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!

 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 closed for the fall and winter months, if anyone wishes to visit the museum we will gladly open up for a viewing.  Please make arrangements by calling one of our officers listed on our Contact Page.

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School Museum recent donation

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 store.  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  was the sponsor for our August Fund Raiser, the Sunday Afternoon Tea held at the Town Hall on August 4th.     

—-                              Another Newmarket Business, Chinburg Builders, has generously donated funds in our efforts to acquire new artifacts and preserve those manuscripts, diaries, letters,  and articles already in our collection.  

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A special thank you to  Patty and Michael Shorland of the   FAMILY GENEALOGY CENTER , 55 Hampton Road in Exeter, NH.   Their presentation at September’s meeting listed some of the free services offered at the Center. They provide access to many premium subscription websites through the FHC Portal on all of their computers.  Besides online searches the Center offers classes and workshops  as well as one-on-one assistance in family research.  For more inofrmation visit their website at  https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/finding-elusive-records/

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Coming Next on October 28, 2019 :

POLISH IMMIGRATION

The Polish Experience —  The first Poles migrated to Newmarket during the late 1880s - early 1890s, but few stayed.  They tended to move on to other Polish communities in Chicopee Falls, Lawrence, and New Bedford where employment was available and family networks were formed.  However, by 1910 several Polish families  had established themselves in town. 

By the end of the decade, two factors would encourage increased Polish immigration—the New England textile industry’s cash incentives for employees who brought trained family members to work in the cotton mills; and the poverty and devastation in Poland, caused by the Great War.

photo: Polish men in traditional costume, at the Ross Farm, 1927