Minutes of March 10, 2008
Merrimac Savings Bank
Members present: Bill Landry Mary Riordan
Cheryl Saunders Forest Reynolds
John Meserve Kathy Meserve
Sally Woodman Diane Moran
Bill Landry called the meeting to order at 7:07 PM.
Secretary’s Report – Mary Riordan
John Meserve made a motion to accept the minutes of December 10, 2007. Cheryl Saunders seconded the motion. The motion passed on a unanimous vote.
Treasurer’s Report – Bill Landry
Kathy Meserve made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report. John Meserve seconded the motion. The motion passed on a unanimous vote.
Old Business:
2008 Dues – Bill Landry reminded the membership that dues were due now.
2007 Financial Audit – Kathy Meserve reported she had completed the audit and that everything was in order.
Repair of floor in Primary School – Tabled until later giving Ron Saunders time to arrive.
Insurance on Primary School – Bill Landry reported the premium had increased approximately $100. John Meserve checked with our agent John Foy who told him we had a good deal on the insurance at $750. Bill Landry got a quote from State Farm Insurance in Plaistow of $1,680 for the same coverage.
Accessioning status – Bill Landry read an email from Mary Marshall on the status: The Accessioning forms have been filled out for most of the photographs at the Primary School House. Most of the data has been entered into the laptop. Next steps will be to print cards for the card catalogue and finish the items at the School House and then move on to the Marshall House items. Bill Landry described the Marshall House for the new members.
Garden Tour – Bill Landry read an email from Mary Marshall on the status: Confirmed gardens for this year’s tour are: Bob & Jan Bennet, Ted & Sue Hardman, Tony Romanowski, Ginny Shannon, Carol Stotz, Irene Nally (if we need her garden). Unconfirmed are: Ron D. Onofrio and Donald Richards but she expects they will be doing it. She spoke with Jim Triquet who was having second thoughts and said he would get back to her. The Tour is scheduled for June 21st. Tentative plans include having light refreshments available in several of the gardens. Ginny Shannon is going to do presentations on backyard greenhouses and have herbs for sale. Carol Szot is considering having some “art in the garden” for sale. We could invite other local
crafters to have tables in other gardens. The Society will receive a small portion of the sales at the gardens. Mary Marshall requested updated information from each garden on the tour, for example, what would be in bloom. We should decide who from the Society could be available to help at the sites with the sales. Mary Marshall suggested we think about having a “Social” at the end of the day for the gardeners or perhaps having it another day. Sue Hardman may have a bird house to raffle, Mary Marshall offered to raffle a truckload of composted equine dressing. The flyer, which acts as the ticket to the tour, will be put together once we have the updated garden info. We need to consider effective publicity.
Repair of floor in Primary School – Bill Landry explained the state of the floor for the new members. Bill Landry suggested we make a decision on what we want to do about the floor and about the building itself. There was discussion on having a professional look at the building and give us an estimate on the work required to fix it. John Meserve will talk to a couple of contractors about giving us a quote. There was discussion on our plan to display items in the School House and have it open occasionally to the public. Bill Landry made a motion to get a professional to look at the floor and give us an estimate of costs to repair it. Mary Riordan seconded the motion. The motion passed on a unanimous vote.
Wine & Cheese Social – John Meserve asked if we wanted to do this event again. He asked if we would want to do it before Columbus Day because Chet Bearse my still be around which would allow us to display his “old” fire engine.
New Business:
New Members – Bill Landry reported on the new members: David Snell – Dillsboro, NC, Sally Woodman – Newton, Jan & Bob Bennet – Newton, Performance Electronics, Stuart Jones – Newton.
Photo of the old Currier Tavern – Bill Landry reported that Stuart Jones asked if we had a picture of the old Currier Tavern. The previous owner of the property had one displayed that he said he got from the Historical Society. Bill looked for the photo, but could only find the one in the 250th booklet. It was not the one Stuart was looking for.
Harriman-Gore place – John Meserve asked if anyone knew where the Harriman-Gore place was. Forest Reynolds had heard of it. He thought it was on Harriman Road. Forest recalled that there was a cellar between the Peanut Trail and the Nicol farm. Cheryl Saunders explained the Peanut Trail goes all the way into Merrimac.
Correspondence:
Arcadia Publishing book on History of NH “Old Home Day / Week Celebration” - Bill Landry received a letter from Gary Crooker asking if we had an “Old Home” celebration in town. Bill told him no we didn’t.
American Independence Museum Reception - Bill Landry received an invitation to a reception for their new Executive Director.
Other:
Clock from Gale Library - Irene Nally was going to bring this clock in for us to look at. The library didn’t want to discard it until we looked at it. Bill Landry has seen it and thinks it may be a replica of an old clock. Cheryl Saunders said if it’s an old clock it would have numbers on it from the clockmaker. Bill will put this item on the next agenda.
Historical display at Merrimac Savings Bank - Bill Landry was going to talk to Mary Marshall about what is available to display at the bank. The display would be changed after several weeks. Forest Reynolds showed postcards his father sent to his mother and friend from France during World War I.
Research request – Betsy Sanders, re: Alexander Campbell - Amesbury District – Bill Landry received a call from Betsy Sanders asking if he knew if Alexander Campbell was buried in Newton. She has his will which she is sending to Bill. The will states he was from the Amesbury District. There was discussion on what that phrase might mean.
Ann Miles, Evaluation/Maintenance/Appraisals of Antique and Modern Carriages May 18th at the Carriage Barn – Mary Marshall’s email to Bill Landry asked if we would like to attend to learn how to care for the carriage and/or have it appraised. She included contact information for the event. Bill Landry said he would attend. Diane Moran asked if we would have to take the carriage to the event. Bill will follow up with Ann Miles on the specifics. Bill indicated that our Hayford carriage is not in very good shape. Forest indicated he would like to attend. Diane Moran asked how big our carriage was. She offered their trailer which is approximately 5’ x 8’ if we need to take the carriage to the event.
Mary Riordan made a motion to adjourn. Kathy Meserve seconded the motion. The motion passed on a unanimous vote.
Next meeting is Monday April 14, 2008.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Riordan, Secretary
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