This year marks the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II. To commemorate this important moment in the history of the 20th century, the Historical Society of Cheshire County, in partnership with the Peterborough Historical Society and Monadnock Institute of Nature, Place, and Culture at Franklin Pierce College, will sponsor a series of events during the two weeks prior to Veterans Day Friday November 11th.

Much has been written and recorded over the past six decades about the experiences of the many people who were involved in the war. Experiences of people in the Monadnock region, however, have not been fully documented. There remains a rich source of information that has not been fully explored. The reality with the passing of 60 years is that many people who were involved in the war have died, with their experiences (unless previously documented) gone forever. Before more voices pass on, it is important to collect their stories for the benefit of current and future generations. The 60th anniversary of the war's end is a golden opportunity to celebrate as well as document the experiences of people from the greater Monadnock region.

The importance of documenting individual World War II experiences cannot be overstated. Collecting, preserving, and communicating these stories as part of our local history is crucial to help people remember one of the most important events of the 20th century. Helping people remember, celebrate, and understand the many components of the war, especially from a local perspective, is the primary goal of this event, and fits well with the mission of the Historical Society. By collecting and preserving these stories and experiences we can create educational material so that students of all ages will have an opportunity to understand and remember this important period in our shared history.

We are in the beginning stages of organizing this event. We look to kick off these two weeks with an opening reception, a World War II feature exhibit, and lecture on Friday October 28th. Additional sessions and activities that will be offered over this two week period include story circles, music, lectures, films, panel discussions, and a teacher workshop.

One session will involve the sharing of letters that were written during the war. These would be letters sent home by service men and women to family and friends here in the Monadnock region, or letters from home sent to service personnel. We are looking to collect as many of these types of letters as we can find, and have family members or friends read them in a story circle setting. Do you have letters from a family member who went off to war? Do you have the letters that went to a service man or woman that have been saved? If you do, and wish to share these stories, we would like to hear from you.

Another session will focus on the home front here in the Monadnock region. We are looking for stories about what it was like to live and work in the region during the war. Were you living in the region during World War II or know of someone who was? Would you like to share your experiences?

Another session will focus on war experiences. We are looking for stories about what you did and experienced in the military during the war. Would you be willing to share some of your experiences? Do you know of others that might be will to share their experiences?

Throughout the summer we will be conducting as many oral interviews as possible on home front and war experiences prior to our November event. We are also hoping to gather as many letters as possible to and from service personnel. If you have a story or letters to share and wish to be a part of this important commemorative event, please contact HSCC's Director of Education Tom Haynes at 352-1895 or dired@hsccnh.org.

We are looking for volunteers who can help with this commemorative event. Would you be interested in helping collect and organize letters? Would you be interested in conducting oral interviews? Would you be interested in helping organize one of the sessions? Would you be interested in helping out in other ways? If you would like to be a volunteer for this special event, please contact Tom Haynes at 352-1895 or dired@hsccnh.org. Thanks!

Susan Landers Gilbert, President
Jane Reynolds, V. President
Kim Bergeron, Treasurer

Trustees
Ernest L. Bell, Richard Church, William Faulkner Joslin Kimball Frank, Verne Greene, John W. Harris, Christopher Kaufer, Gregory Knouff, Jim O'Neil, David Proper, Stillman Rogers, Philip Taaffe, Paul Vincent, Christine Weeks, Suzanne Whittemore

The Chautauqua tent will once again be set up at Keene State College to host this wonderful event on July 21-23. This year's theme is "1905: America Reinvents Itself," and will feature Theodore Roosevelt, Ida Wells-Barnett, Thomas Edison, William Jennings Bryan, Sarah Farmer, and Fred Harvey. For further information, please contact the New Hampshire Humanities Council at 224-4071 or visit them online at www.nhhc.org.

"Colonial Life in the Monadnock Region" will be a two-day teacher workshop for elementary and middle school teachers offered by HSCC and held in part at our historic Wyman Tavern on the 29th & 30th of June. This workshop will be an engaging and interactive exploration into the history, culture, and lifeways of the people who lived in the region from the 1730s to the American Revolution.

The Genealogy Group will meet on Wednesday August 17th at 7:00 p.m. at HSCC. We are currently organizing this meeting and will announce the program soon in the newspapers and via postcards to Genealogy Group members. If you have any questions or need further information, please contact Tom Haynes at 352-1895.

The Volunteer Corner highlights one of our dedicated volunteers and announces any volunteer positions that are currently available. In this volume we wish to recognize Bob Wellwood.

Bob has worked as a volunteer for the Historical Society for many years. He has served two terms as a trustee, been involved on numerous committees, and has generously given his time to many special events. Bob works as a docent at the Wyman Tavern, offers a living history program to schools in period clothes taking on the character of Captain Isaac Wyman, and maintains the library's obituary files, which are a valuable resource for genealogists.

Bob, a retired doctor, lives in Keene with his wife Sue, who also volunteers for the Society. We greatly appreciate the time and dedication that Bob has given in helping HSCC serve the needs of its many patrons of all ages.

- Library Computer Assistant: To prepare record and manuscript group finding aids for the web site.

- Research Assistant: To work with the Director of Education.

- Typist: To prepare a wide range of correspondence for mailing.

- Library Shelf Reader: To maintain order and location of books in library and archive.

- Mailing Assistant: To prepare materials for bulk mailing.

If you are interested in volunteering or would like further information, please contact our volunteer coordinator Gail Currier at 352-1895.

The Wyman Tavern is open for another summer season. Tavern hours are Thursday through Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or by appointment.

All of the Boston Red Sox tickets for their game against Oakland in September have been sold. A big thanks to everyone who purchased a ticket to help support all our educational outreach activities.

This year's Transportation Fund has enabled seven school groups to visit our facilities in Keene, including groups from Hinsdale, Chesterfield, and Keene, and for the first time Marlow, Surry, and Swanzey. We truly appreciate the support this fund has received in offering students a wonderful opportunity to visit three museums that focus on our Cheshire County history.

Support received as of June 2005 has come from:

The Keene Lions Club Cornelia (Neil) & Peter Jenness

Save the evening of Thursday August 4 to attend a presentation by National Park Service Chief Historian Emeritus Edwin C. Bearss. Ed Bearss is a nationally respected historian who has authored several books and who became a familiar face to millions of Americans as a "star" of Ken Burns' popular PBS series "The Civil War." Ed will speak on the Civil War and the National Park Service at the Historical Society at 7:00 p.m. on August 4. Watch your mailbox during the summer for additional details on this exciting visit to Keene by historian Ed Bearss.

The spring meeting of the Monadnock Historical Societies Forum will be held at the Sheridan House in Ashuelot on Thursday June 16th at 9:30 a.m. and will be hosted by the Winchester Historical Society.

For further information, call 603-352-1895 or visit our web site at www.hsccnh.org.

Thursday - June 16
Roundtable Forum meeting in Winchester at the Sheridan House. 9:30 a.m. (see related article).

Wednesday - June 22
Lewis Hine Exhibit Closes.

Wednesday & Thursday - June 29-30
Teacher Workshop on the Colonial Period at HSCC and Wyman Tavern (see related article).

Monday - July 4
HSCC will be closed for the Holiday.

Thursday - July 14
Wyman Tavern Lecture Series. Max Ferro speaking on architecture at Wyman Tavern. 7:30 p.m. Reservations requested (see insert).

Thursday-Saturday - July 21-23 Chautauqua at Keene State Collage. (see related article) or visit www.nhhc.org.

Thursday - August 4
Ed Bearss to speak at HSCC. 7:30 p.m. (see related article).

Wednesday - August 17
Genealogy Group Meeting. 7:00 p.m. at HSCC Program to be announced (see related article).

Thursday - August 18
Wyman Tavern Lecture Series. John Porter speaking on barns at Wyman Tavern. 7:30 p.m. Reservations requested (see insert).

Saturday - September 3
Wyman Tavern closes for the season. During the fall, the Tavern is open by appointment.