The Trivia History Challenge has been presented monthly for years. Previous years’ questions & answers are indexed here: Trivia History Challenge Index
Questions are about Salisbury, NH. Answers can be found on our Website and Facebook page. The questions are intriguing, and the answers are interesting.
- Parents and Educators: Topics lend themselves to further research for school children’s projects and reports.
- Do you have an interesting question and answer for the challenge? Please let us know.
- Should we make a factual error, please do not hesitate to Contact us. All additional data, images, corrections, or questions are always welcome.
APRIL 2025
Question: What is a ‘vexillologist’? List the 4 goals of our historical society volunteer vexillologist.
ANSWER: is found on our Historical Flag Project link on our site.
MARCH 2025
QUESTION: Why do the cemeteries have 3 different names at the Route 4 location, south of the crossroads?
ANSWER: They are three distinct cemeteries, the newest being Maplewood.
Both Smith Corner/Bean Cemetery and Stevens were carefully moved by the US Army Corps of engineers with some local help in preparation for the building of the Blackwater Dam in western Salisbury.
FEBRUARY 2025
QUESTION: Where was the Union Meeting House and what did it look like?
ANSWER: It was located in what is now the Salisbury Flood Plain.
For images and details: Union Meeting House
JANUARY 2025
QUESTION: What is the tradition of the Boston Post Cane?
ANSWER: The Boston Post Cane is an award given to the oldest resident of a New England town to honor their longevity and vigor. The tradition was started in 1909 by Edwin Grozier, the publisher of The Boston Post newspaper:
The cane is made of ebony with a small 14-karat gold head that is engraved with the town’s name.
The cane is the property of the town, not the recipient.
The recipient holds the cane for life, and then it passes to the next oldest resident in town after their death.
The tradition was extended to include women in 1930.
Originally there were 700 canes given to towns in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire however about only 2/3 of those are accounted for today.
Our current cane recipient is Dennis Patten who was born Feb 9, 1928. He has given years of dedicated service to the Town of Salisbury and is well deserving.