Welcome to the New Market Historical Society

We are dedicated to increasing public understanding and enthusiasm for our local history and preservation.  Our mission is to provide a central location, where we can store, introduce, interpret, and stimulate the study of local history. Our goals are 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. 

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!

Join us during our 2019 year long celebration of

Newmarket’s Immigrant Families & Their Stories

With special programs, stories, letters, photographs, news articles, and textiles dedicated to refugees, and immigrant families from Ireland, French Canada, Poland, Laos, Italy, Russia, and Germany … those who came and changed the fabric of the town.

The New Market Historical Society recently began a family genealogy section with information supplied by town residents over the years, as well as those created through our own research.  People from across the country have contacted us looking for family connections and have submitted their own family trees as well, which are now housed in the Stone School Museum.

We welcome all our members and visitors to share their family stories of  journey and struggle. 

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Check our events page for a schedule of  our 2019 programs….

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The Stone School Museum is now open — our summer hours are:

Sundays June, July and August  — 9 am to 12:30 pm 

Our hours coincide with the Newmarket Farmers’ Market held again this year between the Stone School and the Stone Church.

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Our Next Scheduled Meeting is Monday, June 24th  7 p.m.

at the Stone School Museum

St. Jean de Baptist Day, and the French Canadian Influence 

(Photo: The Robert Filion Family.  Robert moved to Newmarket in 1908)  

The French that migrated in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s expected to return to Canada after making enough money. Only about 10 per cent did return, and French Canada lost about half its French population.  About a million and a half remained in New England. 

In 1880, the  Newmarket census records show 284 residents born in French Canada; by 1900 that number had grown to  2,263.  The number and rapidity of immigration and assimilation changed the nature of the town for decades to follow. 

Until the late 1960’s Canadian French was still spoken on the streets of downtown Newmarket. 

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(photo: Baseball uniform a recent donation to the Historical Society by Gerard Mongeon)

Gerry’s grandparents and his mother emmigrated from Canada and settled in town. 

After WW II Gerry, and many of  Newmarket’s other veterans, belonged to the Newmarket Men’s Twilight Baseball league which played until 1949.

The presenter for the evening is Ron Lemieux, Newmarket businessman, and himself is of French Candian heritage.  

Coming Next on July 14, 2019 :

WELCOME HOME CELEBRATION

This special event features the public display of unique artifacts from Newmarket’s past:

• the  Folsom clock (restored and donated by Diana Kavanagh Reed)

• Judge Griffin’s roll top desk (donated by Rolfe Voltaire)

• Dr. Towle’s car (displayed—weather permitting—by current owner Loret Simonds of Keene, NH)

The Folsom clock — made by Newfields craftsmen, it first took up residence in Josiah Folsom’s Hersey Lane home around 1822.   (Five years later his daughters would carry the clock to safety as the house burned down.)  Recently restored, it is now part of the Haines Family Collection at the Museum. 

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Judge Griffin’s rolltop desk — perennially covered with stacks of letters and invoices — sat in the office at Griffin Hardware while owners came and went) for almost a century.

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Dr. Towle’s car — In 1935, longtime Newmarket physician George Towle purchased a Pontiac with a “Doctor’s Addition” (a completely outfitted medical bag in its own compartment).  Dr. Towle died within months of the purchase, and his new Pontiac passed through several owners before settling into its current rather pampered existence in Keene.