‘About us’ is truly reflective of you too.
Preserving our town’s history is a gift to ourselves, our fellow citizens, visitors, and future generations. However, “we” cannot achieve this without “you,” and it is becoming increasingly clear these days that we are in dire need of more “you.”
Some of us enjoy bringing history alive with our Cemetery Walk and Round Robin events, by portraying early citizens of our town. The above image is from a Round Robin event, which included the Cemetery Walk. Volunteers are in the “stern pose” found in older photos, and the sepia tint is designed to add a “bit of vintage”. Clothing design is of different decades from pre-revolutionary to the late 1800’s. Several are meticulously created garments, painstakingly sewn for the event. We love history that much!
See some of our Historical Society Events
September 2024 Officers, Board Members and Committee Chairs
Officers and Trustee Roles
Officers by Vote, 2-year terms
President: Joseph Schmidl Term 2026
Treasurer: Cheryl Bentley Term 2026
Secretary: Eve Grello Term 2026
Trustee by Vote, 3-year terms
Scott Cooper Term 2027
Melissa Lesniak Term 2026
Dave Merwin Term 2026
Curator by Appointment
Cynthia Owen
Executive Committee is comprised of 8 members
3 Officers, 3 Trustees , Curator and past President (for 2 years)
Volunteering:
Display Manager: Rose Cravens
Flag Project Coordinator: Rose Cravens
Hospitality: Dora Rapalyea
Round Robin Coordinator: Cynthia Owen
Hearse House Museum: Cynthia Owen
House Manager: David Rapalyea
Membership: Louise Andrus
Membership Booklet Layout: Sharyn Goddard
Merchandise: Cynthia Owen
Publicity: Eve Grello
Social Media (Website & Facebook): Content- Rose Cravens, Webmaster- Sharyn Goddard
Scholarship & Concert Coordinator: Arthur Garvin & Dave Merwin
Presidents Message
Dear Members,
I am looking forward to a very good year for the Salisbury Historical Society. After 6 years serving as a Trustee (the last of the 6-year Trustees) where my focus was managing the budget and assets of the Society, I will now be working more closely with the Executive Board and other volunteers to develop events, programs and fundraising opportunities that advance the mission of the Society: education about the history of the Town of Salisbury. This is a very different perspective that I’m looking forward to.
The reason I’m looking forward to a good year is that, thanks to outreach at the end of last year, we have a group of new volunteers who have joined the team in various roles. They bring with them new ideas, perspectives, and approaches that I hope will allow us to better perform our mission in ways that meet the needs and expectations of our members. We’re always looking for more help, so feel free to reach out and volunteer.
One of the first things that we’ve done is create email addresses for certain Society officers to make it easier for our members to reach us. You’ll see the full list elsewhere, to reach me, or future Presidents email president@salisburyhistoricalsociety.org. Please do reach out if you have suggestions or ideas about how to better serve our membership. We’ve got a full season of programs planned, some in cooperation with the Salisbury Free Library, with a renewed focus on local history and the residents of Salisbury who’ve contributed to both the Town and our Country.
Best Wishes for a fruitful 2025!
Joe Schmidl, President
Salisbury Historical Society, New Hampshire
OTHER WAYS TO CONTRIBUTE
- Join as a member and contribute fresh energy, innovative ideas, and unique talents.
- Initiate a project, contribute to an existing committee, or establish a new one that is appealing.
- If you occasionally have a few hours to spare on a Saturday morning during the summer, you might consider becoming a museum docent. For more information, please reach out to the Curator/Museum Coordinator.
- Could you assist us in participating in Old Home Day?
- If you possess artifacts or materials that you wish to donate or loan for an exhibit, kindly reach out to the Curator.
- Can you help generate membership? Are you good with social media?
- Want to float an idea for a new historical topic for a page on Website or have new info to share, including photos?
- Are you theatrical or curious? Ever think about trying your talents out on being a re enactor? Be part of the cemetery walk as a historical character once or twice a year. Children are welcome!
- Is your hobby or expertise genealogy and would you consider volunteering to being a referral person to those contacting us? It is not uncommon for people to contact us and come to visit from out of town searching for grave sites so sharing our cemetery work and records has extended way beyond our town lines.
- Engaging with town seniors to collect their stories can be a rewarding experience. Our book, “They Said It In Salisbury,” is open for the addition of more senior interviews if anyone is interested in spearheading this project.
- Support our projects to maintain buildings and trees in prime condition by making a donation. No donations are ever too small. thank you!
- Financially contribute by check to: Salisbury Historical Society PO BOX 263 Salisbury NH 03268
- Connect with us on Facebook and engage in the Trivia Challenge conversation to spark interest. Participate in discussions, and share with your friends.
FORMER PRESIDENTS OF OUR SOCIETY
We owe a profound debt of gratitude to the individuals listed below, as well as to those not named here, for their generous contributions of time and effort in preserving the history of our town.
1966-1970 Dana Parks
1970-1971 Philip Dexheimer
1972-1974 Dana Parks
1974-1977 Stuart Goss
1977-1978 Melvin Peach
1978-1982 John Stahl
1982-1984 Philip Denoncourt
1985-1986 Sylvia Barber
1986-1988 David Clukay
1988-1990 Paul Shaw
1990-1992 Anne Smith
1992-1993 Leonard Burke
1993-1994 Petra Nosenzo
1994-1996 Paul Shaw
1996-1998 Dennis Melchin
1998-2000 Patrick Walsh
2000-2002 Marlena Dipre
2002-2006 Dennis Melchin
2006-2008 Linda Denoncourt
2008-2010 Arthur Garvin
2010-2012 Linda Denoncourt
2012-2013 Paul Martin
2013-2016 Linda Denoncourt
2016-Sept 2018 Al Romano
2018-2022 David Merwin
2022-2024 Gail Henry
For the latest news, contributions of historical information, or stories of historical interest, and for interaction, we are now on Facebook.