Where were you when the Old Man fell?

How did you learn the terrible truth? Did you hear it on the radio, see it on the TV news? Did a friend call with an astounding announcement? Did you drive by and look up, as you always did, then pull over in shock?

I remember picking up the morning paper with a giant black headline proclaiming "IT'S GONE!" The Old Man of the Mountain, the very symbol of New Hampshire, had fallen from Cannon Mountain during the night. The glue, cables and turnbuckles that had stabilized the fragile face for decades had finally failed, sending tons of rock sliding to the foot of the mountain.

In the decade since New Hampshire's most recognizable icon lost it's grip in Franconia Notch, there has been much discussion on how best to memorialize the Old Man. Maggie Stier, a field service representative for the NH Preservation Alliance, will visit the library on Wednesday, May 1, at 7 pm to talk about the Old Man's history and future. Her slide show, The Old Man of the Mountain: Substance & Symbol, will demonstrate the unique ways in which the Old Man has inspired the NH state of mind, how preservationists worked to keep the formation in place for decades, despite the best efforts of time and weather to bring it down, and how the Old Man of the Mountain Legacy Fund is creating a memorial to help visitors recreate the experience of viewing this majestic sight overlooking the Notch.

This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Merrimack Public Library, with a Humanities-to-Go grant from the NH Humanities Council. Adults and teens will enjoy this free program. Seating is limited, and reservations are recommended by visiting our online calendar, emailing, or calling 424-5021.

Eat Your Yard

John Root is a man of many interests. His first visit to the library was in 2009, when he talked about crop circles and shared some stunning photographs. In 2010, he returned with a portable keyboard and the audience sang along to music of the Gaslight Era. On Wednesday, April 24, at 7 pm, he'll be back once again for Edible Perennial Gardening and Landscaping. His slide show will illustrate how you can grow more than the usual annual crops in your yard. Topics will include organic cultivation of fruit trees, berries, nuts, and other edible perennials. Handouts will have sources for plants suited for New England, and there may be some plants for sale for cash or personal check.

We recommend you reserve a seat by visiting our online calendar, emailing or calling 424-5021.

Liberty is Our Motto!

The Hutchinson Family Singers of Milford, NH, were among America's most notable musical entertainers of the mid-19th century. Their songs advanced social reform and political causes such as abolition, temperance, women's suffrage and Lincoln's 1860 presidential campaign.

On Wednesday, April 10, at 7 pm, entertainer Steve Blunt will present the living history program "Liberty is Our Motto! Songs and Stories of the Hutchinson Family Singers." He will portray John Hutchinson, the family patriarch, who will sing and tell about his musical family. He'll share the songs of the Hutchinson Family and invite the audience to sing along. Lyrics will be provided to such chestnuts as "The Old Granite State" and "Tenting Tonight on the Old Campground."

This event is brought to Merrimack by the Friends of the Merrimack Library with a grant from the NH Humanities Council, which brings the thrill of intellectual discovery and the power of ideas to people around the state. Adults and teens are welcome. Registration is strongly recommended by visiting our calendar, emailing, or calling 424-5021. 

Life in the Digital Fast Lane

How have computers and the internet changed your life over the past 30 years? How will they change your life in the next 30 years? Join us on Wednesday, March 6 at 7 pm for How Are Computers and the Internet Changing Our Lives?  C. Peter Waegemann, a nationally recognized leader in digital healthcare systems, will talk about the obvious and not-so-obvious ways in which the Digital Age has transformed our cultural, social, educational, and business lives. He'll also talk about what changes we can expect in the next decades.

 Waegemann is the President of Waegemann Associates LLC and former President of mHealth Initiative Inc., a Boston-based not-for-profit organization promoting mHealth applications nationally and internationally. He is the author of  Knowledge Capital in the Digital Society, copies of which will be available for sale with cash or personal check. In his book, he argues that  knowledge will be more readily available to everyone in the new World Information Community, that educational systems will need to change to reflect this, and that knowledge will become a powerful part of business capital that will define employee value.
 
This program is open to all adults and teens. Registration is suggested. Visit our online calendar, email us, or call 424-5021 to reserve a seat.

New Hampshire's One Room Rural Schools

Perry Smith/UNH Photographic Services

Merrimack Public Library, in cooperation with the Merrimack Historical Society and the NH Humanities Council, will host “New Hampshire’s One-Room Rural Schools: The Romance and the Reality” on Tuesday, February 19 at 7 p.m. Steve Taylor will explore the lasting legacy of the one-room schools, which actually faced many of the same challenges as 21^st century schools.

Taylor has a long history as a champion of New Hampshire's farmers and farm culture. He was NH Commissioner of Agriculture for 25 years and served as an ex officio member of the University System Board of Trustees. With his three sons, he runs the Taylor Brothers Sugarhouse and Creamery in Plainfield. And he travels around NH giving presentations through the NH Humanities Council, so we can all learn about the Granite State's rich rural history.

 

This event comes to Merrimack through a generous grant from the NH Humanities Council, which is committed to connecting ideas with communities. The program is free and open to adults and teens. A brief meeting of the Merrimack Historical Society will precede the presentation. Seating is limited and registration is recommended. Visit the library’s online calendar , call 424-5021 or email to save your seat.