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We are the Salisbury Historical Society of New Hampshire

More than fifty‑eight years ago, the Baptist Meeting House became the headquarters and exhibition space of the Salisbury Historical Society. Soon after, a small group of dedicated volunteers undertook the preservation of the town’s horse‑drawn hearse in the nearby Hearse House. Their work laid the foundation for what is now the Hearse House Museum, which features a rich collection of historical artifacts and exhibits, including a reconstructed country store and the Salisbury Post Office.

Both the Meeting House and the Hearse House are now listed on the New Hampshire Register of Historic Places.

Officers

President Joseph Schmidl, Term 2026

Treasurer Cheryl Bentley, Term 2026

Secretary Eve Grello, Term 2026

Trustees

Dave Merwin, Term 2026

Scott Cooper, Term 2027

Sharyn Goddard, Term 2028

Curator

Cynthia Owen

Committee Chairs

Flag Project Coordinator, Joe Schmidl

Hearse House Museum, Cynthia Owen

Hospitality, Dora Rapalyea

House Manager, David Rapalyea

Merchandise, Cynthia Owen

Round Robin Coordinator, Cynthia Owen

Scholarship, Dave Merwin, Arthur Garvin, and Paula Gallion

Website, Facebook & Correspondence, Sharyn Goddard

Presidents Message

Dear Members,

I look forward to an excellent 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 serve our membership better. 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

Past Presidents of Salisbury Historical Society ‎

Officers and Trustee Roles