Welcome to the New Market Historical Society

We are dedicated to increasing public understanding and enthusiasm for our local history and preservation.  Our mission is to provide a central location, where we can store, introduce, interpret, and stimulate the study of local history. Our goals are to tell Newmarket’s story, preserve its local artifacts, and sponsor historical events and educational opportunities.  Please consult our program of events for exact dates, times, and locations for our meetings and events. 

The public is always welcome to attend our educational meetings, which are free except for select special events.

Donations are always welcomed and greatly appreciated!

Our Programs this year feature  “Life By The Bay”

This Month’s program will be Monday Night, June 25th at 7 p.m. at the Stone School Museum  

ADAMS POINT — A Destination, Collection, and History 

            CURRENTLY —

            The MUSEUM IS OPEN, SATURDAYS

             10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

            JUNE, JULY & AUGUST  

Featured are selected items to include photographs, wood carvings, and artifacts

from The Captain Edward Adams Collection 

These items were previously housed at the Sheafe Warehouse, and are now cared for by the staff at Portsmouth Public Library.  They are on loan from the City of Portsmouth Public Library “Special Collections”,  and the Adams and Hatch paintings are courtesy of the private collection of Robert S. Chase.  The loan for this collection was funded in part by Michael & Shirley Provost, Heritage Consulting.

Captain Edward H. Adams  (1860-1951)

Adams was a skilled builder and artist who completed his last gundalow, the Driftwood, in 1950 with his son and business partner Edward Cass Adams. The Captain passed away on April 9, 1951 at the age of 91. 

Between Adams’ earliest carvings and those completed by Cass after his death, more than ninety years of animal and fish carvings, ship models and other folk art are represented in this collections, each of which offer singularly unique interactions with the region’s environmental and maritime past. 

 More Detailed information  can be found on our Events Page 

Special Event — Stepping Out By The Bay  —

Ladies,  IT’S ALL ABOUT  THE SHOES !

This year’s Historical Society Tea  will  feature a presentation on the history of shoes by UNH Proffesor Dr. Kimberly Alexander on Sunday, July 29th, 2 - 4 p.m. at the Newmarket Town Hall.    A special red carpet runway will  enable  Ladies (and Gentlemen)  to strut their stuff in their fancy footwear.

Ladies are encouraged to bring “gently-worn” dress shoes as a donation to the Newmarket Community Church Prominence Boutique  Program, and Gentlemen are encouraged to bring “gently worn” footwear as a donation to the Church’s Thrift Shop. 

Tickets are $10 for members, and $15 for non-members, and can be purchased via Pay Pal on this website, or by calling 603-659-3289. 

Coming Next on June 25, 2018 :

ADAMS POINT -- A DESTINATION, COLLECTION, AND HISTORY

Monday, June 25th, 7 pm

In the early 1900s, Adams Point was THE destination  for many a “City Folk” who would arrive at Rockingham Junction and either be taken by boat (depending on the tides) or be picked by carriage (or later by motorcar)  and journey through Newmarket to the four story boarding house jutting out into Great Bay. 

Neither lack of electricity, nor inconvenience of no indoor plumbing kept the more well-to-do from sitting out on the large verdanda and inhaling the refreshing and “restorative”  sea abreezes.  Ladies would picnic and gather the wild strawberries, men would try their luck at clamming, fishing or oystering. 

Both sexes would go for excursions to the “quaint” cities of Dover or Portsmouth, or they would venture into the nearby forests. 

(photos: New Market Historical Society photos: the abandoned Adams Homestead in 1966, after vandals damaged the property; and a Great Bay bathing party in the early 1900s.)