Historical Society of Cheshire County

Historical Society of Cheshire County The Historical Society of Cheshire County is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and communicating the history of Cheshire County, New Hampshire. Thank you.

The Historical Society of Cheshire County(HSCC) was unique from the beginning because it was, and remains, the only county historical society in New Hampshire. The first public meeting was held in July 1927. At the meeting, bylaws were adopted and officers were elected. Samuel Wadsworth, a Keene jeweler, surveyor, and local historian, was selected as the first president. The interest in the Societ

y was enormous as 250 charter members were enrolled. The Keene Public Library made available meeting and museum space. Historical lectures were presented at regular meetings as they are today. Most importantly, the newly established society laid a strong foundation for the encouragement of donations and important artifacts. In 1974 the Society opened a local history museum at the Colony House on West Street in Keene. Building on its already extensive collection of local glass and pottery, the Society transferred its remaining collection from the public library to its new home at the Colony House Museum. Today, the Historical Society of Cheshire County is located at 246 Main Street in Keene and has evolved to more than 1,000 members, 6 employees, 100 volunteers, and a 13,000-square-foot facility that includes a research and genealogy library with more than 300,000 local history items in the collection. The dreams that Frank Kingsbury, Clifford Wilbur, and Ella Abbott had of an organization to preserve the county's history have been realized, and the Society itself has now been a part of the region's rich history for more than 90+ years. All photos on this page are from the collections of the Historical Society. Please do not reproduce these images without obtaining permission from the Society. For reproduction permission or to order prints, please contact Kathy Schillemat at 603-352-1895 or [email protected].

What do comics and motorized zucchinis have in common? You can make both at the Historical Society this September! 😁✏️ D...
09/03/2026

What do comics and motorized zucchinis have in common? You can make both at the Historical Society this September! 😁

✏️ Drawing Local Stories
Thursday, September 10 | 6–8 pm
Create comics with award-winning cartoonist and graphic novelist Marek Bennett's COMICS WORKSHOP and bring local history to life on the page. $10 per person, with free pizza! https://champ.ly/ywqjREVp

🏁 Motorized Zucchini Workshop
Wednesday, September 16 | 6 pm
Join MAXT Makerspace to design and build your own motorized foam zucchini, then put it to the test at our International Zucchini Festival on October 3. The winner takes home the coveted Green Ribbon! $10 per person. https://champ.ly/9zcdnO-O

Both workshops are all ages and registration is required. Grab your spot and come create with us!

P.S. These events are part of our larger exhibit "Zukes No Cukes" about the Monadnock Region’s legendary Zucchini Festival 😮 Never heard of it? Stop in and see what all the excitement’s about. We’ll be hosting a throwback festival this October. Stay tuned!

What a great turn out for the opening of Zukes No Cukes, the story of the International Zucchini Festival of the 1980s. ...
09/02/2026

What a great turn out for the opening of Zukes No Cukes, the story of the International Zucchini Festival of the 1980s. Thanks to all who came out.

09/01/2026

NEW EXHIBIT OPENING - Zucchini sculptures, costumes, and cookoffs! Even an award for the Most Grotesque Zucchini Not Grown Within Ten Miles of a Nuclear Power Plant. 🏆

Yes, this all really happened right here in the Monadnock Region.

What started in 1982 as a fun Harrisville School fundraiser attracted so many zucchini fanatics that the International Zucchini Festival was eventually moved to Keene.

Now, we’re digging into the story behind the squash with “Zukes! No Cukes!,” a new exhibit celebrating just one of our region’s wonderfully weird chapters.

We hope you’ll join us for the kickoff 🎉

Exhibit Opening Reception
September 2 | 4–6 pm
Historical Society of Cheshire County

And this October, the festival itself is making a comeback. Stay tuned! 😉

Sneak peek behind the curtain! Our team is hard at work hand-painting signage for our upcoming zucchini-themed exhibit. ...
09/01/2026

Sneak peek behind the curtain! Our team is hard at work hand-painting signage for our upcoming zucchini-themed exhibit. Nothing says "historical society" quite like lying on the floor with a paintbrush for hours.

Cheers to Andrea Cheeney! 🍺This month we say goodbye to Andrea Cheeney, who has been with the Historical Society of Ches...
08/20/2026

Cheers to Andrea Cheeney! 🍺

This month we say goodbye to Andrea Cheeney, who has been with the Historical Society of Cheshire County since 2014. For 12 years, Andrea served as our marketing coordinator, museum store manager and Brew Fest organizer, contributing her time and talent to our mission.

Andrea's last day is August 27th. Stop by to wish her well in person or reply to this email with your good wishes.

A moment in local history: Death and 'Life' at the post office, by Alan F. Rumrill
08/16/2026

A moment in local history: Death and 'Life' at the post office, by Alan F. Rumrill

Hiram Woodward, the postmaster at East Westmoreland, New Hampshire, passed away in December of 1948.

What a great event today, celebrating Dr. Albert C. Johnston and his family with a new historic marker in Keene. We appr...
08/15/2026

What a great event today, celebrating Dr. Albert C. Johnston and his family with a new historic marker in Keene. We appreciate the invite to share their story, preserving the link between local history and our collective American story. All the more special to have so many of the Johnston family in attendance along with those who knew the Dr. Johnston, his wife Thyra, and their four children. ,

Dr. Albert C. Johnston, a Black physician who, along with his family, lived in Keene while passing as white in the 1930s and 1940s, was commemorated in Keene NH.

Address

246 Main Street
Keene, NH
03431

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

(603) 352-1895

Website

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