Mill Town Messenger | Oct 2015

Overview

The Mill Town Messenger presents the Newport Historical Society’s autumn 2015 newsletter, highlighting organizational growth, museum projects, and community programming. It recounts local history, including the town’s founding, notable citizens, and the forthcoming centennial Winter Carnival celebration.

The newsletter details recent museum improvements, donations, merchandise, and fundraising efforts, plus practical features like recipes, event dates, and membership information to engage supporters and preserve Newport’s heritage.

You can read the online version of the newsletter here.

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

Main Points

• Pioneering Spirit: The Newport Historical Society attributes its recent growth and ongoing progress to a strong spirit of pioneering, drawing inspiration from both historical and modern community members.
• Winter Carnival History: Newport’s Winter Carnival began in 1917 as a business initiative and is believed to be the oldest continuous Winter Carnival in the United States, celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2016.
• Early Settlement: Newport was first settled in 1765 by people from Killingworth, Connecticut, who established the town center along Unity Road and Pine Street, focusing on farming.
• Town Development Rivalry: Merchants James Breck and William Cheney were rivals who influenced the location of Newport’s town center, courthouse, and key community buildings, ultimately shaping the town’s development.
• Community Collaboration: Despite their rivalry, Breck and Cheney worked together for Newport’s benefit, setting an example of cooperation for the common good.
• Museum Growth and Projects: The Newport Historical Society Museum has expanded its displays and improved its facilities, including window replacements, new displays for town milestones, and increased artifact donations.
• Membership Expansion: The Society’s membership grew dramatically from 13 in 2005 to 263 in 2015, supporting its mission to preserve Newport’s history.
• Local Traditions and Recipes: The newsletter highlights local apple recipes and traditions, encouraging the use of old apple trees and sharing historical recipes like Sparkin’ Pie (Rich Apple Pudding) and homemade applesauce.

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