The Wigwam Museum

Sunday, 17 May 2015

17 Middle Street, Amherst Village, Amherst, New Hampshire.

Sunday, May 17 was a beautiful spring day here in Amherst with warm temperatures, light winds and bright blues skies punctuated with perfectly formed cumulous clouds. Take a stroll behind the Wigwam and enjoy the beautiful gardens maintained by the Amherst Garden Club. 

The back of the Wigwam, built in 1839 by the First Methodist Society. In 1902 the Society sold the building. It has served many owners over the years, finally acquired by the Historical Society of Amherst, NH in 1969. This is one of two museums operated by the Historical Society that houses its historically significant artifacts.  

The front entrance on Middle Street. Today is 17 May, Hidden Treasures Weekend, so let's go inside and listen to Jackie Marshall speaking about our very own Concord Coach.

Jackie, far right is our Genealogy Chair. Her husband Chris is the Wigwam curator and Susan Fischer is the Director of Museums. Remember... we have two! Today Jackie is speaking about our Concord Coach, built in 1849 and acquired by the museum in 1968.

The overflow crowd listens from the large display area.

THE OBJECT OF TODAY'S LECTURE.

Built in 1849 by J.S. Abbott in Concord, NH this is coach number 19 that was restored in 1975.

She has a very long history, as does the company that built her just up the road in Concord. To learn more about this historic artifact click HERE to learn about our museums, their hours and artifacts.

The photos below are only a few from the vast scrapbook assembled by the society. Other pages, from local newspapers reveal interesting historical information.

And for the philatelists among us, the coach even enjoys her own "cover." We've hardly scratched the surface here. To learn more about your town, your historical society and those who came before us, click HERE and HERE and enjoy the journey.

               

If you'd like to learn more about this exciting event, follow this LINK.

Many towns in New England are participating in this event but Amherst residents may find the following of special interest.

Amherst, NH May 17: 1pm & 3pm
Amherst’s Concord Coach
Visit the Museum and see this historical jewel. Hear Jackie Marshall speak about its special history. Restored in 1976, this coach transported visitors to and from the railroad station and Amherst Village for years. Learn about the heyday of this form of transportation and get up close and personal with the travelers’ experience.
Wigwam Museum, 17 Middle Street 

Above is the Historical Society's very own CONCORD COACH on display in the Society's WIGWAM MUSEUM on Middle street.

Would you like to learn more about Amherst's exciting history?

It's easy....

Click HERE and HERE.

Monday, April 13, 2015

7:30 pm to 9:00 pm

Topic: The Great Sheep Boom and its Enduring Legacy on the NH Landscape

Speaker: Steve Taylor

Location: Congregational Church of Amherst (Village Green)

In a brief 30-year period in the early 19th century the New Hampshire countryside became home to hundreds of thousands of sheep. Production of wool became a lucrative business, generating fortunes and providing the only time of true agricultural prosperity in the state's history. It left behind a legacy of fine architecture and thousands of miles of rugged stonewalls. Steve Taylor discusses how farmers overcame enormous challenges to make sheep husbandry succeed, but forces from beyond New Hampshire were to doom the industry, with social consequences that would last a century.

This program is made possible through a grant from the New Hampshire Humanities Council.

Our February 9th meeting was postponed until March 16 due 
to weather.

Like all meetings, you must pass by the hospitality table manned by Carolyn and Jim Quinn.  If you can!

Historical Society of Amherst president David Clark addresses the gathering and brings members up to date with regard to finances, future plans and information regarding the societies two Museums.

Past president Janice McDermott, who chairs the ANTIQUES ON THE GREEN event spoke with the assembly. Although we still have three feet of snow out there, the event will be here in no time and she's recruiting help. This is the societies biggest fund raiser, a lot of fun and attracts large crowds of citizens and those from away to the common. If you can lend a hand contact Janice.

Neil Benner & Professor Douglas Wheeler.

Society Vice President and Program Chair Neil Benner introduced Douglas Wheeler, Professor of History Emeritus, UNH to a maximum capacity audience on the evening of March 16. In fact extra seating had to be obtained to satisfy the demand for the Professor's topic of, GEORGE WASHINGTON SPIED HERE. 

General George Washington who honed his skills under British General Edward Braddock during the French and Indian War. (1756 - 1763)

The Professor enlightened us to the fact that the colonies went to war against England with a decided disadvantage. Aside from the fact that only a third of the colonists supported this endeavor, the United Kingdom maintained the worlds strongest standing Army with an even more impressive Navy. Great Britain simply out manned us, out gunned us and had a treasury to back it all up. They even recruited Germans to their cause, hiring feared Hessian Soldiers who had a reputation of being seven feet tall and eating their vanquished. 

Although fighting on his own turf, General Washington needed more to successfully repel King George III and a Parliament lead by a vindictive Lord North that supported squashing the rebellious colonists.

The New York campaign and smuggling out information.

What General Washington needed, among other things, was information. Where were the British? Where were they going? What was their strength? Through a small band of patriots, probably spearheaded by Nathan Hale, Washington's spy ring developed.

The map above shows how agents secreted information past the British to Washington's Headquarters by choosing a circuitous versus a more direct route. Invisible ink, secret codes and agents in the night on horseback, in small boats and on foot expeditiously pass on valued information that would help level the field of battle. Espionage in its infancy in North America.

Our next meeting is on Monday, April 13th at 7:30 pm at the Congregational Church in Amherst Village where Steve Taylor will present; THE GREAT SHEEP BOOM AND ITS ENDURING LEGACY ON THE NEW HAMPSHIRE LANDSCAPE.

See you then!

NOTICE #2

The February 9th meeting titled ""George Washington Spied Here: Spies and Spying in the American Revolutionary War (1776-1783) " by invited speaker Douglas Wheeler has been rescheduled to Monday, March 16th at 7:30 pm.  The meeting will take place in the Vestry in the Amherst Congregational Church.  We look forward to seeing you in March!

Soldiers Monument, 1871, dedicated to the 25 Amherst Soldiers who died during the Civil War.

Dr. John Allen and the New England Ski Museum.

Monday evening, December 8th was a very cold night in town and the appropriate weather to listen to Dr. John Allen speak about the history of snow skiing, particularly in New England and New Hampshire.  Dr. Allen, a retired professor at Plymouth State College is the secretary and historian at the New England Ski Museum at Cannon Mountain at Franconia State Park. To visit their website click HERE.

Society Vice President Neil Benner introduces Dr. Allen to the members. Allen is the author of several books, many articles and has consulted on several movies and documentaries concerning skiing.

Dr. Allen, with the aid of slides, explained in detail the growth of this industry in New Hampshire and  highlighted the role played by the Dartmouth Outing Club and even the Tenth Mountain Division made famous from their role in WWII.

This lift may be antiquated by today's standards but was light years ahead of the "rope tows" that it replaced. This photo was taken at the Belknap Recreational Area in Gilford, NH... or what we call Gunstock today. Conceived in the 1930's and aided by FDR's Work Progress Administration it has grown today to 227 acres or 55 groomed trails with eight lifts that move more than 12,000 skiers per hour.

The Tram at Cannon Mountain.

The first "Snow Train" departed Boston's North Station on 11 January 1931 for Warner, NH. with 197 skiers. By 1932 though, the destination had changed to North Conway, NH and tens of thousands took to the trains for this day trip of skiing. By 1950, with new ski areas opening closer to Boston, Boston-Maine Railroad discontinued service to North Conway. If you ever find yourself in North Conway, a visit to the CONWAY SCENIC RAILROAD is rewarding. Their depot station is full of New England railroading memorabilia including much concerning the Snow Trains.

The Snow Train phenomenon wasn't unique to New England, they sprang up nation wide, most popularly in Colorado, Wisconsin, Idaho and Illinois. Click here to read a little history concerning these trains.

The 1874 Boston-Maine Railroad Station at North Conway, restored and reopened in 1974 as the Conway Scenic Railroad. They maintain and operate 35 miles of track with daily excursions.

You probably recognize the name Hannes Schneider who fled Nazi occupied Europe in 1939 to open his Austrian style ski school in North Conway at Mt Cranmore. He'd also played a significant role in training the Tenth Mountain Division, now based in Fort Drum, NY. Hannes died in North Conway in 1955. The "Tenth" is a light infantry unit established in 1943 and has a fascinating history. To learn a little of it, click HERE.

Slalom racing in the 1950's.

Summer ski jumping at the "Belknap Mountains Area."

A collection of New England ski area patches and buttons from the 60's and 70's. 

But these two are probably the most interesting to those of us from Amherst.

The Amherst Ski Club was created prior to 1964 and skied on Jakes Hill near Christian Hill. In 1964 though they purchased land north of town on Brook Road in Mont Vernon. The Amherst Ski Club has an interesting history. Click HERE to read and enjoy photography of this little club. If you've been around here for a while you'll recognize many names and faces on the site.

Amherst Ski Club memories with "then" 7th graders: Marie Roberge, Bev Chandley, Joan Hopkins, Peter Terkow and Duncan Carlsmith, probably 1970. From the 40's thru the 80's New Hampshire had nearly 200 "small-town," or "local" ski areas. Heres a LINK that lists all of these wonderful local areas.

Here's another site concerning Jakes Hill and the Amherst Ski Club with more detail. Click HERE.

We saw many new faces at this meeting. We invite anyone who has an interest in local history to bring a friend and join us on Monday, February 9 to enjoy a lecture concerning SPIES AND SPYING DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 

Living in Amherst, you're surrounded by history, we urge you to join us and learn about your town.

Our Thanksgiving Storm

For those who may have not gotten out that day, these shots were taken on 28 November at 7:30 a.m. We only received 5" or so, but it was wet and heavy and created havoc with downed power lines, limbs and even a transformer fire in the village.

Out the door with my camera.

Looking south on Boston Post Rd at Middle Street

On BPR looking at Middle Street and the Flatiron.

Congregational Church or our Second Meetinghouse. (1774)

Third County Courthouse, now the Town Hall. (1823)

The Common. (1735)

Colonel Robert Means Mansion. (1785)

Cleaning up and plowing the Common. (1735)

On the Common

Nothing stops our DPW, even Thanksgiving Day!

Looking down School Street at the Congregational Church.

Jonathan White House. (c1818)

Congregational Church and the Common.

Soldiers Monument. (1871)

Congregational Chapel, now, one of two museums in the Village operated by the Historical Society of Amherst. Stop in for a visit sometime.(1858) 

The corner of Church and Middle Streets.

Boston Post Road, near the Flatiron.

And the end to another great Thanksgiving with my cousins, uncle, sister, nieces and nephews, family and friends.

And the next day, 29 November, under bright blue skies, the Amherst "Turkey Trot"got underway.

Two races, one a 5 kilometer run/walk and a one mile "fun run" attracted nearly 130 participants as they wound there way through beautiful Amherst Village.

The flag dropped and the 5K race is off and running.

This is the 15th annual race organized by the Amherst Junior Womens Club.

Coming up Foundry Street and turning north on Boston Post Road.