Author of book on Gilmanton to give talk about Academy history

GILMANTON — Gilmanton Academy, now the site of town offices, public meetings, elections and various town events, has played a vital role for more than a century.

Following up on Richard Guy Wilson's program on Gilmanton architecture, Pat Clarke presents The History of Gilmanton Academy on Tuesday evening, August 27, at 7:30 p.m., at Old Town Hall in Gilmanton Iron Works. Pat Clarke, who serves as vice president of the Gilmanton Historical Society, has conducted extensive research on the Town's history and is the author of Gilmanton: Evolution of a New Hampshire Hill Town from 1880 to 1940, drawn largely from study of newspaper files from the period.

Refreshments and social hour begin at 7 pm; the program begins promptly at 7:30. The society's museum is also open at 7 p.m. The program is free and open to the public; donations to support the work of the Society are gratefully received

The society's summer series is presented on the 4th Tuesday of each month, May through September. The summer's final program, on September 24, features New Hampshire in the Age of Clipper Ships with Glenn Knoblock.

The Gilmanton Historical Society offers a number of publications on the history of the Town. They are available at all Society programs, at the Town Clerk's Office, and at the Brick House in Gilmanton Corners. The Society's Museum, at Old Town Hall is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. until noon, and at 7 p.m. before each of the summer programs.