Programs
The Society has several special programs to educate, enlighten, and entertain our members and visitors, focusing on some aspect of New Ipswich History. As they are scheduled, programs will be listed here, so check back to see what’s happening.
You can also see what you have missed by scrolling down to see our program archive. Note that the date at the top of the program listing is the date of the post, not necessarily the date of the program.
Programs
Upcoming & Past Programs
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Robert Frost on the Farm by Jeffrey Zygmont – May 9, 2026
Saturday, May 9 at 2:00p.m. New Ipswich Library (6 Main Street) While the spoken words of Robert Frost’s poetry sing, they also help us to appreciate the rigors of life on a New England farm in the early 20th century. In an exploration of both New Hampshire history and Frost’s poetry, Jeffrey Zygmont recites a selection of Frost’s…
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Ice Harvesting in New England
Presented by Jane Hennedy Saturday February 28th at 2:00PM at New Ipswich Library (6 Main Street) Join us for this illustrated talk by Jane Hennedy as she provides a crystal-clear look into a process that was commonplace in the last centuries. The hour-long program includes examples of regional collections of food preservation methods used prior…
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2025 Annual Meeting & Covered Bridges Presentation
The New Ipswich Historical Society held its annual meeting on September 14 at the Barrett House. The meeting was followed by a presentation on NH’s Covered Bridges by Kim Varney Chandler.
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An Old-Time New Hampshire Country Dance
Featuring renowned caller and musician Dudley Laufman Friday, August 8 from 7:00 — 9:00 p.m. The Club at Oak Hill290 Old Country RoadNew Ipswich, NH For generations in New Ipswich and other towns in the Monadnock Region,country dancing kept people of all ages swinging and sashaying in barns, townhalls, and outside spaces. In honor of…
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Contra Dancing in New Hampshire: Then and Now
presented by Dudley Laufman Saturday, June 7 at 1:30 p.m. New Ipswich Library (6 Main Street) Since the late 1600s, the lively tradition of contra dancing has kept people of all ages swinging and sashaying in barns, town halls, and schools around the state. Contra dancing came to New Hampshire by way of the English…
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9/21/24 – Hidden History: New Hampshire’s Past of Abolition, Slavery, and Underground Railroad
Presented by Michelle Arnosky Sherburne Saturday, September 21 at 2:00 p.m. New Ipswich Library (6 Main Street) Vermont historian, author, and newspaper publisher, Michelle Arnosky Sherburne will delve into New Hampshire’s fascinating hidden history of abolition, slavery, and Underground Railroad networks, highlighting the work of abolitionists to move freedom seekers northward to safety in Canada.…
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9/14/24 – Annual Meeting and Program: Patricia (Kangas) Ktistes, Author of “Finns: an Oral History”
Many of us thoroughly enjoyed reading the serialized publications of Ktistes’ 1997 Dartmouth thesis, Finns: An Oral History of Finnish-Americans in the Monadnock Region. We welcome her insights on “how to get started on collecting your family history” as our featured presenter for the 2024 New Ipswich Historical Society Annual Meeting.
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5/4/24 – Native History in New Hampshire
Robert Goodby reveals archaeological evidence that shows deep Abenaki presence here, inches below the earth’s surface.
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4/27/24 – Old Homestead Farm: Our Story Past, Present, & Future
Both of the Hatchers were raised on New England farms: Ben on a dairy farm in Central Massachusetts and Chelsea in New Ipswich on Old Tavern Farm.
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Memories of Our School Days at Appleton Academy
Roundtable discussion and recollection of memories at the New Ipswich Appleton School. Presented by: Where: New Ipswich Library 6 Main Street When: November 18, 1:00-2:30 pm Are you an Appleton Academy alum who relishes reminiscing about yourtime in high school? Or perhaps, your parents and grandparents sharedstories about their Appleton school days (before Mascenic became…