Hampton Falls Historical Society

04/03/2026

Great history post to read as we begin garden planning and planting season in Hampton Falls!

As our long winter is finally ending, many of us turn our attention to our gardens and landscape. The early colonists would be focused on this as well. Their gardens were pragmatic rather than ornamental , focused on cold-hardy vegetables that could be stored over winter and herbs That could be dried. They also cultivated medicinal plants.

This article from the National Park Service ,describes the importance of the humble kitchen garden during the Revolutionary War.

“ As American patriots were fighting for the country's freedom from British rule, colonial gardens and the vast wilderness areas throughout the East supplied important food, fiber, and medicine for the militia. According to the State University of New York, in 1775 there were only 3,500 doctors throughout the colonies. Out of those, only a few hundred doctors had any medical training at all. Despite the lack of training and resources, the need for medicine was great for soldiers. Noted afflictions among the regiments included jaundice, diarrhea, respiratory illness, and malaria. Soldiers also suffered from cuts, bruises, fatigue, bleeding, soreness, infection, hunger, and a number of other ailments common even today. During the war, many English supply lines were severed, and patriots were facing the Revolutionary War with little medical knowledge and few medical supplies. The Continental Army was not only dependent on nature's medicine chest, but also the food, fiber, and herbal medicines supplied by the colonists' gardens and farms.

During the fight for independence, soldiers were known to pack a number of herbs that worked best on ailments they normally experienced. Some of the more important herbs that soldiers packed were chamomile, mint, licorice, yarrow, horsetail, and sage. Wild plants like black cohosh, white snakeroot, and sarsaparilla also attracted the attention of Revolutionary War soldiers for their medicinal value. At the time of the Revolutionary War, most colonists with a kitchen garden grew many of the medicinal herbs previously mentioned as well as hyssop, lavender, comfrey, and fennel interspersed with vegetables and flowers in their garden. “

What grows in your garden?

03/26/2026

Create a lasting memento of America's 250th at our Museum on Sunday! Calling all ages! If you can draw a dot or a line, you will be able to do this with the expert guidance of Lisa Barreto, cartouche and zentangle artist. Who is your favorite Patriot? Grab your portrait sticker and the rest will follow! FREE and lots of fun! Sign up at our website, space is limited! hfhistoricalsociety.org. See you soon!

03/18/2026

A Revolutionary program at the Hampton Falls Free Library - highly recommended!

TONIGHT -May 18- we are the host for a watch party of a themed excerpt of THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, a new film directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt.
Immediately after the watch party, skilled facilitators, provided by NHH, will moderate civil discussions among viewers about the film and “remembering together:”
Along with The Big Watch you will have the opportunity to meet the New Hampshire Humanities team who developed 45 Big Watch programs for communities across the state.
Opening reception with light refreshments begins at 6:00pm.
Spread the word and see you tonight!

03/16/2026

March News: You are invited to Portraits of Patriotism: The Art of Cartouche, Roberta Pevear Tribute, Ward Dilmore update- https://mailchi.mp/e6c3eeaf0e3d/reflectionsapril25-10146589

02/14/2026

Plea from the Hampton Falls Historical Society - February 2026 - https://mailchi.mp/fcf2ec766a61/supportward2026

02/14/2026

We are asking for your generosity to come to the aid of our good friend, Ward Dilmore, through GoFundMe. Ward has been severely stricken by the bite of a tick infected with the Powassan virus. Ward has been an active and much valued Board member of the Hampton Falls Historical Society since 2019 and was instrumental in the success of the Hampton Falls 300th year anniversary celebration that culminated in the arrival of the historic Budweiser Clydesdales at the town center, which he proudly organized.
Ward has been a much-loved member of our community for over 50 years, and the trajectory of his life has been drastically altered. Please help us in supporting Ward with a contribution in any amount; it will be appreciated so much more than you realize.

Support for our friend, Ward Dilmore We are asking for your generosity… Ted Brooks needs your support for Support Ward Dilmore’s Recovery Journey

12/15/2025

Hampton Falls Historical Society eNews - December 2025 - https://mailchi.mp/c6bdcd62fa96/reflectionsapril25-10144987

12/09/2025

We had many requests for the wines that were sampled on Sunday! Here they are, in order that they were served. All are available from NH State Liquor stores. Cheers!

12/09/2025

It was Bubbly & Bright at the Museum on Sunday afternoon! Justin Corriss taught a full house of wine enthusiasts about sparkling wines, and the selections were sampled to rave reviews! The company and food truly sparkled! Thank you to all who attended and Happy Holidays from the Historical Society!

12/02/2025

Raise a glass of bubbly to toast the season, take a moment to drink in the centuries of culture and innovation in your glass and contribute to needy families around you. Enjoy samples of sparkling wines along with appetizer pairings. How? Join in to our Bubbly & Bright event at the historic Museum in Hampton Falls on Sunday afternoon, December 7th! Tickets still available! Use the QR code below or visit hfhistoricalsociety.org.

11/25/2025

Hampton Falls Historical Society - Holiday Event! - https://mailchi.mp/adfb4fab5b2b/reflectionsapril25-10144564
Don't miss this memorable holiday social event! Tickets still available, visit hfhistoricalsociety.org.

11/07/2025

Lafayette and James Armistead Lafayette are getting a STAMP!

As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, this pane brings together portraits of 25 people whose vision, leadership, and sacrifices helped define the American Revolution. The honorees range from the well-known, such as George Washington, Abigail Adams, and Benjamin Franklin, to those less often recognized, including James Armistead, Deborah Sampson, and Cornplanter. Together, they remind us that independence was secured by the contributions of many.

Art director Ethel Kessler oversaw the ambitious project. “It’s unusual to design a pane of stamps featuring 25 different portraits,” she notes. “But that number felt essential. How else could you begin to tell the story of the Revolution’s complexity with fewer?”

Each portrait was newly created specially for the Postal Service by one of 12 artists. Their varied approaches reflect the individuality of the subjects. Some worked in traditional oil paints or egg tempera, others in pastels or digital media, resulting in a collection that balances historical likenesses with fresh, contemporary interpretations.

Some figures gaze out at the viewer, while others glance toward their neighbors on the pane or look beyond, as if to the future. To unify the portraits, an American flag is layered behind them. “That way, even with so many interpretations, the portraits form a unified design,” Kessler explains.

The block of 25 stamps rests against a background that features the Declaration of Independence, anchoring the portraits in one of the Revolution’s defining documents. Together, they create a visual narrative of courage, conviction, and collective effort, inviting reflection on our core values and affirming that the work of forging a nation is never finished.

There is no release date yet... but we know that our members and friends will be FIRST in line to buy this series just in time for the holiday season.

Learn more: https://www.stampsforever.com/stamps/figures-of-the-american-revolution