News from the Manchester Historic Association

Collect, Preserve, Share

Manchester

May 19, 2022

In This Issue

1 Manchester Historic Association Names Two New Board Members

2 June 4 lecture on Sculptor John Rogers at Millyard Museum

3 Author Barbara Miles to Speak on "Catholic New Hampshire" on June 11

4 American Girl Doll Tea Party Returns June 11

5 Manchester Trivia Questions

Manchester Historic Association Names Two New Board Members at Annual Meeting

The members of the Manchester Historic Association recently voted to approve two new board members at the MHA’s Annual Meeting, which was moderated by MHA Board President Colleen Kurlansky (at left).

Susan Gelinas is the Operations Assistant at Next Step Bionics and Prosthetics in the Millyard and handles all facilities issues for seven offices that make up the Northeast Region for parent company BCP Group. She is a member of the MHA and has been on the association’s Historic Preservation Awards event committee since 2019.

Christopher Messier is a lifelong resident of Manchester and is a graduate of Manchester High School West and the University of New Hampshire. He is employed by the City of Manchester in the City Clerk’s office. He serves on the NH Ballot Law Commission and was Moderator in Ward 10 for several years.

Also during the program, President Kurlansky presented the President's Award for outstanding service to Board Member Gail York and MHA Archivist Daniel Peters.

Lecture on June 4 on “The People's Sculptor:

The Life and Works of John Rogers”

On June 4 at 11a.m., MHA Executive Director Jeff Barraclough will make a presentation on the Millyard Museum's newest exhibit: “The People's Sculptor: The Life and Works of John Rogers.".

Rogers was a well-known artist whose statuary "groups" became extremely popular in the mid-to-late 1800s. He was the first American sculptor to mass produce his work and worked mostly in plaster to make his sculptures more affordable.

Barraclough, who spent nearly two years curating the exhibit, will go into detail about Rogers' sculptures and discuss his connections to Manchester, from his work as a mechanic at Amoskeag to his gift to the city of the Abraham Lincoln statue that stands in the courtyard at Central High School.

The lecture is free to MHA members and included with general admission for other visitors. Pre-registration is required by calling 603-622-7531. If you would like to assist the MHA in staging more exhibits such as this, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to our Heritage Fund by clicking here.

Author Barbara Miles to Speak on "Catholic New Hampshire"

Join us at the Millyard Museum on June 11 at 11 a.m. for a book talk and signing by local historian Barbara Miles, author of "Catholic New Hampshire."

This book, in the "Images of America" series, examines the history of the Roman Catholic Church in New Hampshire through photographs.

In 1884, New Hampshire became an independent diocese. By 1903, founding Bishop Denis Bradley introduced over 30 missions, parishes, charitable services and schools, including Saint Anselm College.

Since that date in 1884, 10 bishops from New Hampshire and other states have honored the Diocese of Manchester with their leadership. Throughout most of the 20th century, New Hampshire experienced growth in vocations and education. Today, more than 250,000 Catholics worship in the Granite State’s 89 parishes.

Barbara D. Miles, former archivist for the Diocese of Manchester, is currently assistant archivist for the Diocese of Portland, Maine. She serves the church as archivist, author and lecturer, and consultant. Diocesan archives, parishes, and private collectors provided sources for this publication.

American Girl Doll Tea Party Returns June 18

Join us at the Millyard Museum on June 18 at 11 a.m. for a revolutionary take on the American Girl Doll Tea Party.

Museum Educator Kristy Ellsworth is bringing the American Revolution theme to this latest event, which, in addition to a museum tour featuring the iconic dolls, will also include refreshments and crafts. Pre-registration is required by clicking here or by calling 603-622-7531.

Did You Get Last Month's

Manchester Trivia Question?

Last Month's Trivia Question: During the Great Strike of 1922, the French-Language newspaper L'avenir National was squarely on the side of the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company, so much so that strikers referred to the newspaper as "tete de cochon." What does "tete de cochon" mean?

ANSWER: "Tete de Cochon" means "head of the pig."

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This Month's Trivia Question: Years before Dick Clark created "American Bandstand," a local radio personality had his own teenage dance show on WMUR-TV beginning Oct. 11, 1954. Can you name the local broadcaster?

The answer will appear in next month's newsletter.

The Manchester Historic Association is an independent tax-exempt charitable 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit organization with the mission to collect, preserve and share the history of Manchester, New Hampshire USA. The Association operates the Millyard Museum and Research Center.