Coming to Cheshire County: The Immigrant Experience, 1960-1930

At the start of the planting season in 1904, high in the hills of Arcadia, Greece, a sixteen-year-old boy struggled to plow a field that belonged to his family. A few minutes after he began to guide his plow through the parched, rocky soil, it ran into a large rock. It quickly hit a second rock and then a third. Exasperated, he left his plow on the field, ran home and declared to his family, "I'm going to America!"

That young boy was John Booras. The story of his decision to come to America was written by his son Chris Booras of Keene and included in the book In Their Own Words, which tells the stories of the families of the members of Keene's St. George Greek Orthodox Church. The book was written and compiled by Edwina Carr-Jangarathis. The stories of many Cheshire County immigrants like John Booras will be told and illustrated in the Historical Society's summer 2009 feature exhibit, Coming to Cheshire County: The Immigrant Experience, 1860-1930.

John did indeed leave his home in Arcadia, came to America, and settled in Everett, Massachusetts. He did not know the language and had some difficulty finding work. One of John's early, but short-lived, jobs was at the Parker House hotel in Boston. An elderly "Boston Brahmin" lady sitting in the lobby asked him to get a taxi for her. He did not know what she was saying, so he kept responding, "Yes, mum, yes, mum." After waiting for over an hour, she reported him to the bell captain. He came over to John and told him sadly, "Johnny, I'm sorry, but I have to let you go." John Booras went out and got another job the same day, but also lost that one for the same reason. Still undeterred, he went out and got a third one!

By age 24 John owned a fruit and variety store and a restaurant on Everett Square. In 1922 he came to Keene and bought the Bon Ton restaurant in partnership with his cousin, George Melones. He married Anna Panopoulos and raised a family in Keene. John eventually bought out his cousin's interest, built the Bon Ton into a very successful business and operated it until he retired in 1958.

John Booras' story is just one of dozens of immigrant experiences that will be told and illustrated in the new exhibition. The exhibit will focus on immigration to the county between the 1860s and 1920s and the experiences of those immigrants who left their native countries to make a new home in southwest NH. It will offer an overview of immigration to the region and will focus more specifically on immigrants from several countries which saw large numbers of people move into Cheshire County during this time period. These countries were Finland, French Canada, Greece, Ireland, and Italy. The exhibit will touch on immigration patterns, jobs and work of immigrants, contact with the native country, neighborhoods, gathering places, organizations, family life, and the preservation of traditions, culture, and religion. The stories and artifacts of individual families will be used to help illustrate the immigrant story.

This exhibit is generating considerable interest in the region as numerous local families readily share their stories and their history for inclusion in the display. The exhibit will open with a members' reception on the evening of Friday May 15 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Please join us for a fun evening of immigration history, to meet members of the families featured in the exhibit, and to enjoy some ethnic food! The exhibit will be in place at HSCC headquarters through September 26.

April 27 Program at Historical Society features Living History Presentation of Susan B. Anthony

On Monday, April 27, at 7:00 p.m., there will be a special public program entitled Susan B. Anthony - the Invincible! at the April meeting of the Historical Society of Cheshire County. After a brief membership meeting where new trustees will be elected and retiring trustees honored, Sally Matson will portray Susan B. Anthony in a living history performance that reveals, decade by decade, the social developments during Anthony's life (1820-1906). As Anthony, she will recount her journeys across the country as she establishes a network of lieutenants working for women's suffrage and her involvement in the fight for women's rights in factories, schools, colleges, courtrooms and voting booths. The program is sponsored by the New Hampshire Humanities Council and the Connecticut River Bank. It is free and open to the public.

Sally Matson is an experienced Chautauquan who has acted and directed for 30 years. She has a degree in communications from Northwestern University and completed graduate work in creative writing at Manhattanville College and the University of Virginia. She taught most recently at the American Textile History Museum in Lowell.

Antiques Appraisal Day
Saturday, May 2
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
HSCC Exhibit Hall
Conducted by appraisers from Skinner, Inc. of Boston and Sponsored by Good Fortune of Keene

Do you have a treasure that you would like to know more about - a family heirloom or a yard sale find? Is it valuable? Where did it come from? Should it be insured? Bring your treasures (or pictures of your treasures if they are too big to carry!) to HSCC on Saturday, May 2, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and get your questions answered.

Two experienced appraisers from Skinner Inc. of Boston will be available to examine and evaluate items. They have many years of experience and will be prepared to evaluate objects from all major collecting areas except coins, stamps, jewelry and musical instruments.

Participants are asked to limit the number of items reviewed to three. The cost of participating in the appraisal day is $10 per item or $25 for three items. All proceeds benefit the work of the Historical Society.

Walk to Perley Swett's Farm
With HSCC and Harris Center
Saturday, May 16, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Throughout his life, Perley Swett never wandered far from his home in Stoddard, yet he gained near legendary status as the "Hermit of Taylor Pond." On Saturday, May 16, join Sheila Swett Thompson, author of Perley: The True Story of a New Hampshire Hermit, Alan Rumrill, HSCC Executive Director, and Meade Cadot of the Harris Center for a 2.5- to 3-mile walking tour of Perley's haunts in Stoddard, NH. The hike departs from Shinbone Shack at the end of Aten Road, off North Shore Road by Granite Lake in Stoddard at 10:00 a.m. and returns by 2:00 p.m.

Volunteer Wright Room Orientations
Saturday, May 23 at 10:30 a.m. or
Thursday, May 28 at 3:00 p.m.

If you are interested in volunteering in the Wright Room, please call 352-1895 to reserve a place in one of these sessions.

Trolleys, Trains and Flyers - Rail Travel in the Monadnock Region & Pisgah, a Place Apart
Documentaries to Premiere in April and May

Two new documentaries in the series Reflections: An Oral History of the Monadnock Region will premiere at the Colonial Theatre in April and May of this year. On Sunday, April 19, at 3:00 p.m. the documentary Trains, Trolley, and Flyers - Rail Travel in the Monadnock Region will premiere at the theatre. It will be followed on Sunday, May 17, by Pisgah, a Place Apart.

The railroad first opened to Cheshire County in 1847. Passenger service continued in the region for more than 110 years and freight service continued for more than two decades after that. Local residents will share their memories of the romantic age of rail travel, including stories of the "Cheshire" streamliner, the "Toonerville Trolley," circus trains, and many other reminiscences of rail travel in the region. The documentary will be enhanced with local photographs and film footage.

These programs are a result of the "Reflections" partnership, a project designed to collect and preserve the memories of individuals who lived through and participated in events and activities that shaped the identity of the Monadnock Region. In addition to the Historical Society, project partners include Keene Public Library, the Keene Sentinel, Cheshire TV, Monadnock Institute at Franklin Pierce University, and Keene State College. Additional documentaries in the series will premiere in the autumn of 2009.

Because of the overwhelming response to the premiere of the first documentary, The Hurricane of 1938, these showings will also be held at the Colonial Theatre. The programs are free and open to the public. Plan to join us on the afternoon of April 19 to relive the sights and sounds of the age of rail travel and on May 17 to learn about the history of the busy communities that became the Pisgah Park wilderness.

Education News

Children's Water Power Camp, April 20-23

HSCC will offer a four-day children's camp focused on the importance of water and mills to the history and development of Cheshire County. During spring school vacation week, April 20-23 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day, campers will visit a former water powered mill to see how it operated; conduct science experiments using different kinds of water wheels to determine how much energy a water wheel can produce; and build a miniature mill site with a working water wheel. Participants will also take a daylong field trip to Pisgah State Park to explore how water was used to run a sawmill and how a logging camp operated.

Chesterfield teacher Laurel Powell will teach this camp for children in grades 3 through 8. Cost for the four-day camp are $100 for HSCC members and $120 for non-members, and enrollment is limited to 12 children. Each participant needs to bring a snack, drink, and lunch for the day. Registration is required by contacting HSCC at 352-1895 or hscc@hsccnh.org. The camp is sponsored by the Savings Bank of Walpole.

Wyman Tavern News

The Wyman Tavern Museum will open its doors for another season of tours, activities, and programs beginning May 5th. During the month of May, opportunities to visit the Tavern will be by appointment only. Beginning June 4th and continuing to September 5th, the Tavern will be open Thursday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Summer Tavern programs will be listed in the June Newsletter.

HSCC is also seeking volunteers to help with interpretive programs, spring school groups, and summer operations. If you are interested in volunteering and spending time in one of Keene's most historic structures, please contact Tom Haynes at 352-1895 or dired@hsccnh.org.

Tavern Keeper

What is a Tavern Keeper you ask? It is an individual, family, or business who wants to support one week of operations at the Tavern. This support helps cover the costs of the educational programs and a summer intern during the 15 weeks the Tavern operates during the summer. Without this support, our wonderful Tavern would remain closed. Please consider supporting a week of operations at the Tavern with a $250.00 donation. Your gift will help keep our Tavern a vibrant and active place this summer. If you are interested in becoming a Tavern Keeper, please contact Tom Haynes at 352-1895 or dired@hsccnh.org.

Transportation Fund

HSCC's Transportation Fund covers transportation costs so children throughout Cheshire County can have a quality museum experience in Keene. In partnership with the Horatio Colony House Museum, HSCC has been able to provide transportation for children from almost every community in the county. Because of tighter school budgets and limited money for field trips, the Transportation Fund is increasingly important to regional schools. Please consider a contribution to the Transportation Fund to help HSCC maintain this valuable and increasingly-used service. For further information, please contact Tom Haynes at 352-1895 or dired@hsccnh.org. Thank you!

Roundtable Forum News

The spring meeting of the Monadnock Historical Societies Forum will meet at the Westmoreland Town Hall on Thursday, June 18, 2009, beginning at 9:30 a.m. The Roundtable's open forum and planning for the fall's collaborative exhibit and publication on education and schools will be part of the morning meeting. After a brown bag lunch, the group will tour the old Westmoreland school house. For further information, please contact Tom Haynes at 352-1895 or hscc@hsccnh.org.

Naulakha Trip: Tour & Kipling Performance

There is still room on the Naulakha trip to author Rudyard Kipling's home in Dummerston, VT on Fri., April 17. This trip includes a tour of the 1892-93 structure that was restored by The Landmark Trust, USA in 1992 and a performance by storyteller Jackson Gillman telling Kipling's "Just So Stories."

We will carpool from HSCC, leaving at noon to be at Naulakha for our 1:00 tour and performance. Space is limited to 20 people. Cost is $12.00 for members and $16.00 for non-members. To reserve your place, please contact HSCC at 352-1895 or hscc@hsccnh.org.

Play Ball!! Another Sold Out Red Sox Trip

HSCC wishes to thank everyone who signed up for this year's Red Sox game. Your support and donation to the educational programs is most welcome and needed in order for us to continue to offer quality programs. Thank you and enjoy the game.

Fourth Annual Summer Bus Trip To Boston

Looking to do some genealogical research in Boston or to visit historic sites, shop, or sightsee in Boston for a day? If so, HSCC will have a bus leaving on Wednesday July 15th for its summer bus trip to Boston just for you.

The bus will leave HSCC at 6:45 a.m. and will stop at the National Archives Regional Office in Waltham, downtown Boston in front of the New England Historic and Genealogical Society on Newbury Street, and the J.F.K Library and Massachusetts Archives at Columbia Point. The bus will leave Boston about 4:30 p.m. and return to Keene about 7:30 p.m. Cost will remain the same as last year, $27.00 for HSCC members and $32.00 for non-members. We will need at least 40 people to participate to make this trip possible, so please let others know and bring them along for this fun day in Boston. To sign up for this trip, please contact HSCC at 352-1895 or hscc@hsccnh.org.

Wyman Tavern Grounds Clean-up
9:00 a..m., Saturday, April 25

Help us get the tavern ready for the summer season! We are recruiting volunteers to help for a few hours on Saturday morning, April 25. Can you help? Give Julie Dickson a call if you are able to help.

HSCC Takes the 10% Challenge

The 10% Challenge is a voluntary program to help businesses and organizations reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 10%. The Facilities Committee is working to reduce both electricity and gas consumption. CB Jacobs, Julie Dickson, and City of Keene volunteer Linda Malik recently toured the Ball Mansion to generate energy saving ideas. Watch for our progress reports!

Paper vs. Digital?

Would you like to receive an electronic version of the newsletter? One of the ways organizations reduce costs is by creating an electronic newsletter so that members have a choice between receiving a paper copy or an email version. We'd like to know how you feel about this idea. Email Julie Dickson at dirop@hsccnh.org with your thoughts.

Meet HSCC Volunteer Chris Pratt

Chris Pratt has a full-time job at the Keene State College Mason Library, which fortunately is just across the street from the Society. Most weeks, he stops in at the Society to organize manuscript collections before he heads home to Sullivan. He is currently working on Lee Bowman's scrapbook. Lee Bowman managed the Dillant-Hopkins Airport for many years, and kept a scrapbook filled with local aviation history. Tutt Bell discovered the scrapbook while researching his recent book, Wings Over Keene: The History of the Keene Airport. The scrapbook is very fragile, and Chris is working to stabilize it and to write a finding aid for future researchers. Chris may often be found in HSCC's main office making the staff laugh and coaxing the copy machine into behaving.

Chris is also responsible for the Sullivan Public Library Archives, where he has volunteered since 1996. According to Chris, his first preservation project involved a collection of newspaper clippings that were stored in a chicken barn. It was, as you can imagine, a preservation challenge - especially the smell! Chris's work in Sullivan spurred him to earn an M.L.I.S. degree from Simmons College in 2006. He has been consulting with HSCC on its plan to create a single catalog for all the materials in the Wright Room Library and to add the combined catalog to the Keene Link System - the on-line shared catalog of Keene State College and the Keene Public Library. It's an ambitious and important project that will make HSCC's research collection significantly more accessible to the public.

Chris is a long-time resident of Sullivan, where he lives with his wife Gaynelle.

Collections News

The Historical Society has a number of firearms in its collection that are important to Cheshire County history. Volunteer Jan Van den Beemt spent many hours this winter cleaning and photographing the collection and applying silicon to protect them from rust. Jan, who has an interest in firearms, was surprised and pleased by the size of the collection.

Two pieces of this collection are particularly noteworthy. One is a double barrel shotgun made in Keene in the 1860s. The other is a Colt revolver which was carried during the Civil War by a Dr. George B. Twitchell of Keene. Dr. Twitchell was surgeon-in-chief of the 6th and 7th divisions of the 17th Army Corps under General Ulysses S. Grant.

The shotgun was made by George Leonard. It is a very finely worked piece of great beauty. Mr. Leonard made rifled long guns and pistols as well. It was reported that one of his rifles shot a four-inch group at "40 rods" (220 yards). Mr. Leonard worked in Keene from 1859 to 1869, at which time he moved to California. His shop in Keene was in a building on Center St. behind the court house and Baptist Church.

The Historical Society is planning to exhibit some of its firearms this summer at the Wyman Tavern Museum.

In addition to Jan, there are eight other volunteers and interns working on collections projects at the Society. Two of these individuals are cataloging and photographing artifacts and four are organizing and collecting manuscript and historical photograph collections. Jan is working on both artifacts and archives. In addition to firearms, they are working on railroad photos, Civil War collections, hospital records, aviation records, family papers, glass and pottery collections, obituaries, and digitizing finding aids.

The activity of these volunteers keeps our work spaces buzzing with activity several days each week. Improved access to our collections is a major focus of the society's current strategic plan. The many hours of valuable work donated by these nine volunteers every week will be essential in accomplishing that goal.

New Items in the Museum Store

The Society is now selling copies of the documentary DVD on the Downtown Keene Historic District, courtesy of the City of Keene's Heritage Commission. Architectural historian and preservation consultant Elizabeth Durfee Hengen and historian Richard Scaramelli narrate a tour of the west side of Main Street, Keene, NH, highlighting the architectural features that define the Keene Historic District, established in 2004 to preserve the historical character of downtown Keene. Proceeds from the sale of this DVD support the Wyman Tavern Museum, Keene's most historic home. The DVD is $10.00 for non-members and $9.00 for HSCC members. It may be purchased at the HSCC Museum Store or on-line at www.hsccnh.org.

Donations and Volunteers Needed For Annual Used Book Sale

The Historical Society will hold its ninth annual used book sale on May 8 and 9, 2009. For the ninth year in a row a local book dealer has made a generous contribution of used books for our fund raising event. The Society 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 available for sale. Topics such as history, antiques, architecture, travel, nature, biography, 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, textbooks, or damaged items. This will generally be a "$1.00 per book" sale, but we also have an attractive selection of higher priced items in the fields of history, literature and other categories.

Are your bookshelves overflowing? We would be delighted to receive your books. They should be delivered to the Society by May 6th. Pick-up of items may also be possible. Please call 352-1895 if you are unsure if your books are appropriate for this sale or for additional information or if you have time to volunteer.

HSCC 2009 Program Sponsors

• Ariel Printing
• Ashuelot Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution
• Connecticut River Bank
• Creative Encounters
• Good Fortune
• Keene Sentinel
• Monadnock Folklore Society
• New Hampshire Humanities Council
• Savings Bank of Walpole
• Carin Torp Healing Arts PLLC

Calendar of Events

April

Wed., April 15, 4:15 - 6:15 p.m., HSCC

Friday, April 17, noon, HSCC
Naulakha Field Trip

Sun., April 17, 3:00 p.m., Colonial Theatre
Premier of Trolley's, Trains and Flyers

Mon. - Thurs., April 20 - 23, 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., HSCC
Children's Camp on Water Power and Mills

Sat., April 25, Wyman Tavern
Grounds clean-up

Mon., April 27, 7:00 p.m., HSCC
HSCC Annual Meeting and Special Program

Wed., April 29, 4:15 p.m.
Educators' Book Group

May

Sat., May 2, 10 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., HSCC
Antique Appraisal Day

Wed., May 6, depart 3:30 p.m., Fenway Park
Boston Red Sox vs. Cleveland Indians

Fri. - Sat., May 8 - 9, HSCC
HSCC Book Sale

Weds., May 13, 6 - 8 p.m., HSCC
Teacher Research Night

Fri., May 15, 6-8 p.m., HSCC
Opening Reception for Coming to Cheshire County Exhibit

Sat., May 16, 10 a.m., Walk to Perley Swett's Farm
Stoddard, NH

Sun., May 17, 3 p.m., Colonial Theatre
Premiere of Pisgah, a Place Apart

Sat., May 23, 10:30 a.m., HSCC
Wright Room Orientation

Thurs., May 28, 3 p.m., HSCC
Wright Room Orientation