Mill Town Messenger | July 2021

Overview

The newsletter announces the Newport Historical Society Museum reopening on August 8, 2021, with hours, mask guidance, membership appeals, and upcoming meeting schedules. It highlights recent and available publications, including Jayna Huot Hooper’s “The Diary of Charles Emerson” and Paul D. Rheingold’s photographic history, plus gift-shop offerings and event sales.

Feature articles examine local covered-bridge history and photo identification, recounting the Sibley Highway Bridge discovery and archival research methods. Financial and membership updates describe quiet revenue since COVID-19, ornament inventory, a September membership drive, and volunteer/board recruitment.

You can read the online version of the newsletter here.

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

Main Points

• Museum Reopening: The Newport Historical Society Museum reopened on August 8, 2021, operating Sundays from 10 AM to 2 PM, except holiday weekends, with masks optional and available upon request.
• New Publications: Several new and notable books are available at the Museum, including “The Diary of Charles Emerson” and “Billy B. Van: Newport’s Sunshine Peddler” by Jayna Huot Hooper, and “The 19 Covered Bridges of Newport, New Hampshire” by Jackie Cote.
• Photography History: Paul D. Rheingold authored “Take Home A Souvenir: The Early Photographers of Lake Sunapee,” documenting regional photographers from the 1870s to 1920s and serving as a valuable resource for researchers and collectors.
• Bridge Identification Discovery: A real photo postcard initially thought to depict the Corbin Covered Bridge was correctly identified as the Sibley Highway Covered Bridge in North Newport, associated with the Sibley Scythe Factory and replaced after the 1936 flood.
• Sibley Bridge Details: The Sibley Highway Covered Bridge featured a canal used for the Sibley Scythe Factory water wheel, with the canal eventually filled in during road paving in the early 1950s.
• Book Availability and Pricing: “The Diary of Charles Emerson” is over 100 pages, available at the Museum for $25, and can also be purchased via email or at the Apple Pie Crafts Fair.
• Membership and Support: The Society encourages new and renewed memberships, offering individual, family, junior, and business tiers, and emphasizes the importance of membership for ongoing activities.
• Covered Bridges Resources: A book and laminated placemat featuring maps and information about Newport’s 19 covered bridges are available for purchase at the Museum and local events.

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