Mill Town Messenger | Oct 2016

Overview

The newsletter reports Newport Historical Society activities, programs, and recent publications honoring local history and community figures. It highlights museum updates, membership drives, holiday sales, and calls for artifact donations to preserve Newport’s cultural heritage.

Profiles and features celebrate notable local individuals—Samuel H. Edes, Olli Turpeinen, and Billy B. Van—illustrating Newport’s hardworking, cooperative culture and the society’s efforts to share stories through events, books, and exhibits.

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 Historical Society Mission: The NHS is dedicated to preserving, acquiring, and sharing Newport’s history through programs, publications, and museum displays, relying on community membership and support.
• Billy B. Van: Celebrated as “Newport’s Sunshine Peddler,” Billy B. Van is the subject of a new book and programs that highlight his impact on the town’s culture and identity.
• Finnish Community: Finnish immigrants significantly shaped Newport’s culture, establishing public baths, private steam baths, and temperance halls, with their heyday in the 1920s; Olli Turpeinen documented this legacy in his book.
• Olli Turpeinen: A key figure in Newport’s Finnish community, Olli was a teacher, WWII veteran, farmer, and historian, known for his dedication, generosity, and passion for sharing local history.
• Samuel Hart Edes: Edes played a major role in Newport’s development, improving water infrastructure, supporting schools, and converting the Eagle Hotel into the Eagle Block, demonstrating the multifaceted involvement of town leaders.
• Museum and Artifacts: The Newport Historical Society Museum rotates exhibits for the town charter anniversary and actively seeks Newport-related artifacts from all eras for preservation.
• Community Events and Membership: NHS hosts regular meetings, programs, and special events, encourages membership, and offers local history publications and commemorative ornaments for fundraising.
• Cultural Legacy: The lives of Billy B. Van, Olli Turpeinen, and Samuel H. Edes exemplify Newport’s values of hard work, cooperation, and community spirit, forming the town’s unique cultural fabric.

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Check out our Events Calendar to keep informed of upcoming events!