Wakefield Heritage Commission

08/09/2025

Author Reading Sunday Aug. 24, 2025

08/07/2025

06/27/2025

The meeting for July 2, 2025 has been postponed to July 7, 2025 at 7pm

01/03/2025

Would anyone be interested in Wakefield fact Wednesdays? This would be a factoid about Wakefield posted biweekly.

12/27/2024

This photo shows what wig wag looks like in usable condition

12/27/2024

The Wakefield Heritage Commission is pleased to accept the gift of a Boston and Maine wigwag from the Massachusetts B&M Historical Society. This wig wag was one of the last in service and operated at a crossing in Milford, NH. Wigwag is a nickname for a type of railroad grade crossing signal once common in NA. It has a pendulum - like motion and lights that signal a train approaching. The Commission is planning to restore the device and hopes to have it operating at Heritage Park later this year!

12/27/2024

Wakefield Corner after light snowstorm

Photo courtesy of Maureen McManus Gillum

11/25/2024

THANKSGIVING WEEKEND SPECIAL EVENT RETURNS



Conclude your Thanksgiving weekend by visiting the Tour de Chooch Open House on Sunday, December 1, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, at the Heritage Park Railroad Museum, Corner of Main and Chapel Streets, in Union, NH. Admission is free.



This special event to be enjoyed by children of all ages features viewing the fascinating details of an operating HO scale model railroad depicting the five villages of Wakefield, NH in the 1909 era with its computer-controlled operating system and viewing a Lionel O-gauge train layout all located in the 1875 restored Boston & Maine freight house.



Not to be missed in the 1909 era display is a model of the 1895 Wakefield Town Hall. Replicated and built by Jay Ehlen of Durham, NH, the tower of the town hall model features an operating bell and operating clocks. The clocks were built by the skilled North Conway jeweler, Tim Psaledakis.

Rich Breton, spokesman for the volunteer model railroad hobbyists representing eight New Hampshire communities, said the group has been working on the miniaturized railroad for eleven years. It is historically accurate including structures, steam locomotives, passenger and freight cars, and landscaping which includes photo backdrops of the area including Moose Mountain.



For the modeler, rail fan, novice or curious, the holiday open house is being held concurrently with the annual Tour de Chooch established in 1994. This year’s self-guided tour features 35 model railroads in southeastern New Hampshire and eastern Massachusetts. Information about Tour de Chooch can be viewed at www.tourdechooch.org



The Heritage Park Railroad Museum is administered by the Wakefield Heritage Commission.

11/24/2024

The Wakefield Heritage Commission recently purchased and directed the re-installation of the “Guideboard” at the intersection of Rt 153 and Wakefield Rd. The original granite post and sign was installed in 1810. In 1949 The Lovell Union Grange replaced the sign here and won a National award for the directional and historic signs they installed in Wakefield and Brookfield. Shown in photo: Pam Wiggin, Chair of WHC and Phil Twombley, Vice Chair.

08/19/2024

Pike’s Hall, Union Hotel, first event there in more than 25 years. “ Do you Remember” Wakefield stories from the last century.

08/19/2024

15th Annual Heritage Day

08/12/2024

Wakefield Heritage Commission presents history of all Wakefield Schools and hosts a reunion. Some participants include past school board members, teachers, attendees of the Grammar School, the Primary School, Union School, Paul School, little Red School House and Hazel MacBrien Nursery School.