MARCH NEWSLETTER

What's New

Memorabilia display at Rodgers Memorial Library during March
Museum Oral History Archive Project - Interviews with Lissa Proulx & Dana Benner
"Treasured Memories" featuring Heather (Magoon) Chandonnet, former Zookeeper
Hannaford Community Bag Program
Save These Dates! - Upcoming Events

Memorabilia Display at Rodgers Memorial Library

Thanks to the Rodgers Memorial Library for displaying some of our memorabilia collection during the month of March!

Museum Oral History Archive Project Interviews -

Thanks to HCTV & the Rodgers Memorial Library!

If you have stories of working or visiting Benson's Wild Animal Park and would like to be a part of the Museum Oral History Archive, please contact us at info@friendsofbensonpark.org.

Thanks to Lissa & Rod Proulx for this fun interview! The Proulx family collected Benson's memorabilia for over 17 years and donated their entire memorabilia collection to our museum!

Thanks to Dana Benner for sharing his stories about working at Benson's back in the 1970s. From working the hotdogs concession to feeding the bears, he has some cool stories!

Welcome to Treasured Memories featuring stories & memories from those who worked or visited the once-famous "Benson's Wild Animal Farm" zoo and amusement park from 1927-1987. These stories will be part of the memorabilia collection of the "Benson's Wild Animal Farm Museum", opening at Benson Park sometime in the next couple of years (We still need $350K to complete the museum - Donate below!)

Since the inception of the "Friends of Benson Park" in 2010, we have had many people drop off their memorabilia items at the Benson Park Store and tell us their stories.

We welcome your stories, photos, memorabilia & videos of "Treasured Memories" of Benson Park from 1927-1987. Please contact us at info@friendsofbensonpark.org.

"Treasured Memories" shared by Heather (Magoon) Chandonnet, Zookeeper

Many thanks to Heather for sharing her photos & stories with us from when she worked at Benson's Wild Animal Park as a Zookeeper during the summer’s 1986 and 1987. She also donated this framed poster of Tony the Gorilla, aka Colossus, who once ran for President.

Here are a few of her stories:d time only" or "only 7 remaining"!

Treasured Memories | Friends of Benson Park

"I was so excited to get a job with my animal science degree! Then they announced it was closing and I was the last keeper to leave in 88. I did love working there, it was my dream job. I went on to work at two other zoos and cherish the 9 years I was called "zookeeper".

Hannaford Reusable Community Bag Donations

Drop by drop makes an ocean.

Dollar by dollar makes a difference!

FOBP has been chosen to receive $1 from every $2.50 reusable Community Bag sold during the month of April 2023 at Hannaford, 77 Derry Road, Hudson NH!

Save These Dates!

We're busy planning these events for the 2023 season at Benson Park!

We welcome new Volunteers to join in the fun! (Age 16+)

Just click the "Become a Volunteer" button below.

Benson Park Store Opens (weather permitting) Friday, April 7th, 12-4 PM
Monthly Park Clean-Up Day - Saturday, April 15th (3rd Sat. each month) 9AM - 2 PM (lunch included)
Volunteer "Meet N Greet" - April 22nd, 12-2 PM at Benson Park Store (Age 16+)
"While My Guitar Gently Weeps" - Beatles Instrumental Concert with Neil Santos & The Pentatonic Way - Saturday, May 20th, 2-4 PM at Mallory Gray Amphitheatre
NH Gives - Fundraiser - June 6-7th
Alvirne High Jazz Band Concert - June 10th, at Mallory Gray Amphitheatre
Family Fun Day - September 9th, 11 AM-4 PM.

(Please note the listed events are subject to change).

Thanks for Your Support!

Donate Today

Become a Member

Become a Volunteer

Friends of Benson Park, LLC https://www.facebook.com/FriendsBensonPark