Sports History Talks at the Wentworth House

Baseball fans and bicycling enthusiasts who are interested in the histories of their respective sports won’t want to miss two up-coming talks at Rollinsford’s historic Colonel Paul Wentworth House. Both lectures are being presented in connection with “Neighborhood Entertainments: New Englanders at Play,” the exhibit on early New England sports and recreation currently on view at the Wentworth House.Zip Zamarchi will present an illustrated talk about penny farthings, bone shakers and other forerunners of the modern bicycle on Tuesday, July 26. Mr. Zamarchi is a cycling historian and an avid collector of antique bicycles and bicycling memorabilia. Several items from his extensive collection are included in the exhibit.

On Tuesday, August 9, Brian Sheehy will describe the game of baseball the way it was played by early teams such as the Portsmouth Rockinghams and the Newburyport Clamdiggers: no gloves, underhand pitching, and woolen knickerbocker uniforms. In addition to being an historian of the game, Mr. Sheehy plays base ball in the style of the 1800s with the Essex Vintage Base Ball Club.

Both talks will be presented at 7 pm, and the doors will open at 6 pm for visitors who would like to tour the exhibit prior to the presentation. Light refreshments will be served afterwards. Admission to the presentations and the exhibit is $5 for the general public and free for members of ARCH.

Maintained by the Association for Rollinsford Culture and History (ARCH) as an educational and cultural center, the Colonel Paul Wentworth House is located at 47 Water Street in Rollinsford, NH. For more information, call (603)742-4747 or (603) 749-1966.