Mill Town Messenger | Jan 2015

Overview

The newsletter presents activities and historical research from the Newport Historical Society, emphasizing community engagement, museum operations, and local heritage preservation. It highlights upcoming meetings, program scheduling, membership drives, and fundraising efforts—particularly a window replacement campaign and memorabilia sales—to support museum operating expenses.

Historical features recount Newport’s business blocks, notable local figures like Colonel William F. Richards, and the development of the Newport Electric Light Company, illustrating how artifacts and donated materials illuminate the town’s industrial and social history.

You can read the online version of the newsletter here.

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

Main Points

• Newport Electric Light Company: Incorporated in 1892 by Seth M. Richards, William F. Richards, and others, bringing electric lighting to Newport just 13 years after Edison’s light bulb invention.
• Early Electricity in Newport: The first generator was water-powered at Richards Mill; a coal-fired steam plant was added by 1902, supporting street lighting, factories, churches, and homes.
• Impact on Industry: Electrification allowed Newport factories to increase production, run evening shifts, and operate away from rivers, modernizing local industry.
• Merger and Legacy: Newport Electric Light Company merged into New Hampshire Power Company in 1924, which was later acquired by Public Service of New Hampshire in 1936.
• William F. Richards: Harvard graduate, bank president, philanthropist, and co-owner of the Newport Electric Light Company; contributed to education, the library, and community causes.
• Artifact Donations: In 2014, the Newport Historical Society received 68 donations totaling 759 items, aiding in preserving and displaying the town’s history.
• Membership Goals: The Society aims for at least one member for every year since Newport’s 1761 charter, targeting 254 members in 2015.
• Preservation Needs: The Museum seeks donations of local artifacts, especially photos of historic service stations, and practical items like a paper cutter to support its mission.

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