Historical Society to have large presence at Gilford Craft Fair

Again this year, Thompson-Ames Historical Society will participate in the Annual Gilford Holiday Craft Fair on Saturday, December 3rd. Kathy Lacroix, serving as T-AHS’s contact person, has arranged for the historical society to have a display table in Gilford Middle School, in the hallway between the food court and the high school cafeteria.

Several members of Thompson-Ames Historical Society have volunteered to take turns showing items at the society’s table during the 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Holiday Craft Fair.

On display will be the society’s 2005 raffle items, the quilted wall-hanging "Sugaring Time" and the American Girl Doll "Felicity", with drawing of the winning raffle tickets scheduled for 3:00 p.m. that day.

Stan Piper, whose artistic renditions are featured in five squares of the quilted wall hanging which Ellen Peters quilted, will be on hand during the day as will be Carol Anderson who created the authentic 1770’s vintage wardrobe for "Felicity", whose raffle set includes a Journal featuring 1778-1779 life in Gunstock Parish, with illustrations created by students in Diane Alting’s 2004-2005 class.

Available at T-AHS’s table will be copies of several books, Adair Mulligan’s "The Gunstock Parish: A History of Gilford, New Hampshire", J. P. Fahey’s "MUSTERED! Foot Soldiers of the 12th", Kelley Jean White’s "A Gilford Offering, a collection of poems", and "A B SEES GILFORD", created by students in Diane Alting’s 3rd grade class in 2003-2004 – all of which treat history in a very readable way.

A variety of hand-crafted items will be on display. Carol Anderson has fashioned several one-of-a-kind items of clothing for 16” dolls. Don Frost has made several wooden toys of historic design, especially tops and Climbing Bear, while Stan Piper and Gus Pinto have created a variety of animated wooden toys of historic design. Stan will be on hand to demonstrate these animated toys that fascinate all who are young at heart.

Also, Stan Piper has constructed several rug braiding stands that would delight any rug-braiding enthusiast. One of T-AHS’s rug braiders will undoubtedly be on hand to demonstrate how to use these stands.

Several novelty items created by rug-hooker Carol Dale will be for sale.

Carmel Lancia will have available some items that appeal to gardeners — items that have proved useful to gardeners who volunteer at the Rowe House gardens.

Thompson-Ames Historical Society is looking forward to being among the almost 200 craft, art and food vendors who will participate in this 27th Annual Gilford Holiday Craft Fair on Saturday, December 3rd.

Thompson-Ames Historical Society, a 501(c)3 organization, has raffled off a quilted wall hanging and an American Girl Doll annually for the past few years, as a fund raiser to help defray the cost of maintaining its historic museum buildings. This page from "Felicity’s" Journal, illustrated by local third graders, reveals what life in the late 1700s in Gunstock Parish was like.