Events Photo Album

Cemetery Tour 2020

The Henniker Historical Society offered a guided tour of 8 memorials in the Old (Center) Henniker Cemetery on October 25, 2020. Guides in period clothing spoke about a memorial of their “loved one” as visitors made their way through the cemetery on the crisp fall day.

Henniker Historical Society Board President Marc Murphy represented Lt. John Proctor, revolutionary solider, grandfather of Henniker Poet Edna Dean Proctor, with the largest and tallest memorial in the Center Cemetery.

(L to R) Ellen Reed (l) was in mourning as the mother of Nettie Bell, the first murder in Henniker. Sue Fetzer was Mrs. Louisa Bacon and talked about her 12 children, and especially Jonas, who died in the Civil War. John Coburn represented Ephriam Goss and his Revolutionary War colleague Deacon David Clough. Beth Spaulding was Henniker’s ‘Ocean Born’ Mary Wallace.

Henniker Historian Martha Taylor (l) portrayed Mrs. Carlos Childs while Ellen Reed is the mother of murdered teenager Nettie Bell Douglass.

Beth Spaulding told the real story of Mary Wallace, aka ‘Ocean Born’.

Kristen McLean portrayed Mrs. Persis Brown Swett, and started her conversation in sign language! Persis was deaf as was her father and brother.

The white building behind Mrs. Persis Brown (Kristen McLean) and her visitors is the ‘Hearse House’.

It was a cool fall day as visitors learn about two Revolutionary War veterans, Goss and Clough.

Marek Bennett told the story of the only black man known to be buried in the cemetery, Jeremiah Crocker. Crocker served as a drummer in the Revolution and was well known to General George Washington.

Over 100 visitors to the cemetery will likely '“never think of this cemetery in the same way again.”

CENTER CEMETERY TOUR 2021

The Henniker Historical Society offered a guided tour of 6 memorials in the Old (Center) Henniker Cemetery on October 10, 2021. Guides in period clothing spoke about a memorial of the family and the deceased as visitors made their way through the cemetery on the warm fall day.

Center Cemetery personalities included Mrs. Jesse Ward (Ellen Reed), Deacon Daniel Clough (John Coburn) Deacon Oliver Pillsbury (Ian Holden), Mrs. Edward Barnes (Sue Fetzer), Mrs. Jonathan Ray (Kristen MacLean) and William Bowman (Marc McMurphy) — Center Cemetery personalities (l to r) included Mrs. Jesse Ward (Ellen Reed), Deacon Daniel Clough (John Coburn) Deacon Oliver Pillsbury (Ian Holden), Mrs. Edward Barnes (Sue Fetzer), Mrs. Jonathan Ray (Kristen MacLean) and William Bowman (Marc McMurphy)

Deacon Clough speaks about his role in the Revolution

Deacon Pillsbury preaches temperance

Mrs. Ray (r) thanks volunteer Diane Reed

Mrs. Ray describes her numerous children

Mrs. Ward and Mrs. Barnes enjoy the weather

Mrs. Ward notes the unusual iron tombstone

William Bowman humors the tourists

MUSIC ON MAIN STREET

The Henniker Historical Society was proud to participate in the 2021 Music on Main Street held in September 2021. We enjoyed meeting and greeting folks from Henniker and beyond!

Volunteers Yo and Ian admire the Cat's Meow items for sale

Diane Carpenter (r) enjoys a story from Henniker Historian Martha Taylor

Ten historical items were on display for visitors

The ear trumpet was a popular item

Board members Deb Dow (l) and Kristen MacLean set up the display

FIRST YARD (DEPOT HILL) CEMETERY TOUR 2021

The Henniker Historical Society offered a guided tour of 5 memorials in the oldest public cemetery in Henniker on October 31, 2021. Guides in period clothing spoke about a memorial of the family and the deceased as visitors made their way through the cemetery on the chilly Halloween day (Photos by Justin Valley and Ellen Reed).

The Fall day added drama to the First Yard Tour!

Visitors were shuttled to the top of Depot Hill from the Town Hall. (Thanks to Ray Mohrs our driver!)

HHS Volunteer, Diane Carpenter, greets a cemetery toursit.

Mrs. Patterson and her stone.

Mrs. Sarah Patterson Campbell (aka Ellen Reed) relates stories of dead cats and miraculous river crossings.

Mrs. Marsh relates her sad story.

Mary Marsh (aka Kristen Maclean) awaits visitors as she ponders her fate as a farmer’s daughter.

Mr. Peters describes his first stone of the cemetery.

William Peters, (aka Ian Holden) son of the first Henniker settler met with an untimely death.

Martha ‘Patty” Childs (aka Sue Fetzer) awaits visitors to hear about her stories of early Henniker.

Mrs. Childs relates the purchase of her father’s 100 acres, now downtown Henniker!

Mrs. Connor’s grave is up the hill.

Mrs. Louisa Bacon Connor (aka Jennie Coburn-Valley), wife of ADLF Connor, cemetery caretaker.

Mrs. Connor and Mrs. Childs discussing the fine fall weather.

PLUMMER (RIVER ROAD) CEMETRY TOUR - OCTOBER 2022

The Henniker Historical Society offered a guided tour of 6 memorials in the second oldest public cemetery in Henniker on October 9, 2022. Guides in period clothing spoke about a memorial of the family and their deceased relatives as visitors made their way through the cemetery on a crisp autumn day. (Photos by Justin Valley)