Mill Town Messenger | Oct 2019

Overview

The Newport Historical Society newsletter celebrates the Corbin Covered Bridge Festival, recounting community efforts, festival highlights, and gratitude to volunteers and sponsors. It includes a commemorative poem, event photos, and announcements of meetings, programs, and museum hours.

The issue also presents local history features: the Corbin Mansion history, newly released books on Newport’s covered bridges and police department, and fundraising memorabilia made from original bridge timbers offered for sale at the museum.

You can read the online version of the newsletter here.

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

Main Points

• Corbin Covered Bridge Festival: The 25th anniversary of the Corbin Covered Bridge replication was celebrated on October 12, 2019, with a large community festival including parades, demonstrations, and music.
• Community Involvement: The festival was organized by a dedicated committee and supported by many volunteers, sponsors, and municipal partners, highlighting Newport’s strong community spirit.
• Historical Tribute: Dr. Robert Scott wrote the poem “Whispering Waters” as a tribute to the Corbin Covered Bridge and Sugar River for the festival, celebrating the bridge’s significance through the changing seasons.
• Corbin Mansion History: The Corbin Mansion, originally built around 1817 by Austin Corbin, underwent several expansions and ownership changes, including significant alterations by William Ruger Jr. in 1987; it was recently sold at auction.
• Bridge Memorabilia: Items made from original beams and trunnels of the Corbin Covered Bridge, including ornaments and sachets, are available for purchase as unique memorabilia, with the wood dating back to a tree sapling from the 1660s.
• Local Publications: Two new local history books are available: “The 19 Covered Bridges of Newport, New Hampshire” and “The Newport Police Department, 250 Years, 1769-2019 – To Serve and Protect”.
• Museum Access: The Newport Historical Society Museum is open Sundays and offers tours and local memorabilia for sale, supporting operating expenses.
• Bridge Signage: New signs with the Corbin Covered Bridge’s name and location were installed above each portal as part of the festival planning.

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