Contradancing in the Monadnock Region

Society’s 101^st Annual Meeting Features Bob McQuillen

The Peterborough Historical Society Program Committee has a special program slated for the Historical Society’s 101st Annual Meeting on October 19 at 2:30 p.m.

Peterborough’s own Bob McQuillen will draw on his experiences playing with Duke Miller, Ralph Page, and Dudley Laufman’s Canterbury Country Dance Orchestra to recount a first hand history of contradance in its stronghold, the Monadnock Region.

McQuillen plans to share a few tunes along the way, making this a program not to be missed.

State folklorist Lynn Martin-Graton said, “Bob McQuillen’s contribution to the continuance and invigoration of the tradition cannot be overstated. He has influenced nearly every musician active in the traditional social dance scene in New Hampshire today.”

McQuillen has played in recent years with Deanna Stiles and Jane Orzechowski in the group Old New England. In 1999, the group played at the Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C. and represented the state at the Smithsonian’s Festival of American Folklife. They are currently recording their third CD.

The program is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

The Annual Meeting will begin with a short business meeting to elect new officers and directors. President Robert Weathers retires at the close of the meeting after six years of Board service. During his tenure, Weathers oversaw a million-dollar capital campaign and the renovation and restoration of the Society’s four buildings.

Vice-President James VanValkenburgh will serve as President for the coming year and Board member Lorraine Walker will become Vice-President.

Two-term Board member Steven Lord will also retire this year. Chairman of the Society’s Collections Committee, Lord supervised the creation of the Peterborough Gallery, a timeline history of the town now on view in the Society’s entry gallery. Jeanie West and Ann Lord will fill the two vacancies on the Board. West and Lord, both educators, have volunteered to serve three-year terms.

October 13, 2003

BACK