MINUTES OF JUNE 27, 2005

PRESENT: DHAC Treasurer Bud Noyes, Bill and Rebecca Rolke, Ken Swayze, Stan Hallinan. Selectmens’ representative Mert Mann present. Bud stated Chair and Secretary Betty Ann Noyes was ill that evening. Deborah Jore not present. Bud requested that Rebecca act as secretary in Betty Ann’s absence. Rebecca accepted.

The meeting got under way a little after 7:30 p.m., at the Dunbarton Town Offices.

TREASURER’S REPORT: Bud stated the Committee has sold six more books, putting the total sold at around 270. One went to a woman in Utah.

Bud had made a purchase on behalf of the Committee. An auctioneer had contacted Bud regarding a cache of approximately one thousand black and white, uncirculated, mint condition postcards of Dunbarton that he had obtained years ago. They comprise nine views of the town. These had been for sale in the store previously in Dunbarton Center, now Burchell Real Estate. The auctioneer had offered the entire batch to the Committee for fifty dollars. A few days before the meeting, Bud had shown the postcards to Rebecca and Ken, who agreed the purchase would be a good idea. Rebecca had also contacted Bill, who approved the purchase.

There was discussion about the postcards. Various aspects of the cards were considered to try to determine their age. Ken thinks the visible electrical service in the Stark Mansion picture places them in the 1930’s. Rebecca offered to do some Internet research to try to date the postcards.

It was unanimously voted (excluding non-voting Selectmens’ Representative Mert Mann) to present the postcards to the public as sets of nine postcards, at ten dollars a set. Bud had obtained some very nice plastic sleeves at a shop in Concord, which protect each card individually. He will find out from the Post Office the prices to send and insure the cards, as well as the cost of a mailing envelope. He presented a complete set of the postcards, as well as a Committee statement, for Bill and Rebecca to scan. These will be forwarded to the Town Webmaster, for placement on the town website, and the cards will be offered for sale. It was also discussed that the postcards can be packaged as sets for sale, along with Bud’s book, Where Settlers’ Feet Have Trod, A Pictorial History of Dunbarton’s Old Homes and Structures, at Old Home Day, which will be Saturday, September 17, 2005. Rebecca volunteered to make up these sets.

ALICE HADLEY’S GENEALOGY: Bud had loaned to Bill and Rebecca a copy of Volume One of the Hadley Genealogy. Bill spoke about what he had done with this. He had scanned the “A”s ( families whose last name begins with A). The genealogy’s pages are typewritten, with numerous edits, notes, and crossings-out. The scans, while needing various types of technical “cleaning up”, significantly improved the look of each page. Bill talked about perhaps re-formatting the genealogy in a way that would make them even clearer to someone researching their family history. He said there is genealogical software available to do this.

Rebecca asked Bud if he would be able to begin proof-reading the first part of the genealogy. Bud agreed. Rebecca will also proof-read the genealogy.

Bud said Dunbarton Town Clerk Linda Peters is in charge of the town’s historical archives. He had told her of the possible plan to scan the genealogy, and offer it to the public, for sale. Linda stated it sounded like a good fund-raiser for the Committee. However, she believes we should make a disclaimer regarding the accuracy of the genealogy.

Discussion ensued regarding how to present this four-volume genealogy to the public. Rebecca stated Kinko’s had given a price of 8 cents a side, with an approximately $4.95 cover and binding fee. This would mean each volume would cost about $20.00 to produce. Ken suggested a CD, which would be a much cheaper alternative. It was discussed that perhaps various methods of purchasing the genealogy, or a portion of it, could be made available.

Bud asked Dunbarton Selectmens’ representative Mert Mann if it would be all right with the selectmen if the Committee goes ahead with this project. Mert stated it is fine, as it is something for the town.

ROBERT ROGERS HOMESITE: Mert talked about the request the Historian of the United States Army made to Betty Ann Noyes, Chair and Secretary of the Dunbarton Historical Awareness Committee, to have a plaque at the homesite. This issue is being discussed by the Historical Society, which maintains the site. Mert said the society is still considering whether to make it a state, federal or Historical Society plaque. This decision is going to take a while. Mert said Betty Ann may write back to the Army Historian with this information.

NEXT MEETING: August 22, 2005, at 7:30 p.m., at the Town Offices.

Respectfully submitted,

Rebecca Rolke, member, Dunbarton Historical Awareness Committee, for

Betty Ann Noyes

Chair and Secretary, Dunbarton Historical Awareness Committee