Woodman Museum Opens for 2025 Season

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Gallery at the Woodman Museum

Now open for the 2025 season, guests at the Woodman Museum will experience several new exhibits, including an interactive gallery about colonial taverns. “You can walk in, play tavern games, collect recipes, see artifacts, and try on reproduction costuming,” noted Woodman Museum Executive Director Jon Nichols.

Popular permanent galleries include the nationally acclaimed Ninja Turtles exhibit and an Edwin Booth Theatre gallery, which contains memorabilia, costumes, and video montages. “The theatre is where filmmaker and director Robert Eggers started,” added Nichols. “Eggers directed the 2024 film Nosferatu, and a piece from the movie is on display.”

The real story behind the museum this year, however, may be what took place this past winter. In early November 2024, the museum’s boiler broke down, a development that necessitated the replacement of antique steam radiators with an electric mini-split system.

“This will allow us to better control the climate—everything from temperature to humidity—to help protect our collections,” explained Nichols, who expressed appreciation for community support, which included a sizeable private donation.

In looking to the 2025 season, Nichols said there is always a reason to come back more than once. “We have rotating galleries all year, so there are always going to be new experiences here at The Woodman,” he added.

The Woodman Museum is a member of the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail. “We are thrilled The Woodman is back in operation and ready to delight guests, young and old,” remarked Trail President Jeff Barraclough. “They are an important and leading member of The Trail.”

In addition to the Woodman Museum in Dover, member institutions on the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail are located in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, Merrimack Valley, and Seacoast.

In Luck Now at Last

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After retiring in 1910, millionaire shoe industrialist Thomas G. Plant began developing his grand retirement estate in the Ossipee Mountains of New Hampshire. He purchased 6,300 acres of land in Moultonborough and Tuftonboro, and hired architect J. Williams Beal to design an Arts & Crafts mansion that harmonized with the majestic scenery of the Lakes Region. Between 1913 and 1914, Plant employed over 1,000 construction laborers. They built a mansion, outbuildings, and recreational features across the property, including a golf course and 45 miles of carriage and bridle trails. The mansion was outfitted with modern conveniences, including central vacuum, interphones, and refrigeration. Plant engaged renowned artisans like Tiffany, Caldwell, and Wragge for the mansion’s high-end finishes. Local newspapers speculated he was building a “castle” for his new bride, Olive Dewey of Toulon, Illinois.

Thomas Plant and Olive Dewey met while traveling abroad in 1912. Olive was a well-educated young woman with progressive views. She had worked as a bank teller and teacher before meeting Plant. The couple shared a love of theater, museums, opera, and travel. They were married in the spring of 1913. When the Plants moved in the following year, they named their beloved mountaintop home “Lucknow”, perhaps to honor their good fortune, and Olive penned a poem of the same name to commemorate the splendor of their estate.

New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail Welcomes Devon Kurtz

NHBM Executive Director Devon Kurtz

The New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail recently welcomed Devon Kurtz as the new Executive Director of the New Hampshire Boat Museum (NHBM). Kurtz joins NHBM at a key time for the organization, which is opening for its first full season at its 24,000 square-foot Moultonborough facility on Saturday, May 24.

“We are thrilled to have Devon on board,” said Trail President Jeff Barraclough. “He has a wide breadth of museum experience and a unique perspective and passion for history that will resonate down the entire Trail.”

Kurtz has decades of experience working with museum exhibits, educational programming, and history. Most recently, he worked in the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, where he collaborated with the National Park Service to explore the regional impacts of the American Industrial Revolution. He has also worked at the Higgins Armory Museum, the Concord Museum, and Old Sturbridge Village living history museum.

“I’m really excited to return to a formal museum that also has boat building, lake rides, restoration, model building, and more,” said Kurtz. “NHBM is passionate about engaging visitors, and there’s potential to do even more of that.”

According to Kurtz, NHBM is uniquely positioned because they are “still building the museum.” “Over the next couple of years, we’ll be developing and experimenting with different types of interpretation – whether museum panels or use of technology – to engage visitors with our story,” he added.

He also highlighted NHBM’s strong team of volunteers working on exhibit designs all winter. On his second day in the office, he described helping volunteers carry in and paint “a huge stack” of wood to build the docks for NHBM’s Marina Exhibit, “Mahogany Marvels.” “Our volunteers have transformed this pile of lumber into extraordinary exhibits for our visitors,” he noted.

As NHBM prepares to open for the season, Kurtz said there’s “a buzzing excitement” around opening day. At the end of April, NHBM hung a sign with their logo outside their entrance. “To quote one volunteer,” he said, “‘We have arrived.’”

In addition to the New Hampshire Boat Museum in Moultonborough, member institutions on the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail are located in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, Merrimack Valley, and Seacoast.

Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm Offers Gardening Series

Tomatoes harvested at Remick Farm. Photo Credit – Priscilla Du Preez via Unsplash

On Saturday, May 10, Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm will host Soil Enhancements and Composting for Your Garden, the second in a seven session gardening series.

Designed for participants age 16 and older, the series is geared towards beginner gardeners, but Remick Museum Executive Director Cara Sutherland said more experienced gardeners “may learn a few new techniques along the way.” “The goal of this series is prompted by a growing awareness of how we can create food resiliency in these challenging times,” she said.

Citing that the series is inspired by the Victory gardens of World War I and World War II, Sutherland said a small garden allows people to be “a little bit less dependent” on today’s grocery stores. “You avoid uncertain pricing, and you can also experience a level of satisfaction that comes with growing your own food,” she added.

The series, which began in April, takes place one Saturday each month through October. Although the series follows the growing season and builds upon knowledge from the prior month, participants can choose to attend individual sessions. “The first three classes, as well as the September and October programs, are a combination of lecture and demonstration,” Sutherland explained. “The July and August classes will be hands-on workshops in the commercial kitchen where we will be making canned products to take home.”

According to Jeff Barraclough, president of the NH Heritage Museum Trail of which Remick Museum is a member, referred to the gardening series as “incredibly innovative.” “This is an exciting opportunity to get hands-on practical experience you can bring to your own home,” he said. “It’s also particularly special to honor the legacy of six generations of the Remick family who started growing food on this land over 200 years ago.”

Click here to learn more about the Remick Museum’s gardening series or pre-register.

Member institutions on the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail are located in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, Merrimack Valley, and Seacoast.

NH Heritage Museum Trail Digs Up History

Students in the Field

In June on the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail, Strawbery Banke Museum will host two two-week Archaeological Field Schools, a field session and lab session, at the Colonel Paul Wentworth House in Rollinsford. Built in 1701, the Paul Wentworth House is one of the oldest surviving dwellings in New Hampshire and is currently maintained by the Association for Rollinsford Culture and History (ARCH).

“We are delighted to partner with ARCH for this program,” said Strawbery Banke Museum Archaeologist Dr. Alexandra Martin, who will run the Field School with Dr. Tad Baker, Historical Archaeologist and Professor at Salem State University. “This is a unique opportunity to combine our resources and offer students hands-on training in archaeological methods.”

Designed for anyone 18 and up interested in archaeology, historic preservation, and local history, these sessions will “offer students hands-on training in archaeological methods,” said Martin. In the field session, students will lay out excavation units, dig, locate artifacts, and map and document cultural resources. In the lab session, students will clean and preserve artifacts collected in the field while learning about the role archaeological research plays in designing museum exhibits.

“Unlike historic documents, which tend to exclude women, children, and people of color, everyone is represented in the trash left behind,” explained Martin.“Archaeology helps to show us that everyone is a part of history and that even the details of our own everyday lives are contributing to the historic record for future generations to learn from.”

ARCH Board Vice President Lucy Putnam emphasized that the organization is “ thrilled to be partnering with Strawbery Banke Museum on the Field School this summer.” She added, “We are particularly interested in learning more about the lives of the enslaved inhabitants of the house. As little is known about their daily lives, we hope the project will bring additional information to light.”

Visitors are welcome to visit the site during the Archaeology Field School. Both sessions occur from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. The field session starts on Tuesday, June 3, and runs until Saturday, June 14, at the Colonel Paul Wentworth House in Rollinsford, while the lab session takes place from Monday, June 16, through Friday, June 27, at the Carter Collections Center at Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth. Click here to learn more.

In addition to Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth, member institutions on the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail are located in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, Merrimack Valley, and Seacoast.

Story of Two Flags

A Story of Two Flags

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These flags, carried by the Second New Hampshire Continental Regiment, are the only known surviving stand, or set, of national and regimental flags from the Revolutionary War, but that is not the only remarkable thing about them. In fact they remained hidden for over a century and a half and crossed the Atlantic twice before they returned home to the Granite State.

The flags were sewn by Fanny Johonnot Williams, a milliner, and painted by decorative painter Daniel Rea Jr. in Boston in 1777. The blue regimental flag’s central design showcases the 2nd NH’s iconic motto, “the glory not the prey.” The buff flag was a national flag and bears an emblem of 13 interlocking rings, based on a design by Benjamin Franklin that was widely used in the early years of the war.

The flags were taken by the British Army as American forces retreated to Fort Anne, New York, in July 1777. The British commander brought them back to his home in England as a souvenir and they remained there in the possession of his descendants, nearly forgotten, until a researcher located and identified them in 1907. New Hampshire Governor Robert P. Bass solicited funds from the public to purchase the flags from their British owner, George Rogers, but the fundraising machinery moved too slowly and Rogers grew restless and started looking elsewhere for buyers. Finally, in 1912, New Hampshire native and philanthropist Edward Tuck, fearing that the flags would slip away and stay in private hands, purchased them for £200 and had them shipped home. The state of New Hampshire hoped that Tuck would allow the flags to be displayed at the State House, but instead he gave them to the New Hampshire Historical Society, believing the Society would be the better caretaker.

The flags have recently been conserved thanks to the generosity of the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia and the Society of the Cincinnati. They are currently on loan to the MAR as part of Banners of Liberty: An Exhibition of Original Revolutionary War Flags, which will run from April 19 to August 10, 2025.

Community Manchester Historic Association Announces Historic Preservation Award Honorees

Cohas Brook Trestle

On Tuesday, May 20 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Manchester Historic Association (MHA) will hold the 33rd Historic Preservation Awards Ceremony at Derryfield School in Manchester.

“This is an opportunity to celebrate our friends and partners in the community who are doing their part to preserve Manchester’s history,” said MHA Executive Director Jeff Barraclough. “This event recognizes the efforts of individuals, businesses and organizations in Manchester who have made significant contributions to the preservation of that heritage.”

A committee reviewed nominations and selected five individuals, organizations, and businesses for their contributions to the preservation of buildings, neighborhoods, traditions, and other historic resources in Manchester. 2025 honorees include: Richard Soares (Homeowners Award), Lucia Merritt Carlisle (Stewardship Award), City of Manchester Public Works for the Cohas Brook Trestle (Conservation of Natural and Structural Resources Award), First Baptist Church (City Landmark Award), and Antiques on Elm (Conservation of Cultural Resources Award).

“The Awards Ceremony is a lively and exciting event with a very interesting program that highlights the history of the five honorees and how the owners have preserved the history of each property,” said Barraclough.

Tickets for the event, which includes a buffet dinner and cocktail reception, are $100 for MHA members and $125 for general admission. Event proceeds will support events, educational programs, and collection care at Millyard Museum, operated by MHA. Millyard Museum is one of nearly two dozen museums on the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail, which is located in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, Merrimack Valley, and Seacoast.

Click here to learn more about the Historic Preservation Awards Ceremony or purchase tickets.

John And Molly Stark

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John and Molly Stark are New Hampshire’s most influential couple who served their country during the American Revolution. General John Stark (1728-1822) was New Hampshire’s Revolutionary War hero. Born in Londonderry, his family moved to Derryfield (now Manchester) when he was eight years old. As a young man, he served with ‘Roger’s Rangers’ during the French & Indian War.

At the outbreak of the American Revolution, Stark returned to military service for the Continental Army, and was appointed colonel of the 1st New Hampshire Regiment, which he led at the Battle of Bunker Hill. In 1776, Stark successfully commanded his men at the Battles of Trenton and Princeton.

In 1777, Stark feared a British threat coming from Canada and organized a militia force to defend New Hampshire and Vermont. After learning that British forces were approaching Bennington, Vermont for supplies, Stark mustered his men at Bennington. The battle began on August 13 and ended in an American victory. This victory was seen as a turning point in the war and as the precursor to the British defeat at Saratoga a few months later. Stark remained active throughout the rest of the Revolutionary War and resigned from duty on November 3rd, 1783 after the war officially ended. He died in 1822 at the age of 94 as the last surviving Revolutionary War general. General Stark fully embodied the words, “Live free or die; death is not the worst of evils.” The “Hero of Bennington” not only lived by these words, he wrote them 136 years before it became New Hampshire’s official state motto.

Elizabeth “Molly” (Page) Stark (1737-1814), although best known as the wife of John Stark, was a remarkable woman in her own right. Around 1752 the Page family relocated from Haverhill, Massachusetts to land owned by the Stark family in Dunbarton, NH. No stranger to firearms, Elizabeth reportedly brought down a bear shortly after the family moved to their new home. During their marriage, John Stark was frequently away at war, leaving Molly to raise their 11 living children, teaching them all to read and write, and run the family farm.

After the Revolutionary War began and John headed to Massachusetts, Molly frequently delivered clothes and food by horseback. Some reports say she was present at the Battle of Bunker Hill, helping to reload muskets. Molly served as a nurse and doctor to Hessian soldiers captured by her husband’s troops during a smallpox epidemic in August 1777. The sick men were sent to the Stark’s New Hampshire home, which served as a hospital. Molly Stark was the subject of a famous rallying cry uttered by her husband as a way to rally the troops at the Battle of Bennington on August 16, 1777: “There are the redcoats and they are ours, or this night Molly Stark sleeps a widow!”

Molly died in 1814 at the age of 77. John and Molly Stark are buried in the family plot at Stark Park on River Road in Manchester.

Community Valentine’s Project Highlights Portsmouth’s Rich History

A Valentine made for the Community Valentine’s Project

In early February, Portsmouth Historical Society hosted its first Community Valentine’s Project to show love for places and buildings in Portsmouth. In total, approximately two dozen Valentines were crafted during the event and subsequently hung on the City of Portsmouth’s “Tree of Love” in Market Square for a week after the event.

“This program was conceptualized by our newest staff member, Verity Boyer, who is passionate about sharing the importance of historic preservation with the community,” said Marketing Manager Sabina Ion. “Her idea was to show our love and appreciation for the buildings and spaces around us that impact people’s lives and bring joy to the community.”

Valentines contained messages to locations around Portsmouth, including the John Paul Jones House, Moffatt-Ladd House, Rockingham lions, former Daily Times Building, Ona Judge mural, Strawberry Banke Museum, Memorial Bridge, and African Burying Grounds. “The messages draw attention to how people are still interacting with the monuments of our past and show what an impact the historic character of this city has on the current residents,” Ion said.

Portsmouth Historical Society is a member of the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail. “This event promoted connection to place, history, and culture in a fun and creative way,” said Trail President Jeff Barraclough. “We hope people can turn to museums on The Trail for not just education, but fun experiences for the entire family.”

According to Ion, Portsmouth Historical Society plans to make the Community Valentine’s Project an annual event in partnership with the City of Portsmouth. “This program supports our mission of connecting the community to our past, present, and future,” she explained. Click here to learn more Portsmouth Historical Society.

In addition to the Portsmouth Historical Society in Portsmouth, member institutions on the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail are located in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, Merrimack Valley, and Seacoast.

New England Racing Museum Celebrates “TrueLOVE” in February

Russ Truelove’s 1956 Mercury

New England Racing Museum is offering $5 off admission in February in honor of “TrueLOVE”, where they will feature the 1956 Mercury Russ Truelove famously raced and crashed on the Daytona Beach and Road Course.

The Mercury has been loaned to New England Racing Museum by the NASCAR Hall of Fame. “It is the only New England car to compete in the Daytona Beach and Road course that survives,” said Ruth Thompson, New England Racing Museum Deputy Director & Assistant to the President.

After qualifying 5th in the “flying mile time trial” at the Daytona course in 1956, Truelove rolled the Mercury six times. The crash was later featured in Life Magazine. In addition to the repaired car, the display at New England Racing Museum features the magazine spread and a film clip of the crash.

“The car is in great condition,” said Thompson. “The interior looks as it did when Truelove raced it with its original dashboard, steering wheel, crank windows, and bench seat. It has become a lot of visitors’ favorite car to see.”

Truelove’s daughter, Robin Truelove Stronk of Westmoreland, New Hampshire, said her father “lived to race.” “He literally took a stock car on a payment plan from the showroom floor where he worked as a salesman with the idea of racing it in the 1956 Grand National at Daytona,” she said.

When situations went awry, such as after the crash, her father always said, “’I’ll think of something,’” added Truelove Stronk.

New England Racing Museum is offering $5 off admission for in February. This month, the museum gift shop is also promoting its first women’s t-shirt in the shade of raspberry for $20. Click here for more information about New England Racing Museum.

In addition to the New England Racing Museum in Loudon, member institutions on the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail are located in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, Merrimack Valley, and Seacoast.

The Trail Holds Professional Development Day for Educators

The “Cultivating Teacher Care” event at Castle in the Clouds in 2024

On Thursday, February 6, Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough will host their second annual Professional Development Day for educators, Cultivating Teacher Care at the Castle.

“We want to provide a unique and relaxing day of learning that showcases Castle in the Clouds and all we have to offer,” said Debbi Finkelstein, Director of Education & Partnerships at Castle in the Clouds. “Our mission is all about sharing and educating, so this program fits in perfectly.”

The event is designed for educators who teach kindergarten through grade 12, but Finkelstein said preschool teachers and college level instructors are also welcome. During the event, educators will have the opportunity to network and participate in activities such as mindfulness journaling, crafting, and yoga. The event will also feature an informational session, Good Food, Good Mood, with nutritionist Katy Magoon and From Canvas to Film: Exploring the Art & Artists of Lucknow, a presentation by Castle in the Clouds Curator & Director of Preservation Robin Sherman.

According to Trail President Jeff Barraclough, events like these are “at the heart of our mission to connect the public with our culturally rich member institutions.” He added, “Supporting educators in the state and beyond means we are also supporting the next generation’s stewards of history.”

Educators at last year’s event

Taking place on Thursday, February 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Cultivating Teacher Care at the Castle requires pre-registration and costs $150 per person. Lunch will be provided along with a short hike around the property, weather permitting. Each educator will be entered into a raffle with the opportunity to win a complimentary Castle in the Clouds Family Membership, a Family Four Pack, and a $50 gift certificate for use at the estate.

Interested educators in New Hampshire and surrounding states can pre-register and learn more here. Castle in the Clouds will also host a free annual Teacher Open House in June with more information to be released soon.

In addition to Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough, member institutions on The Trail are located in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, Merrimack Valley, and Seacoast.

Revolutionary Women

A Hetchel

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Hetchels were used to break down flax into silky fibers that were spun into thread. The thread was then woven into linen. In 1764, Parliament passed the Sugar Act, taxing imported textiles. To protest this tax, women boycotted imported fabrics and made more linen to lessen dependence on British wool. During a time when women were banned from political participation, boycotts provided ways for women to make their voices heard. The Daughters of Liberty organized spinning circles to support this boycott and the Sugar Act was repealed within two years. With the introduction of cotton in the south, flax fell out of favor in the north, placing more pressure on southern industry and contributing to the tragedy of the Atlantic slave trade.

The impact of textile protests can still be seen in today’s American culture in the black armbands traditionally worn as a symbol of mourning. In the earlier colonial period, people wore mourning clothes when a loved one died. To reduce the need for imported fabric, colonial Americans began to use mourning armbands during the boycotts, which reduced fabric consumption and lessened dependence on imported textiles.