On January 7, 1863 Dr. George B. Twitchell of Keene was appointed Surgeon of Volunteers with the rank of major in the Union Army. Later in the spring of that year he was made surgeon-in-chief of the 6th and 7th divisions of the 17th Army Corps serving under General Ulysses S. Grant. Dr. Twitchell’s commission as Surgeon of Volunteers, signed by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton and President Abraham Lincoln, recently returned to Keene when it was donated to the Historical Society.

This important military document was one of dozens of items illustrating Dr. Twitchell’s life and career that were included in the gift to the Society. These items were carefully preserved for generations by the family of Dr. Twitchell’s son Edward. This important donation was made by Twitchell’s great-great-grandson, who expressed his pleasure that the collection had "come home and is in excellent hands" where it can be "used for research and public interest."

George B. Twitchell was born in Petersburg, Virginia in 1820, but his family was from Dublin, NH. He came to Cheshire County as a young man to study medicine with his uncle, Keene physician Amos Twitchell, who was one of the leading surgeons of the first half of the 19th century. George received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania and began to practice in Keene in 1843. Six years later he married Susan Thayer and thereafter became involved in a wide variety of public causes to benefit the town and the state.

In September 1862, at the age of 41, Twitchell volunteered for service in the Union Army in the Civil War and went to the front as the surgeon of the 13th New Hampshire Volunteer Regiment. He remained with the regiment only a few months before he was promoted and commissioned as surgeon-in-chief with the 17th Division. He then served under General Grant until illness forced his resignation from the army late in 1863.

Dr. Twitchell returned to Keene and recovered sufficiently to resume his practice and his public works. He became one of New Hampshire’s leading doctors and one of Keene’s leading citizens. He served on committees involved with Keene’s Centennial Celebration, erecting the soldiers’ monument and drafting the city charter. He was also instrumental in the installation of the city’s water and sewer systems as well as the formation of the public library and the Elliot Community Hospital. At the state level, he served for many years as the president of the board of the New Hampshire insane asylum.

At the age of 75 years Dr. Twitchell was recognized for his work to benefit the people and the welfare of the community. He was presented a sterling silver loving cup, a bag of gold and a certificate of appreciation by 300 donors, mostly citizens of Keene. The cup was engraved with the words: "Presented to Dr. George B. Twitchell. In loving appreciation of the good physician, the patriotic citizen, devoted friend as a token of the affectionate admiration of many friends, 1895." This sterling cup and the certificate of appreciation were among the many items donated to the Society.

This important contribution tells the story of one of Keene’s most active and well-known citizens of the 19th century. In addition to the items mentioned above, the gift included Dr. Twitchell’s Civil War uniform, sword, pistol, saddle bags, accessories, photograph, and documents, as well as his college diplomas, personal shotgun, and numerous other items. This generous contribution adds to the Society’s already outstanding Civil War holdings. It is gifts such as this that allow the Society to preserve the region’s history and to educate the public about the nation’s past through the lives of those who lived in Cheshire County. The Twitchell collection will be placed on display at the Society in late April.

Steps to Great Art: Barry Faulkner and the Art of the Muralist

Keene native Barry Faulkner, one of the nation’s foremost mural artists, is the subject of a new book published in December by the Historical Society of Cheshire County. Steps to Great Art: Barry Faulkner and the Art of the Muralist is a full-color, 28-page, publication based on the exhibit of Faulk-ner’s art at the Historical Society in 2005-2006. It was written by Alan F. Rumrill, Executive Director of the Historical Society, and Carl B. Jacobs, Jr., a great-nephew of Barry Faulkner.

Barry Faulkner, born in Keene in 1881, devoted his life to mural painting and became one of the foremost mural artists of his day. Some of his works grace the walls of the National Archives in Washington, D.C., the New Hampshire and Oregon state capitols, the John Hancock Building in Boston, and a large mosaic is at the RCA Building at Rockefeller Center in New York. Several of his works are in Keene buildings. Two hang permanently at the Historical Society: The Advent of the Railroad, 1848 and a large study for the mosaic Intelligence Awakening Mankind. The mural Central Square is located in Elliot Hall at Keene State College and Men of Monadnock is at the Bank of America on Central Square. Some of Faulkner’s paintings were included in the recent exhibit at the Thorne Art Gallery at Keene State College entitled "On Gilded Pond: The Life and Times of the Dublin Art Colony."

In addition to the story of his life and career, the book contains a description of how Faulkner created his famous murals. The publication features 40 illustrations, primarily of Faulkner artwork. Of special interest is the accompanying CD that includes recordings of Faulkner himself speaking about his art and some of the artists with whom he worked.

Faulkner’s artwork may be viewed and Steps to Great Art: Barry Faulkner and the Art of the Muralist may be purchased at the Historical Society of Cheshire County at 246 Main Street in Keene during the Society’s open hours. The book is also available at local bookstores. The Historical Society is open to the public on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to noon. The publication is $14 with a 10 percent discount for Society members.

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

Trustees
Verne Greene, John W. Harris, Carl B. Jacobs, Cornelia Jenness, Gregory Knouff, Sean O'Mara, David Proper, David Putnam, Jr., Jane Reynolds, Anthony Tremblay, Robert Weekes, Christine Weeks, Gail Zachariah

Update on Keene Main Street Properties

In November, we reported on Keene State’s proposal to remove residential houses just north of the Historical Society for an 18,000-square-foot Alumni Center. Since that time, the College and the City have received a report from Elizabeth Durfee Hengen, a consultant in historic preservation. She determined that removing three buildings would have an adverse impact on the historic and residential character of the area. As a result, the College has altered its plan, which will most likely involve removing two of the three structures. For additional information, contact the Heritage Commission of the City of Keene.

Gift Supports Wright Room

The Historical Society of Cheshire County has received a gift from Thomas P. Wright for the support of the Society’s Wright Room research library. The funds will be used to improve the collections and their accessibility for researchers.

The Wright collection at the Historical Society of Cheshire County contains valuable reference materials for genealogy and local history research. The original Wright collection consisted of 1,500 volumes of town and family histories, assembled over many years by John P. Wright of J.A. Wright & Co. This collection was donated to the Keene Public Library in 1958 and transferred to the Historical Society of Cheshire County in 1996, where it has been further developed. The collection now contains more than 3,000 volumes on New England history, towns, counties, and family histories, along with a comprehensive and up-to-date collection of CD’s related to genealogy, vital statistics, and military records.

"The Wright Room is an extremely significant resource for the community; it is also a tribute to the care and concern of members of the Wright family for the region over several generations. In accepting this gift, we honor Mr. Wright’s longstanding commitment to this research collection," said Susan Landers-Gilbert, President of the Historical Society Board. According to Alan F. Rumrill, Director of the Historical Society, the funds will allow the Society to upgrade and computerize the cataloging of the collection to improve its accessibility, making an already valuable collection more useful to researchers.

Volunteers at HSCC

Eight-five volunteers contributed more than 3,000 hours to the Historical Society in 2007. The Board and staff extend their appreciation to this remarkable and talented group of volunteers. The Historical Society couldn’t function without you.

We are pleased to welcome Alison Steele to the Historical Society. Alison is a Keene State College student who is organizing and cataloging a collection of manuscripts and art by and about Keene artist Barry Faulkner.

Put the Fun into Fund Raising: We are looking for a team of volunteers to help plan the next fund raising auction for the Historical Society. This important event is the Society’s major fund raising activity each year. We have ideas about ways to increase member participation and to increase the funds raised. Would you like to help plan this event? We especially need people to solicit auction donations, both antique items as well as new or service items that might be auctioned "silently."

If you would like to help put the fun into fund raising, call Julie Dickson at 352-1895.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game... HSCC's 5th Annual Red Sox Trip

We are sponsoring a bus trip to Fenway Park on Wednesday June 4th to watch the Sox play the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at 7:05 p.m. We have seats in two different sections:
- Infield grandstand seats in Section 16 cost $82 (members) and $87 (non-members).
- Outfield grandstand seats in Section 8 cost $62 (members) and $67 (non-members).
Each ticket includes the cost of the ticket, bus transportation and tip, and a $10.00 donation to the Historical Society’s educational programs. To secure your tickets, contact HSCC at 352-1895 or hscc@hsccnh.org.

Reflections: An Oral History of the Monadnock Region

Reflections is a project designed to collect and preserve the memories of individuals who have lived through and participated in events and activities that have shaped the identity of the Monadnock region. Project partners include Keene Public Library, the Keene Sentinel, Historical Society of Cheshire County, Monadnock Institute at Franklin Pierce University, Keene State College, and Cheshire TV.

The scope of the project includes informal story circles, individual interviews, historical research and documentary television programming. The story circles will take place from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. at the Keene Public Library.

Saturday, Feb. 2     The Hurricane of 1938
Where were you when this devastating storm blew through the Monadnock region? Do you recall the winds, the downed trees, the substantial damage inflicted by New England’s most powerful storm? Share your recollections and memories of the days before and after September 21, 1938.

Saturday, Feb. 16     Pisgah State Park
Share your memories of walks and forays into our region’s largest state park. Do you have a favorite trail, tree or scenic overlook? Have you experienced an animal or bird sighting you wish to share? Do you recall the park’s founding, the initial process of eminent domain, and the subsequent episodes of logging and park management?

Saturday, March 1     County Farm & House of Correction
Did you ever visit the old brick County farm in Westmoreland or spend time in the barns and gardens nearby? What do you remember most about the place, and have you ever heard stories from those who spent a night there? Have you been inside the current facility, and if so, what was that experience like? Share your remembrances of the Westmoreland County Farm before the jail moves to Keene.

Saturday, March 8     Train travel in the Region
Do you recall that lonesome whistle and the thunder of a locomotive across Main Street in Keene? Did you rely on the train for work or play, and what is your most vivid memory of traveling by rail in Cheshire County? Travel back in time and share your recollections of the iron horse in Keene or its surrounding communities.

Saturday, March 29     Keene Middle School
What do you remember most vividly about the building where you attended Keene middle or high school? What sights, sounds, colors and smells from the school have stayed with you over the years? Come share your memories and anecdotes about Keene’s historic Washington Street School.

Saturday, April 12     Faulkner Colony Mill
Add to the history of the Colony Mill by sharing a story of your experiences there. Do you know someone who worked in the mill, who helped to renovate it, or who toured the place during its decade of silence? What is your most vivid memory of Colony Mill and the outbuildings and waterworks that surrounded it?

HSCC to Host Oral History Workshop

On Thursday, March 27, the Historical Society will host a day-long oral history project – one of five, free interactive workshops offered by the New Hampshire Humanities Council and the University of New Hampshire Center for Humanities designed to help local community groups organize and carry out oral history projects. The workshop will run from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is free and open to the public, with a $5.00 materials fee. Pre-registration is required.

The workshop leader is Jo Radner, folklorist, oral historian and storyteller. Topics include: developing practical plans; interpersonal dynamics; strategies for asking effective questions; recording equipment; legal issues; notes, indexing, transcribing, and preserving; and finding volunteer interviewers.

If you are interested in attending this workshop, call the Society at 352-1895.

From Monadnock to the Moon: Precision Technology for the World

Three traveling exhibits produced by the Guild Institute:  The Precision Manufacturing Exhibit, The Mill Tapestry Project Exhibit, and The SPIN Exhibit, on view at HSCC through April 12, 2008.

Schedule of Programs and Events:
- Patryc Wiggins, Guild Institute – Wed., January 16
- Tom Putnam, MARKEM – Wed., January 23
- John Lucey, Corning Specialty Materials – Keene Facility – Wed., February 13
- Donald Brehm, Pneumo Precision, Precitech – Mon., February 25
- Leonard Chaloux, Moore Nanotechnology Systems Tuesday, March 11
- Kenneth Abbott, ABTech – Wednesday, March 19
- Karl Brennamen, Advantage Machine, CheshireNC - Wednesday April 9

All presentations in this series begin at 7:00 p.m.

Children’s Programs:
- Technology and Invention Camp on Friday January 25
- Technology and Invention Camp on Friday March 21

Each day-long camp goes from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Exhibit Gallery Walks: - Saturday February 16 - 10:00 a.m.
- Saturday March 29 - 10:00 a.m.

February Membership Program will Feature P. Donald Brehm

Local entrepreneur P. Donald Brehm has had a significant impact on the economy of Southwestern NH. A gifted engineer, he is known for his role in shaping the precision manufacturing sector in the Monadnock Region and beyond. He will share his experiences at the Historical Society on February 25th at 7 p.m. at the February membership program. The presentation is one of a number of programs in conjunction with the current exhibit, From Monadnock to the Moon: Precision Technology for the World. Although precision technology industries have been in the region since the 1830’s, Mr. Brehm is one of the founders of the modern precision and ultra-precision manufacturing sector, which plays such a critical role in this region and across the globe.

The story of precision manufacturing is a story about technology, but it is also the story of people and place, and no one is better able to tell that story than Mr. Brehm. After working at MPB (now Timken Superprecision), he founded Pneumo Precision in 1962. In the 1980’s he founded Precitech to manufacture diamond turning machines – a development that was the foundation of the modern optics industry. Most recently, Mr. Brehm co-founded Accura Technics in 2001. Accura Technics manufactures super precision machining systems and products utilized in a wide variety of grinding and machining applications. In 2005, The American Society for Precision Engineering presented Mr. Brehm with a lifetime achievement award, in recognition of his significant impact on his local community, on the wider precision engineering community, and on the careers of many precision engineers and craftsmen.

Education News

Technology and Invention Camp
Inspired by the current exhibit on Precision Technology, HSCC will host two day-long camps for students between the age of 9 and 14. They will provide an opportunity for participants to be actively involved in the understanding of design technology. Children will conduct guided scientific investigations related to the working of machines, become familiar with the history of several local precision machinery factories and the products they made, and design and construct a device that solves a problem or fills a need using found and recycled materials.

Long time Chesterfield and Hinsdale teacher Laurel Powell will teach these day-long camps on January 25th and March 21st from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. They are limited to 12 children. Cost for this day is $10 to HSCC members and $20 to non-members. Registration is required. Each participant needs to bring their lunch, drink, and snack for the day. To register or for further information, please contact HSCC at 352-1895 or dired@hsccnh.org.

Sponsors of the camp include Warwick Mills, Sunset Tool, Inc., and Hicks Machine, Inc.

Abenaki Lifeways Camp
During April school vacation week, April 21st through the 25th, HSCC will host a week-long camp for children that explores the traditional lifeways of the region’s Abenaki people. Part of the Algonquin language family group, these indigenous people inhabited Northern New England including the Monadnock region. Their lives revolved around the seasonal cycles of hunting, gathering, fishing, and planting gardens to provide needed food, shelter, tools, and clothing. The camp will explore these seasonal lifeways with activities that will include creating a miniature village and a life size shelter, cooking, basket making, storytelling, and tool making. The camp will also examine the myths, biases, and erroneous information that have surrounded Abenaki people.

Laurel Powell, long time Chesterfield and Hinsdale teacher, will teach this camp, which runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The camp is open to students between the ages of 9 and 14 and is limited to 15 children. Costs are $50 to HSCC members and $100 to non-members. Registration is required. To register or for further information, please contact HSCC at 352-1895 or dired@hsccnh.org.

Educators Book Club
HSCC will host an Educators Book Club to expand teachers’ knowledge on a particular time period, expose educators to the primary resources available in the HSCC archive on the theme, and tie the theme into the spring teacher workshop. The books will be appropriate for different grade levels.

This year’s theme is on the Civil War. Books or portions of books to be discussed are: Abraham Lincoln and the Second American Revolution by James McPherson, 1992; The Boys’ War by Jim Murphy, 1993; The Union Soldier in Battle by Earl Hess, 1997; This Mighty Scourge: Perspectives on the Civil War by James McPherson, 2007; and several more books for young readers. The Book Club will meet from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesdays - March 12th, March 26th, April 16thth, April 30th. Educators will earn 8 professional development credits for attending all four sessions. Cost, which includes books, is $35.00. Registration is required and is limited to 12 educators. To register or for further information, contact Tom Haynes at 352-1895 or dired@hsccnh.org.

Peabody Essex Museum Bus Trip

The Peabody Essex Museum is America’s oldest continuously operating museum. Established in 1799, the museum’s founders were among America’s first global entrepreneurs, traveling the world in search of trade. The collections are exceptional for their provenance, age, quality, and significance. It is one of the nation’s major museums for Asian art and nineteenth-century Asian photography, along with the earliest collections of Native American and Oceanic art. The historic houses and gardens, American decorative art, and maritime art collections provide an unrivaled spectrum of New England’s heritage over 300 years. To learn more about the Peabody Essex, you can visit their web site at www.pem.org.

Our Peabody Essex Museum trip will be on Friday April 25, during school vacation week. The bus will leave HSCC at 7:30 a.m. to arrive in Salem, Massachusetts about 10:00 a.m. We will leave the museum at 5:00 p.m. and return to Keene about 7:30 p.m. Costs for HSCC members, which include transportation and entrance fee, are $40.00 for adults, $38.00 for seniors, $36.00 for students 17 years and older, and $25.00 for youth 16 years and younger. For non-members, please add an additional $5.00. To register or for further information, please contact HSCC at 352-1895 or hscc@hsccnh.org.

Roundtable Forum News

The Monadnock Historical Societies Forum will meet on Thursday February 21 at the Horatio Colony House Museum beginning at 9:30 a.m. This meeting will include our traditional roundtable gathering, discussion of the next collaborative project on Education and Schools in Cheshire County, choosing our spring and fall meeting sites, and a tour of the Horatio Colony House Museum. The museum is located at 199 Main Street in Keene, with parking behind St. Bernard Church.

Ways of Giving to the Historical Society of Cheshire County

The Historical Society is a non-profit organization and contributions to support its work are tax-deductible. Contributions and memberships account for 35 percent of our operating budget. There are many ways to insure that the history of Cheshire County continues to be collected, preserved, and interpreted for future generations. In addition to annual membership dues and Annual Fund contributions, people may support the Historical Society in many other ways:

Planned Giving: Consider naming the Historical Society as a beneficiary in your will or using other “planned giving” tools such as gift annuities, trusts, etc.

Memorial Gifts: Honor departed family members and friends with memorial gifts.  They are part of the history of the region that we value so highly.

Special Occasions: Consider a gift or a membership to honor someone special. Many would find such a gift very meaningful.

Become a Tavern Keeper:  The Wyman Tavern is one of Keene's oldest structures and home of the Society's colonial-era collections and history education programs.  Join the Tavernkeepers with a gift of $250 or more, and help preserve this vital resource in the heart of historic Main Street.

Finally, since the Society is the trusted repository of the history of our entire region, if you have artifacts, family documents, photographs or artwork connected with the history of Cheshire County, you may wish to consider donating these materials to the Society.  In our care, they can be preserved, protected, and made available to future generations seeking to understand our heritage.

Planned Giving: Understanding the Possibilities

If you would like to learn more about planned giving opportunities, join Board Member Tony Tremblay for a special presentation for Historical Society members on Thursday, March 20 at 3 p.m. in the Exhibit Hall. Tony is the Vice President for Development at the National Foundation for Cancer Research and has worked with many donors to help them with charitable giving decisions. This will be an opportunity to learn about the ways you can meld your philanthropic interests with your estate and tax planning, and make sure that the organizations you care about continue to thrive.

2008 Sponsors

The Historical Society of Cheshire County warmly thanks those individuals and organizations that step forward to support exhibits and educational programs. 2008 Sponsors to date include:

ABTech Inc.
Accura Technics
AMETEK Precitech, Inc.
Ashuelot Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution
Corning Specialty Materials – Keene facility
Hicks Machine, Inc.
The MARKEM Corporation
Moore Nanotechnology Systems, LLC
Sunset Tool, Inc.
Warwick Mills

Calendar of Events

Wednesday, February 13
Teacher Research Night, HSCC from 4 – 8:00 p.m.

Wednesday, February 13
Precision Tech. Program, John Lucey, Corning Specialty Materials – Keene Facility, 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, February 16
Gallery Walk with Patryc Wiggins, 10 a.m.

Thursday, February 21
Roundtable Forum Meeting, Horatio Colony House Mus., 9:30 a.m.

Monday, February 25
HSCC Membership Meeting and Precision Technology Program, Don Brehm, Pneumo Precision, Precitech, 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, March 11
Precision Tech. Program Leonard Chaloux, Moore Nanotechnology Systems, 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, March 12
Teacher Research Night, HSCC from 4 – 8:00 p.m.

Wednesday, March 19
Precision Tech. Program. Kenneth Abbott, ABTech, 7:00 p.m.

Friday, March 21
Technology and Invention Camp, 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m .

Wednesday, April 9
Teacher Research Night, HSCC from 4 – 8:00 p.m.

Wednesday, April 9
Precision Tech. Program. Karl Brenneman Advantage Machining, Cheshire-NC, 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, April 16
Educators Book Club, HSCC 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Monday-Friday, April 21-25
Abenaki Lifeways Camp, HSCC 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Friday, April 25
Peabody Essex Museum Field Trip - Bus leaves at 7:30 a.m.

Monday, April 28
Annual Membership Mtg., Civil War living history program, 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, April 30
Educators Book Club, HSCC 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Friday-Saturday, May 9-10
HSCC Book Sale

Friday, May 16
Exhibit Opening: A Monadnock Palette: Celebrating 50 Years of Community Art.