Piermont's Old Times Remembered by Senior Residents and Friends
February 26, 2026
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.
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.
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
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