Celebrate Mom, Lakes Region Style
By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper
Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 11, and if you are wondering what to do for Mom, there are many ways to celebrate and honor that special person in your life. The following offers a variety of ideas for Mother’s Day activities.
For a fascinating look back at the days of World War II, head to the Wright Museum of World War II on Center Street in Wolfeboro. The museum opened for the season on May 1 with exhibits from its extensive permanent collection covering the years 1939 to 1945. The museum will be open on Mother’s Day with displays to show what life was like on the home front and the battlefield, together with military vehicles, allowing visitors to explore a seminal period in American history.
The museum is open throughout the summer and fall and also has a series of informative programs with special speakers. This year’s featured exhibit opens on June 1 and is called “The Cold War – Spies to Satellites.”
Bring the entire family to the Wright Museum for a look back at a critical time in history; if the weather is nice, take Mom and the family for a walk at the nearby Bridge Falls Path with lovely water views. Call 603-569-1212 or visit www.wrightmuseum.org.
The Colonial Theatre on Main Street in downtown Laconia is the perfect place to take Mom for a show. Get tickets now for a variety of performances, including The No Apologies Comedy
Show on May 15; an Evening with Sara Evans on May 18; comedian Juston McKinney on May 24, and many more concerts and shows throughout the season. Visit www.coloniallaconia. com or call 1-800-657-8774 for tickets.
The Lakeport Opera House in Laconia has a selection of shows that Mom will enjoy, such as Line Dancing Neon Nights on May 23; Yesterday Once More – a Tribute to the Carpenters on May 30, and shows throughout the summer. The Opera House is located at 781 Union Ave. in Laconia. Visit www.lakeportopera.com for tickets and information.
Castle in the Clouds is a fascinating place to spend a day. Bring Mom for a hike, with a choice of 28 miles of hiking trails on the grounds. The trails are located at Shannon Pond and have convenient parking. (The Castle, with tours of the famed estate, will open for the summer season later in May.)
If your Mom is a music lover, reserve tickets for dinner and live music as you watch the sun set over Lake Winnipesaukee from the beautiful outdoor terrace at the Castle’s Carriage House. Bring Mom for a memorable dinner and music throughout the summer. Top-notch musicians will perform as guests enjoy their meal during Dinner Music Night evenings. The dinner night events are by reservation, with two seating times (5:30 and 6:30 p.m.). Get tickets for the dinner with your Mom now and gift her an evening out this summer for a meal and a show.
Many events will occur at the Castle during the season, from Opening Up Lucknow: An Interactive Play on May 18 to Shakespeare on Tap on May 29; Garden Tours; Creative Writing workshops, and much more during the summer and fall.
For details and a complete list, visit www.castleintheclouds.org or call 603-476-5900. The Castle is located at 455 Old Mountain Road, off Route 171 in Moultonborough.
One of the best and most unique entertainment venues around is the Great Waters Music Festival. Located under a vast concert tent on the grounds of Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough, and with a second location called Concerts in Town (Wolfeboro), the series offers a variety of concerts. Get Mom tickets to one or more shows to take place this summer. The schedule includes the Great Waters Gala A Broadway Cabaret at Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro on July 10; Human Nature Back to the Sound of Motown at the Castle in the Clouds on July 12; MTV Style Dance Show at the Castle on July 18; the Abby Mueller Trio You’ve Got a Friend The Music of Carole, Joni and James on July 24 at Brewster Academy; Brass Transit The Musical Legacy of Chicago on Aug. 2 at the Castle; Proud Tina - The Ultimate Tribute to Tina Turner at the Castle on Aug. 9; at Brewster Academy on Aug. 16 with Peter Cincotti; Elements Earth, Wind and Fire Tribute at the Castle on Aug. 23, and Ted Vigil Songs
of John Denver in Wolfeboro on Aug. 27 in Wolfeboro. Order tickets at www. greatwaters.org or call 603-569-7710. Get outside and enjoy the natural world with Mom. Trails are open at the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in Holderness. On the walking trail (trails opened to the public on May 1), you will see animals rehabilitated from injuries, and learn about habitats, adaptations, interrelationships, and animal populations as you walk the path. The different animals you will see (living in large enclosures) include Black Bear, Fishers, River Otters, Bobcat, Coyote, Mountain Lion, Gray Fox, Red Fox, and White Tailed Deer. Also on the trail, you will see birds such as the Bald Eagle and Black-Crowned Night Heron, Great Horned Owl, Reptiles and Amphibians, and fish. The trail is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bring a picnic and enjoy a meal with Mom on the grounds of the Science Center. If you want to get out on Squam Lake, the Science Center offers many cruises during the season. The Science Center is the perfect place for the whole family to learn about nature in a beautiful setting. The Squam Lakes Natural Science Center is located at 23 Science Center Road near downtown Holderness. Call 603-968-7194 or visit www.nhnature. org.
The unique and fun Granite State • Mom continued on page 4
Don’t Miss It! Smith River Canoe & Kayak Race Set for May 17
Ready, set, paddle! The 49th Annual Great Smith River Canoe and Kayak Race is happening Saturday, May 17, at Albee Beach in Wolfeboro. Hosted by the Wolfeboro Lions Club, this local favorite offers four miles of fun — including calm stretches, a ¼-mile run of Class 2 rapids, and two portages. Registration is $30 per paddler and will be open on race day from 10 am to 12:45 pm, with the race kicking off at 1:15 pm. The first 50 to register
get a free race t-shirt! Register online ahead of time at https://form.jotform. com/240255158509053, or pick up a paper form at the Wolfeboro Chamber of Commerce (32 Central Ave.). All proceeds benefit Wolfeboro Lions Club Charities. Whether you’re racing to win or just in it for the fun, grab your paddle and join the adventure. For more information, call Race Director Roger Murray at 603-569-4697 or follow the Wolfeboro Lions Club on Facebook.
• Mom continued from page 3
Rail Bikes opens in May; reserve a spot for the whole family for an excursion Mom is sure to love. Located at 15 Veterans Square in Laconia, each Rail Bike has four seats per bike. Visitors will enjoy a two-hour, round-trip Rail Bike ride along the shores of Lake Winnisquam, starting the trip at the Laconia Railroad Station. The Rail Bike treks are a unique and fun way to get outdoors and enjoy the area with Mom and the whole family. To reserve, call 603-745-2135 or visit www.gsscenic. com.
Celebrate Mom by taking her on a unique cruise on Lake Winnipesaukee. This is the 152nd season for the M/S Mount Washington. The Mount offers a Mother’s Day Cruise on Sunday, May 11, featuring a grand buffet and entertainment. Located at Weirs Beach, the ship navigates around Lake Winnipesaukee. Choose from a 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. cruise; each cruise is 2 ½ hours in duration. Mom will surely enjoy a leisurely and memorable lake tour with her family accompanying her.
TBA). You can take your mother for a walk on the grounds, which are open to the public from dawn until dusk daily. (Check out a map of the village at www.shakers.org.)
Events this season offer something just right for Mom, from Mapping the Shakers on May 18, Special Tours on select days, Learn to Tape a Shaker Chair, Make a #3 Shaker Oval Box, and an outdoor Sunday summer concert series.
Canterbury Shaker Village was established in 1792 when members formed a Canterbury, New Hampshire community. The village existed for many years, with Shakers living and worshipping on site. It has operated as a museum focused on Shaker history and culture since the early 1990s. At its height in the 1850s, 300 people lived and worked in over 100 buildings at Canterbury Shaker Village. Call 603-783-9511 or visit www.shakers. org for information. Canterbury Shaker Village is located at 288 Shaker Road in Canterbury.
The Mount runs throughout the summer and into the fall with many cruise options, both day and evening. Or you can reserve a spot on the M/V Sophie C. The U.S. Mailboat provides postal service to island residents of Lake Winnipesaukee and is a unique way to see the islands up close. The Winnipesaukee Spirit is equipped for private events and charters.
For tickets and a schedule, visit www.cruisenh.com or call 603-3665531. Take Mom on a Mother’s Day Brunch cruise or get her a gift card to use during the season.
Canterbury Shaker Village sits on nearly 700 acres, with beautiful historic buildings, trails, ponds, and gardens for outdoor exploration. The Village opens for the season in May (date
Interlakes Theatre offers Broadway shows in the Lakes Region, making summer tickets a perfect gift for your Mom. The lineup includes She Loves Me, The Comedy Musical Tootsie, My Fair Lady, and Menopause the Musical. The theatre is located at 1 Lake Lane in Meredith. For tickets, call 603707-6035 or visit www.interlakestheatre.com
Choose from a wide variety of shows at the Winnipesaukee Playhouse in Meredith. Top-notch shows that Mom is sure to enjoy include The Wedding Singer from June 12 to 21; Potus from June 27 to July 5; Little Shop of Horrors from July 11 to 19; Fully Committed from July 25 to Aug. 2; Once on This Island from Aug. 8 to 16 and many more shows throughout the year. The theatre is at 33 Footlight Circle in Meredith; call 603-279-0033 or visit www.winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.
Saucy Marinades to Kick Off Grilling Season
By Chef Kelly
OK, boys and girls, the month of May is finally here, and it’s officially time to start thinking about summer and, summer cooking. But, first some tips for having a great grill season. Start the season with a clean grill— inside and out—and always preheat your grill to get a great sear, which helps lock in moisture for tender meat. Take your meat out of the fridge about 30 minutes before grilling to ensure it cooks evenly. Resist the urge to fiddle with your food while it grills; the less you touch it, the better your sear and grill marks will be. Use a quality meat thermometer to avoid overcooking, and always grease your grates before grilling. I prefer brushing the grill with oil before turning it on, as aerosol sprays can be dangerous if exposed to flames. Safety first!
Now, a slew of short but sweet marinade and sauce recipes that will bring your grilling experience to a whole new level. All of these are easy as pie and incredibly quick to make: just throw all the ingredients into a bowl and combine unless specified. I’m a huge fan of marinades and sauces to enhance the grilling and eating experience. Most of these marinades are best when you let the meats soak for 2-3 hours. If there is a heavy amount of citrus juice in the marinade, cut back on the time as juice does tend to “cook” the meats without any heat, which makes the meats easy to overcook once they hit the grill. The following marinades are perfect for boneless chicken, pork, as well as large shrimp, although there is no reason they won’t work for bone-in meats as well. With such a wide array of marinades, you can keep your family and
guests entertained with so many options. These choices are generally for feeding 4 so I usually multiply most of recipes. Let’s do this!
Asian Honey Marinade, a 4-hour marinade
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup honey
2 tbsp rice vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp grated ginger
1 tbsp sesame oil
Jalapeno Garlic Marinade, a 2–4-hour marinade
1/4 cup olive oil
2 jalapenos, seeded and finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
Juice of 1 lime
1 tbsp honey
Salt and pepper, to taste
Italian Marinade
a 1–2-hour marinade
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 tbsp Italian seasoning
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp dried oregano
Salt and pepper, to taste
Fajita Marinade for chicken or beef, 1–3-hour marinade
1/2 cup olive oil
Juice of 4 limes
2 tbsp chili powder
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp cayenne pepper, optional
4 cloves garlic, minced
Honey Mustard Marinade, a 2–3-hour marinade
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
1/4 cup honey
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
Nashville Hot Marinade, a 2–3-hour marinade
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup hot sauce
1 tbsp paprika
1 tbsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
Teriyaki Marinade, marinate for 2-4 hours
1 cup soy sauce
3/4 cup brown sugar
6 tbsp Mirin (Japanese rice wine)
1 tsp grated ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup water
Mix until sugar dissolves and you are ready to use.
Cilantro Lime Marinade, a 45–90 minute marinade
1/2 cup olive oil
Juice of 4 limes
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp Cumin
Salt and pepper, to taste
Best Steak Marinade, marinate the beef for 4-8 hours
1 cup soy sauce
1 1/2 cups olive oil
1 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
3/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
4 tbsp garlic powder or granulated garlic
6 tbsp dried basil
4 tbsp dried parsley flakes
3 tsp ground white pepper
3/4 tsp of your favorite hot sauce, optional
2 tsp dried minced garlic, optional
Combine all ingredients in a blender on high speed for 30 seconds
Those are as simple as it gets, right? I love the combo of easy and delicious. That same mentality is what we have
• ‘Cue the Grill continued on page 6
of sauces in the sauce world, but I offer these because they are “no cook” recipes.
Alabama White Sauce, great on chicken, pork, and shrimp
1 cup of mayonnaise
1/4 cup buttermilk
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp granulated sugar
1 tbsp spicy brown mustard
2 tsp prepared horseradish
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp black pepper
Fireball BBQ Sauce, great on beef, chicken, pork, ribs, and shrimp
1 cup ketchup
1/3 cup Fireball whisky
1/4 cup brown sugar
3 tbsp unsalted butter
3 tbsp pepper jelly
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
Sweet and Sour Sauce, great on beef, chicken, pork, ribs, shrimp and salmon
1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp white vinegar
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
Basic BBQ Sauce for beef, chicken, pork, ribs, shrimp
1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste
Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce, (a cooked sauce) great on grilled beef, chicken, pork and ribs
1/2 cup mustard
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
4 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp ketchup
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp liquid smoke
6 dashes hot sauce
2 tsp cornstarch
2 tsp water
Combine all but the last 2 ingredients in a pan and cook over medium heat until hot and well blended. In a small bowl, combine the water and cornstarch until smooth and then add to the sauce and stir well until the sauce thickens, then pull from the heat. Now that we are in the month of May, we will see each other back on a weekly basis so I’ll have new recipes for you every week. Until then, thanks for checking out the recipes. Have an outstanding week, and make sure you keep your taste buds happy my friends. If any of you have questions or feedback, please feel free to touch base at fenwaysox10@gmail.com
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
Concord, New Hampshire
LRSO Concert May 10 & 11 – “Vintage Grooves – Hits of the 70s”
LRSO grooves with vocalists Taylor O’Donnell and Adrian Sicam celebrating the radio hits of the 1970s. Break out your bell bottoms and dust off that disco ball - the Lakes Region Symphony Orchestra (LRSO) is bringing the ultimate 70s throwback with its upcoming concert series, Vintage Grooves – Hits of the 70s! Get ready to groove on Saturday, May 10, at 7 pm at the Colonial Theatre in Laconia, and Sunday, May 11, 2025, at 3 pm at the Inter-Lakes Auditorium in Meredith.
This feel-good program is packed with smash hits from Earth, Wind & Fire, Chicago, The Doobie Broth-
ers, Carole King, the Bee Gees, Billy Joel, Joni Mitchell, The Carpenters, and more. Relive yesteryear with the groundbreaking You Are The Sunshine Of My Life, What A Fool Believes, How Deep Is Your Love, Close To You, Saturday In The Park, Where Is The Love, and many more of your favorite radio hits. Making the vocal magic happen are LRSO’s dynamic guest vocalists Taylor O’Donnell and Adrian Sicam, ready to channel the sparkle and soul of the decade.
Taylor O’Donnell is well known throughout the region and brings her adventurous style rooted in R&B, folk,
jazz, rock, and classical music. She’s an Associate Professor of Voice at Berklee College of Music, teaches at Phillips Exeter Academy, and performs with the Vintage Vocal Quartet, the electronic duo Novel/Novella, and her jazz rock trio. Adrian Sicam - singer, songwriter, and professor of voice at both Berklee and Tufts University - dazzles audiences with his high energy and versatility. He’ll light up the stage with pure 70s magic.
Tickets range from $10 - $30 and are available at www.LRSO.org. It’s time to get your groove on! Don’t waitthese concerts will sell out. Always
start your ticket purchase at LRSO.org to avoid unauthorized third-party sites. LRSO thanks the Bank of New Hampshire for their continued sponsorship of this concert.
The Lakes Region Symphony Orchestra has been bringing exceptional live music to New Hampshire audiences for nearly 50 years. As we look ahead to the 50th anniversary season in 2025-2026, LRSO remains dedicated to inspiring a love of classical music and showcasing the extraordinary talent of local and guest musicians.
Free Fireside Chat: What’s Wild with Veteran Wildlife Biologist Eric Orff
The Slim Baker Foundation for Outdoor Education is thrilled to host a special Fireside Chat with veteran wildlife biologist and author Eric Orff on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, from 6 to 7 pm at the Slim Baker Lodge, located at 301 New Chester Mountain Road, Bristol, NH. This free event is open to the public, but registration is required.
Eric Orff, a dedicated wildlife biologist with over five decades of experience in New Hampshire, will share highlights from his new book, What’s Wild: A Half-Century of Wisdom from
the Woods and Rivers of New England. Through more than four dozen captivating stories, Orff recounts his extraordinary career in wildlife conservation— from saving thousands of bats from poisoning to an unforgettable nighttime ride on a tranquilized whitetail deer. Beyond his adventures, Orff has been a leading voice in conservation and climate awareness in New Hampshire, working with NH Fish and Game, the National Wildlife Federation, and NH Audubon’s policy council. His work in conservation messaging, including his memorable radio PSAs on WOKQ, has made him a trusted advocate for New Hampshire’s wildlife and wild places.
Attendees will have the opportunity to hear Eric’s firsthand experiences, conservation insights, and legendary humor in an intimate fireside setting.
Don’t miss this unique evening of storytelling, conservation insights, and humor with one of New Hampshire’s most passionate wildlife advocates.
The Slim Baker Area is a 135-acre tract of conserved land on Little Round Top Mountain in Bristol, set up in 1953 as a memorial to Everett “Slim” Baker, a dedicated and much-loved local conservation officer. Slim dreamed of setting up a “school for outdoor living” in the Newfound Lake area, and the Slim Baker Area is the fulfillment of that dream. The Slim Baker Area is maintained by the Slim Baker Foundation, and open year-round for hiking, snowshoeing, and camping. For more information on the event above, to make facilities reservations, or make a donation to the foundation, please go to www. slimbaker.org.
New Hampshire Day at Squam Lakes Natural Science Center May 10
New Hampshire residents receive $8 trail admission on Saturday, May 10. Naturalist with A Striped Skunk. A naturalist shows off a Striped Skunk to visitors on New Hampshire Day.
Squam Lakes Natural Science Center is pleased to host New Hampshire Day on Saturday, May 10 from 9:30 am to 5 pm. (last trail admission is in the 2:30 to 3:30 pm entry block). New Hampshire
residents pay just $8 trail admission (regular admission is $28 for adults, $26 for seniors, and $22 for youth ages 3 to 15.)
New Hampshire Day is a way for the Science Center to give back to the community, educate the public about native New Hampshire wildlife, and attract new families who will help spread the word about its mission to advance un-
derstanding of ecology by exploring New Hampshire’s natural world.
New Hampshire Day is possible due to generous support from New Hampshire Electric Coop Foundation (NHEC), Dead River Company, Meredith Landing Real Estate, and Franklin Savings Bank. In addition to its sponsorship, NHEC is also covering New Hampshire Day admission fees for NHEC members, who must show a copy of their electric bill at admissions.
sum). Tickets are available online and required in advance for New Hampshire Day at nhnature.org/.
All New Hampshire Day tickets are for one-hour entry blocks to help manage traffic and must be purchased in advance at nhnature.org. New Hampshire residents must show proof of residency at admissions. Timed entry tickets allow visitors to check in at any time during the one-hour admission window.
Visitors for New Hampshire Day will enjoy Up Close to Animals presentations at the Amphitheater at 11 am (Striped Skunk), 1 pm. (Northern Sawwhet Owl), and 3 pm. (Virginia Opos-
The mission of Squam Lakes Natural Science Center is to advance understanding of ecology by exploring New Hampshire’s natural world. Through spectacular live animal exhibits, natural science education programs, guided Squam Lake Cruises, public gardens, and a nature-based Montessori early learning center, the Science Center has educated audiences of all ages since 1966 about the importance of our natural world. Squam Lakes Natural Science Center is located on Route 113 in Holderness, an easy drive from exit 24 off I-93, and public trails are open daily from May 1 through November 1 with programming throughout the year. For further information about the Science Center, call 603-968-7194 or visit www. nhnature.org.
Winnipesaukee DAR Chapter Hosts American Revolution Experience Traveling Exhibit
The countdown to America’s 250th birthday celebration continues with the Winnipesaukee Chapter-Daughters of the American Revolution excited to host the American Revolution Experience in Wolfeboro’s Great Hall May 12-22.
The innovative pop-up exhibition includes 12 display panels and interactive digital kiosks that use storytelling, illustration, technology and unique artifacts to connect modern audiences with the people and places that shaped the birth of our nation. Created through collaboration between the American Battlefield Trust and the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, the exhibit is also made possible by generous matching funds from the National Park Service’s American Battlefield Protection Program.
“The American Revolution would not have happened without the decisions, sacrifices and valor of ordinary people,” said DAR President General Pamela Rouse Wright. “DAR is honored to have collaborated with the American Battlefield Trust on this initiative to highlight some of our Patriots and their roles in the founding of this great country. We are thrilled for people in communities across the country to learn more about these
individuals.”
“The Winnipesaukee Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution were honored to be chosen to host this traveling exhibit and Wolfeboro is the only stop it will make in New Hampshire. Our members look forward to sharing this piece of our nation’s history with the public and invite everyone to come and experience it,” says Nancy Black, Chapter Regent.
Independence may have been declared in Philadelphia by the Declaration’s 56 signers, but it was hard-won on the battlefield we protect by the thousands of Patriot soldiers from whom today’s Daughters trace descent,” said Trust President David Duncan.
The American Revolution Experience invites visitors to consider the choices faced by members of the revolutionary generation as tensions mounted in the 1770s: Would these ordinary citizens risk their lives and livelihoods in pursuit of liberty? Or would they remain loyal subjects of the British crown, coming into conflict with neighbors and family? The exhibit demonstrates diverse viewpoints and experiences, touching on the journeys, both literal and figurative, of Patriots and Loyalists, men and women, Black and Native populations and
even international allies. Rather than focusing only on generals and famous statesmen, the exhibit introduces audiences to drummer boys, military map makers and other ordinary people impacted by global events.
The American Battlefield Trust has grown from a grassroots organization, started by historians nearly 40 years ago, into one of the most successful land preservation and education organizations in the nation. The Trust has protected almost 60,000 acres associated with the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War representing 160 sites in 25 states from Massachusetts to New Mexico. Its 350,000 members and supporters believe in the continued relevance of
our shared history to modern American society.
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to promote historic preservation, education and patriotism. Its members are descended from Patriots who won American independence during the Revolutionary War. With nearly 190,000 members and approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide, DAR is one of the world’s largest and most active service organizations.
For more information on becoming a Daughter of the American Revolution, call Chapter Regent Nancy Mershon Black @ 603.569.5463 or email WinnipesaukeeDAR@gmail.com
Franklin’s Native Artifacts Include ‘Indian Mortar’
Story and Photo by
Thomas P. Caldwell
Or if the Smiling Spirit
Should beckon from the lake, Up Willow Hill ascending, Your happy way you’ll take, And pass the old stone mortar Where squaws first ground their corn It stands and waits in silence
Quite forlorn.
— Passage from Alice Shepard’s poem “Franklin”
Atop Willow Hill in the city of Franklin lies what at first glance appears to be a simple granite boulder. A closer look, most likely because of having seen the nearby historical marker or monument,
makes it apparent that the depression in the boulder was not simply something carved by wind and rain. It purportedly served as a grinding stone for the Abenaki inhabitants and later European settlers who crushed corn
into meal on its hard surface.
The official New Hampshire historical marker, installed in 1979, states that the Indian Mortar was a glacial rock, shaped first by water and then by the grinding of corn from both Native and settler hands. It also mentions another boulder nearby that carries a carving of a shad, “carved, perhaps, by the red man to preserve a likeness of his favorite fish, which swam up the Winnipesaukee River when the shadbush blossomed.”
Like many accounts of the native inhabitants, the origins of the so-called Indian Mortar are not clear. Franklin historian Albert Garneau believed the boulder was already on the site at the intersection of Central and Dearborn streets when lots were laid out in what at the time was part of the town of Sanbornton. (Today’s city of Franklin, named after Benjamin Franklin, was created from portions of Sanbornton, Salisbury, Andover, and Northfield.)
The mortar lot was deeded to the Franklin Woman’s Club on September 26, 1904, and in 1927, a monument was placed on the site, stating, “This lot contains the ancient stone mortar used by Abenaki Indians and pioneer settlers of Sanbornton presented to Franklin Woman’s Club by descendants of James Clark Esquire.”
Joseph Clark was the original owner of two lots comprising 400 acres that included the mortar site, and James was his grandson. It was James’ granddaughter, Mary W. Clark, along with
Enoch Bancker of Jackson, MI, who, as the executors of Charles H. Clark’s estate, deeded the Indian Mortar lot to the Woman’s Club.
The club added a millstone to the lot, with the Journal Transcript reporting that it had come from Johnson’s Grist Mill of Webster Street on Chance Pond Brook. Records provided to Garneau by the Franklin Woman’s Club told a different story, saying the millstone came from the Pemigewasset River.
The Shad Fish Stone referenced by the state marker had been discovered by Frank Proctor while on a relic-hunting expedition in 1921, according to his sister, Mary Proctor, who wrote about it in her “Indians of the Winnipesaukee and Pemigewasset Valleys”. Frank found the boulder on Meadow Brook, which runs into the Winnipesaukee River.
“On this boulder,” Mary Proctor wrote, “was pictured — I might truthfully say sculptured — a perfect shad! It was done by the skillful fingers of a red man. It may be some boastful fisherman who, lacking the modern camera, desired to preserve a likeness of his champion fish for all time. At any rate, this pictured rock tells a story of the days when the bony shad came up our river, at the time the shadbush blossomed, in such numbers that the inhabitants had hard work to take care of them.”
It was not until 1933 that the Fish and Game Association, which built a rearing pool on a dammed section of the brook, came across the find.
“After the Fish and Game Association finished their project, they found that large birds were landing on a rock that projected above the water and were eating the small fish,” Garneau wrote in his Official History of Franklin, New Hampshire. “When they examined the rock closely, they found that this was • Mortar continued on page 13
the boulder with the carved shad fish on it.”
The Franklin Highway Department subsequently moved the 1,500-pound rock to the Indian Mortar lot.
Frank Proctor’s relic-hunting expeditions in the Franklin-Tilton area led to a large collection of Native artifacts that now reside at Dartmouth College’s Hood Museum. Professor Jere Daniell II, who had Franklin connections, assisted in establishing Dartmouth’s Native American Program.
New Hampshire’s indigenous population lived in bark-and-skin wigwams but ranged the forests, hunting and fishing, while their women cultivated crops such as maize, beans, squash, and pumpkins. The Indian Mortar is
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believed to be a remnant of that tradition, allowing them to pound corn into hominy, which, mixed with beans, yielded succotash.
Hunters used the bow, spear, and a log trap known as a “culheag,” and they caught fish at weirs — nets created from wooden branches — and by spearing them. They would relocate with the seasons, as Mary Proctor wrote in her account.
“The shad and salmon in their spring migration [up the Merrimack River] always parted company at the junction of the two rivers,” she wrote. “The salmon followed the clear, cool waters of the Pemigwasset up to its mountain sources, while the shad liked the warmer water of the Winnipesaukee and the Lake.”
The indigenous people moved around based on those seasonal re-
sources, and they referred to the two rivers joining to form the Merrimack as “the Crotch” — the three-river area that became known as Stevenstown, then Salisbury, and, finally, Franklin.
Other local histories touch upon the native population that once gathered in the area. Richard Musgrove’s History of Bristol mentions the artifacts found near Whittemore Point on Newfound Lake and at the Fowler River. There once were several lakeside campsites around Newfound, as well as at Profile Falls on the Smith River, which feeds into the Pemigewasset, and at a spring in Old Hill Village.
The campsites were connected by “Indian trails”, including the Pemigewasset and Pass-aqua-nik (Pasquaney) trails, which joined the Mascoma trail along the Smith River to Danbury and Lebanon. The Kancamagus trail joined
the Pemigewasset trail at Woodstock, and the Asquamchumaukee trail joined it at an old village site near the mouth of the Baker River, just above Plymouth.
The Indians taught the European colonists to develop the fishing, hunting, and farming skills necessary to survive in New England, and the relationship was amicable for many years. As the colonists claimed more of the land as their homesteads, that relationship became fraught, and Franklin became one of the sites of violent conflicts before the original inhabitants disappeared, leaving behind the archaeological relics for museums and items such as Franklin’s Indian Mortar.
April Showers
Through May 30, The Tiny Art Show, at ArtWorks Gallery. Mini masterpieces by K.A. Brett School in Tamworth and Madison Elementary School students, open 10 a.m. -5 p.m., Thurs. - Monday, ArtWorks CCAC, 132 Rt. 16, Chocorua, 603-323 8041, www.chocoruaartworks.com
May 3, Backyard Birding for Families, 10 – 11 a.m., Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm, 58 Cleveland Hill Rd., Tamworth, 603-323-7591.
May 4, Gift Card Gala, doors open at 12:30 p.m., games begin at 1 p.m., benefit Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction, VFW Laconia Post #1670, 143 Court St., Laconia, 603-493-9524, tagtem@metrocast.net
May 5, Annie, 8 p.m., Rochester Opera House, 31 Wakefield St., Rochester, 603-335-1992, www.rochesteroperahouse.com..
May 6, Program on Meredith’s Hermit Joseph Plumer, 7 p.m., speaker Bob Manley, held at Meredith Community Center, 1 Circle Drive, Meredith, free, public welcome, presented by Meredith Historical Society, 603-260-7493.
May 7, Conservation 101 for Landowners, 6 – 7 p.m., Brookfield Town Hall, 267 Wentworth Rd., Brookfield, register: 603-473-2020, www.mmrgnh.org
May 8, Cantrip, 7 p.m., Hermit Woods, 72 Main St., Meredith, 603-253-7968, www.hermitwoods.com
May 9, Foreigners Journey, 7:30 p.m., The Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St., Laconia, 800-657-8774, www.coloniallaconia.com
May 9, Jim Tyrrell, music, 6 – 9 p.m., The Taphouse Lake Winnipesaukee, 18 Main St., Center Harbor, 603-250-8029, www.thetaphouse.net
May 10, April Cushman, music, 6 – 9 p.m., The Taphouse Lake Winnipesaukee, 18 Main St., Center Harbor, 603-250-8029, www.thetaphouse.net
May 10, Charles C. Norman Munroe Preserve Spring Clean Up, 9 a.m. - noon, held at 73 Granite Rd., Ossipee, by Moose Mt. Regional Greenways, pre-register: 603-473-2020, www.mmrgnh.org
May 10, Contradance, Tamworth Outing Club, Black Cat Quadrille with Peter Yarensky calling, 7:30 – 10 p.m., Tamworth Town House, 27 Cleveland Hill Rd., Tamworth, admission charged, www.tamworthoutingclub.org.
May 10, From Landscape to Foodscape: Soil Enhancements & Composting for Your Garden, 10:30 a.m. – noon, Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm, 58 Cleveland Hill Rd., Tamworth, 603-323-7591, www.remickmuseum. org.
May 10, GSCS Spring 2025 Shop Til You Drop Craft Fair, 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., 50 artisans and crafters, crockpot meals, 50/50 raffle and more, by Granite State Choral Society, held at 150 Wakefield St., Rochester, 603-973-9005, https://www.facebook.com/events/1127909119032977
May 10, Lakes Region Symphony Orchestra presents Vintage Grooves –Hits of the 70s, 7 p.m., The Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St., Laconia, 800-6578774, www.coloniallaconia.com.
May 10, Love Our Earth Day, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., free community event, learn about the Lakes Region environment, Congregational Church of Laconia, 18 Veteran’s Square, Laconia, 603-568-9780.
May 10, Marion Miles Remick Bird Hike, 10 – 11 a.m., Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm, 58 Cleveland Hill Rd., Tamworth, 603-323-7591, www.remickmuseum.org.
May 10, Piano Night with Chris Fahey, 6 p.m., The Loft at Hermit Woods, 72 Main St., Meredith, 603-253-7968, www.hermitwoods.com
May 10, Writing a “Legacy Letter”, Sharing Your Values with Loved Ones, 10:30 a.m. – noon, Moultonborough Public Library, 4 Holland St., Moultonborough, pre-register: 603-476-8895.
May 11, Jim Tyrrell, music, 2 – 5 p.m., The Taphouse Lake Winnipesaukee, 18 Main St., Center Harbor, 603-250-8029, www.thetaphouse.net
May 13 & 17, Nature Station, 10 a.m. – noon, learn about plants and animals, for all ages, free, public welcome, Grey Rocks Conservation Area, 178 N. Shore Rd., Hebron, Newfound Lake Assoc., 603-744-8689, www.newfoundlake.org.
May 15, Invasive Species and Design: A Balancing Act, 6 – 7:30 p.m., Moultonborough Public Library, 4 Holland St., Moultonborough, pre-register: 603476-8895.
May 15, Pontine Theatre: The White Heron & The Star Splitter, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm, 58 Cleveland Hill Rd., Tamworth, 603-323-7591, www.remickmuseum.org.
May 15, The No Apologies Comedy Show, 7:30 p.m., The Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St., Laconia, 800-657-8774, www.coloniallaconia.com
May 16, Annual Branch River Paddle, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Moose Mt. Regional Greenways, held at Branch Hill Farm, 307 Applebee Rd., Milton Mills, register: 603-473-2020, www.mmrgnh.org
May 16, Thurley Mountain Preserve Clean Up, 9 a.m. – noon, Thurley Rd. Ossipee, volunteer for clean up by Moose Mountain Regional Greenways, pre-register: 603-473-2020, www.mmrgnh.org
May 16, Timbear Daley, music, 6 – 9 p.m., The Taphouse Lake Winnipesaukee, 18 Main St., Center Harbor, 603-250-8029, www.thetaphouse.net
May 17, 2025 Chapman Sanctuary Visny Woods Annual Bird Walk, 7:30 a.m., 740 Mt. Israel Rd., Center Sandwich, 603-284-6428, www.chapmansanctuaryvisnywoods.com.
May 17, Annual Branch River Paddle, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Branch Hill Farm, 307 Applebee Rd., Milton Mills, 603-473-2020, www.mmrgnh.org.
May 17, April Cushman, music, 6 – 9 p.m., The Taphouse Lake Winnipesaukee, 18 Main St., Center Harbor, 603-250-8029, www.thetaphouse.net
May 17, Canterbury Shaker Village Cross Country 5K, 10 a.m. – noon, register/info.: https://www.runreg.com/canterbury-shaker-village-xc-5k
May 17, In the Swing: Kinetic Earrings with Paulette Weger, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Makers Mill, 23 Bay St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-1500, www.makersmill. org
May 17, Light Filled Painting – A Simple Path, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Makers Mill, 23 Bay St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-1500, www.makersmill.org
May 17, Piano Night with Chris Mega, 6 p.m., The Loft at Hermit Woods, 72 Main St., Meredith, 603-253-7968, www.hermitwoods.com
May 17 & 18, Lakes Region Spring Craft Fair, Sat.: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sun.: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Tanger Outlets, 120 Laconia Rd., Tilton, Joyce’s Craft Shows, 603-387-1510, www.joycescraftshows.com.
May 18, An Evening with Sara Evans, 7:30 p.m., The Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St., Laconia, 800-657-8774, www.coloniallaconia.com.
May 18, Dam Tall Buildings, 7 – 9 p.m., by Wolfeboro Friends of Music, Anderson Hall at Brewster Academy, 80 Academy Drive, Wolfeboro, 603-5692151, www.wolfeborofriendsofmusic.org
May 18, Jim Tyrrell, music, 6 – 9 p.m., The Taphouse Lake Winnipesaukee, 18 Main St., Center Harbor, 603-250-8029, www.thetaphouse.net
May 18, Mapping the Shakers, 2 – 3 p.m., Canterbury Shaker Village, Shaker Rd., Canterbury, 603-783-9511, www.shakers.org
May 18, Opening Up Lucknow, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m., audience delves into the life of a servant at Castle in the Clouds (Lucknow), Castle in the Clouds, Rte. 171, Moultonborough, pre-registration required: 603-476-5410, www.castleintheclouds.org.
May 19-23, Collections Camp, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Canterbury Shaker Village, Shaker Rd., Canterbury, 603-783-9511, www.shakers.org
May 22, Lee Sykes, music, 6 – 10 p.m., The Taphouse Lake Winnipesaukee, 18 Main St., Center Harbor, 603-250-8029, www.thetaphouse.net
May 23, Belleflower Tap Takeover, 3 p.m., The Taphouse Lake Winnipesaukee, 18 Main St., Center Harbor, 603-250-8029, www.thetaphouse.net
May 23, Dakota Smart, music, 6 p.m., The Taphouse Lake Winnipesaukee, 18 Main St., Center Harbor, 603-250-8029, www.thetaphouse.net
May 24, Intro to Leatherwork: Saddle Stitching Basic, 10 a.m. – noon, Makers Mill, 23 Bay St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-1500, www.makersmill.org
May 24, Juston McKinney, 8 p.m., The Colonial Theatre, 609 Main St., Laconia, 800-657-8774, www.coloniallaconia.com.
May 24, Piano Night with David Lockwood, 6 p.m., The Loft at Hermit Woods, 72 Main St., Meredith, 603-253-7968, www.hermitwoods.com
May 24, Steve McBrian, music, 6 - 9 p.m., The Taphouse Lake Winnipesaukee, 18 Main St., Center Harbor, 603-250-8029, www.thetaphouse.net
May 24, Wetlands & Wildflowers, 8 – 10:30 a.m., Charlotte C. Browne Woods, Chocorua Lake Conservancy, 11 Runnells Hall Rd., Chocorua, 603-323-6252, www.chocorualake.org.
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May 25, April Cushman, music, 6 - 9 p.m., The Taphouse Lake Winnipesaukee, 18 Main St., Center Harbor, 603-250-8029, www.thetaphouse.net
May 25, Solar Gazing, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., free, Castle in the Clouds, Rte. 171, Moultonborough, pre-registration encouraged: 603-476-5900, www.castleintheclouds.org.
May 25 & 26, Memorial Day Weekend Craft Fair, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Schouler Park, 1 Norcross Circle, Rt. 16, N. Conway, Joyce’s Craft Shows, www.joycescraftshows.com, 603-387-1510.
May 27-30, Collections Camp, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Canterbury Shaker Village, Shaker Rd., Canterbury, 603-783-9511, www.shakers.org
May 29, Bobby Freedom, music, 6 - 9 p.m., The Taphouse Lake Winnipesaukee, 18 Main St., Center Harbor, 603-250-8029, www.thetaphouse.net
May 30, Jim Tyrrell, music, 6 - 9 p.m., The Taphouse Lake Winnipesaukee, 18 Main St., Center Harbor, 603-250-8029, www.thetaphouse.net
May 31, NE Fiddle Ensemble, 6:30 p.m., Rochester Opera House, 31 Wakefield St., Rochester, 603-335-1992, www.rochesteroperahouse.com
ONGOING
Art & Coffee Club, Thursdays, 9 – 11 a.m., Belknap Mill, 25 Beacon St. East, Laconia, 603-524-8813, www.belknapmill.org.
ArtWorks Gallery & Fine Crafts/CCAC, art, workshops and events, open year-round with seasonal hours, 603-323-8041, 132 Rte. 16, Chocorua, www. chocoruaartworks.com
Belknap Mill, 25 Beacon St. East, Laconia, gallery and textile museum, events and programs, 603-524-8813, www.belknapmill.org.
Braiding Group, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., 4th Sat. of the month, Moultonborough Public Library, 4 Holland St., Moultonborough, 603-662-6501. Also meets every Tues. at 1 p.m.
Breakfast Buffet, 7 - 11 a.m., Wolfeboro Masonic Lodge, 35 Trotting Track Rd., Wolfeboro. Pancakes, French toast, scrambled eggs, home fries, bacon, sausage, omelets made-to-order, Eggs Benedict, biscuit and gravy, juice, and coffee. Served the second Sunday of every month, 603-569-4637.
Canterbury Shaker Village, tours, walking trails, Shaker Rd., Canterbury, 603-783-9511, www.shakers.org
Castle in the Clouds, Rte. 171, Moultonborough, 603-476-5900, www.castleintheclouds.org.
Chapman Sanctuary and Visny Woods, nature trails open for hiking, 740 Mt. Israel Rd., Center Sandwich, 603-284-6428, www.chapmansanctuaryvisnywoods.com.
Coffee Hour, 10 – 11 a.m., coffee, tea and snacks, Effingham Public Library, 30 Town House Rd., Effingham, 603-539-1537, Effingham.lib.nh.us.
Country Village Quilt Guild, meets twice monthly, Public Safety Building (back entrance to Police and Fire Dept.), Rte. 25, Moultonborough, countryvillagequilters@gmail.com.
Dam Brewhouse, events, 1323 NH Rte. 175, Campton, 603-726-4500, www. dambrewhouse.com.
Family Crafts at the Belknap Mill Museum, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., third Saturday, drop-in event, free, Belknap Mill, 25 Beacon St. East, Laconia, 603-524-8813, www.belknapmill.org.
Fiber Arts Monthly Mingle, first Tues. of every month, 6 – 8 p.m., Makers Mill, 23 Bay St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-1500, www.makersmill.org
First Fridays Receptions, June through Dec., 5-7 p.m., refreshments, conversation & ArtWorks Chocorua Creative Arts Center, 132 Rt. 16, Chocorua, 3238041, www.chocoruaartworks.com
Guided Tours, history and machines of the historic Belknap Mill, 25 Beacon St. East, Laconia, pre-register: jill@belknapmill.org, 603-524-8813 to schedule a time for a tour.
Indoor Pickleball, 5 p.m., Sandwich Central School gym, Sandwich, every Tues., Thurs. & Fri., parksandrec@sandwichnh.org
Kirkwood Gardens, free, open to public year round, Rt. 3, Holderness, tour the gardens, www.nhnature.org, 603-968-7194.
Ladies of the Lake Quilt Guild, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., meets second and fourth
Wednesday of each month, First Congregational Church, 115 Main St., Wolfeboro, www.llqg.net
Lakes Region Art Association, exhibits and classes, Suite 300, Tanger Outlet, Rte. 3, Tilton, 603-998-0029, www.lraanh.org
Laverack Nature Trail at Hawkins Brook, nature trail on boardwalk, free, trail starts to the left of Meredith Village Savings Bank, Rte. 25, Meredith, 603279-9015.
Loon Center, walking trails, loon exhibits, 183 Lees Mill Rd., Moultonborough, 603-476-5666, www.loon.org
Makers Mill, a variety of workshops, arts and crafts classes and more, 23 Bay St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-1500, www.makersmill.org
Making Strides, 8 – 9 a.m., drop-in walking for groups or singles, Ossipee Town Hall, no pre-registration required, 55 Main St., Center Ossipee, takes place various times: www.ossipee.recdesk.com.
Meredith Public Library Bookstore, run by Friends of the Meredith Library, open weekly: Wed. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Thurs. & Fri. 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., lower level, Meredith Public Library, 91 Main St., Meredith, 603279-4303, www.meredithlibrary.org.
New England Racing Museum, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., open Saturdays, 922 NH Rte. 106 N., Loudon, www.NEMSMUSEUM.com
NH Boat Museum, events and exhibits, 130 Whittier Highway, Moultonborough, 603-569-4554. Second location: 399 Center St., Wolfeboro, 603-5694554, www.nhbm.org.
NH Farm Museum, seasonal (summer & fall) old-time farm events, gift shop, 1305 White Mt. Highway, Milton, contact for open hours/dates: 603-6527840, www.nhfarmmuseum.org
Outdoor Nature-Based Storytime for Young Children, 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Tuesdays, Cook Memorial Library, 93 Main St., Tamworth, 603-3238510, www.tamworthlibrary.org.
Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center, 928 White Oaks Road, Laconia, www.prescottfarm.org. Call ahead for event information and to inquire if program pre-registration is necessary: 603-366-5695.
Quilting Group, 1 - 4 p.m., meets every 2 weeks, Ossipee Public Library, 74 Main St., Ossipee, schedule/info: 603-539-6390.
Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm, farmstead events, 58 Cleveland Hill Rd., Tamworth, 603-323-7591, www.remickmuseum.org.
Roller Skating Night, 5 p.m., Mondays, bring your own skates, age 18 and up, Ossipee Town Hall, 55 Main St., Ossipee, info/updates: 603-539-1307, www. ossipee.org
Rug Hookers, 10 a.m., meets Tuesdays, Tuftonboro Free Library, 221 Middle Rd., Rt. 109A, Tuftonboro, 603-569-4256.
Sculpture Walk, tours of outdoor sculptures around downtown/lakeside areas of Meredith, free, Greater Meredith Program, maps: 603-279-9015.
Second Saturday Contradance, Tamworth Outing Club, 7:30 – 10 p.m., Tamworth Town House, 27 Cleveland Hill Rd., Tamworth, admission charged, info.: Amy Berrier at 603-651-5800 or Teresa Fournier at 978-609-2181.
Song and Jam Circle, 6:30 – 8 p.m., community created jams and song circle, 3rd Monday of each month, Runnells Hall, 25 Deer Hill Rd., Tamworth, free, bring your favorite instruments, Arts Council of Tamworth, 603-584-2712, www.artstamworth.org
Tamworth Farmer’s Market, 9 a.m. - noon, Saturdays, 30 Tamworth Road, Tamworth, www.tamworthfarmersmarket.org
Tamworth History Center, 25 Great Hill Rd., Tamworth, www.tamworthhistorycenter.org.
Tamworth Townhouse Hoot – Bruce Berquist & Jim Alt, 1 – 3 p.m., Saturdays, 27 Cleveland Hill Rd., Tamworth, song circle, local musicians welcome to participate, bruceberquist@gmail.com
Tuftonboro Country Bluegrass and Gospel Jam, 6:30 - 8 p.m., Tuesdays, donation requested, Old White Church, Rte. 109A, Center Tuftonboro, across from Tuftonboro General Store, 603-569-3861.
Wolfeboro Table Tennis, meets Wednesdays, 4 – 6 p.m., in basement of All Saints Church, Wolfeboro, all skill levels welcome, $5 admission charge each week, info: 603-520-5651.
Pontine Theatre Brings Two Classic Rural Life Observances to Tamworth
Witness two literary impressions of rural New England come to life on Wednesday, May 15, from 6:30–7:30 pm, as the Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm in Tamworth, New Hampshire, welcomes Portsmouth’s Pontine Theatre for a one-night-only performance of “A White Heron” and “The Star Splitter.”
This unique program features Pontine’s original and intimate “toy theatre” staging of Sarah Orne Jewett’s short story “A White Heron”—first published in 1886—alongside a recitation of Robert Frost’s poem “The Star Splitter”—published in 1923. Together, these works offer two moving perspectives on the character, tensions,
and allure of rural life in New England. Two Tales from the Country: In “A White Heron,” a young girl’s loyalty to nature is tested by a charming hunter searching for a rare bird. Jewett’s timeless story captures the subtle complexities of coming of age in the countryside. In “The Star Splitter,” Frost spins a tale of a farmer who gives up everything for a glimpse of the cosmos and challenges our ideas of failure, purpose and wonder.
Jewett and Frost, icons of New England literature, wrote about everyday people navigating between the practical and the poetic; they remain as relevant now as they were over a century ago. Both writers were published and
widely appreciated within the lifetimes of Dr. Edwin Remick and Dr. Edwin “Doc” C. Remick, the Remick Museum & Farm’s namesake father and son country doctors who resided within Tamworth and served the medical needs of townspeople and visitors from 1894-1993.
“This special evening offers the opportunity to hear samples of literary trends during the timeline in which the Drs. Remick lived, enjoy city-based arts in the rural town, and see the workings of a modern version of a historical toy theatre,” said Dawne Gilpatrick, the museum’s marketing coordinator.
Known for inventive storytelling and evocative stagecraft, Pontine Theatre has been transforming classic New England literature into captivating live performances for more than 35 years. Using puppets, mime, and minimalist design, artistic directors Marguerite
Mathews and Greg Gathers bring history, literature, and imagination together in unexpected ways. NH Magazine notes “Pontine Theatre is a small miracle… there’s really nothing else like it anywhere.”
The performance is free for members (donations welcome), with a suggested donation of $5.00 for non-members. Preregistration is required due to limited seating; call (603) 323-7591 or email info@remickmuseum.org. Donations may be made online—via the event webpage—or on-site the night of the show. Suitable for ages 14 and above, with curious and patient younger guests also welcome.
The museum is located at 58 Cleveland Hill Rd., Tamworth, New Hampshire. For more information, visit the website at www.remickmuseum.org.
Clean Up Bristol Day May 17
Join your neighbors on Saturday, May 17 at Kelley Park Band Shell, 10 am – 12 pm, in Downtown Bristol, for the spring Clean Up Bristol Day. Families, friends, school groups, community organizations and businesses are all encouraged to participate.
Clean Up Bristol Day is a chance for residents of all ages to come together. Cleaning up our town helps to improve our public spaces. It creates a sense of pride in our community. Last year we collected 30 bags of trash.
If you want to help out, stop by the
band shell at Kelley Park on North Main Street in Bristol anytime between 10 am - 12 pm on Saturday, May 17. Members of the Sustainability Committee will be handing out trash bags and gloves as well as fruit to provide energy throughout the morning. Volunteers will be able to choose the location in town they wish to clean up. Don’t forget to bring your water in a re-usable bottle. For more information, contact Janet Metcalf, metcalfjanetj@ gmail.com 603-744-0440
The Lakes Region Newcomers Club—Membership
By Mark Okrant
Social scientists tell us that an estimated 22 percent of U.S. adults experience loneliness to some degree, in some cases significantly. This is an issue that can lead to a range of social issues ranging from violent crime, violence against property, boredom, and suicide, among others. One solution to these troubling tendencies is to provide local populations with outlets during their leisure.
Forty-five years ago, a Wolfeboro resident named Marge Clarke saw a need for a Welcome Wagon service in central New Hampshire, ultimately establishing what evolved into The Lakes Region Newcomers Club (LRNC). Today, the LRNC is a fun, year-round social organization comprised of newcomers and continuing members, many of whom are long-time seasonal
and year-round residents, whose ages range between 50 and 90-plus.
The Club’s purpose is to serve a variety of opportunities requested by fledgling and longer-term members of the community. Motivations vary from a desire to participate in a favorite event to learning something new, all the while strengthening friendships with others who share common interests.
Sue Stevens, a long-time LRNC member who serves as the organization’s membership chair, the organization is comprised of approximately five hundred members who reside in cities, towns, and rural areas.
New members pay a $20 fee, per person, per year—with couples using their individual email addresses. The originators took the name of the organization “newcomers” literally, as new members were allowed to retain
their memberships for five years only. However, today, there is no time limit ascribed to membership; and numerous LRNC members have belonged for many years.
The LRNC helps members discover the wide variety of cultural, social, and recreational resources available throughout the Lakes Region, the state, and New England. Interested persons join one or more of the 109 activities designed by the Special Interest Groups (or SIGs): Art Group, Book Group, Bicycling Group, Coffee Klatch, Creative Writing, Enquiring Minds, Hiking, Ice Skating, Kayaking, Knitting Circle, Lunch Bunch, Roadster Destinations, Shopping, Skiing,
Snowshoeing, Walking, Wine Tasting or creations of their own.
During 2024, the Club sponsored 170 activities, while the events committee hosted 27 events at a variety of venues. When asked which activities are most popular among the LRNC membership. Sue listed kayaking, snow skiing at Gunstock Mountain Resort, and wine tasting. Among the latter group, members prefer to select their own wines and have private house parties by invitation only; on average there are three of these events per month. Another activity that is growing in
• Newcomers continued on page 20
popularity is the game of Bunco. Bunco is a dice game wherein players are divided into groups of four at different tables. Players take turns rolling the dice while trying to score points by acquiring specific combinations. The main objective is to achieve a “bunco” by tossing three of a kind that match a specific number.
Other popular activities conducted at private homes or in church halls include Creative Writing, Enquiring Minds, and Trivia Night. In Creative Writing, a professional writer will select a topic and give the group a certain amount of time to complete an assignment. After an hour (more or less), members of the group will read
her/his essay with the writer critiquing each. In Enquiring Minds, the group discusses a particular topic—political, cultural, etc.—with the agreement to keep the conversation “civil”. Trivia Night can be held in a bar/restaurant, often by playing a game such as Trivial Pursuit; rules of the game are approved in advance, with a prize provided to the winner or winners.
The organization does not function in a vacuum. Rather it works with a number of community partners: Wolfeboro Parks and Recreation, Pavillion, Trenta, various Land Trusts, the Wolfeboro Public Library, and various food and drink establishments.
Lunch Bunch and Coffee Klatch are two ways to develop friendships while sharing an affection for one’s favorite food, drink, or a popular purveyor.
Generally, the responsibility for selecting the destination is rotated among the SIG members.
In addition to many special interest groups (SIG), the Lakes Region Newcomers Club plays a far more important role. (As one who has had the good fortune to be married to my soulmate for more than one-half century, I’m able to take full advantage of the numerous, varied cultural, historic, scenic and natural, and sporting events that the Granite State offers. Without my spouse, I doubt I’d venture beyond my living room very often.) However, many of us do not share similar opportunities. This is where the LRNC provides a safety net for new and longtime residents alike.
During the winter months, there are opportunities to watch small aircraft land and take off from the ice runway in Alton Bay. Others may prefer to view the ice castles, or attend one of the many indoor craft fairs in the company of an SIG. As the weather warms, SIG members take bicycling tours along the rail trails, hike the 4000-footers, and attend the wonderful Gallery in the Garden, among other options. And let’s not forget the numerous the-
ater groups such as the Barnstormers, Winnipesaukee Players, Palace Theater, and Capitol Center for the Arts, where SIGs combine appreciation for professional and/or community theater with good food and fine company.
An additional benefit provided by the Lakes Region Newcomers Club is an introduction to medical, legal, and other forms of professional services. If you have changed residences recently, you know how difficult it can be to gain entry to a primary care or dental practice. An introduction from a LRNC member can spell the difference between waiting months to see a doctor and gaining shorter-term acceptance.
In summary, whether you are seeking companionship, awareness of events and activities, or advice about the community you are entering, it is highly recommended that you contact Sue Stevens, membership chair of the Lakes Region Newcomers Club, at LRNCmembership@gmail.com. It may prove to be a life-changing decision.
Yesteryear
D&M Hits a Home Run…and Welcomed a Visit from Babe Ruth
By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper
It’s springtime, and sports fans are looking forward to exciting ball games. They purchase tickets for a Red Sox game in Boston or cheer on their kids and grandkids at school softball and baseball games.
Every ball player uses bats, balls, and gloves. We might not think much about where the equipment comes from, but at one time, many baseballs and gloves, among other gear, were made in New Hampshire. In one Granite State town
tucked between the Lakes Region and the White Mountains, making sports gear went from a cottage industry to a thriving factory where famed player Babe Ruth made publicity stops.
In the early 1900s, residents thought about baseball year-round in Plymouth, New Hampshire. For many, baseball was their livelihood, and they made thousands of balls and sporting items at the Draper & Maynard Co. (D&M).
In the late 1800s and early to mid-1900s, Plymouth was
a hub of industry for baseball glove manufacturing. Over the years, the high-quality gloves manufactured by D&M gained popularity, especially when Babe Ruth traveled to Plymouth and posed for publicity photos, stitching a baseball glove and hobnobbing with local officials.
The business started as a family concern in Ashland, New Hampshire, producing buckskin gloves. The gloves were utilitarian protective gear for laborers who used them for field and yard work.
Nickels & Dimes Boutique
Whole House Water Treatment Systems
“Twenty Decades in Plymouth, New Hampshire: 17631963” by Eva Speare reported that the business was initially located at Glove Hollow in Ashland. Its growth rapidly accelerated until plans were made to move to nearby Plymouth.
Seeing that their business was thriving and could sustain growth, Jason Draper, the son of one of the family business’s founders, and his brother-inlaw, John Maynard, planned to expand the operation in the 1880s.
At the time, baseball was becoming popular across the country. In the beginning, baseball players did not use gloves but simply relied on their bare hands or primitive gloves when fielding balls. This was awkward and led to many hand injuries.
Perhaps Draper or Maynard saw a local baseball game and thought to themselves that there had to be a better way to protect players. Whatever the reason, they invited Arthur • Yesteryear continued on page 22
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“Doc” Irwin, a professional shortstop, to visit their business. Irwin had suffered some broken fingers the previous playing season, and when visiting the business, Draper and Maynard fitted him with a padded glove. When Irwin’s teammates saw the glove, they wanted gloves as well. Orders began to come in, and the D&M business was off and running. They operated from a factory in Ashland in Glove Hollow Brook, near Plymouth.
It seemed a natural progression from buckskin gloves to baseball gloves. D&M may have been the first company to produce baseball gloves; in its heyday, it made thousands of them.
By the late 1800s, the D&M employed around 200 workers. Residents surely appreciated the business because it brought much-needed employment to the area. The company made and sold baseballs, leather goods such as baseball gloves, and uniforms.
Expansion continued when Draper hired reps to sell products to various baseball teams. The salespeople sang the praises of the Draper and Maynard products and took orders regularly. Sales offices opened in New York and California, and a Japanese businessman purchased the rights to sell D&M products in Japan. Popular baseball players had endorsement deals with D&M, fur-
ther increasing the company’s awareness.
Eventually, Draper and Maynard decided to build a new factory on Plymouth’s North Main Street. A 100-foot building rose above the downtown Plymouth area. Business was booming, and the company employed up to 600 workers, which was quite an infusion into the local economy.
The new space allowed Draper and Maynard to expand their sporting goods line even further, and by 1905, the company was considered a leading manufacturer in northern New England.
The idea for the baseball glove revolutionized the sport and spilled over into other sports as well; D&M made boxing gloves and other padded leather sporting goods. A trademark was adopted as well, depicting Maynard’s bird dog, Nick (the “Lucky Dog”).
A cottage industry grew from the baseball factory, and women sewed baseballs for D&M from their homes. Increased production met the demand from the national baseball leagues, which needed hundreds of baseballs each year. During the 1920s, a large percentage of major league players used D&M gloves and mitts, as well as the company’s balls and bats. Also produced were footballs and basketballs, popular items as the sports grew, and many schools and colleges offered football and basketball.
Unfortunately, the factory burned in
1910 and was replaced by a four-story brick building, according to information in Eva Speare’s book “Twenty Decades in Plymouth, New Hampshire: 1763-1963”. With the larger factory building, the company was able to make more products; thus, more people were employed.
Around 1916, Plymouth was in the news, and it was all about baseball. An article in The Record Enterprise titled “When the Legendary Babe Ruth Came to Laconia and Plymouth” by Jonathan Stimmel, NH Historical Society, reported an interesting visit by the Red Sox in 1916. The article relates that 10 Laconia town baseball team members played against the World Champion Boston Red Sox pitcher and slugger Babe Ruth on a cold October day of that year.
The visit was a major publicity coup put together by Maynard. The Red Sox players were guests of Maynard, and he set up social stops at towns around the state and then a stop in Laconia for an exhibition game against the Laconia team.
The game was well attended, with around 2,000 people from the area watching it. In the spirit of camaraderie, Babe Ruth pitched for the Laconia team. Subsequently, the Laconia team won the match, much to the townspeople’s delight. The Record Enterprise article reported that after the game, Maynard entertained the Red Sox players with a trip to Lost River Gorge and the Old Man of the Mountain.
Of course, there was a D&M stop where Red Sox players could choose their gloves and balls. Old photographs
show the store on site where sports equipment was sold, with football helmets, a selection of uniforms, gloves galore, and much more for sports-minded customers.
Babe Ruth occasionally stopped at the factory, and a black-and-white photograph shows Ruth in a full-length raccoon coat (this was the Jazz Age, when such attire was the height of fashion), talking with factory workers who made the gloves and baseballs.
After Jason Draper’s death, John Maynard continued to run the business until he died in the 1930s. Although Maynard had retired as president in 1930, he was still active as a director and helped the company to continue.
Family members ran the business until a competitor in Cincinnati, Ohio, purchased the trademark. An article in the September 1937 issue of the Bristol Enterprise reported that “Ohio Firm Buys Draper & Maynard.” A subhead added, “Operations Transferred to Cincinnati; Famous Trade Mark Included.” The Ohio buyer was P. Goldsmith Company, a widely known sporting goods firm. They bought the equipment, name, and trademark of the Draper & Maynard company. At the time, the Plymouth factory employed about 85 people on-site and another 100 outside workers.
The D&M Co. may be gone, but it is a lasting testament to the days when Babe Ruth and other famous players came to town.
