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The Thompson-Ames Historical Society
writes a weekly news release.


The most recent article is shown below.
You may view previous news releases here...



10/8/06   Getting Ready for a New Hampshire Winter

The dry wall was there when I purchased the house in 1977 and probably dated back to the late 1960s when the property had been developed and the house was built.

Fieldstones had been used to build the dry wall, to hold the front lawn into place so that it wouldn’t be washed into the driveway area.

Being just a single tier of stones, it wasn’t a well-built wall, so at times over the years a stone or two or even a section would fall down and demand immediate attention. -- At those times Robert Frost’s poem would start echoing in my head.

By 2005 the bulge in the wall couldn’t be ignored any longer and I knew that professional attention was needed before winter would arrive. -- Now it was Arthur Tilton’s words that echoed, “Always get ready for winter. Try to wiggle each fence post. If any movement is apparent, reset or replace the fence post, or winter will take it down and the cattle will be loose.”

The time had come to have the retaining wall rebuilt up to historically sound standards with a broad base that tapers in thickness as it is built upwards.

By the time the snows of 2005-2006 flew, the wall had been reconstructed and was sure to stand the tests of time that nature sends our way in this section of the country.

Over the past 63 years, Gilford’s historical society, the Thompson-Ames Historical Society, has heeded the sage words of old-timers who know the necessity of being prepared. That is why the four damaged dead-lite storm windows and sections of the rain-gutter systems have been replaced.

Only if we all work together -- volunteers as well as well-wishers who donate the needed funds -- can we keep the vintage Meetinghouse and Grange Building in good repair and able to survive not only as historic Gilford buildings but also as museums in which Gilford’s historic collections are housed and made available to the public.

The purpose of the Annual Autumn Fund Drive is to raise the money needed to meet the needs of Gilford’s historical society. Donations can be sent to T-AHS’s P.O. Box 7404, Gilford, NH 03247.

Gilford’s Thompson-Ames Historical Society is a 501(C)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization. More information about the Society is available on its website www.gilfordhistoricalsociety.org.