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Many interesting stories about Washington, New Hampshire have been featured over the years on local ABC affiliate WMUR-9's nightly magazine show, New Hampshire Chronicle. Many of these segments are presented personally by longtime NH Chronicle host, writer, and filmmaker Fritz Wetherbee. You can access them from here. Fritz Wetherbee filming a segment about the Shedd Free Library for WMUR-9’s New Hampshire Chronicle Click Segment Title To Watch Video Lovell Creamery — East Washington Fritz Wetherbee talks about the Lovell Creamery, a dairy cooperative of local farmers that operated from 1886-1896. The creamery processed milk, cream butter and cheese, operating from an old mill building on the shore of East Washington's Mill Pond that had previously been a rake factory. Fritz also mentions "Captain Leonard Bradford," a Washington resident who Fritz reports made wooden tubs (containers) into his 90's, and proudly inserted a handwritten note into each one that said "Captain Leonard Bradford of Washington, NH, made this tub in his 91st year, without the use of spectacles!" WNHHS research shows that Leonard Bradford lived in Washington for many years. The 1886 History of Washington notes that "He carried on the business of coopering, and continued in the business until very near the end of his life." Leonard was born in Mont Vernon, NH September 13, 1790, and died here in Washington on May 14, 1882 — aged 91! October 2024. Run time 2:56. The East Washington (Mill) Pond Fritz Wetherbee opens this segment saying that "This [Washington] is one of my most favorite towns in New Hampshire." In reminiscing about his first trip here in 1986 to film his first segment about the town for NH PBS, he states that "This was a village out of a dream!" The main focus of the segment is on the restoration of the dam at the East Washington Mill Pond in 1952. The restoration effort was successfully championed by the Purlingbeck Grange. October 2024. Run time 2:20. East Washington Schoolhouse The District #5 one-room schoolhouse in East Washington opened in 1849 and served that community for almost 90 years before closing in 1937. The schoolhouse has remained virtually unchanged over the years — still possessing original desks, maps, and many other interesting items. It has been operated as a museum by the Washington NH Historical Society for many years, and is open to the public free-of-charge Saturdays from July through Labor Day from 1-3pm. Standing before the now 175 year-old iconic landmark, Fritz Wetherbee explains how the school was voted the best school in New Hampshire at the time of its opening, and reminisces about one-room New Hampshire Schoolhouses in general. We hope that you enjoy this segment featuring our beautiful schoolhouse, and that it will encourage you and your family to come and visit it in person. September 2024. Run time 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Granges of East Washington Using the Purling Beck Grange building as a backdrop, Fritz Wetherbee tells the stories behind the Lovell and Perling Beck Granges that once served the people of East Washington (the Lovell Grange later relocated to Town Hall in Washington Center). September 2024. Run time 2 minutes 49 seconds. Presidential New Hampshire Towns Stories of the naming of a number of New Hampshire towns, including Washington, after early Presidents of the United States. Fritz Wetherbee presents these interesting stories using Washington's beautiful and historic town common as his backdrop. May 2024. Run time 2 minutes 42 seconds. A Tale of Two Freezings The chilling stories of Nancy Barton of Crawford Notch, NH, and Daniel Millen of Washington, NH are shared. Fritz Wetherbee relates these cautionary tales while seated inside Washington's amazing Shedd Free Library, and talks glowingly of Ron and Grace Jager's fabulous history of Washington, NH, Portrait of a Hill Town , as the source for Daniel Millen's story. May 2024. Run time 2 minutes 38 seconds. Tubbs Union Academy This private institution for higher learning was founded in Washington by Russell Tubbs in 1849. While the school was mainly only successful in its first four years, the institution lasted another 77 years, closing in March of 1930. Fritz Wetherbee delivers the whole interesting story, framed against Washington's beautiful town common! May 2024. Run time 3 minutes 9 seconds. Sarah Shedd Library Washington, NH is home to one of the most picturesque library's in the state of New Hampshire. It 's named for a woman who was a Washington native and one of the original mill girls of Lowell, MA. Fritz Wetherbee tells you Sarah's story and the amazing gift that she left to her home town. Aired May 7, 2024. Run time 2 minutes 38 seconds. The Communist Women of New Hampshire Two women, Elba Chase, of Washington, and Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, of Concord, NH, both played notable roles in New Hampshire's communist party from the 1930s into the 1960s. Fritz Wetherbee introduces you to both of these women and shares their stories. September 2023. Run time 2 minutes 41 seconds. The Mystery of the Boy Shot on Mill Hill For over a century, someone lay buried in an unmarked grave in East Washington's historic cemetery. This feature segment follows Washington Historical Society's Bill Mulcahy as he searches for the boy's identity and uncovers his powerfully moving story. Former Washington Cemetery Trustee Kitty West is also featured. This segment won first place for best Feature Story at the 2021 New Hampshire Area Broadcasters Granite Mike Awards and was also nominated for a 2021 New England Emmy Award. September 2020. 8 minutes and 2 seconds. Fred Chase of Washington, NH Fritz Wetherbee tells the stories of Fred and Elba Chase, residents of Washington who were leaders of the New Hampshire Communist Party from the 1920's to the 1960's. July 2017. Run time 2 minutes 27 seconds. Pillsbury State Park Pillsbury State Park is a lesser known gem of the New Hampshire State Park System Heavily wooded and sprinkled with several ponds and wetlands, its diversity of habitats makes it a home to a great variety of wildlife, including moose, and loons. Fritz Wetherbee introduces you to Albert E. Pillsbury and explains how the landed that he gifted to the people of New Hampshire became the beautiful state park it is today. September 2014. Run time 3 minutes 15 seconds.

Using a drone, Peter Sibley captured this beautiful video of the Fall foliage in and around the Washington, NH area at its peak on October 8, 2022. Click here to watch the foliage video. Peter spent 5 hours gathering the footage, which he edited down just under 5 breathtaking minutes. The video flight starts in Windsor by Hunts Honey Fields, moves on to Smith Pond, travels Rt 31 towards Goshen just past Pillsbury State Park, shows the Mount Sunapee Resort area, makes a fabulous pass over the Washington Historical Society's East Washington school house, captures amazing images of Eccardt Farm Inc., cruises over Island Pond and Half Moon Pond, captures the windmills near Goshen, and finishes up with one of the most picturesque sites in New England -- the spectacular Washington Common at the peak of Autumn glory!

Former WHS President Susan Fairchild tells the story of the July 2021 effort to conserve the historic O. L. Story stage curtain in the upper hall of the Washington Meetinghouse. In July of 2021, Curtains Without Borders, an organization responsible for documenting and conserving over 500 historic stage curtains throughout Northern New England, undertook the conservation of the historic O. L. Story stage curtain that has hung in the upper hall of the Washington, NH, Meetinghouse since 1906. Join former WHS President and video host Susan Fairchild and learn more about the history of Washington's special stage curtain and the steps involved as Chris Hadsel, Executive Director of Curtains Without Borders, leads a team of local volunteers through the cleaning and conservation process. Watch or Learn More Click here to watch the video. Or, click here to watch Chris Hadsel's presentation from the WHS September 13, 2021 meeting on the history of stage curtains and to learn much more about the many stage curtains that Curtains Without Borders has documented and conserved since 1996. You can also learn more about Curtains Without Borders by visiting their website.

e87e2cb0-a67c-4dcd-ae27-697f86fe24ee < Back 2015 Spring WHS Newsletter Topics in this issue: President's Message; Washington Historical Society Survey; Surprise! – A Gift to the Washington Historical Society (Jeanette Hurd’s Diary and more); The Wild Orchids of Washington, NH; Washington Historical Society Programs for 2015; Items for Sale; The Wallace W. Dole Mausoleum; This Summer at the Museum; Washington Historical Society Officers; Membership Form OPEN / PDF Previous Next

15cfddd8-4770-4ff1-aa71-31c3b9691eec < Back 1999 Fall WHS Newsletter Topics in this issue: President's Message; Museum Committee Report; District #5 Schoolhouse OPEN / PDF Previous Next

Lakes & Ponds More About Washington's 26 Lakes and Ponds* In 1934 the State Planning Board issued an inventory entitled “Area of Water Bodies in the State of New Hampshire.” Most of the following data on elevation and acreage of Washington Ponds are taken from this inventory. The answer to the question, "How many ponds does Washington Have?," depends on whether private ponds, mill ponds, and ponds partly to mostly outside the town are counted. In Let Me Show You New Hampshire, E.S. Bowles remarks that Washington has more ponds than any other New Hampshire town except Pittsburg which is six times as large (p. 95). The following list includes what were once mill ponds, and also all ponds partly or wholly within the town (the acreage given is the acreage within Washington). It excludes private manmade ponds, though some of them are larger than Barney Pond. The order is from the largest to the smallest, and the total acreage is 1478.71. *This content is from Appendix C of Portrait Of a Hill Town by Ronald and Grace Jager, Washington, NH, 1977. The Book is available in the Museum Gift Shop , or our online store. Scenic Lakes & Ponds Click on picture for more details. Washington Lakes & Ponds Click on the Pond/Lake Name to see more information from either NH Fish & Game Department Bathymetry Maps or Google Earth. * DHHS advises everyone to avoid eating all bass and pickerel from May Pond and Ashuelot Pond due to mercury levels. Read More About Our Lakes & Ponds The book Portrait of a Hill Town: A History of Washington, New Hampshire 1886 – 1976 has more information about our lakes and ponds. The book is available at the Museum Store, and online through the links below. "Portrait of a Hill Town" $18.00 Price View Details