Mill Town Messenger | Aug 2010

Overview

The Newport Historical Society newsletter outlines local preservation efforts, museum exhibits, and ongoing projects to document Newport’s heritage. It details recent acquisitions, volunteer needs, and program schedules that support the town’s historic collections and community engagement.

Highlights include conservation work on Pier and Wrights railroad bridges, a call for Winter Carnival materials and buttons, and biographies of notable locals like Dorothy Bartholomew, illustrating the society’s focus on archival growth and public programming.

You can read the online version of the newsletter here.

This quarterly newsletter is generally published in January, April, July and October.

Main Points

• Historic Preservation in Newport: The Newport Historical Society (NHS) was revitalized in 1973, primarily to save historic buildings in Newport, NH, and continues to promote preservation, sustainable development, and community involvement.
• Museum and Collections: The NHS museum, located at 30 Main Street, houses thousands of items including paintings, artifacts, and memorabilia related to local history, with exhibits on figures like Andre Chéronnet-Champollion and collections such as kitchenalia, musical items, military artifacts, and toys.
• Winter Carnival: Newport’s Winter Carnival is the oldest in New England; the NHS seeks to complete its collection of related programs and buttons, with the oldest button dating to 1941 and several years missing from the collection.
• Covered Bridges: Newport once had up to fourteen railroad covered bridges and six highway covered bridges, with ongoing preservation efforts for rare structures like the Pier and Wrights Bridges.
• Community Involvement: The NHS encourages donations of historical items, volunteering, and membership to support museum operations and historical initiatives.
• Notable Individuals: Dorothy Daly Bartholomew was instrumental in establishing the current NHS, preserving local buildings, promoting arts education, and founding Newport’s first art gallery.
• Historical Programs: NHS offers monthly programs on local history topics, such as gravestones, historical buildings, and notable residents, to engage the community and increase interest in Newport’s heritage.
• Early Settlers: Samuel Church, an early settler and Revolutionary War soldier, played a significant role in Newport’s early civic life, serving as Town Clerk and Selectman.

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