Vendors $25 – 8’x8′ indoors, 10’x10′ outdoors
Donations of items for sale welcome
Reserve your space now! Contact Debra Murphy
missmurphette@hotmail.com
All proceeds go to the preservation of the town hall
Town Hall Energy Audit was completed by SEEDS November 2021 – Sustainable Energy Education & Demonstration Services for the Deerfield Energy Committee and funded by Eversource.
Based on investing $60,074 into the thermal envelope or shell of the Town Hall is estimated to save $7,018 a year heating costs based on 2019 occupancy patterns and the current price of $3.25 per gallon of oil. [This was the price at the time of the audit]. At that price, a simple payback would be less than nine years and a 4.4% annual return on investment for each of the 25 years life of measure. Read a quick overview of the audit.
The Deerfield Town Hall was constructed in 1856 and noted as one of New Hampshire’s best public examples of Greek Revival Architecture. It is on the National Register of Historic Place and is the centerpiece of the Historic District.
As a part of the great bicentennial celebration of 1966, the town put together a spiral-bound souvenir book with 78 pages of articles written by people in the town. Topics covered much of Deerfield’s present and rich past, and included photographs which capture moments of history. Copies of this book may be found in the collection of the Historical Society and the Philbrick-James Library.
Here are the introductory essay by Mildred Nowlan, a Tribute by Nancy Stevens, and a poem by Beatrice Robie. Scroll down to find links to other articles from the book. [Reprinted on the web by permission of the Deerfield Select Board, Fall 2005]
The people of the town of Deerfield would extend a word of welcome to all who have attended the Bi-Centennial celebration of the founding of the town. It may be that you are presently a resident of Deerfield, or perhaps you have lived here at one time. Perhaps you have never lived here, but your parents, or other ancestors were born and lived here. No matter in which group you find yourself, you will have some idea of what Deerfield has to offer in the way of gracious and wholesome living.
Deerfield has much of natural beauty, with opportunities for recreation, fellowship, and service, to any who will participate. Its natural beauty is evident in its hills and valleys, its brooks, ponds, and lakes. It is beautiful at any time of the year.
In the spring, the fresh green of the new year clothes the fields and hills. Summer brings a fuller, more mature green, with flourishing gardens and beautiful flowers; while the flaming reds, yellows and oranges of Autumn show a blaze of color at every turn of the road. Even in Winter there is beauty in the dark boughs and twigs that show against the pure white snow.
There are many ways to enjoy hours of recreation; walks in the woodlands; climbing some of the hills; horse-back riding for some, and swimming at the good beach at Veasey Park. In Winter, one can go skiing, sliding or skating.
Deerfield is a friendly town and there are many opportunities to enjoy fellowship with friends and neighbors. On occasions of joy, such as weddings, parties and other social events, there are always friends and neighbors to share the good times. If perchance misfortune or sorrow comes, these same friends will be ready with loving help and sympathy to make the burden lighter.
There are a number of Organizations, made up of folks of similar aims, tastes and interests, which offer hospitality and friendship, and so make one feel at home. There are groups which gather to pursue hobbies for those who like to paint, sew, or take part in some kind of activity that is of interest to them.
There is also the church which offers a spiritual home with opportunity for worship, a fine Sunday School, and an active group of Young People. There is the challenge of service in all these different avenues of fellowship.
The English poet John Donne, wrote “No man is an island.” Deerfield is not an island, as we know that the kind of life that is lived here has its influences on our State and our nation.
We welcome you to join with us in our celebration of 200 years of good living in Deerfield, with a desire to have it continue on for many years. – Mildred Nowlan
The residents of Deerfield in the past two hundred years, must have been God-fearing, home loving, hard working citizens to have been responsible for our churches, town hall, schools, large colonial homes, tilling of the land, raising of large families, and forming of organizations for the betterment of our town, and the choosing of responsible and intellectual people for town offices. They must have been people of vision, true to God, faithful to a purpose and interested in the future of Deerfield.These residents had their loves and aspirations, their joys and sorrows, their triumphs and failures, their hard work and joyous play, in sickness and in health. Their earliest, fondest desires were to have churches, schools and an honorable form of government.How fortunate for us to have enlightened people, endowed with vision, at its helm. May our generation and succeeding generations be God-fearing, law-abiding, and loyal, with gratitude in their hearts for the precious gifts of our ancestors, such as, their heroic lessons in daring, their persistent endurance, unfailing fortitude, and abounding love and faith.May we, at this time of celebrating the bicentennial of the town of Deerfield, in 1966, be as dedicated and as deserving of the priceless heritage bestowed upon us and may God bless our town in the years ahead.Nancy Tilton Stevens Member of Historical Committee
To the people of Deerfield, on this, your anniversary as a town Through two hundred years of working, building, and as you look around Seeing the fruits of your labors, planting and turning the sod With faith and courage, and love of God. Your town and others fought with strong backs, and willing hands Paying in lives, fighting the Indian bands And for Independence, so as to breathe free To make this land safe for you and me. Through blood, sweat and sorrow Building, always building for a brighter tomorrow Carrying on with fortitude, and vision, a glorious heritage As your forefathers did in that long ago age. When you go to the hills, thank God, for all around you see For this is America, the cradle of liberty The little brooks tumbling o’er rocks and rills And viewed from those templed hills. On the horizon, the shining seas The natural elements, the beauty of yon lakes and trees The meeting house, the church, the steeple Outlined against the sky, bells that rang out calling the people. To hear the minister preach God’s word, Each in his own time, through the years can be heard Some in the churchyard are sleeping While the hills, their watch are keeping. The old fort, the stage coach, the inn, landmarks new and old A small part ’tis true, but together we make America bold. – Beatrice J. Robie
The Early Years of the Congregational Church
“My Years in Deerfield” by Rev. Ivan S. Nowlan
Deerfield Parade
South Deerfield
Coffeetown and Rand’s Corner
Old Center Cemetery
Country Doctors
Benjamin Butler
Col. Joseph Hilton
A 50 Year History of the Post Office
In 2006, the Commission was working on fire suppression and accessibility for the Town Hall, and put together a calendar as a fundraiser, commemorating the 150 year history of the building. The 2007 calendar featured images past and present of the Town Hall, and facts about its history. Sienna Larson did the design and photography, and Dick and Deb Boisvert did layout and production. Other members of the Heritage Commission during these years were Kathryn (Kay) Williams, James Deely, Caroline (Honey) Hoague, Joe Sears, Fran Menard, Irene Shores, Elsie Brown, and Gile Beye
Because of the historical and architectural details included with the striking images, the Town Hall calendar would make a good addition to the collection of anyone interested in the Town’s history.
