News

August 9, 2010

New Book on Hancock Published

Local historian and Hancock Historical Society Museum Director Cindy Amidon has just authored a new book on the town of Hancock, Remembering Hancock. Her meticulous research over the years has yielded a number of short articles that have appeared in Hancock Happenings (the town newsletter) as well as other publications. These articles have now been gathered together in a book published by The History Press and augmented with photos from the Historical Society's archives.

The stories - some amusing, some sad, all interesting, - reveal the character of the town (and characters in the town) over the years. Signed copies of the book are for sale in the Hancock Historical Society.

October 18, 2009

Historical Society Honored with Public Programming Award

On Saturday, October 17th, Hancock Historical Society President Ken Chester and Museum Director Cindy Amidon accepted the 2009 Public Programming Award at the annual meeting of the Association of Historical Societies of New Hampshire. This award was given in recognition of the Society’s dedication and contribution to local history within the state of New Hampshire.

The Society was nominated for this award because of an unusual, highly successful collaborative project between the Society and Great Brook Middle School, “Life in the 1890s.” Volunteers Bobbie Nylander and Ellena Weston Zimmerman spent countless hours working with GBS fifth graders and their teacher, Anne Kenney, at the school and in the Society’s museum. Each student researched a specific 1890s topic using objects, written documents, oral histories, and photographs. They shared their individual powerpoint presentations, and a published poster featuring illustrations highlighting their knowledge and artistic effort, during a special parent/community night.

The culmination of the project was a visit to Hancock to celebrate its completion. The students viewed their powerpoint presentations at the Hancock Library, toured the old cemetery, climbed the bell tower of the Meeting House, and perused 1890 tax records from the Archives room at the Town Office Building. A picnic beside Norway Pond completed the day.
The real significance of this project was that it gave these 11-year-olds a new understanding of what “history” really is. With the help of local volunteers Kurt Grassett, Bob Fogg, and Sarah Hale, along with Society members Ken Chester and Cindy Amidon, they now know that history is still alive in their communities, in the buildings, landscape, and objects they see every day. The Society wants to thank everyone who participated in this project, but especially Bobbie and Ellena, who devoted so much time and energy to making this such a wonderful experience for these fortunate students.

June 17, 2009
Hancock Historical Society Receives Conservation Bookshelf Grant

HHS was awarded by grant a core set of conservation books and online resources donated by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The IMLS Bookshelf addresses such topics as the philosophy and ethics of collecting, collections management and planning, emergency preparedness, and culturally specific conservation issues. These resources will help us preserve our valuable documents and artifact for future generations.