If you have never been inside the Stratham Historical Society, or even if you have, please consider a visit on Thursday, December 11 from 5-7 pm. Bring your family. Tell your friends and neighbors. The unique stone architecture is matched by the unique arched wooden interior. Stratham's landmark building opened in 1912 as the George A. and Emma B. Wiggin Memorial Library, the first dedicated public library in Stratham.
Among the many featured artifacts and heirlooms, you'll see the Toll Bridge Sign displaying the prices one would pay to cross toward Newmarket on foot, or the price for a horse and rider, an additional horse, a two-wheeled carriage versus a four-wheeler, and prices for sheep and swine. This sign was donated by Debra (Ramsdell) McLaughlin from the estate of her father Richard Ramsdell. The sign stood for decades in the 19th century until tolls were eliminated by a vote in 1907.
Our newest donation and exhibit is the set of Oyster Tongs made for and used by Dan Crow's father to retrieve oysters from Great Bay and its tributaries. We know about the prospect of commercial fishing that brought Stratham's earliest settlers to town. There are many stories about the agricultural development of the town that then followed. We have less information about how residents foraged for items like oysters. Dan's thoughtful and generous donation has caused SHS to further research other artifacts we have which tell the stories about tools used in and around Great Bay and rivers along our western and southern borders.
If you have not seen it, we have a wonderful Map of 1793 authored by Phinehas Merrill that shows Fryingpan Lane and its residents then named Mason, Pottle and Chace. Samuel Brewster acquired a parcel from the Chace family and established a farm during the 19th century. Fryingpan Lane earned its name because the neighbors were said to have shared use of the long-handled frying pan to cook over an open flame. At last year's SHS Open House, we snapped a photo of Dennis Brewster, descendant of Samuel Brewster holding the frying pan. Bob and Sydney Law, descended from the Chace (Chase) family, are generously loaning the frying pan of Fryingpan Lane to us again for this year's Open House.
There is one more extraordinary new exhibit donated by John Wingate Seavey that we expect to reveal at the Open House. The display for this rare 18th century artifact pertaining specifically to Stratham is currently under construction. Come see for yourself on December 10!
As you can see, we have a high regard for the artifacts and heirlooms that tell the story of Stratham. If you are a possessor of any such item(s), we would be grateful if you would take the opportunity at the Open House to share any items with us. If you are not ready to donate, please consider letting us scan or take a photo of your historic object(s). When you are ready to donate, know that the Stratham Historical Society will have a respectful landing spot for your cherished Stratham item(s), and that we will responsibly make items available for future family members and historic researchers.
Hope you can be with us Thursday, December 11 between 5 and 7 pm. There is plenty of free parking behind the firehouse off Portsmouth Avenue or Winnicutt Road. Light refreshments will be served. Please join us!
Monday, January 12
7:00pm
Zoom event with speaker Rev. Deb Knowlton. Rev. Knowlton authored Color Me Included during her 20 years as a Pastor of Hampton's First Congregational Church. She followed the lives of 100 enslaved and free African Americans who lived in Hampton and neighboring towns during the 18th century. Her research continues. Register for Zoom Meeting at Wiggin Memorial Library.
Monday, March 9 (Snow Date March 16)
6:30pm Business Meeting & 7:00pm Program
Morgera Room, Stratham Fire Station
Program by SHS' own Skip Stearns that traces the origin of "Postcards from Stratham", an SHS monthly historical column in its eleventh year. Filled with vintage visuals of our town, it doesn't get any more Stratham-centric than this.
Sunday, April 12
1:00 - 3:00pm
35th Annual Spring Appraisal Day
The "Stratham Antiques Road Show"
Monday, May 11
6:00pm
Annual Meeting & Pot Luck Supper
All programs will be jointly sponsored by the Stratham Historical Society and the Wiggin Memorial Library. September & November meetings and programs will be in the Sewall Room at the Town Municipal Center, 10 Bunker Hill Avenue.
The January Zoom program requires registration at the Wiggin Memorial Library Events Calendar.
All other in-person programs, Appraisal Day and the Annual Meeting will be in the Morgera Room at the Stratham Firehouse.
