New Castle NH Historical Society

New Castle Historical Society
2023 Programs

2021 Programs

Guided Village Walking Tours
June 5: Saturdays through Labor Day Guided Village Walking Tours; 11:00am
The 1 mile tour, lasting 1.5 hours, will feature the early history of New Castle, settled in 1623, and the historical background of the town. Walking will be at slow pace. Tours are conducted every Saturday starting at 11am. Tours run from June 5 through Labor Day. Cost is $10/person 16 years of age and older [members: $5]. Exact cash only.

2019 Programs

April 17, 2019
Storm Warriors--Shipwrecks and a Surfman's Peril
The students of Maude H. Trefethen School wrote and produced a play entitled "Storm Warriors--Ship Wrecks and a Surfman's Peril." The students portrayed an actual shipwreck that occurred off the coast off New Castle – The Wreck of the Oliver Dyer. The audience was swept in the drama of the surfmen in action!

May 22, 2019
The Piscataqua River Gundalow and the World in Which it Sailed
Former air force officer and UNH docent Dane Drasher, UNH Marine Docent presented the history of the Piscataqua River Gundalow with a lively Power Point presentation, accompanied by a large scale model of the gundalow, which he had built in his basement.

June 11, 2019
The Wood Island Life Saving Station Restoration by Sam Reid
Sam Reid, president of the Wood Island Life Saving Station Association discussed the remarkable restoration of the iconic building that marks the entry to Portsmouth Harbor. The program took place at the New Castle Congregational Church Parish Hall, with coffee and dessert.

July 24, 2019
Iran, Past and Present: Archaeology, Architecture and Gardens
New Castle’s preeminent Archeologist Andrew Moore presented a program spotlighting Iran’s gardens and rich cultural heritage.

August 14, 2019
The Local Surfmen of the Seacoast
D. Allen Kerr , author, historian and Navy veteran, spoke about the local surfmen who made up the heroic, but nearly forgotten Life Saving Service which was the precursor to our modern-day Coast Guard.

September 24, 2019
What Happened 400 Years Ago and Why is New Hampshire Celebrating?
J. Dennis Robinson, local historian and author, presented a program about the upcoming centennial celebration of the founding of New Castle, Portsmouth and Rye in 1623.

October 2019
Jim Cerny and Brooks Kennedy presented a program of island stories in the back Channel in the context of their geology, location and use.

2018 Programs

October 16, 2018
Did German subs attempt to enter Portsmouth Harbor during World War II?
More than 70 years after World War II ended, there are still rumors swirling around the seacoast about the possibility that a mini sub and a full-sized sub tried to enter Portsmouth Harbor on two different occasions. Carol White, NCHS Board member, ISHRA docent and co-director of the Fort Stark Historic Site Visitor Center, explored those rumors and also presented observations and facts from both sides of the discussion.

September 18, 2018
Historian J. Dennis Robinson on Historian John Albee
Dennis J. Robinson spoke on John Albee, author of New Castle Historical and Picturesque, one of the first histories of New Castle. Robinson entertainingly compared Albee's process of writing history to his own efforts as a historian.

August 22, 2018
History of Sailboat Racing
Board President Jane Sweeney narrated a slide show, History of Racing on the Piscataqua. Peter Follansbee, Brooks Kennedy and Edmund Tarbell added entertaining stories about their experiences of racing on the Piscataqua. The exhibit committee has prepared a display of sailing memorabilia from these early sailboat races.

June 20, 2018
Part II of The History of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Gary Hildreth, a member of the PNS Public Affairs Team, discussed the events and changes at the Shipyard from the World War II era to the present.

Date: May 15, 2018
Untold Stories of Women of New Castle and Portsmouth
Lauren Gianino shared stories of local female navigators, preachers, artists, authors, and madams who defied stereotypes.

2017 Programs

November 28, 2017
New Castle Characters
The annual meeting of the New Castle Historical Society was attended by a large crowd of townspeople who enjoyed wine and cheese before hearing a presentation about some of New Castle's colorful characters, including Henry Greenberg, former Chief of Police. Reminiscences from locals Pam Cullen, Brooks Kennedy, Gary Sullivan, and Chet Fessenden.

October 17, 2017
A Watery Kingdom Transformed: the Piscataqua Region, 1550-1850
UNH historian, Jeffrey Bolster, gave a presentation about the changing relationships people have had with their environment since 1550 and how history has left its marks on the landscape of this region.

September 19, 2017
"An Explanation on the Prospect Draft of Fort William and Mary on the Piscataqua River in Ye Province of New Hampshire in America"
Antiques dealer, Hollis Broderick, presented an original topographical watercolor painting of Fort William and Mary at the entrance to the harbor circa 1704, which he purchased at auction, and discussed its significance to our history.

August 15, 2017
"A Soldier's Mother Tells Her Story"
A Civil War reenactor Sharon Wood presented the story of a Civil War soldier, told from the point of view of a mother, incorporating details of our local New Castle soldiers.

July 1, 2017
"Piscataqua Discoveries" Exhibit
Grand Opening of the archaeological discoveries of Ray and John Demers, who explored the waters off New Castle during the 1960s and 1970s. A large portion of their important discoveries have been donated to our museum.

June 27, 2017
"Piscataqua Discoveries" Explained
Tad Emerson Baker, local author, historian and archaeologist, explained the significance of the items that Ray and John Demers found while diving off the north coast of New Castle.

June 7, 2017
Maude H. Trefethen 3rd & 4th Grade Students Visit the Museum
Students learned about our incredible tide mill model and enjoyed a scavenger hunt.

May 17, 2017
History of the Portsmouth Navy Yard
Gary Hildreth, PSNY Deputy Public Affairs Officer, gave an informative talk while we enjoyed delicious desserts in conjunction with the Church Community Supper.

2016 Programs

September 20, 2016
Portsmouth Peace Treaty of 1713
Chuck Doleac, chairman for the 1713 Treaty of Portsmouth Tri-Centennial Committee, spoke about this little known treaty that ended the war with the Wabanaki tribe.

July 12, 2016
Piscataqua Café - Wine and Cheese Party
Paul Amazeen, former New Castle resident and 10th generation Islander, regaled us with stories and history of the café, built by his great-grandfather, Luther Amazeen, in 1898. Present owners Valerie and Jonathan Sobel graciously welcomed all guests.
Sumptuous appetizers and wine were enjoyed by the standing-room-only crowd.

May 1, 2016
Tide Mills of New Castle
Jerry Marvin, engineer extraordinaire, demonstrated the new Tide Mill Model to an enthusiastic crowd. After the demonstration a smaller group went on a field trip to the site of the former mills in the back channel to see the remains of the dam used for the mills.

April 21, 2016
The students from the Maude H. Trefethen School entertained us with folktales from around the world.

March 22, 2016
Jeremy Fogg, Curator of the Discover Portsmouth Tarbell exhibit, spoke about the artist and his work, especially Tarbell's connection to New Castle.

2015 Programs

September 15, 2015
Four Centuries of Keeping Order in New Castle, a spirited talk on the New Castle Police Department from the 1600s to the present day, given by local historian Carol White and Police Chief Don White.

August 18, 2015
Shipwrecks in New Castle - Ray Demers told of his 50 year quest to uncover the history of the shipwreck discovered in Hart's Cove in New Castle, considered one of the greatest archaeological sites in NH.

drawing by Jenny Rosenson

July 21, 2015
Stephen Erickson gave a spirited program on his book, Boon Island: a True Story of Murder, Shipwreck and Cannibalism.

June 29, 2015
Food Historian, Sandy Oliver, author of Saltwater Foodways: New Englanders and Their Food, spoke to a large and enthusiastic audience about colonial foods and food preparation. Delicious colonial appetizers were enjoyed in the beautiful Piscataqua Café. Guests had the opportunity to tour the Café and enjoy the view of the Gundalow and a large tanker passing on the river.

May 13, 2015
Old Tide Mills in New Castle
At the monthly Community Potluck Supper, John Goff from the Tidal Mills Institute, and our own Tabitha McElroy spoke about the former mills that were here in New Castle in the Back Channel.

April 21, 2015
Hannibal Hamlin
Bill Hall gave an interesting presentation on the life of his distant relative Hannibal Hamlin, 15th Vice President of the US, under Abraham Lincoln.

March 31, 2015
Paul Revere Travels to Portsmouth
Maude H. Trefethen students entertained an enthusiastic crowd with the tale of Paul Revere's Ride to Portsmouth, as well as other short tales.

2014 Programs

October 21, 2014
Growing up in New Castle
Local residents Priscilla Hodgkins, Pam Cullen, Gary Sullivan, Chet Fessenden and Susan Bank reminisced about their childhood days in New Castle, skating, swimming at the Slide, their teachers and schools, the local police officers, and getting into mischief. A short annual meeting preceded the program.

September 28, 2014
Walbach Tower 200th Anniversary Celebration:
Townspeople celebrated the 200th anniversary of the building of Walbach Tower and the dedication of the new Walbach Tower Historic Marker located below the tower.

September 16, 2014
Murders on Smuttynose
J. Dennis Robinson whetted our appetite for his new book (soon to be published) on the 1873 murders on Smuttynose on the Isles of Shoals. This book will be the definitive answer to who is the murderer.

August 19, 2014
Past Fire Chiefs Reggie Whitehouse, Dick White, and Carl Roediger, and current Fire Chief Dave Blanding, presented a detailed history of our town fire department, along with a slide show by Fireman Bill Naugle.

July 29, 2014
Sharon Hanley Disher, U.S. Naval Academy graduate, former New Castle resident, and author of the book, First Class, spoke movingly of her experiences as a member of the first class of women accepted to the US Naval Academy.

May 20, 2014
Walbach Tower Night
Jim Cerny enlightened the audience on the many depictions of Walbach Tower throughout the years, from paintings to photographs and postcards. Kathy Richards told of the long and adventurous life of Colonel John B. Walbach, and his part in the building of the tower.

April 15, 2014
Jeffrey Bolster presented an informative and animated talk about his new book The Mortal Sea, Fishing the Atlantic in the Age of Sail.

April 2, 2014
"The Legend of Walbach Tower"
Readers Theater was performed by the 3rd & 4th grade students and directed by teacher Will Purcell of Maude H. Trefethen School. This was the start of our year long celebration of the 200th anniversary of the construction of Walbach Tower.

Here is a small sampling of the past programs of other years

The Herbalist Garden and High Tea
- If teacups could talk, they would tell you the "High Tea" at the New Castle Historical Society Museum was a delightful experience for the 56 people in attendance. John Forti, Curator of Historical Landscapes at Strawbery Banke, entertained the crowd with his energetic talk on herbs and their medicinal qualities. The museum event was a huge success where friends shared pots of tea, dainty sandwiches, luscious sweets and thoughtful conversations. (Sept. 2013)

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"The History of Yacht Clubs in New Castle"
- Long time local sailor Edmund Tarbell regaled us with exciting and humorous tales of his sailing experiences on the Piscataqua from the age of 13, including stories of sailing from Marblehead to Nova Scotia and Bermuda. He recounted a history of the various sailing clubs on the Piscataqua. (Aug. 2013)
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Banjos, Bones & Ballads
- Renowned traditional musician Jeff Warner gave a riveting performance of folk songs of local and southern origin while playing the banjo, guitar, spoons, bones, concertina and Ozark Harp. The many children in the audience had the opportunity to try out the instruments, and all enjoyed his historic photographs of folk musicians. (July 2013)

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Raising the Dead
– I bet you didn’t know the little town of New Castle had so many different cemeteries, most in obscure locations, like backyards and near wetlands. Jim Cerny, cemetery board trustee, gave an exciting overview of some of the smaller cemeteries, their history and inhabitants. (April 2013)

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The Castle: Stories of the Portsmouth Naval Prison
– Neil Novello, award winning video producer, shared videos and historical images of the Naval Prison to a standing room only audience. (April 2012)

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Antique Appraisal Day
– Residents brought in artifacts from home to learn what auctioneers/appraisers Maureen Boyd and John McInnis could tell them about their history and value. (Oct. 2011)

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Trolley Tour of New Castle
– Visitors boarded the red trolley at the Coast Guard Station and enjoyed a narrated tour of the island, learning interesting facts and stories about New Castle personalities and old homes in the village. (Sept. 2011)
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Hanging of Ruth Blay, an Eighteenth-Century New Hampshire Tragedy
–Carolyn Marvin, Portsmouth Athenaeum librarian and former New Castle resident, investigates the cruel injustice perpetuated on the young schoolteacher, Ruth Blay, who was hanged in Portsmouth in 1768 for allegedly killing her newborn child who was later found to be stillborn. (June 2011)