historical

Volunteers Needed

The Town Needs Your Help!

Towns provide many functions. Some of them are more visible to residents than others. Some are required and others are more discretionary. Some of the functions are provided by volunteers. Rollinsford needs more volunteers. Many of the appointments to the boards and committees are expiring in March. We will be voting to fill some of them. Others are appointed by the Select Board right after Town Meeting. Thank you to all of the people who dedicated their time in service to our community this past year. The following are boards and committees on which volunteers serve.  Please read the brief excerpts about them and consider offering your name to be considered for appointment. Each has its own level of commitment which often is not very much time per month.  Come meet more of your neighbors!

 

Planning Board

Meets the first Tuesday of every month at 7:00pm. This is an essential function we must offer to property owners wishing to subdivide or develop their property, start or expand a business or change the use of a property, for example. There is typically no outside work required and meetings are typically not more than two hours. Members should become familiar with the Zoning Ordinance and other planning regulations.

 

Zoning Board of Adjustment

Meets at the call of the Chairperson when there is a case to be heard (typically 3-5 times per year). This is an essential function we must offer to property owners who feel aggrieved by a land use decision made by the Planning Board, Town or planning regulations. It is a quasi-judicial body.

 

Conservation Commission

The group manages the conservation land along the Salmon Falls River known as Scoutland, the area beyond the community garden on Foundry Street, and discusses topics important to our natural environment. Some development requires a review by the Conservation Commission and their opinions can inform planning regulations.

 

Recreation Committee

These volunteers are the super heroes who recreated the summer recreation program which would otherwise have been discontinued just a few years ago.  Summer camp, pick-up basketball, the new youth soccer program in the evenings, and senior programming could not function without this group.

 

Highway Safety Committee

This group only meets when there is a topic for discussion. They meet to discuss matters of public safety including, but not limited to traffic concerns. They make recommendations to the Select Board regarding roadways, when appropriate.

 

Stormwater Committee

This committee is necessary for keeping the Town compliant with our MS-4 permit which allows us to discharge stormwater into the Salmon Falls River. This is a federal permit which obligates the Town to engage in public outreach and public engagement regarding public activities which pollute waterways as well as water testing and data compilation.

 

Historical Committee

We live in a small town with a lot of history. This group meets monthly to discuss topics of historical significance to Rollinsford and the Salmon Falls region. You don’t have to be an expert on local history to join, just interested in learning, sharing, and preserving the fascinating stories of our town. This group is flexible in making the most of the members’ strengths and interests and setting meetings to work for all members. They have provided educational programs, history hikes, and restoration projects, so handy people are especially welcome!

 

Don’t see the thing you are passionate about listed? Offer your idea to the Select Board and if there is enough interest, perhaps a new committee can be formed.

If you would like further information or to offer to serve, please email the Town Administrator or stop by the Town Office.

March 6, 2020 in Conservation, highway safety, Historical, Planning Board, recreation, stormwater, Zoning

Snowshoe Rangers at the Wentworth House 1.18.20 & 1.19.20

Step back in time at Rollinsford’s historic Colonel Paul Wentworth House on Saturday and Sunday, January 18 and 19, and meet Captain John Harmon’s Snowshoe Company of Rangers, a group of historical reenactors who portray the soldiers who patrolled the New England frontier during the 1740s and 1750s.

Snowshoe companies were formed to patrol the colonial frontier during the long winters and protect the northern settlements from attack by the French and their Native American allies. Members of Harmon’s Company will be in residence at the Wentworth House and will demonstrate the use of flintlock muskets and traditional snowshoes, plus the clothing, equipment and tactics used by the frontier militia.

Visitors may also tour the Wentworth House; warm up by the hearth and watch food being prepared in 18th century fashion; and experience other aspects of winter life in colonial New England.

Event hours are Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm, and Sunday from 9 am to 3 pm. Admission is $5 for adults; the event is free for children and ARCH members.

The circa 1701 Wentworth House is located on Water Street in Rollinsford and is maintained by the Association for Rollinsford Culture and History (ARCH). For more information about this and other events at the Wentworth House, consult the ARCH website at paulwentworthhouse.org or Facebook at The Colonel Paul Wentworth House.

January 13, 2020 in Historical

The Town Needs Your Help!

Towns provide many functions. Some of them are more visible to residents than others. Some are required and others are more discretionary. Some of the functions are provided by volunteers. Rollinsford needs more volunteers. Many of the appointments to the boards and committees are expiring in March. We will be voting to fill some of them. Others are appointed by the Select Board right after Town Meeting. Thank you to all of the people who dedicated their time in service to our community this past year. The following are boards and committees on which volunteers serve.  Please read the brief excerpts about them and consider offering your name to be considered for appointment. Each has its own level of commitment which often is not very much time per month. Come meet more of your neighbors!

Planning Board

Meets the first Tuesday of every month at 7:00pm. This is an essential function we must offer to property owners wishing to subdivide or develop their property, start or expand a business or change the use of a property, for example. There is typically no outside work required and meetings are typically not more than two hours. Members should become familiar with the Zoning Ordinance and other planning regulations. There are two vacancies for full-memberships and one alternate position open.

Zoning Board of Adjustment

Meets at the call of the Chairperson when there is a case to be heard (typically 3-5 times per year). This is an essential function we must offer to property owners who feel aggrieved by a land use decision made by the Planning Board, Town or planning regulations. It is a quasi-judicial body.

Conservation Commission

The group manages the conservation land along the Salmon Falls River known as Scoutland, the area beyond the community garden on Foundry Street, and discusses topics important to our natural environment. Some development requires a review by the Conservation Commission and their opinions can inform planning regulations.

Space Needs Committee

This committee worked hard for two years to determine a location for the police department. It was their recommendation to build a new facility to include the town office on Silver Street. This option was not put on the ballot this year. The Select Board will create a new charge for this group to address questions about the condition of the town hall and cost to renovate, locations for a potential police station and other ways we could potentially move forward to meet the needs of the Police Department.

Recreation Committee

These volunteers are the super heroes who recreated the summer recreation program which would otherwise have been discontinued just a few years ago. Recreation could not function without this group. They also manage the youth basketball program and are exploring options for senior programming.

Highway Safety Committee

This group only meets when there is a topic for discussion. They meet to discuss matters of public safety including, but not limited to traffic concerns. They make recommendations to the Select Board regarding roadways, when appropriate.

Stormwater Committee

This committee is necessary for keeping the Town compliant with our MS-4 permit which allows us to discharge stormwaterinto the Salmon Falls River. This is a federal permit which obligates the Town to engage in public outreach and public engagement regarding public activities which pollute waterways as well as water testing and data compilation.

Energy Committee

There are many ways in which the Town could save money with renewable energy. The specific charge of the committee has not yet been created but we know we could change street lights to LED’s or install solar panels on town buildings for example. The Select Board cannot make decisions without people presenting options and associated costs.

Historical Committee

We live in a small town with a lot of history. This group meets monthly to discuss topics of historical significance to Rollinsford and the Salmon Falls region. You don’t have to be an expert on local history to join, just interested in learning, sharing, and preserving the fascinating stories of our town. This group is flexible in making the most of each member’s strengths and interests and setting meetings to work for all members. They provide educational programs, history hikes (2 a year), and in 2019, plan to take on the first (modest!) restoration project, so handy people are especially welcome! 

February 14, 2019 in Budget Committee, Conservation, Highway Department, Planning Board, recreation, Zoning

Veterans Day Event at the Wentworth House

Serving Their Country at the Wentworth House

In honor of American veterans, past and present, the Colonel Paul Wentworth House will host Serving Their Country, a day-long living history tribute to American soldiers on Veterans Day, Sunday, November 11.

Visit the historic Wentworth House in Rollinsford for a day of displays and living-history demonstrations illustrating the lives and stories of America’s citizen-soldiers from the colonial period through modern times.  Historical reenactors with carefully researched and period-accurate uniforms and equipment will portray soldiers from the colonial and Revolutionary eras, the Civil War, the world wars, and the Vietnam War.

In addition, to mark the centennial of the end of World War I, the presenters will march to the Martel-Roberge American Legion Hall on Foundry Street for an 11 am ceremony commemorating the exact hour and day of the armistice which ended that conflict in 1918.

The event will run from 10 am to 4 pm at the Wentworth House on Water Street in Rollinsford. Admission is $5 for the general public; free for veterans and active duty personnel, children, and ARCH members.

The circa 1701 Wentworth House is maintained by the Association for Rollinsford Culture and History (ARCH) as an educational and cultural center for the community.  For more information about this and other events at the Wentworth House, consult the ARCH website at paulwentworthhouse.org.

November 10, 2018 in Historical

Call for Volunteers

The Town of Rollinsford has several important boards, commissions and committees peopled by interested and engaged volunteers who wish to serve the community.   If you are interested in volunteering, or would like to learn more about one of the groups listed below please call the Select Board’s Administrative Assistant at 603-742-2510.

Open positions:

Planning Board Alternate

Energy Committee

Historical Committee

Recreation Committee

 

November 5, 2018 in Community, Historical, Planning Board, recreation

Colonial Market Fair and Militia Muster at the Wentworth House

Travel back in time to the American Revolution at the historic Colonel Paul Wentworth House in Rollinsford, NH.  On Saturday and Sunday, October 20 and 21, the sights and sounds of the Revolutionary era will come to life at a colonial market fair with 18th century craftspeople and artisans at work, while the militia gathers to train in preparation for joining General Washington’s forces against the British.

At this two-day living history encampment, artisans in period attire will demonstrate crafts such as joinery, coopering, printing, shoe making, and gun smithing. At the same time, the militia will perform musket firings and military drills, display and explain their equipment, and raise a Liberty Pole and flag.The event will also feature hearth cooking demonstrations, a display of antique tools, house tours, children’s games, and more. The event will run from 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday, and from 10 am to 3 pm on Sunday. Admission is $5 for the general public; free for children and ARCH members.

The circa 1701 Wentworth House is located on Water Street in Rollinsford, and is maintained by the Association for Rollinsford Culture and History (ARCH) as an educational and cultural center. For more information, visit the ARCH website at www.paulwentworthhouse.org or on Facebook at The Colonel Paul Wentworth House.

October 3, 2018 in Historical

Message from the Rollinsford Historical Committee: Call for Photos!

Hello from the Rollinsford Historical Committee!

Do you have a beautiful photo of Rollinsford that you are willing to share with the town? We’re looking for photo submissions to be used on notecards for an upcoming fundraiser!

If you would like to enter a photo, please email it to us at: [email protected] – Photos should be as high resolution as possible in order to be considered for print. The only rule is that the photo be of Rollinsford! We would love to see every season. Landscape, architecture or animal, we’re excited to see what you submit!

SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE IN ONE WEEK! SEPTEMBER 27, 2018

Each photographer will be credited on the back of the card and will receive a complimentary sample of their design. 100% of the profits will go back into the Historical Committee’s fund to be used for restoration and preservation projects.

The Rollinsford Historical Committee holds history hikes and other educational events that are entirely volunteer and free to the public. As we are relatively new, we’re currently working to find ways to raise funding without accessing town funds. Your participation in this fundraiser would be a huge help!

September 21, 2018 in Historical

Wentworth House Event 9.2.18

V for Victory: World War II Comes to the Wentworth House

Visit Rollinsford’s historic Colonel Paul Wentworth House on Sunday, September 2 between 11 am and 4 pm for V for Victory: Americans in World War II, a one-day living history event commemorating V-J Day. On that date in 1945, representatives of Imperial Japan signed surrender documents marking the official end of World War II. Come find out how US participation in the global conflict affected American military personnel and civilians.

On the grounds of the Wentworth House, historical reenactors in period uniforms will display the equipment, weapons, and routines of US soldiers. Inside the house, visitors will get a feel for life on the home front during the war through 1940s music and radio broadcasts, newsreel films and cartoons, artifacts such as ration cards and V-mail, and the magazines and newspapers that chronicled the war, including one from the day after Pearl Harbor.

Tours of the house will also be offered throughout the day. Admission is $5 for adults; the event is free to children and ARCH members.

The circa 1701 Wentworth House is located on Water Street in Rollinsford and is maintained by the Association for Rollinsford Culture and History (ARCH).  For more information about this and other events at the Wentworth House, consult the ARCH website at paulwentworthhouse.org.

August 23, 2018 in Community Group, Historical

Mill and Farm Exhibit at Wentworth House

In the 1800s, the small town of Rollinsford was comprised of two distinct communities: the industrial mill village of Salmon Falls, largely populated by recent immigrants, and the outlying farms worked by old Yankee families. Mill and Farm: The Two Faces of a New England Town, a new exhibit at the Colonel Paul Wentworth House, illustrates these two different aspects of life in the town in the 19thand early 20thcenturies.

Through the stories of individual families and through objects such as tools, account books, school records, dance cards, and photographs, the exhibit compares and contrasts the lives of Rollinsford’s farmers and mill workers. Many of the objects are on loan from private collections and have not been previously exhibited.

The exhibit is open to visitors from 1 to 4 pm on Sundays until mid-October. Admission to the house and the exhibit is $5; free for ARCH members and children under 16. Additionally, throughout the month of August, admission is free for all Rollinsford residents.

Maintained by the Association for Rollinsford Culture and History (ARCH), the circa 1701 Wentworth House is located on Water Street in Rollinsford, NH and hosts living history events, exhibits, and school and youth programs. For more information about this and other events at the Wentworth House, consult the ARCH website at paulwentworthhouse.org or on Facebook at The Colonel Paul Wentworth House.

August 6, 2018 in Historical