Overview
The newsletter celebrates Newport’s community heritage, highlighting the Newport Historical Society’s membership and fundraising drive, recent website upgrades, museum improvements, and upcoming goals to expand collections access. It also honors long-time contributors Arnold Graton and Ann St. Martin Stout, emphasizing their lasting impact on local preservation, arts, and education.
Historical features recount local traditions and memories—Ann’s writings and civic work, the Graton family’s bridge restorations, and a detailed history of Newport’s famed toboggan chute—illustrating how individual efforts shaped the town’s cultural life and collective memory.
You can read the online version of the newsletter here.
This quarterly newsletter is generally published in January, April, July and October.
Main Points
- Ann St. Martin Stout’s Legacy: Ann was a lifelong Newport resident deeply involved in the community, known for her contributions to education, the arts, local journalism, and the Newport Historical Society, as well as co-founding Mount Royal Academy and authoring books and articles on local history.
- Corbin Covered Bridge Rebuilding: The reconstruction of the Corbin Covered Bridge was a significant community effort, with Arnold Graton and his family playing a central role; their craftsmanship is recognized as a lasting gift to Newport and its visitors.
- Historical Society Membership Drive: The Newport Historical Society is actively seeking new members, donors, and sponsors to support its mission, maintain the Nettleton House Museum, and expand access to its collections and programs.
- Recent and Planned Upgrades: In 2025, the Historical Society achieved several improvements, including website upgrades, online services, enhanced museum security, IT support, and educational programming, with future goals to further digitize collections and upgrade facilities.
- Toboggan Chute History: Newport’s toboggan chute, first built in 1916, became a centerpiece of winter carnivals, known for its speed and length, and underwent several relocations and redesigns for safety and accessibility until it was eventually abandoned in favor of natural hills.
- Community and Volunteer Spirit: The success of Newport’s historical preservation, events, and infrastructure is attributed to strong volunteerism, community participation, and local fundraising efforts.
- Role of Local Arts Center: Ann Stout was instrumental in supporting the Library Arts Center, contributing as a gallery attendant, teacher, and board member, and donating letterpress equipment, enriching Newport’s cultural life.
- Recognition of Local History’s Ongoing Nature: Newport’s history is seen as continually evolving, shaped not only by distant events but also by recent contributions and everyday community involvement.
The following is a slideshow to support an article in the Mill Town Messenger
Links to other articles in the Mill Town Messenger
- For further information about Arnold and Milton Graton and their work, a good place to start would be this article found online at the “Bridgehunter’s Chronicles” as part of NH’s Covered Bridge Series Part VII: Honoring Arnold Graton. Click here
- Link to Arnold Graton’s official obituary reprinted from the Dupuis Funeral Home. Click here
- Walk with Ann Stout through The Corbin Covered Bridge in her piece called Peace and History in a Covered Bridge. Click here
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Great job, guys (and gals!)
Say, have I paid any dues this year (doing our taxes and still have a few days left in the year!)
Pris