearly razed in 1881 its protected today by the Bostonian Society which operates the museum within.

Kings Chapel, dedicated in 1689 at the corner of Tremont and School Streets. The Kings Chapel Burial Ground, just to the left, was created in 1630, the year Boston was founded and is the city's oldest cemetery. 

Professor Quackenstein speaking with his audience as we explore the Charles River.

Looking past the Longfellow Bridge (1906) from right to left, towards the Prudential Center (1964) The John Hancock Tower (1976) and the old John Hancock building (1947) as we motor down the Charles River in our WWII, amphibious troop carrier. The two identical buildings at the end of the span, are part of the bridge and due to their appearance, citizens nicknamed this the "the salt and pepper shaker bridge." Do you see the tower with an antenna on top of the Old John Hancock Building to the far left? This is a tall, vertical light that flashes a code for the weather forecast. 

There's a famous poem  concerning this light: "STEADY BLUE, CLEAR VIEW. FLASHING BLUE, CLOUDS ARE DUE. STEADY RED, RAIN AHEAD. FLASHING RED SNOW INSTEAD... except in the summer when it means the Red Sox have cancelled due to weather.

A fellow DUKW in the Charles, waiting for the channel to open to leave the river. That's the Leonard P. Zakim, Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge in the background.

The 221' Bunker Hill Monument was completed in 1843 to commemorate the battle fought on June 17, 1775. The Americans withdrew after exhausting their ordinance and engaging in hand to hand combat with the Brits, who suffered 1154 casualties compared to 417 for the Americans. A British General was heard to say, "we win too many more engagements like this and we'll loose the war."

Lead by captain Josiah Crosby with lieutenants Daniel Williams and Thompson Maxwell, more than 100 men from Amherst, New Hampshire marched south to Charlestown to engage in the Battle of Bunker Hill. Captain Crosby's company was present when General Washington  took command of the Army on 2 July 1775. (Secombs History of Amherst, NH 1883)

The bronze statue of General Washington, dedicated in 1869, at the Arlington Street entrance to the Boston Public Garden established in 1837. This is part of Boston Common, the oldest city park in the United States. 

The Boston Public Library and Old South Church from within our DUKW. Founded in 1848 the BPL is the second largest public library in the US behind the library of congress.

Back at the Prudential Center after a wonderful BOSTON DUCK TOUR, we say good-bye to Professor Quackenstein. A side note. There's another tour company called BEANTOWN TROLLEY TOURS that does much the same thing but isn't amphibious. They however explore more of Boston's North End and allow passengers to get on and off their trollies all day. Here's their website

Eighteenth Annual: Antiques on the Green

Saturday, 13 September 2014

Another successful Antiques on the Green