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 in our 2019 Celebration of Newmarket’s Immigrant Families 

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

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Check our events page for a schedule of programs….

Our first business meeting of 2019 is Monday March 25th  7:00 p.m.  and will be followed by  the story of Newmarket’s Irish immigrants.

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The Stone School Museum is now closed for the season.

Our summer open hours begin on Sunday June 2nd at 10 am, which coincides with the Raid Rockingham 2019 Bike Ride.

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The Board of Directors wishes to thank all who visited the museum during our Holiday Open House this past December.  Members, friends and neighbors turned out to enjoy the Stone School Museum, with refreshments, and our displays of old toys and dolls, antique tools, farm implements, and sporting goods.

A special visit was made by Newmarket’s retired Mr. & Mrs. Claus (Bucky and Sandy Bailey) who for 28 years hosted children at their Grant Road red sleigh and listened to their holiday “wish list.”     Here they are photographed in front of compiled newspaper accounts of past Santa visits for local kids. 

 (photos by David LeGault, New Market Historical Society)

(photo: Mrs Claus and George Walker upstairs in museum)

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Also a special thank you to all who participated in November’s 1918 Armistice Day Re-enactment, and in December’s Santa Pub Crawl

In the re-enactment of the 1918 Newmarket Armistice Day Parade, the bells of the Mills, the Newmarket Community Church, and St. Mary Church rang out 100 times,  as the procession left the library to the Riverworks Tavern.  The Newmarket Police escorted the American Legion and Sons of American Legion Honor  Guard in the celebration of Armistice Day.  Following behind was our own historic Chateau Thierry Barracks flag from the Newmarket VFW, an effigy of the Kaiser  (carried in a Newmarket Manufacturing Company crate), some rope, and a  makeshift 

callithumpian band made up of Boy Scouts and citizens celebrating Peace and the end of WAR.  The bells were drowned out by the many home-made instruments of the revelers; and as they came down Main Street, they were met by a flag waving congregation from the Community Church.  As in 1918, after being strung up to a lampost, the Kaiser effigy met his demise in a burst of flames.  An Open House and WWI display of artifacts in the Legion Hall, and a brief ceremony commemorated those veterans who lost their lives during the war. 

Coming Next on March 25, 2019 :

NEWMARKET'S IRISH IMMIGRANTS

The history of Newmarket’s Irish Immigration —

Family stories of hardship, survival, contribution and accomplishment

(photo: old tintype of Matt Kennedy  & his Irish kin)

 The following figures are from the US Census Bureau Report - Issued in June 2004:

 Irish in America: “Irish” are defined as people who marked their ethnic origin as “Irish” on the Census survey in 1990 and/or 2000. 

Massachusetts was first in the country, followed next by New Hampshire, and third by Rhode Island — states with early Irish textile workers.

* Highest number as percentage of region population not total population. 

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According to WMUR in 2013: the  highest percentage by town of Irish heritage in the State. 

Alton,  NH was #1,   Newmarket came in as #43.