Henniker Historical Society
Publications of the Society
All publications listed here are available at the Society's home, Academy Hall,
51 Maple St, in Henniker. We are open Thursdays and Saturdays, 10am to 2pm, year-round. Please visit us there; or write to us at PO Box 674, Henniker, NH 03242; or call us at 603-428-6267; or send us e-mail.
Booklets
As of August 2005, the Society has published Twelve booklets in its historical series, each priced at only $3 at Academy Hall, or $4.25 if mailed.
The Story of Henniker by Francis L. Childs (Booklet #1, July 1997)
This is a reprint of a speech given at the New England College Community Day Convocation, May 28, 1958, by Dr. Francis Lane Childs, Emeritus Professor of Anglo-Saxon and English Language and Literature, Dartmouth College. "The history of Henniker as a township begins early in 1735 when the Province of Massachusetts, claiming title to a large part of what is now the southern portion of New Hampshire, laid out a double tier of nine 'townships for defense,' each about six miles square and numbered consecutively. What is now Henniker was Number Six, so known and recorded until 1768."
The History of Academy Hall by Patricia L. Proctor (Booklet #2, July 1997)
When the Academy first opened opened in the spring of 1837, students were required to adhere to a set of strict rules, such as: "No student shall spend his time by loitering at any store, shop, tavern or places of similar resort" and "Students shall not be allowed to visit each others' lodgings, nor to walk nor ride for amusement on the Lord's day."
Railroading in Henniker by Alan Wimmergren (Booklet #3, January 1998)
In the glory days of railroading, Henniker had three railroad stations! At one of them, called Henniker Junction, was the crossing point for two railroads, the New Hampshire Central Railroad running from Manchester through Henniker and Bradford to Claremont Junction, and the Contoocook Valley Railroad running from Concord through Henniker and Hillsborough to Peterborough.
Amy Cheney Beach, American Composer by Angela Robinson (Booklet #4, July 1997)
Amy's musical talent surfaced at an early age. At age one she could accurately sing over forty tunes, always in the same key she first heard them. By the time she was four years old she was able to improvise at the piano and compose her first pieces. she already fit the definition of "musical prodigy."
Booklet #5 is Out of Print - See
Booklet #13
Historic Cemeteries of Henniker, An Index to the Gravestones (Booklet #5, September 1998)
This special project was conceived by Martha Taylor and completed under her direction. It is an index to the larger work entitled "Historic Cemeteries of Henniker, New Hampshire, a Detailed Record of Gravestone Inscriptions." See below for information on this latter publication of the Society.
Poetry of Henniker, A Historical Collection,
compiled by Bruce Elliott (Booklet #6, January 1999)
This collection of poetry is taken from the archives of the Society. Some have been published in books, pamphlets or newspapers, some have not. Some are by residents of Henniker, others are about Henniker but by non-resident poets. The selections come from various eras of Henniker's 237-year history. Illustrative art work was added from advanced drawing students at John Stark Regional High School in 1998. The drawing at the right, by Sarah Bolton, illustrated the poem The Old Attic and adorns the front cover of this booklet.
Ocean Born Mary and Mr. Roy - Linked by Legend, by Alice V. Flanders and Martha C. Taylor
(Booklet #7, November 2000)
Alice Flanders served as a New Hampshire legislative attaché in the position of House stenographer from 1919 to 1969. Before and after retirement she devoted much time to historical research. She wrote this Ocean Born Mary article in the late 1960's to clarify the relationship between fact and fiction. She died in 1986 at the age of 91 years. Her daughter, Dorothy Greenly, of Henniker has given us permission to reprint the story.
Adventures of a Deaf-Mute in the White Mountains - 1865-1868, by William B. Swett (Booklet #8, July 2001)
Mr. Swett, a deaf-mute, was born in Henniker of deaf-mute parents. After his marriage to Margaret Harrington, a deaf-mute from Ireland, he moved to Marblehead, MA. Two of their five children were deaf. He spent three summers (1865-67) as a guide and handyman at the Profile House. This booklet details his daring adventures at the Old Man of the Mountains, the Flume, Echo Lake, Eagle Cliff, Mt. Lafayette and the surrounding area. Mr. Swett founded a school of industrial arts for deaf adults, which soon added an educational program for deaf children. It is now known as the Beverly School for the Deaf in Beverly, MA. In memory of William B.
Swett, the Society has donated 100 of these booklets for fundraising to benefit their William B. Swett Museum.
Extending Knowledge: A History of the Henniker Woman's Club - 1897-1969, by Lillian Ayer (Booklet #9, June 2002)
The Henniker Woman's Club began as the Ladies' Reading Club with the object being the "interchange of thought and cultivation of taste for a more extended knowledge of reading, such as history, authors, fiction, current events, or whatever the Club may deem advisable." After studying American history and about life in foreign countries they presented musical programs, dramas and travelogues. Civic efforts were undertaken throughout its' existence. World War I and II activities and promoting children's well-being and education were efforts they contributed to each year.
In Memory of... This booklet of gravestone epitaphs in Henniker, NH, cemeteries 1775-2000, was compiled by Martha C. Taylor (Booklet #10, October 2002)
The title for the booklet was chosen because a great many of our stones had "In Memory of" or "In Loving Memory" engraved on the face of the stone. Sixteen percent of the stones in the First Burial Yard and the Old Cemetery are so engraved. The epitaph used on the cover is the one most often found on Henniker gravestones.
New
“Jesse Emory, The best wooden works clockmaker in the country.” was written by Thomas Johnson as the culmination of his Eagle Scout project. ( Booklet #11 ) The booklet explores Jesse’s life in Henniker, Weare and Deering (1759-1838) and documents the quality of his wooden clockworks craftsmanship. As a result of this project the Historical Society is now the proud owner of an 1805 Jesse Emory clock
“Daily Happenings 1768-1899,
Cemeteries of
Martha Taylor, archives chair and past president of the Henniker Historical Society, coordinated the first ten of the booklets in this series and edited the Henniker Historian from August 1995 to October 2001. She also authored the Index to L.W. Cogswell's History of Henniker and the Historic Cemeteries of Henniker, NH, A Detailed Record of Gravestone Inscriptions.
Other publications
The Only Henniker On Earth, by the Henniker History Committee, published for the Henniker Historical Society and the Town of Henniker in 1980 by Phoenix Publishing, Canaan, NH. This book covers the town's history for the hundred years since Cogswell's effort. It is available for sale at the Society or the Golden Pineapple for $18.50.
Historic Cemeteries of Henniker, New Hampshire, a Detailed Record of Gravestone Inscriptions This special project was conceived by Martha Taylor and completed under her direction. It is available for sale at the Society for $27.50; for orders by mail, add $5. Since the first printing, there have been a few changes to the data in this book. For details, see Changes to book, Historic Cemeteries of Henniker.
New Cemetery
Index to Leander W. Cogswell's "History of the Town of Henniker NH". It is available for sale at the Society for $14; for orders by mail, add $3.
Male and Female Names: Are you interested in learning common male and female names from bygone eras? If so, click on one of the 2 links below.
| Female Names | ||
| Male Names |
NEW
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Reprints of the original “History of Henniker” written by L.W. Cogswell in 1880 are available for sale for $85.00. We also have an index for this book for $14.00.
Other items for sale:
NEW for 2007
Puzzle - 13" X 10", 300 piece full color puzzle of Henniker scenes. Designed by photographer Terri Trier. $20.00
Postcard Book - Greetings from Henniker, A look at the Past Through Postcards, Volume I. This 240 page soft covered book showcases 340 Henniker post cards in black and white. Captions added to the cards give a unique snapshot of Henniker's history as related to the images. $29.95
Henniker-Opoly
Framed game board $220.00
Full games sold out.
Copies of the 1889 Birds Eye view maps of Henniker are now available. They are 13”X15”. We have colored copies and non-colored copies on ecru paper. Either are $15.00 each
Beginning in October 2005 we will selling a new cookbook. Contact us for the price at that time.
Collection of all back issues of the Henniker Historian newsletter. The full set of 34 issues is now available for $15.00.