Dear Members and Supporters,
As we say goodbye to 2024 and welcome 2025, we look back with satisfaction on our accomplishments and ahead with anticipation to our upcoming endeavors. NSHA volunteers worked hand in hand as officers, teammates, and committee members to keep our organization vibrant and progressive. Together with vital support from the community, you continued a host of preservation activities and events that preserve and promote our precious local heritage.
Last year you replaced the boiler at Heritage Hall, completed the restoration of the Forestdale School, and continued the restoration of the Memorial Town Building. You continued to restore the Hotchkiss Cemetery (Smithfield Rd), the Luke Philips Cemetery (Pound Hill Road), and the Richard Mowry Cemetery (Greenville Rd) while maintaining numerous other local historical cemeteries. You continued to expand, organize, and digitize the invaluable NSHA archives. You expanded our research of local pre-colonial and colonial stone features. You raised funds critical to preservation efforts through Hall rentals, grants, donations, membership dues, and merchandise sales. Just as importantly, you kept the community informed of progress and promoted town heritage through the Newsletter, Facebook, Instagram, and the recently updated website.
Next year, you will continue these activities, as well as undertake new ventures. You will open a new museum at the Memorial Town Building. If a grant is approved, you will also replace the hall windows there with replica arch windows. Another grant would allow you to complete a script for a new film documentary about the Indigenous Experience at Nipsachuck. It's another ambitious but achievable agenda.
I thank each one of you for your gifts of time, energy, and money to enable such significant success. Most importantly, thank you for your kindness toward one another that creates the harmony so essential for our success. I wish you all a very happy and healthy new year!
Warm Regards,
Rich Keene
NSHA, President
