Post Cards on sale – promoting one of our town’s beautiful sites: Dick Gilcreast, a professional photographer who lives on Horse Hill Road, provided us with beautiful four–season photos of the town's Meeting House site. Post cards were designed and purchased for sale as a fund-raiser, as well as an important way to promote the natural beauty of our town. These post cards, in a 4”x 6” and 5” x 7” size, are a real bargain in sets of 5 each. They are on sale at the Library, the Town Clerk’s office and John Fletcher’s Barber Shop.

Meeting House Site cleanup: The winter ice storm damage was pretty significant altho it could have been worse! Noah Washburn’s Tree Service was hired – the work was completed in early June and the site is again looking great! FEMA money was used to cover the cost.

School Children taken on a Village Tour and Field Trip: On June 1st the Commission members were the tour guides for a bus tour of the historic sites around the village streets, with the children and their teachers from grades 3 & 7. Then, time was spent visiting and learning about early town history at the Meeting House & Town Pound Site and at the Maynard-Gtaes House. The students and teachers very much enjoyed the experience, as did the Commission members.

Maynard-Gates House (1767) – our town’s oldest framed house: A Yoga group is using the old place on Monday mornings -- from July 6th to August 27th.

Project items in the planning stage are:
1) we are considering applying a preservative to the cedar shake roof – this project is being investigated.
2) a new sign is being designed for the Rt. 101 edge of the property, to be installed by the end of September.
3) the wide-board flooring in the main room needs cleaning, light sanding and resealing – a project to be done this fall.

A Very Special project – using a 1927 Poster of the Stone Pond area: In early July the Commission launched a special project using the original artwork of this poster which had been given to the town by the Larendeau & Batchelder families. This unique poster, created by a Mrs. Clara Fitts, wife of an Episcopal minister, was repaired by Inkberry, and then copied for sale by Inkberry. Some of the proceeds will be donated to the Commission for its Heritage Fund. The original has been beautifully framed, using money from the Town, our Heritage Fund, the Richard Hill family & a donation from Inkberry. It is now hanging in the Library for the public to enjoy. Already 10 copies, in two different sizes, have been purchased, a couple of which have been matted & framed.

The Commission's History
The Marlborough Heritage Commission was established in 1995 by the town voters under a 1992 state law (RSA 674:44). Marlborough was one of the first towns in the state to adopt the Heritage Commission concept which provides a local community the ability to recognize and protect historical and cultural resources. Heritage Commissions function somewhere between historical societies and historic district commissions and their role is determined locally.

The original members of the Commission established the following purposes to guide its actions and decisions:

• Preserve and protect those features in our community which are significant resources relative to our historic, cultural and aesthetic qualities
• Promote the proper recognition and use of these resources for the benefit of present and future generations
• Advise and assist other local Boards and Commissions in their review of matters affecting or potentially affecting our Town's resources relative to its heritage
• Manage and control property in our Town which has been designated as the responsibility of the Commission or which has been acquired by the Commission - for the proper recognition, use and protection of such property

Heritage Commission Members:
Members who have contributed to the work of the Commission since 1995:
    Current members (2008): Richard Butler, Rufus Frost III, Richard Hill
    Former members: Robert Bennett, Janet & Frank Buckbee, Nancy Hayden, Ted Mead, Jeanne Packard, Elizabeth Richards, Priscilla Richardson, Fred Torelli, Allan Williams, Helen & Edward Wilson, Gene Woodward

Our Heritage Fund
The Heritage Fund was also established under the 1992 state law which provides for a non-lapsing fund for use by NH Heritage Commissions. This Fund is supported by gifts received from the public and other private sources, from town appropriations, from fund-raising or from grants. Anyone wishing to assist the work of the Commission with a contribution to the Heritage Fund can mail a check to the attention of the Marlborough Heritage Commission, PO Box 487, Marlborough, NH 03455. For further information or if any questions contact one of the members of the Commission.

Accomplishments of the Commission:
Since 1995 the Commission has been able to accomplish a number of important things in our town, supported by annual town appropriations, private contributions to its Heritage Fund, grants and volunteers. The following summarizes the major accomplishments:

New features to enhance our town and preserve its heritage & culture:
   Designed and installed three attractive bronze plaques at historic sites
   Participated in a collaborative effort with the Cemetery Trustees to design and install signs at all five of our town-owned cemeteries
   Restored the Town Pound (early 1800s) on the Meeting House site
   Reconstructed stone walls at the Meeting House site

Maintenance Projects:
   Repaired the Civil War Statue (sword reattachment & new concrete apron)
   Maintaining the Bell Tower which was built and later donated to the town in 1995 by the Marlborough Historical Society
   On-going care of the Meeting House site

Historical Preservation Project (highlights):
    Management of our historic 1767 Maynard-Gates House, the town's oldest timber-framed house which was preserved in the early 1990s.
   Documenting and establishing the Maynard-Gates House as an historic property - now listed by the State Div. of Historic Resources on the state register
   Work on the interior and exterior, including construction of a handicapped accessible bathroom and main entry, exterior repainting and general maintenance
   Installation of a cedar shake roof (2001), with the majority of cost supported by private donations.
   Restoration of an original interior enclosure of the cellar and attic stairways

Special activities held at the Maynard-Gates House:
    Held two Arts & Crafts Exhibits of talented local people
    Held three open house events for the general public
   Hosted six field trips by Grade 3 children, with teachers, aids and several parents --- as part of the student's study of local history
   Provided free use of the building to the Marlborough Community Association, a summer yoga program in 2007/2008, a meeting of the Marlborough Estates Association, and a reception to honor David Iorio who made a major contribution to the School Endowment Fund

Meeting House Heritage Site Project
Next to Meeting House Cemetery, on Frost Hill Road, is the 1 ¾ acre site of the original meeting house

Meeting House Heritage Site

which was built during the period 1770 - 89 when farming and agriculture was the norm. In the mid 1800's, when the town began industrial development, the center of town moved from this original location to the river valley where it remains today. The old Meeting House was abandoned, fell into disrepair, and was dismantled about 1860. An historic stone marker was placed there to identify its location and over the subsequent decades the area became heavily wooded obstructing any view.

Old Meeting House Site

Meeting House Cemetery

Meeting House Cemetery

Marlborough & Keene Stage Coach

Just southeast of the marker stone is the drywall structure of the old town pound. This also fell victim to disrepair and collapse.

Starting in 2003, this important historic site has been completely renovated. The Marlborough Heritage Commission cleared the area of all, but several, trees thereby creating a beautiful vista to Mt. Monadnock. A formal, handicapped accessible sitting area with bench and sitting stone was created in a spot to take advantage of the view. Two interpretive panels were installed showing the visitor how the area looked when the town center was here. Other sitting stones were strategically placed around the site and stone walls which had fallen into disrepair were replaced or repaired.The Town Pound was completely rebuilt in 2006.

This area is now a favorite place for photographers and artists. Visitors frequently come and enjoy the view, solitude, nature and perhaps a picnic. At least two weddings have been performed here. If you have not visited this historic Marlborough landmark, we would encourage you to do so. We know you will find it interesting, informative and enjoyable.

Marlborough's Boston Post Cane
Our town's original Boston Post Cane is on display at the Frost Free Library, enclosed in a beautiful wood & glass case built by Bob Bennett. The case is mounted on the wall near the magazine rack with a short description above the case to explain its history in New England dating back to 1909 and its use in our town over the past 100 years.

The Boston Post Cane was referred to in a newspaper article several years ago as a "tradition that would not die". In 1909, the publisher of the Boston Post newspaper, Mr. Edwin Grozier, offered a gold-capped cane to the Selectmen in 700 towns in New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Eventually 431 of those towns accepted the gift and became the trustees of the cane which was originally presented to the oldest registered male resident as a symbol of longevity. The cane is passed along by town officials to each successive "oldest resident." In the 1930s, the Boston Post granted permission to the towns to award the cane to a woman.

Marlborough's Cane Story:
The Boston Post Cane was initially presented to Stillman Richardson. Since then, nineteen other "oldest residents" have received the cane, including eight women. Rose Trombley was the first lady to be honored when she received the cane in October of 1971.

A rather unique coincidence has occurred with the latest recipient of the cane actually being two ladies who share the distinction. Dorothy Urquhart and Julia Hendrickson were born on the same day, February 1, 1911. These ladies were honored at a ceremony at the Library in August 2006 when the Cane and a certificate were presented by the Selectmen and the Heritage Commission, with family and friends in attendance.

Our own Boston Post Cane was retired in 1995 and replaced with a replica in order to preserve the original and avoid losing track of it, a problem which has occurred in a significant number of towns. The replica has a walnut shaft made by former Selectman Robert Bennett, a pewter cap made by another resident, Harold Tonseth, and the engraving was designed to look similar to the original cane.

The Marlborough Historical Society and the town's Heritage Commission jointly researched the history of our Boston Post Cane. They created a booklet documenting the interesting story of our town's "oldest residents" who have been honored as holders of the cane over the past 100 years.
                                                            June - 2008

Information on the history of the Boston Post Cane and its use in New Hampshire can be found in an interesting book authored by Ms. Barbara Staples of Massachusetts. The book is titled "The Granite State's Boston Post Canes" published in 1999 by Flemming Press of Lynn, Massachusetts.

Our "21 Community Cornerstones"
In 1998 the Commission established an ad hoc committee to determine the "21 Community Cornerstones" of our town, specifically those features of our community which are important to identify and preserve for present and future generations as we approached the 21 st century. This project followed a process established several years earlier under the guidance of former Governor Judd Gregg. A number of cities and towns had successfully completed this project which encouraged us to do the same. Results of the committee's work , using feedback from a town-wide survey including the students at Marlborough School, were documented to identify the 21 most significant features of our town, both natural and built, present and past, which have made our town the special place that it is. Contact the Heritage Commission for further information.

Click here to download a a DOC file of this story.

Work in the Marlborough Webb Quarry -- Audio talks by Harold Larro
       Between 1891 when George D. Webb purchased the Marlborough quarry, and 1933 when the business closed operations, as many as 250 men annually cut, polished, and shipped high quality granite to cities throughout New England. Harold Larro describes the work his father performed at the quarry, and reminiscences about what this industry meant to the town of Marlborough.

The Stone Wall History & Restoration Reference Page