On July 27, 1927 large crowds of people assembled in the streets and on the rooftops of downtown Keene. They waited patiently for the arrival of an important visitor. Just after 11:00 a.m. the dull hum of an airplane engine reached the ears of those assembled. The people in the crowd began to cheer, wave their arms, and wave flags when the plane came into view. As the airplane turned and circled Central Square, the words "Spirit of St. Louis" painted near its nose became visible. The window of the plane opened and a large scroll was dropped out and fell to the ground near the flagpole on Main Street. The scroll contained a greeting to the people of Keene from the pilot of the "Spirit of St. Louis," national aviation hero Charles A. Lindbergh.

"Lucky Lindy" had made history two months earlier when he made the first solo non-stop flight from New York to Paris. His visit to Keene was part of a nationwide tour to promote aviation. He did not land in Keene - the city's first airport did not open until the following year - but headed west toward Albany, New York and the next segment of his tour. The people assembled in downtown Keene to witness the flyover by Lindbergh, realized that they were participating in an important historical event. The story of that event would be preserved and shared by a recently formed organization that had held its first regular meeting in Keene just 1½ weeks earlier. Lindbergh flew over Keene 80 years ago this summer and that new organization, the Historical Society of Cheshire County, continues to collect, preserve and share the history of the region today eight decades later.

The idea for a county-wide historical society was conceived by local resident Frank B. Kingsbury after he attended meetings of the Fitchburg (Massachusetts) Historical Society. He worked with local historian Clifford Wilbur and genealogist Ella Abbott during the winter of 1926-27 to develop a plan for a regional historical society headquartered in Keene. Articles of agreement were signed in May and the first meeting of the Society was held in July. Bylaws were adopted and officers elected at that meeting. Samuel Wadsworth, Keene jeweler, surveyor and local historian, was chosen as the organization's first president.

Some of the events of 1927 serve to put this 80th anniversary into perspective. In addition to Lindbergh's flight, the first transatlantic telephone call was made, Ford produced the last Model T, the carving of Mount Rushmore was begun, New Englander Calvin Coolidge was President of the United States, and the New York Yankees' Murder's Row was led by Babe Ruth, who set a new single season record by hitting 60 home runs.

The world, the county and the Historical Society have all experienced considerable change during the intervening years. The Society now has 900 members, a staff of four employees, and dozens of dedicated volunteers. It operates the 1762 Wyman Tavern period house and is headquartered in the 13,000 square foot Victorian Ball mansion on Keene's Main Street. The Society has collected and preserved an extensive body of local history, including a photo and a film of Lindbergh's flight over Keene and the document containing greetings that he dropped onto Main Street on that July day in 1927. The organization's collections range from personal papers of Keene's first settler Nathan Blake and the Civil War uniform of General Simon G. Griffin, to baseball cards of today's popular Swamp Bats team and a Vietnam War uniform of a local resident.

It is not enough to preserve this history, however. It is essential that we share this local history to educate our members, students and the general public. Eighty years after it was formed, the Historical Society of Cheshire County still strives to carry out the desires of its founders to preserve and share local history, thereby offering some understanding of the past and guidance for the future.

Please watch your mailbox for an announcement of HSCC 80th anniversary activities later this year.

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

New Hampshire Then & Now Exhibition

This summer's feature exhibition will be New Hampshire Then & Now, a traveling exhibit by the New Hampshire Historical Society featuring the photographic work of Peter Randall. 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. New Hampshire Then & Now will be on view at HSCC through Saturday September 8th during regular museum hours.

A series of gallery tours will be offered to showcase our summer exhibitions. These tours are free and open to the public and will be held on the following days.

Wednesday - June 20th at 7:00 p.m.

Saturday - July 21st at 10:00 a.m.

Wednesday - August 15th at 7:00 p.m.

Our summer Then & Now Exhibition has been made possible by C & S Wholesale Grocers, Mark Corliss Multi-Media Creations, Creative Encounters, Ray's Camera & Photo, Shaw Gallery & Frame Shop, Nick Isaak Art Restoration, New England Art Exchange, Indian King Framery, The Keene Sentinel, Tom & Elke Hanna, and Karevy Photography. The original exhibit was made possible by grants from Northeast Delta Dental and Lincoln Financial Foundation.

Education News

HSCC will host a two-day teacher workshop for elementary and middle school teachers on Thursday June 27th and 28th that will focus on American Expansion and Reform between the years 1800 and 1860 in New England and the Monadnock Region. For further information or to register, please contact Tom Haynes at 352-1895, dired@hsccnh.org, or visit the HSCC web site at www.hsccnh.org. This workshop is generously supported by the New Hampshire Humanities Council, Ashuelot Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, and The Keene Sentinel.

Our spring school group season has been wonderfully successful due in part to the donations made to the Transportation Fund to help cover the cost of the school bus so students can to visit our museums. On behalf of the Horatio Colony House Museum, we wish to thank:

Fenton Family Dealerships, Keene Elm City Rotary Club, Keene Lions Club, and the Munsonville Ladies Group.

HSCC and Horatio Colony House Museum held a living history walk at the Horatio Colony Preserve on West Hill in mid June for the grade 3 classes from Fuller Elementary School in Keene. The guided walk integrated natural history activities, Abenaki history, and Keene history. The students stepped back in time to talk with Japhet Parker and his wife about sheep farming on West Hill at the cellar hole where their home once stood. They met Horatio & Emeline Colony at the remains of the Tip Top House where they learned about the Colony Family, building their summer cabin on West Hill, and the Faulkner & Colony Mill. They also met the conservation minded George Wheelock, who talked to the students about geology, natural history, and land conservation. This living history walk served as a prototype that will hopefully be expanded on as another tool to help HSCC and the Horatio Colony House Museum share our local history with students throughout Cheshire County.

Wyman Tavern News

The Wyman Tavern Museum opened for the summer on June 2. On the National Register of Historic Places, the 1762 built tavern features ten furnished rooms representing the lives of the first two owners, Captain Isaac Wyman's tavern and the Rev. Zedekiah Barstow who was the last minister settled by the town of Keene.

Interpretive tours of the Tavern are offered during regular summer hours, Thursday through Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and by appointment through Saturday September 1st. In addition to tours, this summer will feature a quilt exhibit, summer programs for kids and families, and the Tavern Lecture Series (see insert for details). Tours of the Wyman Tavern are free to HSCC members and $3.00 per person for non-members.

Sixteen local businesses and individuals have joined the Society's new "Tavern Keepers" program. Each "Tavern Keeper" made a generous contribution to support Tavern operations for one week, insuring that it will remain open this year for a full summer season.

Thanks to the "Tavern Keepers," the Wyman Tavern will be open to the public Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day. Please show your support for our "Tavern Keepers," as they have supported the dissemination of local history. "Tavern Keepers" for 2007 are:

Anonymous; Juliana Bergeron, CLU, ChFC, RHU, CLTC; Bragdon & Berkson, P.C., Stephen Bragdon; Mary Louise Caffrey; Rick and Betsey Church; Dartmouth Club of Southwest NH; A.G. Edwards and Sons, Jim Talbert; Hamshaw Lumber, Inc.; Sarah Handford; The Insurance Source, Cheryl Belair; IPG Employee Benefits; Peter, Neil and Cathy Jenness; The Melanson Company, Inc.; Robert and Jan Weekes; Albert Weeks; and Barbara and Norman Woodward.

New Book Chronicles Keene Public Library History

Author Susan Peery has penned a delightful volume that recounts the rich history of the Keene Public Library. Our Window to a Wider World, An Informal History of the Keene Public Library was recently released by the Trustees of the Library. Peery's work traces the history of the library movement in Keene, including the founding of the Keene Public Library Association in 1859. This was not a "free" public library as shares were sold and those who wished to borrow from the collections were charged an annual user fee. That changed in 1874 when the newly constituted "City of Keene" agreed to assume administration of the library. Almost 25 years later Edward Carrington Thayer donated the current library building to be used for that purpose. More than a century has passed since that gift and the library has become an integral social, cultural, and educational institution in the city.

Our Window to a Wider World is being distributed by the Historical Society. It is available at the Society, at local bookstores, or by mail. On Saturday June 30 author Susan Peery will be present for a special book signing event at the Historical Society at 246 Main Street in Keene from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. On that morning only the book will be available at a special 15% discount off the regular price of $10.00. This book will be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in local history and philanthropy, the public library movement in general, and especially by any former and current patrons of the Keene Public Library itself. Plan to join us on the morning of June 30 to have your copies inscribed by the author.

HSCC's Museum Store

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

Roundtable Forum News

The spring meeting of the Monadnock Historical Societies Forum will be held at the Jaffrey Civic Center on Thursday June 21st beginning at 9:30 a.m., and hosted by the Jaffrey Historical Society. This meeting will include our traditional roundtable gathering, discussion on our next collaborative project, and tours of the Jaffrey Civic Center, the 1940's Park Theater, and downtown Jaffrey. Roundtable meetings are free and open to individuals and organizations interested in collecting, preserving, and sharing local history.

Keene Chautauqua

The Keene Chautauqua will return to the beautiful grounds of the Horatio Colony House Museum at 199 Main Street on Thursday July 19, beginning at 6:00 p.m. This year's theme is "Sharing the Wealth: Patrons and Philanthropists in America at the Beginning of the 20th Century." This wonderful evening of living history under the tent will feature Andrew Carnegie and Isabella Stewart Gardner.

Summer Bus Trip to Boston

Our second annual summer bus trip to Downtown Boston will take place on Wednesday July 18. Please join HSCC for this fun summer day trip to Boston designed for people to do genealogical research, visit historic sites and museums, partake in a National Park led historic walking tour, or to enjoy the many shopping opportunities. The bus will leave HSCC at 6:45 a.m. and will stop at the National Archives Regional Office in Waltham, downtown Boston at the New England Historic and Genealogical Society on Newbury Street, and the J.F.K. Library and Massachusetts Archives. The bus will leave Boston about 5:00 p.m. and return to Keene about 7:30 p.m. Costs for HSCC members is $27.00 and $32.00 for non-members. To make this trip possible, we need at least 40 people to participate, so please let others know about this inexpensive way to visit Boston for a day. To sign up for this trip or for further information, please contact HSCC at 352-1895 or hscc@hsccnh.org.

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.

C & S Wholesale Grocers of Keene - spring/summer New Hampshire Then & Now Exhibit.

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.

Colony House Bed & Breakfast of Keene - June newsletter.

Cox Woodworking of Westmoreland - Winter Meetinghouse Exhibit.

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

Fenton Family Dealerships of Keene - Transportation Fund.

Tom & Elke Hanna of Keene - spring/summer New Hampshire Then & Now Exhibit bookmarks.

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.

Karevy Photography of Keene - spring/summer New Hampshire Then & Now Exhibit.

Keene Elm City Rotary Club - Transportation Fund.

Keene Lions Club - Transportation Fund.

Keene Rotary Club - Transportation Fund.

The Keene Sentinel - Winter Meetinghouse Exhibit; spring/summer New Hampshire Then & Now Exhibit; and June Teacher Workshop.

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

Munsonville Ladies Group - Transportation Fund.

New England Art Exchange of Keene - spring/summer New Hampshire Then & Now Exhibit.

New Hampshire Humanities Council - June Teacher Workshop; and Wyman Tavern Lecture Series.

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.

Heritage Fund Supporters

The Trustees of the Historical Society of Cheshire County thank those who have generously supported the Society's Heritage Fund for educational outreach.

Calendar of Events

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

Wednesday - June 20
Gallery Tour of Then & Now Exhibit (see related article), HSCC at 7:00 p.m.

Thursday - June 21
Roundtable Forum in Jaffrey (see related article), 9:30 a.m.

Wednesday-Thursday - June 27-28
Teacher Workshop on Expansion and Reform at HSCC (see related article).

Saturday - June 30
Book Signing, HSCC at 10:00 a.m. (see related article).

Wednesday - 4 July
Closed for the July 4th holiday.

Thursday-Friday - July 12-13
Kids/Family program Storytelling, Silhouettes, & Shadow Plays at Wyman Tavern (see Tavern programs) 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Wednesday - 18 July
Summer Bus Trip to Boston (see related article), leaves HSCC 6:45 a.m.

Thursday-Friday - July 19-20
Kids/Family program Samplers and Quilts at Wyman Tavern (see Tavern programs) 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Thursday - 19 July
Keene Chautauqua at the Horatio Colony House Museum (see related article), 6:00 p.m.

Saturday - July 21
Gallery Tour of Then & Now Exhibit (see related article), HSCC at 10:00 a.m.

Thursday - July 26
Tavern Lecture Series on Susannah Johnson (see related article), Wyman Tavern at 7:30 p.m.

Friday - July 27
Kids/Family program 18th Century Games and Toys at Wyman Tavern (see Tavern programs) 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Thursday-Friday - August 2-3
Kids/Family program Diaries and Journaling at Wyman Tavern (see Tavern programs) 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Thursday - August 9
Tavern Lecture Series on the Civil War (see related article), Wyman Tavern at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday-Friday - August 10
Kids/Family program 18th Century Games and Toys at Wyman Tavern (see Tavern programs) 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Wednesday - August 15
Gallery Tour of Then & Now Exhibit (see related article), HSCC at 7:00 p.m.

Thursday - August 23
Tavern Lecture Series on the Battle for Bennington (see related article), Wyman Tavern at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday - September 1
Wyman Tavern closes for the summer season.

Tuesday - September 25
Membership Meeting at HSCC, Chamber Singers of Keene, 7:30 p.m. (see related article). Please note that the membership meeting will be on a Tuesday instead of our normal Monday meeting day.

Wednesday - September 26
Genealogy Class. Five-week introductory class at HSCC to October 24 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. (see related article).

Friday - October 5
Wyman Tavern Open House, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Wyman Tavern (see related article).