PRESENT: Rebecca and William Rolke, Bud and Betty Ann
Noyes, Les and Joyce Hammond, Stan Hallinan, with a guest from Bow - Dick
Stevens who is chair of the Bow Heritage Commission. Ken Swazey had been notified, apparently was unable to
attend. Mert Mann, Selectmen’s
representative, not present.
Meeting opened officially at
8:00 P.M. Minutes of February 28
distributed to those who had not seen them for review. Same accepted as printed.
TREASURERS REPORT: Bud reported that 250 books had been sold to
date and that the Book Account has a balance of $6,322.47. Of that, $27.47 is interest. It should be noted that 4 books were given
to the following: the Town Office, the
Town Library, Miss Laura Tucker and the Dunbarton Elementary School. It should also be noted that there is an
additional $45.00 in the Book Account, which is reserved for mailing
purposes. The Committee’s individual
account has a balance of $930.50 as of this date. The Committee is also a bit confused as to exactly how much money
we are expected to return to the Town.
Les Hammond stated he would check that out for us and let us know. At this point, Mr. Stevens added that in
Bow, they receive $2000 a year from the town for their expenses, and that it
might be helpful to us if we too, could seek to have an item in the Town Budget
to help us.
MINUTES: It has been suggested to us by several
people that we place our minutes on the Town Web Site. The Chair introduced this idea and after
some discussion, Rebecca Rolke volunteered to do this. She will forward them to
the Webmaster of the town.
MEETINGS: After some discussion, it was also decided
that it might be helpful in drawing people to our meetings if we posted them on
the Website and in the following newspapers (on a monthly basis), Bow Times,
Weare Free Press, Concord Monitor and Union Leader. In addition to the date and place of the meeting, we will also
include the general area of discussion to take place. Rebecca Rolke also volunteered to do this.
MEMBERSHIP OF COMMITTEE: We would like to see more people active on
our Committee. Bud has asked Les and
Joyce Hammond and Stan Hallinan to attend tonight. Stan would like to continue and Joyce would also, although she
states that her time is very tight and she may not be able to help very
much. Also, that this whole area is new
to her. Those here tonight were asked
to think of who else we might invite.
Any one interested in being a member, we must run through the Selectmen
as this is a Town Committee and each person needs to be officially sworn in.
ROBERT ROGERS HOMESITE: This Committee has received a letter from
the Department of the Army, Headquarters, Special Operations Command in Fort
Bragg, North Carolina signed by Charles H. Briscoe, Command Historian. In essence, it states that the erection of a
New Hampshire State Historical Marker at this homesite would be a very worthy
endeavor. As this site is under the jurisdiction of the Dunbarton Historical
Society, we do not feel we can make any plans and would like to refer the
letter to the Historical Society for review.
All present talked about this and felt it would be a good idea to get
both groups together and talk about the letter. Les Hammond will talk with Mert Mann and Wendy Dailey and see if
they will set up a meeting of the two groups in the near future. It was also
felt that Patric Keon who initiated the idea of a Homesite Marker and who is a
former serviceman should be invited to this meeting also. The group asked that
the Historical Awareness Committee formally reply to Charles Briscoe, letting
him know that we received it and are in the exploration stage at this time.
MARTIN HOUSE: Updates were called for. Mr. Poirier has not
yet set a date for taking the house down.
Bud states he has not yet finished taking the interior
measurements. Bill states he is having
difficulty taking interior photos but plans to try once more. They all come out very dark. Rebecca is highly interested in obtaining wallpaper
samples as some that are now in the house are very old. She has done some research and feels they
should be salvaged if at all possible.
There is also a desire to explore the cellar, if there is one. It might be helpful to have a metal detector. In this vein, there is a possibility that
Donna Dunn may have one in the near future.
What is needed most at the time the house comes down is a place to store
boards, timbers, etc., and whatever is felt to be of historic
significance. Les Hammond is willing to
explore the purchase of a 40-foot storage trailer. He thinks it would cost about $900. The committee asked if he could please do this. We have some limited funds and perhaps could
pay for part, but this will need an official vote of the Committee. At the same time the house is to be taken
down, there is an old barn on a nearby property that will also be taken
down. If there are old beams and
timbers there, those could be saved also.
TOWN HEARSE SHED: The Committee voted to wholeheartedly support
Donna Dunn’s effort with Lynda Burnside’s assistance to apply for grant monies
for the erection of a shed.
PUTNEY HOMESITE: There has been
a request to the Board of Selectmen and Conservation Commission relevant to
surveying of probable Putney Homesite on the old Nassikas land. Les will bring it up at their next meeting.
There being no further business,
the meeting was adjourned at 9:50 P.M.
Next regularly scheduled meeting is April 25 at 7:45 P.M. at the Town
Office. Hopefully we shall have an
opportunity to talk with the Historical Society prior to then.
Respectfully Submitted
Betty Ann Noyes, Chair and
Secretary.