We are a seasonal organization dedicated to preserving our town’s history, providing educational experiences and informative programs to the public, collecting artifacts and maintaining our museum, and providing an avenue for research.
On August 28, 1961 the first meeting of the Holderness Historical Society was held at the home of Susan Bacon Keith. Through the next years meetings were held in private homes, the Community Church and the fire house. When the New Hampshire Baptist Convention declared the North Holderness Church defunct the Historical Society purchased the building and had it moved from Perch Pond Road to Curry Place in 1994.
Museum Hours
July – September, Saturdays 10am – noon or by appointment. Contact holdernesshistsoc@yahoo.com
2014 Special Exhibit
Holderness and Squam: Our Past in Photographs from 1888 On
We will have a special exhibit in the museum this summer of photographs taken in Holderness and on Squam from our collection. There will be a section of unidentified people and places that we hope someone will recognize and tell us about.
2014 Programs
Wednesday, June 4 7:30 pm Historical Society
“The Old Man of the Mountain: Substance and Symbol”
Maggie Stier
The story of the Old Man of the Mountain is a story of New Hampshire, reflecting history, the arts, literature, geography, philosophy and public policy. Maggie Stier will speak about the ways this iconic place has sparked observer’s imaginations, attracted intense personal attracted intense commitment, and symbolized changing public sentiment. Come find out what caused the Old Man to fall in 2003 and what is being done to preserve his memory. The audience is invited to bring souvenirs, memorabilia or other artifacts of the Old Man of the Mountain for a shared display before and after the program, and to share their own experiences and memories on this topic.
Wednesday, July 9 7:30 pm Historical Society
“The Crime of Witchcraft: What the Primary Sources Tell Us”
Margo Burns
This program focuses on the Salem witchcraft trails of 1692 and 1693, when nineteen people were hanged and one crushed to death, but also examines a variety of other cases against women in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. The witchcraft trials may seem to have been a free-for-all, fraught with hysterics, but Margo Burns who is a 10th generation great-granddaughter of Rebecca Nurse, who was hanged in Salem in 1692 on the charge of witchcraft, will demonstrate how methodical and logical the Salem Court was.
For local cemetery information see site maintained by member Carl Sheperd, website.