REPORT OF THE HISTORIAN 2007
There were 36 building permits issued: 5 new homes, 3 barns, 3 garages, 6 additions,
3 sheds, 1 greenhouse, 14 septic, and 1 three season camp.
There were 1184 registered voters: 381 Republicans, 240 Democrats, and 563 Undeclared.
On March 30th, First Lt Scott Quilty received the Purple Heart from President Bush. He was severely injured in a roadside bombing in Iraq Oct 1, 2006. He is recovering in Md.
During a spring nor’easter April 15th & 16th, 4.68 inches of snow/rain mix caused flooding which closed most roads in town and washed out 4 bridges and many culverts.
In August, Officer Steve Bell, who had been serving as acting Police Chief, was sworn in as official Chief of Police.
The “2010 by 2010 Saving Special Places” land conservation project placed 475 acres of land into conservation easement in 2007, bringing the total acres protected to 1191.This is a co-operative effort by the Francestown Conservation Commission, Francestown Land Trust and the Piscataquog Watershed Association.
Francestown Improvement and Historical Society sponsored the 90th Labor Day weekend, and it was another record year for funds raised. The parade theme was “News Headlines from the last 90 Years”. FIHS sponsored 2 special programs: “New Hampshire Cemeteries and Gravestones”, and “Colonial New Hampshire”, the community supper in April, and also hosted the annual Christmas Tree Lighting event. The Beehive received a fresh coat of paint. There were a total of 218 members: 110 lifetime and 108 annual members and 17 new members joined in 2007.
The Old Meeting House sponsored several events including: concerts by Al Stewart, John Sebastian, The Matt Savage Trio, Jonathan Edwards, Steve Forbert, Tom Rush and Jesse Winchester and a comedy night with Rusty “The Logger” Deweese. Other events included: Verdant Visions in March, Labor Day Vespers, Labor Day tours and ice cream social, Trick or Treating at Halloween. In addition, FIHS “Colonial NH”, Francestown Land Trust annual meeting, 2 weddings and 1 memorial service were held at OMH.
The steeple and weathervane were repaired, screen panels for 2 of the south doors and mesh panels for the north fire doors were installed, the Austin organ was repaired and a low-flow toilet was installed in the east bathroom. OMH gained 12 new lifetime members
Oak Hill Grange #32 had 16 members, including 4 Golden Sheaf members (members for 50+ years). The master was Merle Jones and the secretary Dariel Peterson. The Grange sponsored the annual ‘Meet the Candidates Night’. Members won awards for exhibits at 2 county fairs and at both state and national levels for needlework entries. They presented dictionaries to all 3rd graders at Francestown and Hancock elementary schools. ‘Citizen of the Year’ was presented to the members of the Cemetery Commission in honor of their work to replace the chain link fence at the town cemetery with a stone wall.
The Garden Club donated and planted 600 daffodils and 4 Scarlet Brandywine crab trees at Cemetery #2. GC monthly meetings included a lesson by David Seavey on pruning shrubs, a lecture by Martha Eisenberg and Ben Watson on heirloom vegetables, and a tour of Audubon’s Ponemah Bog in Amherst. The GC also planted and maintained the triangle garden in town. The annual $500 scholarship was awarded to Heidi Jones. The annual plant sale in May helps fund the scholarship and beautification projects.
Rev Suzanne Lamport served as pastor of Francestown Community Church.
There were 74 students, K-4th grade enrolled in Francestown Elementary school, 63 students at Great Brook School and 104 Francestown students at Conval HS. In addition, there were 17 home schooled students in town.
Joyful Tikes, a private pre-school, had an enrollment of 12 students, aged 3-5 years, from Francestown, Greenfield, New Boston and Lyndeborough.
Farming Fun 4-H Club had 6 members. For the first time, members participated in the Sheep Quiz Bowl held at the Sheep and Wool Festival. They also showed at Hillsborough County fair in September and participated in community service activities including assembling and delivering ‘Welcome Baskets’ to new residents, helping the Community Church at the Fall festival and teaching the Girl Scout troop about the care of sheep.
There was a Daisy/Brownie troop and a Girl Scout troop in town.
There are now 2 Food Co-Ops which meet at the Town Hall. Associated Buyers Co-Op meets once a month on Mondays. Northeast Natural Foods Association meets every other month on Fridays.
To the best of my knowledge, residents who served in the armed forces were: US Army-First Lt Scott Quilty, US Navy- IS2 Christina Davis, US Marine Corp-Gunnery Sgt Richard Beard, Air National Guard-Col Sylvia Nye (who retired May 2007 after 30 years of service), US Army Reserve-Sgt Richard Roberts.
Francestown mourned the loss of several residents in 2007
March 7, 2007-Michael W Tennis, devoted his life to protecting the environment, sang with Mystic Chorale, and was known for his great sense of humor.
March 23, 2007-Sharon Gal Iadone, worked in the Assessor’s Office for the state of New York before her retirement.
May 15, 2007-Charlotte Joyce Campbell, worked as a bookkeeper for many years and enjoyed swimming and traveling.
June 7, 2007-Joan E Hanchett, grew up in Ireland and was librarian of the GH Bixby Memorial Library for over 20 years. She will be remembered for her wonderful sense of humor, warm smile and was a friend to all who met her.
July 14th, 2007- Jean Macdonald, was a longtime summer resident, an activist, world traveler and was passionate about teaching, mountain climbing, gardening and the opera.
August 2, 2007-Warren Murdough lived in Lyndeboro, ½ mile from the Francestown line. ‘Buddy’ worked on the Francestown Highway Dept and the Transfer Station.
August 7, 2007-Edwin O Farhm- had a 35 year career in education, 20 years as director of guidance at ConVal School District. He coached Little League in town for 12 years and led the Conval golf team to state championships in 1995 and 1996. He was also an accomplished painter and woodcarver, specializing in birds of prey.
August 10, 2007-Keta Cecelia (Becker) Jones- an activist and passionate supporter of peace and social justice, was pastor of Francestown Community Church for 10 years.
September 18, 2007- Virginia Frances Twombley, a lifelong Francestown resident was a Golden Sheaf (50+ year) member of Oak Hill Grange #32.
September 22, 2007- Margery Somers Foster, was a lieutenant in the US Naval Reserve, taught economics at Harvard, Holyoke, and Hollins colleges, served as Dean of Douglass college at Rutgers University, served on numerous college boards and associations and was the first woman to sit on the board of directors of Public Service Electric and Gas Co and Prudential Life Insurance Co. She was a world traveler.
October 26, 2007- Cynthia Rose Comley, ‘Rosie’ worked for Child and Family Health Services in Manchester, loved baking and singing.
October 27, 2007-Charles H Curran III, taught philosophy, communications, and Irish Studies at Stonehill College, enjoyed traveling and cooking and was known for his kind heart and sense of humor.
November 22, 2007- Charles Harbage, served in the US Navy, had a career in engineering, and loved model railroading.
All will be greatly missed by the community.
Respectfully submitted,
Kris Holmes, Historian
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