This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Greenfield Historical Society (GHS), and the group has a lot planned to celebrate.

The GHS was founded in 1973, and the first board included officers Bruce Brenner, Anna Chute, Ann Carpenter and Florence Adams, as well as Malcolm Atherton, Dorothy Gilbert and George Shea. Lenny Cornwell has been president since 2007, when he took over from Jane Winslow.

GHS, located at 828 Forest Road, currently houses thousands of items representing the history of Greenfield, from photographs, maps, letters and postcards to antique farm implements, clothing, household items and shelves of books by Greenfield authors. GHS has a file on every old Greenfield family and antique home, and frequently provides information from people around the country with Greenfield roots.

I sat down with Adele Hale and Cornwell to find about what GHS has planned for their 50th anniversary year. The first event is the Antiques and Collectibles Market on Saturday, April 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Greenfield Meetinghouse. Admission is free and open to the public.

There were still a few slots left for antiques and collectibles vendors when I spoke to Adele – please contact her at 603-547-3403 if you would like to participate. Eight-foot tables are $15, and six-foot tables are $10. GHS will have tables set up on arrival.

The market will include all kinds of antiques and collectible items, including jewelry, books, postcards, vintage kitchen items and vintage vinyl records. The GHS board will be also have a homemade lunch available for sale (menu TBA).

One Sunday, June 25, at 2 p.m., GHS will host Kim Varney Chandler, author of “Covered Bridges of New Hampshire.” Varney Chandler extensively researched and photographed all of New Hampshire’s 61 covered bridges, resulting in a beautifully illustrated, 228-page volume depicting the past and present of the state’s surviving bridges.

Greenfield is fortunate to have one of these beautiful bridges (shared with Hancock), crossing the Contoocook River at Forest Road. The co-vice president of the National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges, Scott Wagner, has called Varney Chandler’s book “a must-have reference guide and historical resource for everyone who appreciates covered bridges.”

Later in the summer, GHS is hoping to schedule a New Hampshire Humanities program with John Moody, an expert in the history of Abenaki and Penacook people in New Hampshire. Also planned is the book release for GHS’ new publication, a compilation of tall tales, legends and history of Greenfield.

“We’re not sure of the exact title yet, possibly ‘Colorful Characters of Greenfield,’” Cornwell said.

Bruce Dodge, Hale, Amy Lowell, and other GHS members have been working on the book for years, compiling short stories about legendary town residents. The book is slated to go to the publisher in October, so please stay tuned for the book launch event.

At 11 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 17, GHS will host a vintage baseball game with the Dirigo Baseball Club of Maine. The game will take place at Oak Park on the same weekend as the Harness, Drawbar & Tractor Club tractor show. The Dirigo Baseball Club, sometimes called “baseball re-enactors,” plays baseball according to the rules set out in 1861, using vintage uniforms and equipment.

When Cornwell booked Dirigo, they said they would be happy to come, as long as GHS could come with an opposing team. Cornwell will be recruiting Greenfield residents to play baseball – by the old rules – over the summer.

GHS will wrap up its 50th anniversary year with a holiday open house during the town wide Fire and Ice event organized by the Greenfield Fire Department. Residents can stop in while following the parade from the town common to Oak Park. Please keep your eye out for other GHS events this year!

Please email Jesseca Timmons if you have an idea for The Greenfield Beat at jesstimm17@gmail.com.

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