Welcome to our 2012 calendar. The following events have been confirmed. Unless noted, these will be held at the New London Historical Society (get directions). Please check this web site for the latest available information. Be sure to check out our summer exhibits as well.
If you have suggestions for future presentations or craft demonstrations, please send us an e-mail. We look forward to hearing from you.
▣ Mar 20 Maple Sugaring
Dale Conly, NLHS docent and former board member, shares his passion for backyard maple sugaring in New London. Have you been thinking of tapping your maple trees? How do you tell a red maple from a sugar maple? Which trees can you tap? Bring all your questions for this informative and entertaining discussion.
- Location: TRACY LIBRARY (Meeting Room)
- Dessert at 7:00 PM. Program at 7:30.
- Free admission.
❖ Apr 24 Curtain Up: Lively Preview of 2012 Season
A preview the exciting 80th New London Barn Playhouse season in song, story, interesting historic tidbits and inside Barn Playhouse stories.
Presentation by Carol Dunne, Artistic Director, and Tom DeMille, Board President.
- Location: MEETING HOUSE (at NLHS)
- Dessert at 7:00 PM. Presentation at 7:30 PM.
- Admission is $4 for NLHS members and $6 for non-members. Memberships available at the door.
▣ May 12 Young at Art Show
An exhibit of the talented young artists from throughout the Kearsarge/Sunapee region, presented in cooperation with area schools. Come view the works of tomorrow’s legends!
This show is open to all students (kindergarten through grade twelve) from the towns of Andover, Bradford, Grantham, New London, Newport, Springfield, Sunapee, Sutton, Warner, and Wilmot.
Please return a registration form no later than May 1, 2012. Artists may enter one or two pieces of work. Eligible categories are:
1. Drawing: pencil, charcoal, pastel, pen & ink, crayon, and/or markers
2. Painting: watercolor, acrylic, oil, tempra
3. Photography: any type
4. Three Dimensional: sculpture, jewelry, painted/decorated boxes, etc.
Your artwork should be signed and MATTED, FRAMED, or ATTACHED TO A LARGER PIECE OF POSTER BOARD OR CONSTRUCTION PAPER. Two dimensional artwork that is not ready to hang will not be displayed. (Charcoal, pastel, crayon and other artwork should be wrapped in plastic for protection.)
Entries will be judged by area artists, and three cash prizes will be awarded in each of the following grade categories: Primary (K-2), Intermediate/Elementary (3-5), Middle (6-8), and Secondary (9-12). Winning entries will be exhibited at Tracy Memorial Library for one week following the show.
We hope you will join us for the show on Saturday, May 12th, at the New London Historical Society. Refreshments will be served and prizes awarded at 3:30 PM.
▣ May 16 New England: Myth or Reality
The six states known as New England have been romanticized in art and literature for more than 200 years, creating a reality that is touched by myth. How has this myth-making affected the region? This presentation by Edie Clark, a longtime writer for "Yankee" magazine, will focus on the works of Robert Frost, Norman Rockwell, Wallace Nutting, and more recently, "Yankee" magazine. These and others have created such an impression of distinct reality, even the current inhabitants of the region have a hard time knowing whether what they see all around them is real or imagined.
- Location: MEETING HOUSE (at NLHS)
- Dessert at 7:00 PM. Presentation at 7:30 PM.
- Sponsored by the NH Humanities Council and NLHS. Free admission.
❖ Jun 13 Rounders to Baseball: A History
There is perhaps no more American a sport than baseball. Who can think of summertime without thinking of ballparks, the crack of bat and ball, the thrill of a home run? Anne Barrett will trace baseball's evolution from 19th century "townball" to the formation of professional leagues and the emergence of baseball's greats, including, of course, the Boston Red Sox. Discover the roots of this abiding American passion. Presented by Anne Barrett.
- Location: MEETING HOUSE (at NLHS)
- Dessert at 7:00 PM. Presentation at 7:30 PM.
- Admission is $4 for NLHS members and $6 for non-members. Memberships available at the door.
▣ Jul 8 Big House, Little House...
Through architecture unique to northern New England, this illustrated talk introduces history common to New Hampshire farmers and focuses on several case studies that show how farmers converted their typical separate house and barns into connected farmsteads. Thomas Hubka's research in his award-winning book, "Big House, Little House, Back House, Barn: The Connected Farm Buildings of New England," demonstrates that average farmers were motivated by competition with farmers in other regions of America who had better soils and growing seasons and fewer rocks. The connected farmstead organization, housing, mixed-farming and home-industry, was one response to the competitive threat. Professor Hubka's research has become a standard for the study of New England farm architecture.
(Please note: this date remains tentative and may be changed to July 10, depending on the speaker's schedule.)
- Location: MEETING HOUSE (at NLHS)
- Dessert at 7:00 PM. Presentation at 7:30 PM.
- Sponsored by the NH Humanities Council and NLHS. Free admission.
▣ Aug 12 19th Century American Popular Music
American music has much to do with our identity as a nation. More than just entertainment, music is connected with social conditions, emerging from the sea, from cotton fields, lumber camps, and kitchens. Twentieth century music: blues, country, swing, rock, gospel, folk all emerged from earlier forms such as hymns, minstrel tunes, sea chanteys, voyageur tunes, ragtime, and patriotic songs from the Civil War. Come hear history played live on the banjo and mandolin. Presented by Eric Bye.
- Location: MEETING HOUSE (at NLHS)
- Brief NLHS Annual Meeting at 4:00 PM, followed by the presentation.
- Sponsored by the NH Humanities Council and NLHS. Free admission.
☎ Sep 15 Main Street, New London
Join us for a narrated tour of lower Main Street, where you will meet some characters from New London's past. Requires at least 1.5 hours of walking between Tracy Library and Spring Ledge Farm, with frequent breaks. Golf carts, provided by Lake Sunapee Country Club, are available.
Tour groups are limited to 15 people. The first tour leaves at 10:00 AM and then every half hour until 1:00 PM. Advance reservations are required; plan to arrive at least 10 minutes beforehand as tours will start promptly. Parking is available in the town parking lot near Tracy Library or behind the Charter Trust building. You may also leave a car at the Barn Playhouse parking lot off Williams Road. Shuttle service back to Tracy Library will be provided.
No rain date.
- Location: PARKING LOT near Tracy Library.
- Admission: $5, 12 and under are free.
- Reservations required — please call JL Tonner at 526-6858.
❖ Sep 30 Old Home Day
Fun for the whole family…19th century games…hearthside cooking…general store….weaving and spinning…antique carriages and fire equipment… & more!
- Location: NLHS VILLAGE
- Ongoing demonstrations and activities from 11 AM to 3 PM.
- Admission: $4 members, $6 non-members. Memberships available at the gate.
❖ Dec 2 Holiday Open House
Sunday, December 2, 2011
11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
Take a step back in time and enjoy the pleasures of a homegrown small town holiday on the grounds of the New London Historical Society. You’ll encounter strolling musicians and enjoy miniconcerts throughout the day in the Transportation Building.
The Town Crier will direct you to scheduled performances.
• Shop at the General Store for baked goods. And restore your energy with refreshments in the Meeting House.
• Visit the hearthside cookers at the Scytheville House where you can sample their home-made creations, and marvel at the diversity of items they can cook on an open fire!
• The Holiday Craft Room will feature a variety of other crafts. ($1 per child fee for Craft Room.)
• Capture a seasonal and historic image of friends and family in our decorated antique sleigh – perfect for greeting cards.
• Shop for one-of-a-kind and favorite items at the Silent Auction.
Admission: $4 members, $6 non-members. Memberships available at the gate.