Past Times
Brrr! Those are
some really cold cows!
The
American Guernsey Cattle Club was an important feature in Peterborough for
eighty-eight years of service. The American Guernsey Cattle Club was
founded to keep registers of the breed to protect the purity of the
Guernsey cows. The popularity of the breed and rapid growth caused the
Cattle Club to move several times to keep up with the ever-expanding
records. In 1950 the Guernsey Building was constructed on the old Phoenix
Mill property. By 1952, the Club reached its maximum employment of nearly
two hundred. The American Guernsey Cattle Club was moved in 1982 to
Columbus, Ohio. Although the Cattle Club is long gone signs of its
existence still mark the town from the names of the buildings to the stone
carving of a cows face....
"First in
War, first in Peace, first in the Hearts of his Countrymen."
Teresa Steer, Assistant to the
Director, made a chance discovery recently in the diary kept by the Rev.
Elijah Dunbar (1773-1850). The diary records the day-to-day life of his
parish in Peterborough from his ordination in 1799 through 1827. While
examining the diary, Teresa found his entry for February 22, 1800
recounting the funeral commemoration for President George Washington held
in Peterborough....
Historic E. & G.G. Hook Pipe Organ
On the Fourth of July, 1867, the good people of Peterborough were invited
by the members of the Unitarian society to a "Great Party and Recital"
played on a splendid new pipe organ just installed in the historic church
building on Main Street. On March 14, 2004, at three o'clock in the
afternoon, the community again is invited to attend another recital on
this remarkable musical instrument, celebrating completion of its
restoration after 137 years of service....
Peterborough artist Charles Franklin Pierce (1844-1920)
The Historical Society has nine
paintings by artist Charles Franklin Pierce
(1844-1920) in its painting collection. Pierce was born in Sharon to John
and Phila Pierce and grew up on his
family’s farm in Peterborough. It is unclear if Pierce was related to
President Franklin Pierce, but he probably was named for the prominent New
Hampshire statesman. At the age of 20, he went to Boston to study art and
supported himself doing odd jobs like painting magic lantern slides. In
1868, after four years of study, Pierce embarked on a two year tour of
Europe following in the footsteps of many American artists of that time....
Peterborough's North Cotton Factory, 1813-1860
The Historical Society recently
purchased the minutes book for Peterborough’s North Cotton Factory at Ed’s
Country Auction in Rindge. The book records the board of director’s
meetings from the factory’s founding in 1813 until it is was sold to
Charles Wilder in 1860. Wilder manufactured thermometers and barometers on
the site until 1902. This handwritten book begins with a copy of a notice
placed in the Farmer’s Cabinet announcing the first meeting of the
directors to be held on September 23, 1813 at the Wilson Tavern on Old
Street Road. The second entry lists the directors elected at the meeting
and the company’s by-laws....
Trooly
Rooral Theater
Peterborough's reputation as a center of
rustic and summer theaters began as early as 1867 with the establishment
of the Trooly Rooral Theater. Plays were presented by a group of amateur
performers over the stables of the Bleakhouse. This amateur group
preformed regularly for several summers as much for their own pleasure as
for that of their audience. This was the beginning of a tradition of
outdoor and summer theaters in Peterborough....
