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!

Join us during our 2019 year long celebration of

Newmarket’s Immigrant Families & Their Stories

With special programs, stories, letters, photographs, news articles, and textiles dedicated to refugees, and immigrant families from Ireland, French Canada, Poland, Laos, Russia, and Germany … those who came and changed the fabric of this mill town.

The New Market Historical Society recently began a family genealogy section with information supplied by town residents over the years, as well as those created through our own research.  People from across the country have contacted us looking for family connections and have submitted their own family trees as well, which are now housed in the Stone School Museum.

We welcome all our members and visitors to share their family stories of  journey and struggle. 

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Check our events page for a schedule of  our 2019 programs….

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The Stone School Museum is now open during the summer on

Sundays July and August  — 9 am to 12:30 pm 

Our hours coincide with the Newmarket Farmers’ Market held again this year between the Stone School and the Stone Church.

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School Museum recent donation

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Judge J. Bartlett Griffin’s rolltop desk, which for decades was the  invoice-covered anchor in Griffin’s Hardware Store on South Main Street …

and a very large  1880s  conical antique screw rack which was also used for over 100 years at the Griffin’s.  Both items were donated to the Stone School Museum by Rolfe Voltaire, former owner of the hardware store. 

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We are pleased to announce that Proulx Oil and Propane, 1 Simons Lane, Newmarket  is the sponsor for our August Fund Raiser, the Sunday Afternoon Tea at the Town Hall on Sunday, August 4th.

Coming Next on August 4, 2019 :

TEA AND STORIES WITH REBECCA RULE

Tea and Savories served with Yankee Humor

This year’s tea is a special fund raiser for the Stone School Museum’s acquisition and collection projects.  

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“The great thing about collecting stories is they’re free and you don’t have to dust them. Stories speak to us of community. They hold our history and reflect our identity.”  

                   Rebecca Rule  — New Hampshire storyteller, teacher and author.

 Rebecca Rule has made it her mission over the last 20 years to collect stories of New Hampshire, especially those that reflect what’s special about this rocky old place.  She’ll tell some of those stories —her favorites are the funny ones—and she’ll invite audience members to contribute a few stories of their own.   

We are honored to have Rebbeca share with us her unique collection of humor and stories which many times teeter between truth and fantasy.

Rule’s Rules:  (Becky has a few mottos by which she maintains her sanity):

“No thank you. I’ve got enough crazy on my plate already.”

“You can’t control the others.”

“That’s right, too.”

“Never let the truth stand in the way of a good story.”

“Start anywhere.”

“Anything worth doing is worth doing badly for as long as it takes.”

“It’s not time to worry about that yet.”

“Above all, be kind.”