Local Genealogy and History Events

GENEALOGY CLUB: For all levels of experience, meets second Fri. each month (May 13), 1:30 p.m. at Rodgers Memorial Library, 194 Derry Road, Hudson, N.H. 603-886-6030 or http://www.rodgerslibrary.org/


Robert Frost Farm ongoing Hyla Brook Reading Series begins May 19 at 6:30 PM at the Robert Frost Farm, Rt. 28 in Derry, with poets Deborah Warren and Derry’s Midge Goldberg, followed by open mic poetry readings from the audience. There will be readings on Juen 16, July 14 and August 11. For more information email Robert Crawford at bobik9@aol.com

Also at the Frost Farm, the Summer Literary Series begins on July 17th, 2PM with Lea Newman discussing the women in Frost’s life and how their impact is reflected in his writing. Also, Alfred Nicol on July 24th , Robert Crawford on August 7th, Carole Thompson on August 21st, and Herc Pappachristos on August 28th. See the schedule at http://robertfrostfarm.org/events.html

Genealogy Basics Workshop, May 24, 2011, at the Lawrence Barn, 28 Depot Road, Hollis, NH, taught by Diane Gravel, email director@hollis.lib.nh.us or see the website http://www.hollis.nh.us/library/

The Lilac Festival, at the Wentworth Coolidge Mansion, Portsmouth, NH, May 28, 2011, 10 AM to 3 PM. Celebrate the blooming of the first lilacs brought to America. Museum website http://wentworthcoolidge.org/ Remember, the purple lilac is the New Hampshire state flower!

28th Annual Strawberry Festival, June 4, 2011, Windham High School, Windham, NH 10 AM to 4 PM. Book Fair runs June 1st to June 4th. Buy books, play games, listen to music, and of course, eat lots of strawberry treats! Contact strawberryfestival@flowwindam.org or see the website http://www.flowwindham.org/strawberry.html

New England Antiquarian Book and Ephemera Fair, June 5, 2011, 10 AM to 4PM at the Everett Arena, Concord, NH – Over 50 prominent dealers offering old, rare and out of print books and ephemera. Free parking. Email parrpromo@gmail.com

Market Square Day, Portsmouth, NH June 11, 2011, 9AM – 4:30PM Celebrate the renovation of downtown Portsmouth, entertainment, products, food and three performance stages. FREE! http://www.proportsmouth.org/MarketSquareDay.cfm

Exhibit of the Civil War Diary and Letters of John Milton Hay, from June 27 – July 31, 2011, at The Fells, 465 Route 103A, Newbury, NH The Fells was the summer home of John Hays, President Lincoln’s secretary and confidante. These documents are considered invaluable primary sources on both the Civil War and Lincoln. See the museum website at http://www.thefells.org/

American Independence Festival, at the American Independence Museum, Exeter, NH, July 16, 2011, celebrating the events of July 16, 1776 when the Dunlap Broadside copy of the Declaration of Independence arrived in Exeter from Philadelphia. Listen to a public reading (complete with hecklers), march to Fife and Drum music, see cannons being fired. There will be traditional New Hampshire Artisans Village, plenty of food, music, sidewalk sales and children’s activities. Evening fireworks and a live band. $7 for events on the museum grounds. Museum members and children under 10 FREE. See the website http://www.independencemuseum.org/aim_aif.asp for information and advance tickets.

The 31st Towne Family Reunion and Annual Meeting, August 13 – 15, Salem, Massachusetts. For the descendants of William and Joanna (Blessing) Towne who came to America from Great Yarmouth, England and settled in Salem, MA about 1635. Head-quartered at the Hawthorne Hotel in Salem. The hospitality room will open Saturday evening, and there will be a banquet Sunday evening. The business meeting will be at a Monday morning breakfast. Monday afternoon we will spend at the Nurse Homestead, where we will have a picnic box lunch. Additional activities are planned for the three days and will be announced here and in future issues of “About Towne”. If you have questions, please contact townefolk@allies.com or see the website www.townefolk.com

Londonderry Old Home Day Celebration, August 17 -21, 2011. A five day event including concerts, movies, fireworks, parade, baby contest, a 5K road race, children’s games, and a townwide celebration on the town common. See the website http://oldhomedays.com// for a complete schedule and photos of previous Old Home Days. Londonderry is one of less than a dozen communities that have faithfully observed Old Home Day on the third weekend in August since 1899.