Mission & Beginnings
The Sunapee Historical Society’s mission is to bring together people interested in the history of the town of Sunapee and in the collection, preservation and exhibition of documents, photographs and artifacts about Sunapee. We are guided by the idea that community life is strengthened by an appreciation and understanding of our social and cultural history. From a colonial farming community, to a water-powered industrial village, to a glorious summer lake resort with grand hotels and steamboat service, Sunapee’s history is fascinating.
A historical society for Sunapee was first proposed during the Town’s 1968 bicentennial celebration and was organized in 1970 by Charles Hill, Joseph and Jo Hill, Mrs. Harry Barnes, Bill and Eileen Stocker, Stuart and Lois Gallup, Charles Boyce, and others. The Society was incorporated in 1978.
In April 1980, Fay H. Osborne donated the former Flander’s Stable in Sunapee Harbor, built by his great-grandfather, Wallace W. Flanders, as home and museum for the society. Restoring the building took the volunteer efforts of many individuals, with Fay Osborne and Norman Perkins leading the way. Unfortunately, Fay did not live to see the museum’s opening during the summer of 1983, but the building and its collection endures, as does Fay’s spirit and dedication to preserving the graceful, slower paced, way of life that once thrived in Sunapee.
Our collection includes documents, photographs and historical items, including artifacts from Sunapee’s grand hotel and steamboat era and its earlier manufacturing era when the Sugar River powered more than 20 industries.
Newsletters
The Sunapee Historical Society publishes a quarterly newsletter
Sunapee Echoes
Click on links below to view
- 2022 fall
- 2022 summer
- 2022 spring
- 2022 winter
- 2021 fall
- 2021 summer
- 2021 spring
- 2021 winter
- 2020 fall
- 2020 Summer
- 2020 SPRING
- 2020 WINTER
- 2019 FALL
- 2019 summer
- 2019 SPRING
- 2019 WINTER
- 2018 FALL
- 2018 SUMMER
- 2018 SPRING
- 2018 WINTER
- 2017 FALL
- 2017 SUMMER
- 2017 SPRING
- 2017 WINTER
- 2016 FALL
- 2016 SUMMER
- 2016 SPRING
- 2016 WINTER
- 2015 FALL
- 2015 SUMMER
- 2015 SPRING
- 2015 WINTER
- 2014 FALL
- 2014 SUMMER
- 2014 SPRING
- 2014 WINTER
- 2013 FALL
- 2013 SUMMER
- 2013 SPRING
- 2013 WINTER
2021-2022 Board of Directors
THE BOARD MEETS MONTHLY ON THE FIRST THURSDAY
OFFICERS
Becky Rylander, President
Barbara Chalmers, Vice President
Lela Emery, Treasurer
Lucy Mueller, Secretary
DIRECTORS
Carolyne Gatesy
Howard Sargent
Heidi Unger
Program Chairman
Volunteer Coordinator
Nominations
Ex Officio
Jo Hill
Ron Garceau