End
of the Year Report, Marlow Historical Society: 2005
Our
mission is to restore and preserve Marlow's historic buildings and collect and
share Marlow's historic materials.
We began 2005 with Hal Brown's lecture at Jones Hall on criminal justice and
forensics in this region from colonial times to the present. In March we hosted
"Meet the Candidates". April brought the New Hampshire Humanities
Council program, Eric Bye's "Early Nineteenth Century Music". May
ushered in spring cleanup. We found in the Hearse House interesting objects
which we hope to display during warm-weather town events. Also in May, some
joined the Women's Society in a tour of Harrisville. Summer brought our major
fund-raiser, Monadnock Music Dinner .
We collect, preserve, and display Marlow historical materials. We publish and
sell "The History of Marlow," edited by Betty Batchelder. We have
moved our warm weather museum hours to the third Sunday of each month, 9:30 to
11:30 AM to coincide with the Odd Fellows breakfasts and have since had more
visitors. We copy fragile materials. Our new Web Forum contains a feature
article which will be changed periodically, but old articles will be archived.
It offers opportunities to post questions and engage in discussions about Marlow
history and genealogy. Through it, we located a nineteenth century album quilt
with Marlow names and copies of Civil War letters written by Marlow residents.
Charles Strickland has been working with Tracy Messer to produce a quality
documentary on the 1941 Marlow Fire and its heroes. We rescued materials deemed
a fire hazard from the stairwell of Jones Hall and discovered many interesting
old books and pamphlets including early Congressional Records from as far back
as the Federalist Period. Pat Gallup has graciously donated two bookcases for
shelving these materials.
Our Youth Group, informally organized until this year, chaired by JoAnn
Hartwell, became official with its own bank account and officers. It has
accomplished much. The young people bussed tables at the Monadnock Music Dinner
and carried for crafters at the Harvest Fest for which they also planned a Field
Day with a free ice cream parlor or the younger children. They made huge signs
and decorated the Chapel. Although the warm winter weather ruined their plans to
hold skating and sliding parties for the Marlow children, they remained active.
In February they decorated Perkins School gym for a Romantic Dinner children
were giving their parents and baby sat while the parents enjoyed their evening
out. They made health kits for the tsunami victims and local families whose
homes had burned and have been preparing meals for those who are ill and
housebound. They also helped the victims of Hurricane Katrina, We are proud of
them and their community spirit.
Marlow Historical Society sponsors The Marlow Art Colony which meets at Murray
Hall or the Chapel, has maintained a display at Tremblay's Cafe in Newport, and
exhibits at Keene's Art in the Park, our own Art in the Woods, and our Annual
Harvest Fest Art Exhibition and Christmas on the Pond.
Looking ahead, in preparation for next year's membership drive, we asked for and
received, through the selectmen, a copy of the town blotter so that we may
contact new arrivals.
On Sept. 15, we held our Annual meeting with a pot luck supper and elections.
The following officers were elected:
President:
Mary Blank
Vice President: Charles Strickland
Secretary and Corresponding Secretary: Loisanne
Foster
Treasurer: Mary Blank
Board of Directors: Candy Wiggum
Also on the Board of Directors are JoAnne Hartwell and John Salo.
We have been active in several behind-the -scenes matters. We joined the Marlow
Women’s Society in sharing the expense of a plaque at Jones Hall in honor of
Betty Bacheldor and also shared the expense of replacement for the stolen Marlow
sign on Route 10 north of town. We have maintained the Marllow Historical
Society Forum, featuring and article on Marlow Academy and corresponding with
many interested in various aspects of Marlow history. We hope to continue our
stewardship of The Grange and Jones Hall and hope to expand our means and work
capacity so that both will be preserved and increasingly useful.
We have made progress on Murray Hall (The Grange) restoration this year,
reducing our last restoration bill of over $10,000.00 to a few hundred dollars.
Aside from our sales, we have received contributions including nearly $300.00
from Aaron Dimlich in memory of Marge Davis, money he raised through his hunting
trophy show. We have had two historically correct sashes and windows installed.
Volunteers have helped with clean up and in other ways. John Salo built front
and back platform steps with donated lumber. Susan Rock painted the front door.
Jones Hall has not been neglected. We removed fire hazards from Jones Hall, and
Candy Wiggum saved Jones Hall floor from scratches by placing donated protectors
on chair legs. Mary and Al filled the cracks in the infamous Jones Hall
emergency door and planed it as it formerly took great force to open. We have
been working with Jacqui Fay in supplying her with information which will help
her write a Preservation Alliance grant application for a feasibility study and
future grants for further restoration there.
The consensus of the membership present at our Sept. 15 Annual meeting was that
we should reestablish the Marlow Preservation Fund (begun in1996) on a permanent
basis, having an administrative board representing all stake-holders. It was
suggested that the fund broaden its mission to include all historic public
buildings in Marlow rather than only Jones Hall, The Old Marlow Academy
building, and the church. Several suggested that, instead of relying solely on
private donations as before, we should seek private and public grants to fulfill
our restoration mission. We have been researching grants and the legal
ramifications of receiving them.
We have also been researching how to reduce the insurance cost for The
Grange.Through contacting other New Hampshire historical societies, Mary Blank
has found a company which will insure the building for little more than we are
required to pay for liability.
Following the September Annual meeting, we participated in the Harvest Fest with
our booth and the Youth Group’s Kids Korner in which they provided games and a
free Ice cream Parlor for the children. We had engaged Marek bennett to produce
a unique “Marlow, the Ice Box of Cheshire County” design and were able to
have that at our booth as well as the Marlow History, sold out again, and our
usual cards, note paper and educational materials. In addition, we sponsored a
sneak preview of Charles Strickland's and Tracy Messer’s documentary on the
Marlow Fire. There were several showings of the work in progress and Tracy also
conducted further research on the spot, collecting photocopies of pictures and
conducting interviews. We kept the MHS Museum open at the Harvest fest, and
Marek Bennett played the old Estes pump organ, built in Brattleboro. We
sponsored the Harvest festival Art Show and Jonathan Reinhardt as a strolling
minstrel.
On November 19, MHS participated in Christmas on the Pond with our booth of
sales and free educational materials. Once again, the Youth Group supplied the
wreaths along the fence and helped in practical ways.
In the autumn we began sponsoring a Song Swap held monthly at Jones Hall. Kate
McNally and Jonathan Reinhardt are in charge of the event itself. This has been
much enjoyed by participants and audiences.
On December 3, we sponsored the New Hampshire Humanities Council program,
“Sing a Song of Seasons” with Frank Behrens, our contribution last year to
Marlow’s Christmas celebration.
We look forward this year to seeing The Grange (Murray Hall) painted, expansion
of the new MHS Forum, and, perhaps, playing a role in a cooperative venture to
reestablish the Marlow Preservation Fund. Despite our small number, we have been
able to further our mission. Given our small number, we cannot do all that needs
to be done. We wish to play a role in cooperation with other organizations in
preserving the historic treasures of this beautiful community.
Respectfully submitted,
Loisanne Foster, Secretary, MHS