From: Linda Day <LindaDay@historicalsocietiesNH.org>
Subject:    AHSNH/e-ssociate Vol 2 # 18-B
Date:    Oct 26, 2006 11:22 PM
Up Front:
Did I mention that Sat. is the Association's annual meeting, to which you are invited?  Salisbury H/S, 9:45 am.  Patricia Wall to speak at 10:00 about NH's Black history; after brown bag lunch, discuss geo-caching.
      
I have greatly enjoyed these past four years with you.    Sincerely, Linda Day
 
Contents:
13.  A Trickle of interest
14.  The Epsom Mtghouse has a date with the wrecking ball
15.  Continuing the Conversation about Insurance.
16.  Heritage-New Hampshire's Retirement
17.  Covered Spans of Yesteryear
18.  Early Families of Bradford
19.  Epsom Seeks Database Program for Inventory
20.  Is there a DVD of the Past in Epsom's Future?
21.  Arts Alliance of Northern NH Offers Posters
22.  History Press Seeks Town Historians
23.  Arts Alliance Offers New Service to North Country
24.  Alstead & WEVO Saving History
    

13.  A Trickle of interest
(Ed. Note:  Some time ago, this community of readers fostered a conversation about H/Ss teaming up to hire professionals.  The details are posted at http://www.historicalsocietiesnh.org/ahscgi/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=gdiscuss;action=display;num=1119225722 which is the Forum on the Association's website.  The companion "threads" to this conversation are,
(I have not given up hope!  [Fortunately, Mother taught me long ago to be able to laugh at myself.  Do you know that one of the Native American nations had a proverb that said, "everyone is born with an allotment of seriousness.  If you take yourself too seriously, you use up your allotment and you will find others are unable to take you seriously."  This was not a proverb for any of the warrior nations.]
    
(At long last, a good sport has entered under "Post Your Resume."  I know there are others reading this newsletter, and I know there are H/Ss looking also.  Put hand-to-mouse.)  I present to you, Ms. Ferreira:
 
Robin M. Ferreira; Madison, NH; robinferreira@verizon.net 
      
Please reply to the above e-mail address if you may be a museum or historical society with an open full-time position.
     
My background includes almost twenty years expereince in non-profit arts administration in the following areas: museum education, art education, public programs and special events, grantwriting, annual fund and membership programs, and outreach and community partnership programs.
 
(...and I hear that an Exhibition SWAT Team is being formed!  I can hardly wait to hear more!)

14.  The Epsom Mtghouse has a date with the wrecking ball
--but the Friends of Epsom's Historic Meetinghouse are finding a way to move it to a new Rte 4 home near the Epsom Town Hall.
    
Since 1861 the Epsom Mtghouse with its unique steeple has stood as a landmark on US Rte 4, the 1st NH Tpk from Concord to the sea.  A meeting place for 145 years, it now stands empty waiting for preservation and continued use--or for demolition.
    
Citizens have been at work to gather the means to move it to a new location as part of a town office complex and community ctr.  These parts of the journey are now in place:
  • Bldg movers & preservation experts have given assurance it can be moved;
  • a moving co has agreed to a reasonable cost;
  • a civil engineer & an architect will donate planning for the new location'
  • a local concrete co will give foundation material at a reduced rate;
  • a local construction co will donate $10,000 worth of site work;
  • town Selectmen have agreed unanimously to the project;
  • an anonymous donor has pledged a $50,000 trust for future maintenance;
  • expertise & guidance from the NH Div Historical Resources, the NH Preservation Alliance, NH H/S
Please make a tax-deductible contribution to the $80,000 we need to raise to effect this grand movement:
        Penny Graham, Treasurer; Epsom H/S; 1775 Dover Road; Epsom, NH  03234
Thank-you
15.  Continuing the Conversation about Insurance.
(Ed. Note:  I am sorry to report that we have not heard more from either of the Insurance Agents who have expressed an interest in your business.  The two outstanding questions are regarding Liability and Health insurances.  Here is a report from Berlin & Coos County:)
The Berlin & Coos County Historical Society has liability insurance only for the museum/barns for visitors and volunteers.  The historical society and the Moffett House Museum & Genealogy Center are totally independent from the local city government [no land/space or financial support]
~Jacklyn Nadeau; Recording Secretary
    
>Subject: AHSNH/Listserv  Vol 2, # 17-A

16.  Heritage-New Hampshire's Retirement
(Ed. Note:  Mr. Owen responds to my inquiring what will become of all his people, as well as of all of the knowledge embodied in the Heritage-NH production.)
Most of the people working here will be retiring again or at least finding a less stressful new career.  Others will be moving next door to Story Land or other jobs.  I will be busy with the dismantling process for at least a year and then will probably end up at Story Land as well.  Time will tell.

We start the inventory process immediately after we do the close-up.  Some days I go through and think what a small amount of props and artifacts we have.  Other days I look and think about how much stuff we have.  Probably it will be a pretty big list.  After the inventorying of the building I have to sort through the stuff in the office (a potential labor of Sissyfus).  Once decisions are made and we know what will be the next use of the building, we will begin the dismantling process.

A lot of things will find new homes and we are getting a pretty good record of Heritage in video and still photos.
~Rob Owen

17.  Covered Spans of Yesteryear
POB 2242; Concord, NH  03302-2242.  Organization seeks to compile record of all covered bridges that have been built in North America.  http://www.lostbridges.org/; bill@lostbridges.org  Check them out, maybe we can help.     ~William Caswell, Boscawen

18.  Early Families of Bradford
New book now available!  Contact Bradford H/S.

19.  Epsom Seeks Database Program for Inventory
While I am 'bending your ear', we are also looking for a database program to inventory our historical items - objects and paper files.  Do any historical societies that have museums etc have or use such a program?  We tentatively have made one in Microsoft access, but I wanted to compare it others, or perhaps use something better if it is available. It doesn't need to be elaborate.
    
We looked at PastPerfect, and it is way too rich for us, at least for now.  It is 795 dollars--more than we can afford--at least initially.  It looks great, but has a lot to it we would not need.
    
(Ed. Note:  Anyone joining us subsequent to July 2005 may be interested in an earlier conversation about PastPerfect and similar programs, which is archived at http://historicalsocietiesnh.org/enewspperf.htm on the Association's website.  Anyone who has ideas for Epsom may respond directly.  If you cc to AnnSprague@historicalsocietiesNH.org, we will relay your contribution to the Reading Public.)
20.  Is there a DVD of the Past in Epsom's Future?
We have also discussed making a video DVD of the history of the town--it would be nice for the local schools to have.  That is also quite an undertaking.  Do you think there might be grant money somewhere for such a venture? or for that matter, for publishing and writing a town history.  More curiosity than anything.
    
(Ed. Note:  What a good topic!  Do I smell a special-interest issue perculating?  OK, Everyone, who has made DVDs or videos?  What are the advantages of each, over against the other?  How much of what kind of work has gone into it?  Did you hire professionals (and are you willing to recommend someone)?  How much did it cost?  How much are you selling them for?  What distribution program are you using?  How much time did it take?  What steps did you follow?  Would you do it again?  --and, of course, why aren't you listing them for sale on the Association's web "Store" page? )  (Send your responses to AnnSprague@historicalsocietiesNH.org)

21.  Arts Alliance of Northern NH Offers Posters!
We now have posters available!  They are beautiful, and would make great presents!  Below is the price information on the 18" X 20" poster version of the Northern NH History and Heritage Map.
         
~Cynthia Robinson; Director of Programs and Member Services; Arts Alliance of Northern New Hampshire
POB 892; Littleton, NH 03561-0892;  603-253-3880(home office); cynthia@aannh.org; http://www.aannh.org
    
Northern NH History and Heritage:  A Map & Guide Poster
Price Sheet
Retail Price. . . . . . . . . . .1 poster   $10
AANNH member discount = 10% . . so $9.00 each
6 or more posters . . . . . . . . . . . . .$8 each
12 or more posters . . . . . . . . . . .  $7 each
Free shipping/handling for AANNH members; shipping/handling for non-members:
. . . . . . .$5.00 for 1-12 posters
. . . . . . .$7.50 for 13-20 posters
 
Wholesale Price
$5.00 each, 6 poster minimum
$4.00 each, 12 or more
$3.75 each, 25 or more
$3.50 each, 50 or more
$3.25 each, 100 or more
Shipping/handling fees:
. . . . . .$5.00 for 1-12 posters
. . . . . .$7.50 for 13-20 posters
. . . . . $10.00 for 20-30 posters

22.  History Press Seeks Town Historians
The History Press is searching for historical societies and historians to write brief histories of towns and regions on the East Coast.
    
Titles in our "Brief History" series are accessible and well-illustrated histories that serve as an introduction to the heritage of a city or region.  They comprise 30,000-40,000 words and 50-100 historic illustrations such as photographs, maps, documents and artwork.
    
The History Press is a traditional trade publisher of local history with offices in Gloucester, MA and Charleston, SC.  We handle all stages of publishing including financing, design, sales, marketing and distribution, and we compensate in the form of royalties.  We are not a vanity press.
    
For more information or to view our catalogue, see
historypress.net or e-mail Commissioning Editor Maureen Benes, Maureen.Benes@Historypress.net
    
~Maureen Benes; Commissioning Editor; The History Press
PO Box 7111; Gloucester, MA 01930; 866 223-5778

23.  Arts Alliance Offers New Service to North Country
We are developing an e-listing of AANNH's cultural program offerings for schools and communities, and will be including a list of field trip or on-site opportunities offered by our member organizations.
    
Let us know if you are a North Country H/S which would like to be included, and/or if you'd like to work on block-booking programs with us.

24.  Alstead & WEVO Saving History
Your Friendly Editor:  I heard WEVO do a report on Alstead & the flood just this morning.  I thought it would be a good thing to have a copy for the Alstead Historical Society files.  Just thought I'd mention it in case you hadn't heard the report.
    
Your Friendly Historical Society:  Yes, we would like a copy of the radio report--how does one get one?
    
YFE:  To get copies of WEVO reports, I believe you can go to their website--nhpr.org, I imagine--and someplace they have a "store" page.  Or you can call them, probably under radio in the yellow pages, but I don't know if they would be listed as WEVO (since they aren't WEVO in all parts of the state) or under NHPublic Radio...I've heard them offer, for example, transcripts of The Exchange, although this wasn't on the Exchange...but I
mean that I am pretty sure they do that sort of thing.  Let them know you are non-profit; they may cut you a deal--historical society, save for posterity, etc.  Goodluck
    
YFH/S:  I found it on the NHPR web site -- transcript AND recording.  Neat.
    
Thanks,
~David W. Moody
    
Postscript:
YFH/S:  We are publishing a book on the story of the flood--part of our Save Our History grant from the history channel.  When it is available we will make an announcement via the AHSNH.
YFE:  Hey!  Congratulations and kudos for going after a grant to write about the flood!  We will be honored to be part of your PR program.  (Have you seen the booklet, Get The Word Out, under Articles at our website?)


"You may not have 'heard it here first,' but you probably heard it here."