New Hampshire Old Home CelebrationsIn 1899, when many New Hampshire residents were moving to cities and other parts of the nation, Frank Rollins, soon to become governor of New Hampshire, delivered a proposal to hold an annual event he dubbed Old Home Week. Similar in form to many of the family and town picnics already a tradition throughout New Hampshire, Old Home Week was designed as an open invitation to all the former residents of the Granite State to return to the homes of their youth. In addition to the ballgames, picnics, parades, and bonfires that were held during the third week of August, the celebrations resulted in municipal improvements across the state. Old homesteads were refurbished as summer homes, and libraries and monuments sprung up throughout the region as residents returned, creating a movement toward a renewed pride in the community. |
Contents
Acknowledgments | 6 |
Seacoast Region | 35 |
White Mountains and Great North Woods | 47 |
DartmouthLake Sunapee Region | 59 |
Lakes Region | 71 |
Merrimack Valley | 83 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Allen August 15 Author's collection Band Bedford Historical Society Brookline Historical Society Brookline Old Home Campton celebrated old home Charlestown Historical Society Chesterfield Church of Pelham Committee Congregational Church Courtesy of Bedford Courtesy of Brookline Courtesy of Charlestown Courtesy of Dick Courtesy of Dover Courtesy of Hollis Courtesy of Hudson Courtesy of Mason Courtesy of Pittsfield Courtesy of Warren Courtesy of Washington dancing DARTMOUTH-LAKE SUNAPEE REGION Dick Putnam Dover Old Home Dover Public Library float Frank Rollins Goshen Grange Granite State Collection Grove Hampshire Old Home Hampshire's Hancock Henniker HILLSBORO holiday Hollis Historical Society home day celebration Home Day parade Home Week Association honor Hooksett Hopkinton Hudson Historical Society Lempster Marlow Mason Historical Society Minard Mont Vernon natives old home celebrations Old Home Day old home festivities Old Home Week photograph picnic Pittsfield Historical Society Salisbury Sam Allen scenes South Hampton Stratham Swanzey town's Warren Historical Society Wilton