All the events listed in the Calendar are funded in whole or part by the New Hampshire Humanities Council.

Please use this map to locate programs being held in your area. Complete descriptions are listed chronologically by clicking on a region on the map.

August 2008

August 11 Bethlehem Monday, 7 p.m., Durrell Methodist Church, Main St.
This is the Awfles Mess I Ever Was In
Beginning with Pamelia Dillin Fergus of upstate New York, explore the experiences of “women in waiting,” that hidden army of women whose paid and unpaid labors on the home frontier helped support and finance the exploration and settling of the American West. Also featured is farmer Augusta Perham Shipman of Bethel, Vermont; former mill girl Almira Fay Stearns of Belchertown, Massachusetts; and portraitist Abiah Warren Hiller of Jaffrey. Ursula Smith and Linda Peavy present this program which is hosted by the Bethlehem Heritage Society. Contact: Kim Pearson, 616-8980

August 12 Plymouth Tuesday, 7 p.m., Plymouth Historical Society, 9 Court St.
Stark Decency: NH’s WWII German P.O.W. Camp
During World War II, 300 German prisoners of war were held at Camp Stark near the village of Stark in New Hampshire’s North Country. Allen Koop, Dartmouth College, explains how the history of this camp tells us much about our country’s war experience and about our state. Contact: Julie Quesnell, 726-8820

August 12 Holderness Tuesday, 7 p.m., Holderness Historical Society, 848 Rte. 3
Susan B. Anthony — The Invincible!
Susan B. Anthony, abolitionist and suffragist, is busy circulating petitions, getting arrested, and challenging legislators. Sally Matson portrays Anthony in this living history presentation. Matson reveals Anthony’s righteous fury, her wit and her courage as she interacts with Frederick Douglass, Lucy Stone, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and other leaders of the abolitionist and suffrage movements. Letters, speeches, and diaries highlight Matson’s presentation as she bring Anthony to life. Contact: Dodie Greenwood, 968-3023

August 12 Wakefield Tuesday, 7 p.m., Little Red School
Indian Wars of New England
King Philip’s Indian War had devastating consequences for New England and it spawned the next series of wars known as the French and Indian Wars. Although not well known, many of the major events of these wars between colonists and Native Americans took place in New Hampshire. This presentation includes eyewitness accounts, maps, and rare historical sketches from the period. Michael Tougias presents this program which is hosted by the Wakefield-Brookfield Historical Society. Contact: Patricia Golden, 522-8225

August 13 Littleton Wednesday, 1 p.m., Littleton Area Senior Center
A Visit with Abraham Lincoln
President Lincoln shares stories of his early life, his 1860 visit to New Hampshire, and the Civil War that followed his election to the Presidency. Steve Wood portrays Lincoln in this living history presentation. Contact: Keisha Luce, 444-6050

August 13 Ashland Wednesday, 7 p.m., Ashland Railroad Station Museum
A Tribute to Sarah Josepha Hale
As America’s first lady editor, Sarah Josepha Hale made Godey’s Lady’s Book the most influential women’s magazine of its time. She is also known as the author of “Mary’s Lamb” and for her efforts to have Thanksgiving decreed a national holiday. In this living history presentation, Sharon Wood portrays Ann Wyman Blake, a 19th century Boston resident who speaks of her admiration for this distinguished New Hampshire native, in this living history program which is hosted by the Ashland Historical Society. Contact: David Ruell, 968-7716

August 14 Harrisville Thursday, 7 p.m., Harrisville Public Library
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
Chris McCandless gives up a bright future, his college education, and material comfort to pursue a life of principle. He ends up dying, alone, in the backcountry of Alaska. The question Krakauer explores is “Why?” What is it that drives people like McCandless to drop out of society, take enormous risk, and willingly look death in the eye? This book discussion is led by Mark Long, Keene State College. Contact: Peggy Saunders, 827-2962

August 18 Madison Monday, 7 p.m., Madison Library
St. Alban’s Fire by Archer Mayor
Mayor’s Investigator Joe Gunther finds his latest adventure in the rural farming community of St. Albans, Vermont. When the Cutts’ family barn is burned down, all the dairy cows inside are killed--as is teenager Bobby Cutts. As he starts to investigate, Gunther discovers other suspicious fires in the area. Was Bobby in the barn by accident? What do the fires have in common? This book discussion is hosted by Paul Goodwin. Books are available to borrow from the Madison Library courtesy of the NH State Library’s Bookbag. Contact: Mary Cronin, 367-8545

August 19 Grantham Tuesday, 7 p.m., Grantham Methodist Church
Smilla’s Sense of Snow by Peter Høeg
Høeg successfully combines the pleasures of literary fiction with those of the thriller. Smilla Jaspersen, half Danish, half Greenlander, attempts to understand the death of a small boy who falls from the roof of her apartment building. Her childhood in Greenland gives her an appreciation for the complex structures of snow, and when she notices that the boy’s footprints show he ran to his death, she decides to find out who was chasing him. This book discussion is led by Patrick Anderson, Colby-Sawyer College. Contact: Donna Stamper, 863-2621

August 20 Wilton Wednesday, 7 p.m., Wilton Public - Gregg Free Library
A Great Deliverance by Elizabeth George
Part detective story and part psychological thriller, this is George’s debut novel. A mismatched pair of Scotland Yard detectives, representing the upper and lower classes of British society, do not believe that the apparent perpetrator of a savage crime is guilty, in spite of her first and last words, “I did it. And I’m not sorry.” The truth will be found in the village’s tangled web of scandals and horrendous crimes. This book discussion is led by Kathleen Shine Cain, Merrimack College. Contact: Carol Roberts, 654-2581

August 21 Lancaster Thursday, 7 p.m., Weeks State Park Summit Lodge
Stark Decency: NH’s WWII German P.O.W. Camp
During World War II, 300 German prisoners of war were held at Camp Stark near the village of Stark in New Hampshire’s North Country. Allen Koop, Dartmouth College, explains how the history of this camp tells us much about our country’s war experience and about our state. Hosted by the Weeks State Park Association. Contact: Sam Stoddard, 788-4961

August 22 Dublin Friday, 6:30 p.m., Knollwood, Upper Jaffrey Rd.
Teddy’s Roosevelt’s Nobel Prize: New Hampshire and the Portsmouth Peace Treaty
Teddy Roosevelt chose Portsmouth to be the site of the 1905 peace-making negotiations. Talks there between the Russians and Japanese ended “World War Zero” and led to a Nobel Peace Prize for the President - America’s first. Chuck Doleac presents this program which is hosted by the Dublin Historical Society. Contact: Russell Bastedo, 271-6438

August 23 Bartlett Saturday, 3 p.m., Josiah Bartlett Elementary School
Songs of Old New Hampshire
Drawing heavily on the repertoire of traditional singer Lena Bourne Fish (1873-1945) of Jaffrey/Temple, presenter Jeff Warner offers the songs and stories that, in the words of Carl Sandburg, tell us “where we came from and what brought us along.” Songs from the lumber camps, the textile mills, and the war between the sexes offer views of pre-industrial New England and a chance to hear living artifacts from the past. Contact: Norman Head, 986-6278

August 25 Newmarket Monday, 7 p.m., New Market Historical Society Museum
Covered Bridges of New Hampshire
Covered bridges have long been a part of the transportation network in New Hampshire. In addition to the state’s major rivers, the Connecticut and the Merrimack, New Hampshire has a great many mountain-borne rivers that slice through its landscape, and some 400 covered bridges have been documented in the state. This lecture by Glenn Knoblock is highlighted by views of New Hampshire bridges, both past and present, including some that are rarely seen. Contact: Richard Alperin, 659-7372

August 27 Moultonborough Wednesday, 7:30 p.m., Castle in the Clouds
New Hampshire Cemeteries and Gravestones
Rubbings, photographs, and slides illustrate the rich variety of gravestones to be found in our own neighborhoods, but they also tell long-forgotten stories of the Throat Distemper epidemic and the American Revolution. Find out more about these works of art and the craftsmen who carved them. Glenn Knoblock explains how to read these stone “pages” that give insight into the vast genealogical book of New Hampshire. Hosted by the Castle Preservation Society. Contact: Ann Hackl, 569-3930

August 28 Barrington Thursday, 6 p.m., Barrington Public Library
Meet Mary Todd Lincoln
As men marched off to fight in the Civil War, women sowed their own seeds of rebellion and independence. The First Lady was no exception. Using little more than her wit, she battled diplomats and generals to a standstill. How did she do it? Sally Mummey answers that question as she portrays Mrs. Lincoln in this living history program. Contact: Amy Inglis, 664-0193

August 28 Littleton Thursday, 7 p.m., Littleton Public Library
Cover Her Face by P.D. James
Time magazine has called James “a worthy successor to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie.” Scotland Yard’s Chief Inspector Adam Dalgliesh has a house full of suspects in the murder of a young housemaid who used her body and brains to try to better her social station. This book discussion is led by Clia Goodwin. Contact: Mary Daly, 444-3959

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