Past Events
Heroes and Homecomings
Norman Rockwell and World War II
When: Tuesday, September 24, 2024, 7:00 pm
Where: Florence H. Speare Memorial Museum Library
Join us for this fascinating talk by Jane Oneail.
Norman Rockwell chronicled middle-class life in the twentieth century. His paintings, produced for calendars, cards and magazines including The Saturday Evening Post, show the heartwarming and humorous aspects of American life. His work focused on shared experiences like childhood, family life, holidays, work, sports and patriotism and helped to shape the way Americans understood the American experience.
America's most beloved illustrator also created dozens of images related to the second World War. What happens when an artist known for his use of humor tackles the serious subject of war? This program explores how his work departs from earlier artistic interpretations of American conflicts and considers how and why he chose specific wartime themes to present to the millions of readers of The Saturday Evening Post.
Jane Oneail (pronounced OH-neel) is the founder of Culturally Curious, an arts education consulting firm specializing in art appreciation programs. She curates and delivers programs throughout New England and beyond. Oneail holds a master’s in Art History from Boston University and a master’s in Education from Harvard University. Born and raised in NH, she has worked at some of the state's most esteemed cultural institutions, including the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, where she served as executive director, and the Currier Museum of Art, where she was senior educator. Jane has also taught at the college level for more than a decade, most recently at Southern New Hampshire University.
This talk is free and open to the public.
This program is made possible by New Hampshire Humanities. Learn more at www.nhhumanities.org.
Tree Planting with
ReGenerative Roots
When: Saturday, September 14, 2024, 8:00 - 10:00 am
Where: Florence H. Speare Memorial Museum Lawn
Join us for the planting of four beautiful fruit trees! Please bring gloves, close-toed shoes, and your favorite shovel.
Andrew Morin of Regenerative Roots has generously donated two apple trees and two pear trees to be planted on the grounds of the Florence H. Speare Memorial Museum.
The ReGenerative Roots Association strengthens the food and alternative energy systems in New England through the development of community farms, food forests, plant shares, educational orchards, solar arrays, and farm to school programs! To learn more about the ReGenerative Roots Association, please visit https://www.regenerativeroots.org/.
Orchard planted by ReGenerative Roots at Nashua High School North
Notable Nashuans with a Twist
Voices from the Past Cemetery Tour
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When: Saturday, September 7, 2024, 1:00 - 2:30 pm
Where: Unitarian Universalist Church cemetery
Behind White Wing Preschool
58 Lowell Street
Nashua, NH 03064
Greeley, Beard, Stearns, McKean, Foster, Hunt, Shattuck and Abbot are the last names of a few of the Nashuans who will be brought back to life for visitors as they travel from grave to grave during the reprise of Notable Nashuans: Voices from the Past Cemetery Tour, this time with a new twist.
The open format tour will run from 1:00 – 2:30 pm on Saturday, September 7, 2024. Ticketholders will select from 18 grave sites where reenactors adorned in period attire will tell “their” stories, including those of former community leaders and unsung heroes. Vignettes include former mayors, industrialists, philanthropists and others who played pivotal roles in shaping the city’s identity and who are buried throughout the hallowed grounds of the 1835 Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashua cemetery.
With a new “twist” to the tour, QR codes accessible by cell phone will provide additional historical insights into gravestone motifs and other noteworthy information.
“After the spring tour, many people asked the Nashua Historical Society for a reprise of the event because they missed some of the reenactors the first time or they wanted to invite family or friends they imagined would enjoy the tour too. But we wanted to offer something new for everyone, so we’ve added QR codes which will expand how we share historical information with our guests as they journey throughout this especially important Nashua cemetery,” said Paula Lochhead, chair of the Cemetery Tour Committee at The Nashua Historical Society. The cemetery tour will be memorable for history enthusiasts and curious minds alike. Funds raised from this event will be used for ongoing efforts to preserve the memory of Daniel Abbot, the “Father of Nashua.”
The 1835 cemetery is very old, which makes it both especially interesting and somewhat difficult to navigate. To best enjoy the tour, guests must be able to stand for an hour or more, walk on uneven terrain, and manage steep stairs. The tour is not wheelchair accessible. Guests are encouraged to dress for the weather and to wear proper footwear. In addition, there are no restrooms at the cemetery, although guests may use the bathroom facilities at the Speare Museum located ½ mile from the cemetery.
Tickets for the Saturday, September 7th tour are available for $20.00 either through the Nashua Historical Society’s website or at the Nashua Historical Society’s Florence H. Speare Museum during business hours. The rain date is Sunday, September 8, 2024. Children 12 years old and younger may attend if they purchase a ticket and are accompanied by an adult. Tickets may be available the day of the event, but advanced reservations are strongly suggested because sales are limited.
On the day of the tour, Notable Nashuans Cemetery Tour ticket holders should report directly to the UU Church of Nashua Cemetery located at 58 Lowell St., Nashua, NH 03064. The Speare Museum will be open from 1 – 3 pm the day of the tour. Free parking is available behind the Speare Museum, 5 Abbott Street, Nashua, NH. In addition, special event t-shirts are available while supplies last.
Museums Open House
When: Saturday, August 17, 2024, 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Where: Abbot-Spalding House Museum and Florence H. Speare Memorial Museum
Due to construction in the surrounding area, please enter via Crescent Street.
Visit the Abbot-Spalding House Museum and the Florence H. Speare Museum!
The Florence H. Speare Memorial Museum features several exhibits, including a new exhibit focusing on World War II, Frank Ingalls' historic photographs of Nashua, a historic fire engine, and more!
1940s-era clothing will be featured in the rooms of the Abbot-Spalding House, including uniforms and gowns, as well as other artifacts.
Florence H. Speare Museum Admission: Free
Abbot-Spalding House Museum Admission: $10.00 non-members; free for members.
Park in our free lot or on the street.
At Home and Abroad:
Nashua and World War II
When: Saturday, July 13, 2024, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Where: Florence H. Speare Memorial Museum
NOW RELEASED! This is the documentary people have been waiting for...
AT HOME AND ABROAD:
NASHUA AND WORLD WAR II
A locally produced and professionally developed oral history project featuring Nashua's
WWII Veterans, Homefront Civilians,
and Holocaust Survivors.
The film runs for approximately one hour.
Free and open to the public.
Watch the trailer here!
Abbot-Spalding House Museum Opening Featuring 1940s Era Artifacts
When: Saturday, July 13, 2024, 2:30 - 4:00 pm
Where: Abbot-Spalding House Museum
1940s-era clothing will be featured in the rooms of the Abbot-Spalding House, including uniforms and gowns, as well as other artifacts.
This is the season opening of the Abbot-Spalding House, a true gem of Nashua and the former home of the Father of Nashua, Daniel Abbot.
$10.00 non-members; FREE for members. Park in our free lot or on the street.
Special note: the exhibit curators, Janice Fronko and Paula Lochhead, will be available to answer questions about the exhibit.
Children of the Holocaust
When: Saturday, June 29, 2024, 1:00 pm
Where: Florence H. Speare Memorial Museum
“Family…we are bound to them and the past, although we cannot look into their eyes or hear their voices, we will tell their story and we will remember them.” (author unknown)
On Saturday, June 29 at 1 pm, Ralph Sommese, a fellow with the Cohen Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies in Keene, will help us remember the children of the Holocaust. Ralph got involved with Holocaust remembrances through a student-led project at Fairgrounds Middle School. 1.5 million paperclips were donated by Staples and were exhibited at the school so that students could try to understand genocide, specifically the devastatingly large number of children killed during World War II by the Nazis.
It is important to remember. It is important to remember the hard times to learn from the past.
Ralph helps us remember those whose futures were stolen, but he ends by remembering those saved. This thirty-minute talk will be followed by a discussion. Suitable for anyone 13 years old and above, this is an awareness-building talk.
At Home and Abroad:
Nashua and World War II
When: Saturday, June 22, 2024
Showings at 11:30 am and 1:00 pm
Where: Florence H. Speare Memorial Museum
At Home and Abroad: Nashua and World War II
chronicles the stories of civilians, veterans, and Holocaust survivors as Nashuans share personal and family World War II stories in the upcoming documentary at the Nashua Historical Society.
Created by experienced local filmmakers John Sadd and Jeremy Frazier, this documentary is the result of extensive interviews with local World War II veterans, civilians, children of Holocaust survivors, and their families.
Run time is approximately 1 hour.
Florence H. Speare Museum opens at 11:00 am.
Watch the trailer for the upcoming documentary!
If you have difficulty viewing the trailer, please click here to view it on YouTube.
Letters to Nashua
Stories of World War II
When: Saturday, June 15, 2024, 10:00 am
Where: Florence H. Speare Memorial Museum
In 1942, Clarence Whitney, of Nashua, wrote to his friend, Margaret Beasom Swart, "Ask any soldier
overseas ... they’ll tell you that actually there’s a
period when mail is looked for more eagerly than good food.”
During World War II, delivering the mail was considered essential to the war effort. Correspondence allowed those serving in the military and loved ones at home to communicate. Families and friends might share news from home, while Service members could share their experiences. The mail kept morale high.
Today, these letters allow those who served in World War II and their loved ones to tell their stories in their own words.
Join us at the Nashua Historical Society to hear the stories of Nashuans who served in World War II and their loved ones back home based on five collections of letters from the Nashua Historical Society archives.
Sarah Jauris is the Collection Technician at the Nashua Historical Society and the exhibit curator of the upcoming exhibit World War II in Nashua: The Homefront and Beyond.
The Florence H. Speare Memorial Museum will be open from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm.
The Abbot-Spalding House Museum will be open from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. Featuring an exhibit of World War II uniforms and 1940s clothing.
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World War II in Nashua
The Home Front and Beyond
Exhibit Opening and Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
Florence H. Speare Memorial Museum
Friday, June 14, 2024, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
The exhibit focuses on the home front in Nashua and its connection to the war front, with an emphasis on Nashua’s role in the global war.
Objects on display, which include uniforms, photographs, letters, newspapers, and other World War II memorabilia, once belonged to people living in Nashua during World War II or to Nashua businesses.
Using these objects and images alongside extensive research, the exhibit seeks to tell the stories of the people of Nashua, past and present, including their contributions to the war effort and the ways in which the war affected their lives.
The Strange Case of the Laconia
A WWII Story of Disaster, Survival, and Cover-up
When: Tuesday, June 11, 2024, 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Where: Florence H. Speare Memorial Museum
When a ship the size of the Titanic, the Laconia, was sunk by a U-boat, some of its nearly 3,000
British passengers and Italian POW’s were rescued by the very U-boat that sank their ship.
Highly unusual, but the story becomes more bizarre. The survivors thought their ordeal of
floating in a shark-infested ocean was over…until an American plane unleashed its bombs.
New York Times bestselling author Michael Tougias offers an edge-of-your-seat slide
presentation about this incident—perhaps the most unusual in all of WWII. His new book with
Little Brown, Abandon Ship, tells the full story. The incident offers a real moral conundrum: do
you intentionally harm your own citizens for the bigger picture of winning the war? It's a topical
story with what's going in the world today.
The event was covered-up by authorities but Tougias shares the complete account including the
incredible survival story of four British citizens who survived seven weeks adrift at sea with only
two tablespoons of water per day and little food.
Tougias is the author and co-author of 30 books for adults and 8 for young readers, including
The Finest Hours, now a Disney movie starring Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, and Holiday Granger.
Learn more at www.michaeltougias.com.
This program is made possible by New Hampshire Humanities. Learn more at www.nhhumanities.org.
Notable Nashuans
Voices from the Past
When: Saturday, May 4, 2024
Where: Unitarian Universalist Church Cemetery
Behind White Wing Preschool
58 Lowell Street
Nashua, NH 03064
This tour is a journey through Nashua's history within the hallowed grounds of the 1835 Unitarian Universalist Church cemetery. Led by volunteer reenactors adorned in period attire, each of the two available timed walking tours invites participants to listen to the stories of nine individuals interred in selected cemetery plots. As attendees carefully travel from grave to grave, they will experience poignant vignettes, each shedding light on the lives and legacies of Nashuans who played pivotal roles in shaping the city's identity, from community leaders to unsung heroes.
The tour aims to breathe life into the past and to foster an appreciation of local history, by offering participants a glimpse into bygone eras while standing close to the resting places of those who came before. The Notable Nashuans Cemetery Tour will be memorable for history enthusiasts and curious minds alike. Book your reservation soon, as tickets are limited.
Parking: Parking is available across Canal Street at Margarita's Restaurant, City Lot End. Please use crosswalk to cross Canal Street.
We are pleased to welcome guests over 12 years old; minor guests must have tickets and be accompanied by an adult.
Caution: This tour is not wheelchair accessible
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Rough, steep terrain
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Uneven, steep stairs
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Slippery when wet
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To best enjoy the tour, guests must be able to walk/stand for a full hour
We highly recommend wearing proper footwear.
Also available at the event:
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Pre-tour look at an 1840s hearse
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T-shirts and NHS gift items available for purchase
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Ticket includes 1-hour tour and some extended cemetery access to a closed cemetery
Tour A:
Mary Conant Shattuck
Parker Family
General John Gray Foster
Leonard White Noyes
Little Nathaniel
Daniel Abbot
Thomas J. Laton
Henry Leavitt
Anna Stearns
Tour B:
Albin Beard
Jeremiah W. White
Ira Gay
James Horace Hall
Sarah Perham
John M. Hunt
Charles H. Nutt
J.T. Greeley
Frank A. McKean
Special Thanks:
Actorsingers
Charlie & Tracy Hall
Davis Funeral Home
Landmark Dental Care
Rochette Funeral Home
The Nashua Historical Society is proud to partner with the Unitarian Universalist Church for this event.
Tickets on Sale at the Nashua Historical Society:
Members Exclusive: Friday, April 5, 2024, 5:00 pm-8:00 pm
Public: Saturday, April 6, 2024, 11:00 am-2:00 pm
Tickets will also be available for purchase in-person or online.
Pricing:
In-Person: $15 per ticket
Online or Credit Card: $18 (includes $3 processing fee)
Members receive $5 off when buying tickets for both tours (in-person purchases only).
Granite Women
The Hidden Lives of NH Women
as Seen in the Cemetery, 1674 – 1992
When: Tuesday, March 19, 2024, 7:00 pm
Where: Florence H. Speare Memorial Museum
This program is free and open to the public.
The story of New Hampshire women throughout our history from all walks of life is presented here from the perspective of historic burial grounds and cemeteries located throughout the state.
The silent gravestones and monuments within their confines which mark the final resting places of women young and old, Black and white, speak volumes. By examining the oft-hidden clues they contain, we can learn much about their place in society and how their status evolved from early Colonial times down through the Victorian era and into the 20th Century.
Through the gravestones for these hard-working, everyday women, women that made their marks in ways big and small, we can learn much about our Granite women.
Join us for this talk by Glenn Knoblock, an independent scholar who has authored more than twenty books.
This program is made possible by New Hampshire Humanities. Learn more at www.nhhumanities.org.
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Posh Pink Tea Party
When: Sunday, March 3, 2024, 1:15 pm-3:30 pm
Where: Florence H. Speare Memorial Museum
5 Abbott Street, Nashua, NH
🌷 Celebrate Women's History Month with us and have a “tea-rific” time! Our upcoming event is not your average tea party, it is a blend of timeless traditions with a touch of modern magic. Come sip, savor, and celebrate with us.
👒 Embrace Elegance: In the spirit of fun, we encourage you to dress in your favorite pink attire. Young ladies and their fashion dolls are VIP guests.
👭 Extend the Invitation: Bring along a friend or a family member—this affair is suitable for all ages.
☕ Your Ticket Includes:
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Tea and Punch
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Dainty Savory Sandwiches and Sweet Treats
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Beginner Crafts and a Museum Scavenger Hunt
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Chances to Win Fabulous Raffle Prizes
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Opportunities to Capture Photos in our Barbie™-themed Frame
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Special Presentations, Including a Tribute to Historical Women of NH
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Each Guest May Leave with Their Selected Teacup and Saucer
🌸 Prices: Members - Adult $10, Children $8.
Non-members - Adult $12, Children $10
A $1 processing fee will apply to tickets purchased with a credit card.
🎟️ Reservations Required. Limited Seating: Reservations must be made on or before February 27th.
Please fill out the Posh Pink Tea Party Registration Form to register. To purchase tickets online, click the appropriate button after submitting the registration form or visit our gift shop.
Tickets are now sold out! Thank you!
🏛️ In-Person Ticket Purchase: Visit the Nashua Historical Society, Speare Museum during regular hours (Tuesdays - Thursdays, 9 am - 4 pm) or during another event (see above).
📞 Call to Reserve: by calling 603-883-0015. All calls will be returned on our next business day. Feel free to email us at nashuahistorical@comcast.net
📍 Location: Nashua Historical Society, Speare Museum Library, 5 Abbott Street, Nashua, NH, 03064. There is plenty of street parking or use our lot. Ramp and elevator available for use. Comfortable chairs and facilities.
Posh Pink Tea Party Tickets are Sold Out!
Thank you!
Family Friday
Scavenger Hunt
When: Friday, February 16, 2024, 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: Florence H. Speare Memorial Museum
Our new scavenger hunt is a great way to explore the Speare Museum. Come at night and search for the twelve featured Nashua artifacts. Suitable for all ages; groups or individuals.
A Stitch in Time Crafting Circle
When:
Saturday, February 10, 2024,10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Where: Florence H. Speare Memorial Museum
Bring your craft for a relaxing morning in good company. All are welcome!
New Hampshire's Fab Four
The Hutchinson Family Singers
When: Saturday, February 3, 2024, 1:00 pm
(Open 11 am for self-guided tours)
Where: Florence H. Speare Memorial Museum
This program hails back to the 1840s when a musical group called The Hutchinson Family Singers experienced a meteoric rise to fame. Bring your family along and learn about the story of the quartet of Judson, Abby, John, and Asa Hutchinson. Explore how the group, in their heyday, impacted the culture, politics, and music of America.
Guest speakers Marcia Nelson and Charlie Annand co-chair a Milford all-volunteer group determined to create a public memorial to the famous Hutchinson Family Singers. This popular 45-minute talk and slideshow will be followed by a question-and-answer session.
Come early and hear Hutchinson Family Singers music throughout the Speare Museum; open for self-guided tours from 11:00 - 3:00 pm.
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Last Tour: Award-Winning Exhibit
And the Bride Wore...
A Showcase of 150 Years of Nashua Bridal Fashion
When: 12:00 pm - 2 pm
Saturday, December 16, 2023
Where: Abbot-Spalding House Museum
1 Nashville Street
Nashua, NH
Be sure to join us for the final tour of
"And the Bride Wore...: A Showcase of 150 Years of Nashua Bridal Fashion."
Exhibit curators and textile experts, Janice Fronko and Paula Lochhead, have been awarded the Historic Preservation Recognition Award by the Matthew Thornton Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Janice and Paula will be on hand for this special last chance to see the exhibit, featuring more than twenty unique bridal dresses ranging from corduroy to silk, and from the 1790s to the 1990s.
Admission: $10 cash or check, $12 credit
Nashua Historical Society members: free
No reservation required.
Free parking behind the Speare Museum.
5 Abbott Street
Nashua, NH
Write at the Museum
When: Saturday, November 18, 2023,
9:30 am – 3:30 pm
Where: Florence H. Speare Memorial Museum
Are you a writer? Are you looking for inspiration, working on a personal writing project, perhaps writing a 50,000-word novel in the month of November, or just want time to sit down and write?
In celebration of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), the Nashua Historical Society invites writers to join us at the Speare Memorial Museum for a day of writing. Come write in our story-inspiring exhibit spaces. Rarely seen historic writing objects from the Nashua Historical Society’s collection will be on display for the month of November.
For additional inspiration, at 11:00 am participants are invited to tour the beautiful and historic Abbot-Spalding House Museum free of charge, located next to the Speare Museum.
Light refreshments will be provided. Bring your own lunch. Food and drink are allowed in the Library and the Dining Room.
Suggested donation of $5.00.
For more information, please call (603) 883-0015, or email us at nashuahistorical@comcast.net.
The Nashua Historical Society is now a
Come Write In space!
For more information about NaNoWriMo, please visit the NaNoWriMo website at: https://nanowrimo.org/.
Veterans Day Celebration
Nashua Public Library
When: Saturday, November 4, 2023,
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Where: Chandler Performance Area
Nashua Public Library
2 Court Street, Nashua, NH
The Nashua Historical Society is looking forward to participating in the Veterans Day Celebration at the Nashua Public Library.
Find us at the Library on November 4 to see a preview of the upcoming World War II exhibit!
For more information about the Veterans Day Celebration at the Nashua Public Library, please visit the Nashua Public Library website at:
Whispers of the Departed
Unveiling Local Gravestones and Their Symbolic Stories
When: Tuesday, October 17, 2023, 7:00 pm
Where: Florence H. Speare Memorial Museum
Immerse yourself in the rich history of Nashua as we delve into the stories and symbols of local gravestones. Discover the hidden meanings behind the beautiful symbols, hear stories of the past, and gain a deeper understanding of our history through the solemn study of local graves.
Hailee Attorri is a resident of Nashua and a member of the Association of Gravestone Studies. In the past, her talks have typically been delivered to groups of educators about the importance of using gravestones in the classroom, as she is a high school history teacher.
200th Anniversary of the
Nashua Manufacturing Company
When: Saturday, September 16, 2023, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
Where: Florence H. Speare Memorial Museum and Abbot-Spalding House Museum
In honor of the 200th anniversary of the Nashua Manufacturing Company, museums will be open.
The museum openings are in conjunction with a mayoral proclamation at 12:30, followed by a tour by Alan S. Manoian and Paula Lochhead, 12:45 pm to 2:00 pm, starting at Le Parc de Notre Renaissance Francais on Water Street in Downtown Nashua.
The historic Nashua gatehouse at Mine Falls Park will be open from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.
