Welcome to the New Market Historical Society

Our goal is to tell Newmarket’s story, preserve its local artifacts, and sponsor historical events and educational opportunities.  Please consult our program of events for exact dates, times, and locations for our meetings and events as they have recently changed. 

The public is always welcome to attend our educational meetings, which are free except for select special events.

Donations are always welcomed and greatly appreciated!

The Remaining 2024 Season 

The last Summer Season Open House of the Stone School Museum is this Sunday,  Sept. 15, 12 noon - 3 pm, coinciding with Oysterfest.

The public can contact us to make arrangements to open at another date/time for a private showing.

Reserve now for this year’s

 2024 Riverside Cemetery Reveal.

 Newmarket’s 300th Celebration

Planning Now for 2027

Members of the Newmarket 300 Steering Commitee are preparing for the town’s 300th celebration scheduled for 2027.   

They continue to welcome input from the public. 

Any interested individual, business or organizational representative is invited to attend the next meeting on:

 Wednesday, October 9th, 6-7 pm at Sunrise Sunset Center behind the Police Station.   

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New Market Historical Society Last Program for the Season featured

The Evolution of the  Mule Mascot & the High School Yearbook

Held at Newmarket High School, it celebrated

the 100th Anniversary of the New High School. 

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(artwork by Jonathan Morrill  NHS Class of 1979)

Many thanks go to Superintendent of Schools Todd Allen, and High School Principal Andrew Korman for arranging this event, and to the student guides who gave tours prior to the program.  School Art Department faculty Annette Blake and Cristina Boisvert transformed the school display cabinets into decades of school memorabilia from the 1920s into the new century. 

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Newmarket’s Third Grade Classes will tour the museum next month.

Newmarket Town Councilor Brian Ward announces in this week’s town newsletter that he is planning —

A Newmarket Cemetery Day.

…This will be in conjunction with the Newmarket Historical Society and Cemetery Trustees to take care of untended cemeteries. There are over 100 cemeteries in Newmarket, many dating back to the town’s founding. Dozens of smaller cemeteries are currently uncared for. Unfortunately, the town is unable to maintain them due to funding, resources, or because they are on private land without public access.

“These neglected cemeteries have become overgrown with brush and weeds and if nothing is done, these places and the history they represent will disappear forever.  As we look forward to America’s 250th anniversary and Newmarket’s 300th, I am asking Newmarket citizens to come out and lend a hand at the first ever Newmarket Cemetery Volunteer Day; to tend to Newmarket’s past as we look to the town’s future.

“Cemetery Day Volunteers will help by performing lawn care at cemeteries selected by the Cemetery Trustees, such as mowing, pruning, raking, and repainting metal gates. Volunteers will NOT be touching or cleaning the gravestones, as the age of the stone requires special care and materials to prevent erosion. After the volunteer day is done, the Historical Society will put on a presentation about the history of the cemetery, describing what life was like for Newmarketers during the 1800’s”.

(Photo: of the old Norton Cemetery off Pond Street that was reclaimed by Newmarket’s Sons of the American Legion around 2010). 

“This is my first attempt at organizing a community service day, so I ask for patience while I work out what the heck I’m doing. I’m hoping to do this either this Fall or in Spring 2025 At this stage I’m trying to gauge public interest and support for this volunteer project, so if anyone listening is interested or has an opinion please reach out to me an my town email bward@newmarketnh.gov.”

We wish to acknowledge of business partners:

We wish to thank  Proulx Oil and Propane,  and  Chinburg Builders  who generously donated funds

for our efforts to acquire new artifacts and preserve those manuscripts, diaries, letters, and articles already in our collection.  

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And… our latest business partner in 2023: 

Seacoast Test Prep, whose private tutoring and classes are offered at The Loft, 125 Main St., Suite E, Newmarket.

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