Minot-Sleeper Library to host talk about State Dog

BRISTOL — New Hampshire's State Dog, the chinook, is known to have been developed in the U.S. for sled dog racing. While described as athletic, hard-bodied and tireless, chinooks are also family dogs, expressing a love for children. The history of our State Dog and its leading role in dog sledding will be the focus of the presentation "Harnessing History: On the Trail of New Hampshire's State Dog, the Chinook" held at the Minot-Sleeper Library on Thursday, March 30, at 7 p.m. Presenter Bob Cottrell will be accompanied by his chinook, Tug.

Sponsored by the New Hampshire Humanities, the presentation will look at how dog sledding developed in New Hampshire and how the chinook played a major role in this story. Explaining how man and his relationship with dogs won out over machines on several famous polar expeditions, Cottrell covers the history of Arthur Walden and his chinooks.

The program is free and all are welcome to attend. Refreshments will generously be provided by the Friends of the Minot-Sleeper Library. Those with questions should call the library at 603-744-3352.

Cottrell holds an MA from the Winterthur Program in Early American Culture in Delaware. The founding director of the Remick Country Doctor Museum in Tamworth, he is now the curator of the Henney History Room at the Conway Public Library, a board member at the Conway Historical Society and president ex-officio of the Tamworth Historical Society. He serves as an independent history and museum consultant.