The Walpolean

Please join us this Saturday, September 12 at 12:30 pm to visit a hidden corner of Walpole. On our tour of Carpenter Hill, we will discover a cemetery holding the graves of Revolutionary War soldiers and their families. We’ll also find the foundations of an 18th century tavern and the site of the encampment made by John Stark and his soldiers on their way to the Battle of Bennington in 1777. Let’s meet at the Walpole Historical Society at 12:30 pm and travel to the site together — rain or shine.

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An event every Saturday, 12:30 pm at the Museum

September 19 – Professor RAB’s Wagon of Wonders – Prof. RAB will be exhibiting recently discovered artifacts illustrating Walpole’s unique and colorful history. The exhibit will continue throughout the afternoon, with wonderful refreshments and fun prizes!

September 26 – Walking Tour of Walpole’s Architectural History – Bill Ranauro, author of Frontier Elegance, will lead a tour of notable buildings in the village.

October 3 – Historical Treasure Hunt – a hunt throughout the museum, devised by Liam and Lily Schoen, which will reward visitors with surprising discoveries as well as delicious refreshments and great prizes!

October 10 – Favorite Dolls From Our Childhoods – Loribeth Robare will share her knowledge of dolls as she leads a discussion of dolls and the role they play in our early lives and why some of us still collect them. We invite you to bring a favorite doll for show and tell.

October 17 – Celebration of George and Martha Washington – with tea, cake, and special refreshments featuring the Washington favorite – cherries! The couple’s love story will be explored with readings from Mary Higgins Clark’s thoroughly researched book, Mount Vernon Love Story. Enter a raffle to win an antique tea set complete with vintage linens.

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The collections of the Walpole Historical Society contain thousands of items: clothing of all descriptions and eras, photos, pamphlets, books, tools, business ledgers, furniture, minutes of civic organizations, souvenir china, kitchen implements, even some vehicles. These objects have entered our collections through myriad sources: individuals and families donating family heirlooms, eagle-eyed folks at the Transfer Station or the Library Book Sale, basement and attic explorers, collectors seeking a home for their treasures. The Walpole Historical Society collections contain the commonplace and the rare and everything in between–all representing possible stories to discover. Please visit www.WalpoleHistory.com.

Please join us this Saturday, September 5 at 12:30 pm when Meg Kupiec will share her extensive knowledge of the historically widespread practice of the craft of chair caning in our region, as she demonstrates several methods of caning in different materials.

* * *

An event every Saturday, 12:30 pm at the Museum

September 12 – Carpenter Hill Tour – visit this hidden corner of Walpole and discover a cemetery holding the graves of Revolutionary War soldiers and their families, the foundations of an 18th century tavern, and the site of the encampment made by John Stark and his soldiers on their way to the Battle of Bennington in 1777. We’ll meet at the Walpole Historical Society at 12:30 pm and travel to the site together.

September 19 – Professor RAB’s Wagon of Wonders – Prof. RAB will be exhibiting recently discovered artifacts illustrating Walpole’s unique and colorful history. The exhibit will continue throughout the afternoon, with wonderful refreshments and fun prizes!

September 26 – Walking Tour of Walpole’s Architectural History – Bill Ranauro, author of Frontier Elegance, will lead a tour of notable buildings in the village.

October 3 – Historical Treasure Hunt – a hunt throughout the museum, devised by Liam and Lily Schoen, which will reward visitors with surprising discoveries as well as delicious refreshments and great prizes!

October 10 – Favorite Dolls From Our Childhoods – Loribeth Robare will share her knowledge of dolls as she leads a discussion of dolls and the role they play in our early lives and why some of us still collect them. We invite you to bring a favorite doll for show and tell.

October 17 – Celebration of George and Martha Washington – with tea, cake, and special refreshments featuring the Washington favorite – cherries! The couple’s love story will be explored with readings from Mary Higgins Clark’s thoroughly researched book, Mount Vernon Love Story. Enter a raffle to win an antique tea set complete with vintage linens.

* * *

The collections of the Walpole Historical Society contain thousands of items: clothing of all descriptions and eras, photos, pamphlets, books, tools, business ledgers, furniture, minutes of civic organizations, souvenir china, kitchen implements, even some vehicles. These objects have entered our collections through myriad sources: individuals and families donating family heirlooms, eagle-eyed folks at the Transfer Station or the Library Book Sale, basement and attic explorers, collectors seeking a home for their treasures. The Walpole Historical Society collections contain the commonplace and the rare and everything in between–all representing possible stories to discover. Please visit www.WalpoleHistory.com.

Please join us this Saturday, August 29, at 12:30 pm when Kathy Cray will present “Crazy Quilts: Nothing Crazy about Them” with examples of crazy quilts from 1880 to 1900, made from silks, velvets, and cottons. Kathy will discuss the “decorative art craze” of the late 19th century and the influence it had on this prominent quilting rage. 

* * *

An event every Saturday, 12:30 pm at the Museum

September 5 – Chair Caning – Meg Kupiec will share her extensive knowledge of the widespread practice of this craft in our region, as she demonstrates several methods of caning in different materials.

September 12 – Carpenter Hill Tour – visit this hidden corner of Walpole and discover a cemetery holding the graves of Revolutionary War soldiers and their families, the foundations of an 18th century tavern, and the site of the encampment made by John Stark and his soldiers on their way to the Battle of Bennington in 1777. We’ll meet at the Walpole Historical Society at 12:30 pm and travel to the site together.

September 19 – Professor RAB’s Wagon of Wonders – Prof. RAB will be exhibiting recently discovered artifacts illustrating Walpole’s unique and colorful history. The exhibit will continue throughout the afternoon, with wonderful refreshments and fun prizes!

September 26 – Walking Tour of Walpole’s Architectural History – Bill Ranauro, author of Frontier Elegance, will lead a tour of notable buildings in the village.

October 3 – Historical Treasure Hunt – a hunt throughout the museum, devised by Liam and Lily Schoen, which will reward visitors with surprising discoveries as well as delicious refreshments and great prizes!

October 10 – Favorite Dolls From Our Childhoods – Loribeth Robare will share her knowledge of dolls as she leads a discussion of dolls and the role they play in our early lives and why some of us still collect them. We invite you to bring a favorite doll for show and tell.

October 17 – Celebration of George and Martha Washington – with tea, cake, and special refreshments featuring the Washington favorite – cherries! The couple’s love story will be explored with readings from Mary Higgins Clark’s thoroughly researched book, Mount Vernon Love Story. Enter a raffle to win an antique tea set complete with vintage linens.

* * *

The collections of the Walpole Historical Society contain thousands of items: clothing of all descriptions and eras, photos, pamphlets, books, tools, business ledgers, furniture, minutes of civic organizations, souvenir china, kitchen implements, even some vehicles. These objects have entered our collections through myriad sources: individuals and families donating family heirlooms, eagle-eyed folks at the Transfer Station or the Library Book Sale, basement and attic explorers, collectors seeking a home for their treasures. The Walpole Historical Society collections contain the commonplace and the rare and everything in between–all representing possible stories to discover. Please visit www.WalpoleHistory.com.

An event every Saturday, 12:30 pm at the Museum

Please join us this Saturday, August 22 at 12:30 pm when Jim Ryan joins us from New Bedford, MA, with the story of his great-grandfather, American captain George S. Anthony and the whaling ship Catalpa, the Irish fight for independence from Great Britain, and the daring rescue of the Six Fenians from Freemantle Prison.

* * *

The collections of the Walpole Historical Society contain thousands of items: clothing of all descriptions and eras, photos, pamphlets, books, tools, business ledgers, furniture, minutes of civic organizations, souvenir china, kitchen implements, even some vehicles. These objects have entered our collections through myriad sources: individuals and families donating family heirlooms, eagle-eyed folks at the Transfer Station or the Library Book Sale, basement and attic explorers, collectors seeking a home for their treasures. The Walpole Historical Society collections contain the commonplace and the rare and everything in between–all representing possible stories to discover. Please visit www.WalpoleHistory.com.

An event every Saturday, 12:30 pm at the Museum

Please join us this Saturday, August 15 at 12:30 pm, when Bill Ranauro will discuss his book: The Chosen City: The Owner, The Players, and the New Hampshire City That Integrated Baseball in the United States. Bill’s book recounts events in Nashua, New Hampshire in 1946.

* * *

The collections of the Walpole Historical Society contain thousands of items: clothing of all descriptions and eras, photos, pamphlets, books, tools, business ledgers, furniture, minutes of civic organizations, souvenir china, kitchen implements, even some vehicles. These objects have entered our collections through myriad sources: individuals and families donating family heirlooms, eagle-eyed folks at the Transfer Station or the Library Book Sale, basement and attic explorers, collectors seeking a home for their treasures. The Walpole Historical Society collections contain the commonplace and the rare and everything in between–all representing possible stories to discover. Please visit www.WalpoleHistory.com.

A SPECIAL EVENT EVERY SATURDAY

On October 18 at 12:30 pm, we’re having a Tea Party!  Come celebrate with refreshments, talk, and an opportunity to browse all the supplies you need to prepare for your own tea party.

Yes!  It’s prize time for those who entered the Walpole Historical Hunt and found the treasures in the Museum.  Come see what you’ve won!

This Tea Party is the last of the Walpole Historical Society’s special presentations for the 2025 season. 

It has been great seeing so many of you there!

Coming in November, but  . . .  you can get your tickets now!

A SPECIAL EVENT EVERY SATURDAY

On October 4 at 12:30 pm, Julie Rios, back by popular demand, is going to present “All the News That’s Fit to Print: North Walpole 1850-1950” with some great clips and pictures!

Reminder to pick up your list of clues for the Walpole Historical Hunt and find the treasures in the Museum. You have until October 18 to find them all!

The Walpole Historical Society at 32 Main Street will be open every Saturday through October 18, from noon to 3 pm and will feature a special presentation each Saturday at 12:30 pm. 

We look forward to seeing you there!

October 11 – Walking Tour of Walpole – meet at 12:30 pm on the sidewalk in front of the museum to join local author, Bill Ranauro, on an architectural tour of the village.

October 18 – Tea Party – come celebrate with refreshments, talk, and enjoy an opportunity to browse all the supplies you need to prepare for your own tea party.

The Walpole Historical Society Museum is free and open to the public and all are welcome. For more information, visit www.WalpoleHistory.com. Please plan to join us!

From Tricia Houstoun:

A SPECIAL EVENT EVERY SATURDAY

On September 27 at 12:30 pm you are invited to join Tricia Houstoun at the Museum as she explores the history of family reunions. Tricia notes that family reunions often involve shared family recipes and invites you to bring beloved family dish to Saturday’s gathering.  We’ll have refreshments!

Reminder to pick up your list of clues for the Walpole Historical Hunt and find the treasures in the Museum. You have until October 18 to find them all!

The Walpole Historical Society will be open every Saturday through October 18, from noon to 3 pm and will feature a special presentation each Saturday at 12:30 pm. 

We look forward to seeing you there!

From Tricia Houstoun:

A SPECIAL EVENT EVERY SATURDAY

On September 20 at 12:30 pm you are invited to join Ray Boas at the Museum, as he explains the out-of-the-ordinary process that created the village we now experience.

Unlike other similar 19th century New Hampshire villages, Walpole did not initially develop around its Common. In fact, Walpole’s Common, as now laid out, came to be in 1815 – 63 years after the Town’s founding.
 
Prior to the Town House opening on the Common in 1825, Walpole’s “commercial area” developed two blocks to the east. Before that development, the village center was proposed, and existed in three other different areas. In his presentation, Ray Boas will explore those other locations, and also relate other Walpole 19th century population centers that no longer stand out.

The Walpole Historical Society will be open every Saturday through October 18, from noon to 3 pm and will feature a special presentation each Saturday at 12:30 pm. 

We look forward to seeing you there!