Feature Exhibit to Explore Immigrant Experience in Cheshire County

A feature exhibit that looks at the experience of immigrants to Cheshire County will open on Saturday, May 16 at the Historical Society of Cheshire County, 246 Main Street in Keene.

The exhibit will focus on immigration to Cheshire County between the 1860s and 1930's and the experiences of those immigrants who left their native countries to make a new home in southwest New Hampshire. It will offer an overview of immigration to the region and will focus on immigrants from several countries which saw large numbers of people move into Cheshire County during this period. These countries include 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 as well as items from the Society's collections will be used to help illustrate the immigrant story.

"The experience of reaching out to local families to learn their stories has been very rewarding," said Alan Rumrill, Executive Director of the Historical Society of Cheshire County. "Many people have come forward to share their memories, pictures, letters, and other artifacts from their family's early life in Cheshire County. It promises to be a very personal exhibit while also telling a larger story of local history."

This exhibit will be in place in the Exhibit Hall at the Historical Society from May 16 through September 26, 2009 and may be viewed during the Society's open hours. The Historical Society is open to the public on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9 am to 4 pm, Wednesday, from 9 am to 9 pm, and Saturday morning from 9 am to noon.

For further information, contact the Historical Society at 352-1895 or view its website at www.hsccnh.org.