Our Mission
New Ipswich Historical Society
What is the Mission of the New Ipswich Historical Society?
It is written in our 2019 Bylaws
collect, preserve, research, exhibit, and interpret as accurately as possible the heritage of New Ipswich, New Hampshire for the enrichment of present and future generations;
schedule and promote educational programs relevant to town and regional history as well as national and international events that had an impact on life in New Ipswich;
preserve and maintain the Society’s main building and its grounds;
accept gifts of artifacts and documents pertaining to life in New Ipswich; and
encourage interest in the history of New Ipswich, its citizens, historic structures, sites, and artifacts.
How are we meeting those goals?
We are in the process of cataloging our artifacts and storing them in more suitable museum grade storage boxes.
Several programs are being planned which will be relevant to the town and region.
President John Rosenfelder and member Carl Toko do a stellar job of grounds keeping. In winter John spends a lot of time resetting mouse traps.
We have established a subcommittee to evaluate donated artifacts and documents. The criteria is the relevance to the history of New Ipswich.
The members of the Society are excited about the work and hopefully we can share our enthusiasm with the greater public.
A Bit of New Ipswich History
James Roger Diary March 1908
A descendant of James Roger donated six diaries written from 1908 through 1913 to the New Ipswich Historical Society. Members of the NIHS have been transcribing the diaries (hand written in script) into text, which will eventually be available to Society members. They daily entries are a wonderful snapshot into life in New Ipswich at the turn 20th century.
James Roger as of January 1, 1908 age: 66 years 4 months 14 days
James was born August 8th 1841 in Kirkmichael, Ayrshire Scotland. Married Margaret Isabel Neil June 1867 (she died June 10 1913). He was a clerk in Birmingham England, and entered the railway service in 1866, being station master at Rosslyn Castle near Edinburgh for thirty-one years. He was ordained an elder in the Established Church (Presbyterian) of Scotland in 1878 and elected a member the general assembly in 1896. He came to America in fall of 1897 and has since resided in New Ipswich, where he has a duck farm and has given faithful service as a member of the school board and a superintendent of the Congregational Sunday School and a deacon.
James Roger’s poultry farm was the old Stedman Houghton farm, now the Congregational Church parish house. He called the farm Roselynlea.
James lived with his wife, two sons and a nephew.
Died 16 Jan 1916 (buried in Central Cemetery)
Diary Entry - March 3, 1908, New Ipswich, NH
3rd (Tuesday)
Frost – trees shining like silver in the sun, every branch and twig coated with ice. David went to Greenville with stock from Walker and to Lonie’s afterwards to bring in his wood. Got letter from Cora Roger who says her father’s foot is getting better. Walter Thayer took Alice’s calf away tonight. I swept Hall.
.