Mill Town Messenger | Oct 2017

Overview

The Newport Historical Society newsletter highlights the organization’s mission to preserve local memory through museum exhibits, artifact donations, and community programs. It emphasizes recent and upcoming events, membership drives, and practical information about meetings, hours, and volunteer opportunities.

Feature articles trace Newport’s historical connections, notable local figures, and place-name origins, while museum updates detail rotating displays, recent donations, and conservation needs. The newsletter also lists board members, references, and ways to support the society financially or with archival contributions.

You can read the online version of the newsletter here.

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

Main Points

• Memory and History: Memory is shaped by factors like aging, emotion, and selective recall; family and local history, including stories and artifacts, enrich lives and preserve community identity.
• Newport’s Origins: Newport, NH was originally settled in the mid-1700s by families from Killingworth, Connecticut, seeking new land opportunities.
• Killingworth Connection: In 2017, Newport honored its historical connection to Killingworth with a proclamation and participated in Killingworth’s 350th anniversary celebrations.
• Captain John B. Cooper: Cooper Square in Newport is named after Captain John B. Cooper, a Civil War veteran and notable local public servant whose home once stood at the site.
• Museum Exhibits: The Newport Historical Society Museum features rotating displays, including music, woven baskets, and local art, and relies on community donations for its collections.
• Community Involvement: The Society encourages residents to donate family photos, genealogies, and historical information about homes to enrich Newport’s historical record.
• Membership and Support: The Society runs annual membership drives, offers life memberships, and relies on financial support and merchant sponsorships to fund operations and public programs.
• Access and Engagement: The Museum is open Sundays and by appointment, and hosts programs and events to engage the public with Newport’s history.

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