BICENTENNIAL NEWS * Wilmot Sept. 2006
Dear Wilmot Neighbors, 
Returning from Wilmot’s Old Home Day Celebration today, I am inspired to write our first 2007 Bicentennial Newsletter. It is fashioned after the Bicentennial News of 1976. We propose to keep you informed every other month about the plans of the Bicentennial committee to celebrate Wilmot’s Heritage. The original newsletter was distributed by hand, neighbor to neighbor, by the committee. Present day members have decided to use commercial methods of delivery!
Old Home Day is a wonderful tradition celebrated in Wilmot since 1901. It is a tradition that should be shared by more people. It celebrates friendship, community, and country. Tom Curren, who spoke in the afternoon program, and who is writing our updated history, challenged us to think beyond 2007. The town’s Old Home Day Committee of Esther Grace, Judy Walker, and Barbara Sanborn are willing to entertain any ideas. The church service, picnic lunch, band concert, and program is a celebration of friendships, and the lives we enjoy in the Wilmot of today. It is a celebration of our town’s traditions and finer qualities, and according to Tom Curren, “without budgets or controversy.”
Present Bicentennial Committee members and their representation and/or roles:
Mary Gutgsell, Chairman
Marc Davis – Historical Society/Historical Markers
Ann Davis – Garden Club & Food Co-op
Barbara Sanborn – History Committee & Old Home Day & Quilters
Janet Paulson – Historical Markers
Kate McKibbin – WCA & Library/calendar
Robin Reed – Cookbook
Marni Eaton – Wilmot Ladies Aid Society/Bicentennial Baby
Keith Fluery – American Legion & Fire Dept/lapel pins/BBQ/Horseshoe
Pat Fluery – American Legion Auxiliary
Griselda Stahlman – Farmers’ Market/advertising
Lynn Solomon – Learning Place/Old Home Day Games
General: Dana Dakin, Julie Morse, Jackie Thompson, Chuck Thompson
Others who are helping: Amy Swindell – Calendar; Elizabeth Fielding & Brian Faughnan – Bicentennial Climb; Martha Bristol – Plays; Matt Siranian – Time Capsule; Pam Terhune – Trinkets; Ann Marie Thomas – Croquet;
Rhonda Gauthier, Rick Gauthier, Joan Marie Biron, Jen Ellis, Claire Moseley, Lynette Speake, Sarah Cave, & your name here…….!
Regular committee meetings are held the second Wednesday of the month at the WCA Barn at 1 p.m. and all interested citizens are urged to attend and participate in planning the 2007 events! Visit our display and the Historical Room at the Farmer’s Market on the last Saturday of Sept. Call anyone listed above to participate in the fun!
Our Present Time Line:
Climb & Picnic – Sept. 24 – Elizabeth & Brian
2007 Calendar – Friends of the Wilmot Public Library Now on sale!
Play - Birth of a Town & Sarah of Wilmot –use as many as possible
who were in the original production July 17, 1976
Auto Scavenger Hunt – May
WCA Black Fly Run Memorial Day Weekend
Bicentennial Baby –gifts presented by the Ladies Aid to
the baby born closest to June 18th
Horseshoe & Croquet Tournaments – June 30/July1
Ms Wilmot Dance –July
Old Fashioned Family Fun night – July 13th 5p.m. - 8p.m
New London Historical Society
Parade & BBQ & PAL Antique Car Show– Aug 18
Old Home Day in the Flat – Aug 19 – Church service, picnic,
Band concert, program, pie contest, games, lots of fun
We are still in desperate need of a parade organizer – someone to put all the pieces together – with lots of eager helpers available – just need someone ‘in charge’ to make decisions.
Barbara Bush has been invited to visit our town in 2007 – her secretary will keep us in mind for next year – might be a quick pass-thru event.
We invite everyone to participate – we need your help and support – and any activity, program, project you would like to do – all are welcome!! Mary Gutgsell 927-4119, PO Box 275 Wilmot 03287
Bicentennial Announcements
VETERANS’ MEMORIAL
The Veterans' Memorial Committee has been reviewing and revising the plans for the memorial with the aim of making its refurbishing part of the bicentennial celebration.~ Estimates have been received for refinishing the statue and plans for landscaping the grounds are in process.~ Possible fund-raising projects include a walkway of engraved bricks.~ If you are interested in becoming involved in this project, please contact Liz Kirby, 526-6375 or thekirbys1@tds.net.
CALENDAR
Friends of the Wilmot Public Library have produced a 2007 calendar as their contribution to the bicentennial celebration.~ The calendar, entitled School Days, was assembled artfully by Amy Swindell and contains historical photographs of many of the 15 schoolhouses that were once in use in town, plus a copy of the town map prepared by 1976 USA bicentennial committee showing where each of the schools was located.~ That map also shows the location of each family residence at the time.~ This calendar is a true "keeper." Available at the library and at the Saturday Farmers’ Market.
GARDEN CLUB
Citizens are encouraged to plant red-white-blue for next year’s celebration. Any one in the garden club can helps you with suggestions for fall bulbs and spring plantings. Talk to Elizabeth Fielding, Ann Davis, Lindy Heim, and Nancy Schlosser for suggestions.
BICENTENNIAL CLIMB AND PICNIC Sunday Sept. 24th
The official kick-off to the Bicentennial year – join in a community activity – similar to the one in 1976. Meet at the picnic area in Winslow State Park. Brian Faughnan will lead the hike up Mount Kearsarge at 10:30 a.m. with a picnic-pot luck lunch organized by Elizabeth Fielding at 12:30 p.m. Call Elizabeth at 526-2858 for assignments. Drinks and paper/plastic provided. You don’t have to hike to join in the fun – come just for the food and fun! The Crop Walk is also on this Sunday so instead of walking around Pleasant Lake – you can climb for your pledges! Call Mary for pledge sheets at 927-4119.
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