2nd Annual History day A Big Hit In Haverhill; Rain Held Off, Sun Shone
It took hours upon hours of hard work to put together the 2nd Annual History Day that had its midpoint locus on the Haverhill Commons. What an astounding piece of work it was!
But it all paid off for the creators this year, as crowds of visitors came to the North and South Commons and adjacent properties to enjoy a full day of local history, with no rain from an approaching Northeast wind and rainstorm that was barreling up the coast.
Bernie Marvin
History Day at Haverhill Common last Saturday, September 26, 2026, featured old-time children's games on the common as part of the day's activities. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin
Haverhill Corner, NH - It took hours upon hours of hard work to put together the 2nd Annual History Day that had its midpoint locus on the Haverhill Commons. What an astounding piece of work it was!
But it all paid off for the creators this year, as crowds of visitors came to the North and South Commons and adjacent properties to enjoy a full day of local history, with no rain from an approaching Northeast wind and rainstorm that was barreling up the coast.
Not many local programs have ever attracted that many people to events in the Haverhill Commons area. The last time was a magnificent gathering of Harry Potter fans, as Alumni Hall produced a show of shows that had legions of children and a crowd of 2,000 and their interested parents (and Grandparents) skipping through the area to get their hand-made wands and create some magic at several Harry programs and projects in the vicinity of Court Street.
Last Saturday was an amazing display of the many history projects folks wanted to see and experience. So many programs were scheduled that some had to be held before Saturday, such as Michelle Sherburne's book talk and production on the early days of slavery and the Underground Railroad, both in the South and right here in Haverhill Corner and surrounding towns.
The folks at the Haverhill Historical Society, Haverhill Library Association, First Congregational Church, Court Street Arts/Haverhill Heritage, and Haverhill Parks and Recreation came together to present a mix of outstanding projects for visitors to see, ask about, and get close to.
Some of the other activities included in History Day involved a walking tour of the historic district, a tour of the old Grafton County Jail, food vendors, historic displays, Haverhill Academy Open House, Alumni Hall hosted history displays and portraits, Sloan House, and Deep Sleep Inn Taurus tours, and a Haverhill Parks and Recreation table for kids' games and more.
Dalton Thayer operated his horse-drawn wagon throughout the area during the entire History Day program, and there was a musket demonstration at Alumni Hall and a Sons of the American Legion cookout.
According to Haverhill Historical Society Vice President Greg Mathieson, the historic Pearson Hall on the eastern side of the Haverhill North Common was built in 1816. Formerly used by the courts and the library, Pearson Hall was owned by the Haverhill School District until Haverhill Heritage purchased it many years ago. The Haverhill Historical Society will relocate to Pearson Hall and use it as its future home once extensive repairs are complete.
The building was shown for History Day this year, the first time it had been opened and displayed in 18 years. Mathieson wrote in an email that noted "We cleaned up all the accumulated black mold on one classroom wall. A few board members of the Historical Society also scraped the old, peeling paint off the walls, fixed the bell, repaired the roof, installed heating and air conditioning in the nearby Ladd Street School, resurfaced the classroom floor in Pearson Hall, and installed wrought iron rails outside to assist people entering or leaving the building. Power is also expected to be installed in the building in the next few weeks," he said.
Because of the enormity of the reconstruction of Pearson Hall and its intended role as a Haverhill Museum, The Bridge Weekly is working on a story about the steps being taken and the work proposed to create this new museum.
History Day on the Haverhill Common included Dalton Thayer and his popular horse-drawn wagon rides throughout the area. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin
Catherine Grace Bullock spoke to Pearson Hall visitors about the future Haverhill Historical Society Museum that will be located in the historic structure. Here, Catherine explains various proposed uses for rooms within the building. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin
Joe Kirkpatrick is a local authority on the Bedell Covered Bridge. It was rebuilt in 1979. Three months later in September, was destroyed in a windstorm. He moderated a display of photos of the new bridge’s short life during History Day. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin
Independent historian, tailor, and 18th-century living history expert Adam Hodges-LeClaire displayed many articles of historic clothing that visitors wanted to learn more about. He is seen at right adjusting various hats he had on display during History Day. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin
The Wentworth-Brown House saw lines of visitors waiting to enter to see the newly refurbished interiors and displays in the historic building. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin
Piermont's Old Times Remembered by Senior Residents and Friends
All the stories were about old Piermont, including some folks now long gone who had contributed to the town's unique, close feeling of friendship, assistance, and awesome meals. Back then, just about every home had a barn and a shed and a connector building that housed a family dairy and meat-raising effort, a barn full of winter hay and warm, comfortable homes with jelly closets brimming with sweet preserves, jams, and tender pickles that many folks in Piermont still put up each year when growing season rolls around.
By Bernie Marvin
Seated in the Piermont Old Church Building recently were these folks, and others, who told of their early days in Piermont, attending school, church and raising a little Cain here and there. The program was sponsored by the Piermont Historical Society and they promised another one will be held in the future. Seen left to right are Tim Cole, Suzanne Woodard, Diane Winot, Julie Lamarre, Polly Marvin, Mary Musty, Jim Putnam and Terry Robie. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin
Piermont, NH – Town Moderator Joyce Tompkins sat in the front row at the Old Church Building on Sunday afternoon, February 15, 2026, intently listening as a group of senior residents and friends of the town recalled some of their earlier days in this small former dairy farming town.
They spoke of the times when much attention was devoted to Piermont's local church, village school, and the old dances, town plays, and delightful suppers in a failing old Town Hall that was sold off long ago and is now a classic private residence and business in the center of town.
The historic tales poured forth, some being sprung from memories of the days when the local farmers held cattle drives through the middle of town and headed east to summer grazing grounds out towards Indian Pond Road.
Speakers at this event, organized by the Piermont Historical Society, included Tim Cole, Suzanne Woodard, Diane Winot, Julie Lamarre, Polly Marvin, Mary Musty, Jim Putnam, Terry Robie, Asa Metcalf, and Will Priestly.
All the stories were about old Piermont, including some folks now long gone who had contributed to the town's unique, close feeling of friendship, assistance, and awesome meals. Back then, just about every home had a barn and a shed and a connector building that housed a family dairy and meat-raising effort, a barn full of winter hay and warm, comfortable homes with jelly closets brimming with sweet preserves, jams, and tender pickles that many folks in Piermont still put up each year when growing season rolls around.
In the days of World War 1 and 2 and before, when it was too far to go to Woodsville to shop, the stories told of a robust center of commerce in Piermont that included Gould's Store, the Post Office, the Robins Inn, and Mr. Mellin's delightful candy that included candy canes and lollipops he made in his kitchen on Church Street.
Speakers remembered when Bill Deal's Mother, Eleanor, ran the town library, which was located across Route 10 in the Old Church Building, from the present location. They fondly remembered Reverend Robert Robb and his wife, Barbara, and their sadness when the Robbs moved away.
There were always horses up and down Church Street, all cared for and ridden by Joan Osgood and her students during her 4-H horse camps held in the summer. Julie Lamarre remembered cooking for the Village School kids upstairs in the fire station, then lugging all that food down the stairs, out of the building, and across Route 10 to the school. The school kitchen was out of commission during the major school renovations. The stories continued for more than an hour.
At the conclusion, Town Moderator Tompkins, who is also the Piermont Historical Society Secretary and Program Moderator, said that it "was a lovely event" and that we all have missed the people we have lost over the years, and there was agreement that another event will be scheduled in the future to share more stories.
Piermont Historical Society member Fred Shipman said he was thrilled with the response he had to the program. He said everyone enjoyed the two full hours of stories and memories.