In November of 1927 two days of heavy rain caused rivers and streams to overflow their banks across New Hampshire and Vermont. The resulting flood waters caused $100 million in damage along the Connecticut River Valley. At the height of the flood, a photographer from the Granite State Studio in Keene climbed to the roof of the Faulkner & Colony mill on West Street to photograph the scene.

This was prior to the construction of flood control dams and the Ashuelot River had risen far above its normal level, flooding as far as the eye could see, surrounding homes and filling West and Ashuelot Streets with water.

Almost 80 years later, in 2005, award-winning New Hampshire photographer Peter Randall climbed to the top of the same mill building (now Colony Mill Marketplace) to duplicate the photo. The north side of West Street was now dry, but that was not the only difference in the scene captured by the two photographers. By 2005 the mill pond had been replaced by paved parking lots that served a video store, bank, gas station, karate studio, bagel shop, and other retail enterprises.

The two photos illustrated the contrast wrought by change and development over 80 years, but also showed some striking similarities over eight decades.

Photographer, publisher and New Hampshire native Peter Randall recently repeated his efforts in dozens of other locations around the state as he attempted to replicate historical scenes as they appeared at the beginning of the 21st century. The result was a book that Randall published in 2006 in cooperation with the New Hampshire Historical Society and a complementary exhibition held at the Society, both entitled New Hampshire Then & Now. That exhibition will be traveling to the Historical Society of Cheshire County where it will be on view from late April until mid September. The exhibit will open at the Society with a reception and illustrated presentation by Peter Randall at the Society's annual meeting to be held on April 23, 2007.

The exhibit features 40 pairs of photographs of unique places, people and events that depict the character, culture and landscape of New Hampshire, past and present. The exhibition uses the powerful medium of photography to help visitors explore changes that have occurred in the state by pairing photos of the same location or subject after a lapse of up to a century or more. More than a dozen other Monadnock area views are included in Randall's collection in addition to the 1927 view from the Faulkner & Colony Mill. These include scenes from Gilsum, Hancock, Harrisville, Jaffrey, Marlow, Milford, Nelson, and other local towns.

           Nelson Village in 1920.                                    Nelson Village in 2004.

"The exhibition shows how some New Hampshire places and ways of life have radically changed," says Wes Balla, the New Hampshire Historical Society's director of collections and exhibitions. "And, at the same time, illustrates the reverence people in New Hampshire have for history, historic places, and tradition."

Please plan to join us for the opening of this traveling exhibition and for Peter Randall's New Hampshire Then & Now presentation at the Historical Society of Cheshire County on the evening of Monday April 23. The opening reception will begin at 6:30 p.m. The business portion of the Society's annual meeting, including the election of officers and trustees, will begin at 7:30. Peter Randall's presentation will follow immediately thereafter. Randall's beautiful companion book of photographs with accompanying text will be available for sale and the author will be pleased to autograph your copy. For this one night only the book will be available at a discount of 20% off the cover price of $40.00.

The exhibit New Hampshire Then & Now is generously supported by C & S Wholesale Grocers, Mark Corliss Multi-Media Creations, Creative Encounters, Shaw Gallery & Frame Shop, Nick Isaak, Ray's Camera & Photography, and Indian King Framery.

Susan Landers Gilbert, President
Richard Church, V. President
Barbara Woodward, Treasurer

Trustees
Ernest L. Bell, William Faulkner, Verne Greene, John W. Harris, Gregory Knouff, Sean O'Mara, David Proper, Jane Reynolds, Stillman Rogers, Philip Taaffe, Jim Talbert, Bob Weekes, Christine Weeks

Keene Then & Now: A Keene Middle School Project

In conjunction with our spring and summer feature exhibit on New Hampshire Then & Now, students in Sean O'Mara's Cluster I eighth grade classes at the Keene Middle School will have an opportunity to create their own then and now photographic exhibit of scenes from downtown Keene. Each participant or team will be supplied with pairs of old photographs from the Historical Society's archives. Their task will be to take a current picture of the scenes in the older picture, research and write a short caption for each image, and organize a display of their pictures. These displays will be hung at the Historical Society in association with the New Hampshire Then & Now exhibit and will be on view from the end of May until mid-September. This project has been made possible by a generous donation from C & S Wholesale Grocers.

Through the Eye of the Camera & Gallery Tour

In conjunction with our spring and summer feature exhibit, HSCC will host a special showing of the film Through the Eye of the Camera, produced by filmmakers Lawrence Benaquist and David Leinster, and a gallery tour of the feature exhibit New Hampshire Then & Now. The film and gallery tour will be held at HSCC on Wednesday May 30 at 7:00 p.m.

This then and now style documentary film shows southwestern New Hampshire in the 1920s and 1930s, and is contrasted with footage from the 1980s when the film was produced. The film explores the changes that have occurred since the Great Depression in the region's rural economy, population, transportation, work, education, and leisure. David Leinster and Lawrence Benaquist will introduce the film, offer a historical background to the film's making, and lead a discussion on how the region has changed since the 1980s. After the film's showing, a gallery tour will be given of the exhibit New Hampshire Then & Now. This program is free and open to the public.

Naulakha Field Trip:Tour & Kipling Performance

Naulakha was author Rudyard Kipling's home in Dummerston, VT. The Landmark Trust rescued the abandoned property and each spring they offer tours of the uniquely designed home and a living history performance by storyteller Jackson Gillman as Kipling telling his well known "Just So Stories."

There are a few seats still available for this field trip, which will be on Wednesday April 25th. We will car pool from HSCC, leaving at 9:30 a.m. to be at Naulakha for our 10:30 tour and performance. You are welcome to bring a lunch and picnic inside or outside depending on the weather. Cost is $12.00 for members and $16.00 for non-members. To reserve your place for the Naulakha trip, please contact HSCC at 352-1895 or hscc@hsccnh.org.

Roundtable Forum News

The winter meeting of the Monadnock Historical Societies Forum was held at HSCC on Thursday March 15th. The three yearly meetings have become an important part of the region's historical community as we share our collective wisdom to improve the function and operation of each participating organization. Our spring meeting will be held at the Jaffrey Civic Center on Thursday June 21st and be hosted by the Jaffrey Historical Society.

The Newport Historical Society is hosting an historical event for the whole family. Reliving New Hampshire's Past is a one day celebration on Saturday June 2, 2007 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. that will have reenactors, children's games, traditional craft vendors, demonstrators, food booths, a fireman's muster, and booths in the Opera House for historical organizations to promote local history. The Monadnock Historical Societies Forum will be attending and sponsoring a booth to represent the Monadnock Region's many historical organizations. Please attend this event to support the Roundtable Forum's effort to promote our region's history and to celebrate New Hampshire's past.

Yankee Bottle Club Supports HSCC

The Yankee Bottle Club has met at the Historical Society headquarters each month for more than a decade. This is a natural relationship because of the Society's extensive collection of and interest in the products of the 19th century glass factories located at Keene and Stoddard in southwestern New Hampshire. The Bottle Club has, in turn, expressed its interest and support for Society activities through generous financial contributions. Each year the club makes a substantial contribution for specific need at the Society. The group has funded the acquisition of equipment, signage, technology upgrades, and facility improvements. HSCC has enjoyed its relationship with the Yankee Bottle Club and is deeply appreciative of this support and of the club members' hard work that makes these contributions possible.

Education News

HSCC will once again be opening its doors to welcome students from all over Cheshire County during our spring school group season. Beginning in mid-May, students will have an opportunity to receive a guided tour from our period dressed interpreters at the Wyman Tavern to learn about life in the late 1700s. At our main facilities, students participate in a scavenger hunt to help them learn about the history of their community and Cheshire County by finding items within our permanent collection, our spring then and now feature exhibit, and on an array of artwork, maps, and primary resources.

In partnership with the Horatio Colony House Museum, the Transportation Fund covers the cost of a school bus so students throughout Cheshire County can visit our three facilities for a quality museum experience. With the help of area businesses, individuals, and civic groups the Transportation Fund has transported more than 1,000 students from Keene, Chesterfield, Marlow, Hinsdale, Winchester, Swanzey, Stoddard, and Surry to our museums since the fund's inception. With your continued support, we hope to build on the success of the past three years. If you would like to make a contribution to the Transportation Fund, please contact Tom Haynes at 352-1895.

Wyman Tavern News

The Wyman Tavern Museum will open for its summer season on Friday June 2. In addition to interpretive tours of the 1762 built tavern, the 2007 season will feature a quilt exhibit, story telling, crafts, and the popular Tavern Lecture Series. Check the June newsletter for details on all the programs that will be offered at the Tavern this summer.

The museum is open Thursday through Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and by appointment through September 1st. There is a $3.00 fee per person for general tours, with HSCC members admitted free.

Friends of the Wyman Tavern will host their annual spring clean up at the Tavern on Saturday April 28th beginning at 9:00 a.m. Rain date will be May 5th. This is an important activity that helps prepare the Tavern for its summer season. In addition to yard work, tasks include some light painting, minor carpentry work, and cleaning out a portion of the carriage shed.

Donations of Books Needed For 7th Annual Used Book Sale

The Historical Society will hold its seventh annual used book sale on May 11 and 12, 2007. For the seventh year in a row a local book dealer has made a generous contribution of used books for our fund raising event. HSCC is once again encouraging members and friends to donate additional volumes to supplement those already contributed for the sale.

We are hoping to receive gifts of saleable hardcover nonfiction books to add to the selection. Topics such as history, antiques, travel, nature, biography, cookbooks, or similar subjects would be appropriate for this sale. Recent hardcover fiction is also popular, but we are not seeking mass market paperbacks, older fiction or damaged items. This will be a "buck a book" sale, but it will also include a selection of higher priced items.

Do you have overflowing bookshelves and wish to help the Historical Society support its activities? We would be delighted to receive your books. They should be delivered to HSCC by May 8th. Pick up of items might also be possible. Please call 352-1895 if you are unsure if your books are appropriate for this sale or if you need additional information.

HSCC's Museum Store

The HSCC Museum Store offers a wide selection of local history books, along with notecards, posters, maps, and art work. The Museum Store is open during regular hours.

Volunteering

HSCC is always interested in deepening our volunteer support and we have a wide range of needs that may fit with your interests. If you are interested in volunteering at the Historical Society, please contact our volunteer coordinator Gail Currier at 352-1895 or bizmgr@hsccnh.org.

Fundraising Baseball Trip to Boston

Our annual fundraising baseball trip to support HSCC's educational programs is sold out. For everyone who is attending this year's Red Sox game, your donations are truly appreciated. Thank you and enjoy the game.

2007 Sponsors

We want to thank our community partners who are generously supporting our 2007 educational programs. Please acknowledge their support by letting them know how much you appreciate their contributions in helping us share our rich history.

To all 2007 sponsors:            Thank You!

Sponsors and Programs for 2007

A.G. Edwards of Keene - February newsletter.

Ariel Printing of Keene - April newsletter.

Ashuelot Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution - June teacher workshop on the Age of Expansion and Reform.

Cheshire Medical Center/Dartmouth Hitchcock Keene - New HSCC brochure.

Connecticut River Bank of Charlestown and Keene - February membership meeting on Julia Ward Howe.

Mark Corliss Multi-Media Creations of Keene - spring/summer New Hampshire Then & Now Exhibit.

Cox Woodworking of Westmoreland - Winter Meetinghouse Exhibit.

Creative Encounters of Keene - spring/summer New Hampshire Then & Now Exhibit.

Indian King Framery & Ashton Gallery of Keene - spring/summer New Hampshire Then & Now Exhibit.

Nick Isaak of Keene - spring/summer New Hampshire Then & Now Exhibit.

The Keene Sentinel - Winter Meetinghouse Exhibit.

Keene Lions Club - Transportation Fund.

Keene State College Diversity Commission and Commission on the Status of Woman - February membership meeting on Julia Ward Howe.

Ocean National Bank of Keene - Winter Meetinghouse Exhibit and Publication.

Daniel V. Scully, Architect of Keene - Winter Meetinghouse Exhibit.

Ray's Camera & Photography of Keene - spring/summer New Hampshire Then & Now Exhibit.

Shaw Gallery & Frame Shop of Keene - spring/summer New Hampshire Then & Now Exhibit.

SVE Associates of Keene - Winter Meetinghouse Exhibit.

Albert H. Weeks, P.C. of Keene - Winter Meetinghouse Exhibit bookmarks.

Weller & Michal Architects of Keene - Winter Meetinghouse Exhibit.

Calendar of Events

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

Monday - April 23
Membership Meeting and New Hampshire Then & Now Exhibit Opening (see lead article).

Wednesday - April 25
Naulakha Field Trip, leave HSCC at 9:30 a.m.

Saturday - April 28
Wyman Tavern Clean Up, 9:00 a.m.

Tuesday - May 1
Red Sox Baseball Game, leave HSCC at 3:30 p.m.

Friday-Saturday - May 11-12
HSCC's Annual Spring Used Book Sale (see related article).

Tuesday - May 15
Opening of Spring School Groups Season (see related article).

Wednesday - May 30
Special Then & New Film Program and Gallery Tour, 7:00 p.m. at HSCC (see related article).

Thursday - June 21
Roundtable Forum in Jaffrey, 9:30 a.m.

Wednesday-Thursday - June 27-28
Teacher Workshop on The Age of Expansion and Reform at HSCC.