Matthew Thomas to give historic town pounds talk

ALTON — The Alton Historical Society will welcome New England Historian Matthew E. Thomas of Fremont on Tuesday, Aug. 20. He will present an illustrated lecture presentation on Forgotten and Historic Town Pounds of New Hampshire.

The program begins at 7 p.m. at the Gilman Library, 100 Main Street, Alton, in the lower level meeting room.

Thomas will give the little-known history of the 73 towns pounds still standing within the Granite State — the most of any New England state. He will explain their vital purpose and role within NH and New England communities; discuss the function and demanding role of elected town pound keepers, and explain how pound keepers used the Book of Marks to notify owners of impounded stray livestock confined in the town pound.

These intriguing old, often forgotten rectangular or circular stone-walled structures were primarily made of granite rocks, had a small gate, and were without a roof. They date back in New England to the very early 1600s and were used until the late 1800s.

Pounds were used to confine stray livestock that escaped from their owner’s farms such as oxen, horses, sheep, swine, mules, goats, boars, and even geese (but not dogs) to keep them from roaming around and trampling upon family gardens, orchards, and grain fields.

The last thing early ancestors needed were roaming animals destroying their vital food resources needed to feed families through long, cold, harsh New England winters. There were once nearly 800 town/city pounds scattered throughout New England, and now only 171 of them still exist. None are still in use.

For more information, visit altonnhhistoricalsociety.org.