November 2010

The Caleb Cushing House Museum houses the collection of the Historical Society of Old Newbury. The society dates back to 1877 and was organized for the purpose of the study and remembrance of Newbury's history.

The dramatic wall murals in the hallway are the oldest colonial wall paintings still in place in America. Although it is not certain who painted the murals that Macpheadris commissioned shortly after the house was built, they depict scenes as varied as a Dutch woman spinning, a scene from the Bible, and two Indian Sachems visiting the Queen of England.

The Warner House is named for the Portsmouth merchant, Jonathan Warner, who married Mary Macpheadris in 1760. Jonathan outlived both Mary and daughter, Polly, whose portraits were painted by Joseph Blackburn in 1761 and hang in the house today.

The Warner House Association was formed in the 1930's. Many of the original artifacts and furniture have been returned by family members to the house.
Visitors to the house are in for a real treat as they step back in time and see Portsmouth history come alive by taking a guided tour that takes under an hour.

The Mansion reflects five distinct periods of architecture. The extraordinary skill of New Hampshire's eighteenth century craftsmen is exhibited in the intricate hand-carved mantelpiece. The council chamber and the spy closet reveal details about daily life and government during the colonial period. Purple lilacs, descendants of the first European stock imported by Wentworth, decorate the grounds. Its stateliness and impressive interior and furnishings reflect aristocratic life in Portsmouth in the 1700s.

Guests can visit the Coolidge Visitor Center, located on the grounds. The grounds and the Visitor Center are available to rent for events and meetings. Picnicking on the grounds is welcomed; however, pets are prohibited. Restrooms are available in the carriage house.

The Moffatt-Ladd House and Garden (1763) is a National Historic Landmark open to the public as a historic house museum since 1912. During the Revolution, it was the home of General William Whipple, one of New Hampshire's three signers of the Declaration of Independence and his wife Katharine Moffatt Whipple. In 1817 the house passed to John Moffatt's great granddaughter, Maria Tufton Haven Ladd. Her son, Alexander Hamilton Ladd, lived in the house from 1862 until his death in 1900. The house is furnished to showcase its original features and to reflect its use as a private home from 1763 through 1900.

The Penacook Historical Society was organized in 1995 to foster appreciation for the history of the village and vicinity of Penacook, New Hampshire.

Regular membership meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month (except December, July, and August) at the historic 1834 Rolfe House in Penacook at 11 Penacook Street. Meetings begin with a potluck supper at 6:00 p.m., followed by a program at 7:00 p.m. and reports from officers and directors.

Step inside the historic entrance or new glass atrium doors and begin exploring Greeley's rich history. There are mini-exhibits and temporary exhibits (typically changed every six months). Utopia: Adaptation on the Great American Desert is the permanent exhibit of Greeley's history, ranging from fossils and the earliest human inhabitants through the Union Colony's beginnings in 1870, to the contributions of its "water buffaloes," mavericks and mentors.

The Ossipee Historical Society, organized in 1920, currently has about 120 members and an active schedule. They hold programs on the third Tuesday of each month, April through September, beginning at 7 p.m., in the historic Carroll County Courthouse, Ossipee Village. The evening begins with a brief business meeting, followed by a program with either a political, historical, educational or musical theme. Refreshments are served after the conclusion of the entertainment. They also sponsor several special events during the year.

In addition to the Courthouse, the Society owns and cares for the Early Settlers Meeting House, dating from the 1820s, located on Granite Road at Leighton's Corner in the Granite section of Ossipee. They also own Grant Hall, located on Route 16B in Center Ossipee, which began life in the 1830s as a general store.