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    Arden Klaud reads her winning essay on “What Jaffrey Means to Me.”
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    In a tent outside the commemoration, several town artifacts were on display, including early firefighting equipment.
  • 250Commemoration-ml-082223,ph4
    Artifacts related the the still-unsolved murder of Dr. William Dean were on display at the town’s 250th commemoration ceremony.
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    Early Jaffrey signage was on display outside of the Jaffrey Meetinghouse on Thursday evening as part of a display of town artifacts.
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    Charlie Turcotte speaks with visitors about Jaffrey town artifacts, including a lock of Paul Revere’s hair.
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    Keynote speaker Jeffrey Crocker speaks of his experiences growing up in Jaffrey, after his parents, among the first Jewish residents of the town, settled there.
  • 250Commemoration-ml-082223,ph8
    Keynote speaker Jeffrey Crocker speaks of his experiences growing up in Jaffrey, after his parents, among the first Jewish residents of the town, settled in town.
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    Bernie and Louise Watson were honored with the playing of their song, “Jaffrey, New Hampshire,” and later led the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” to Jaffrey.
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    Arden Klaud and Rujtiv Bakhade, the winners of the “What Jaffrey Means to Me” essay contest for the middle and elementary school divisions, were awarded a medal, a check for $250 and a certificate, which automatically nominated them for the planning committee for the town’s 300th anniversary. Chance Derosier was awarded the same prize for the high school division, but was unable to attend.

Aug. 17 marked Jaffrey’s official town birthday, which was celebrated with a commemoration event at the Jaffrey Meetinghouse. During the event, Jaffrey resident Bob Schaumann, dressed era-appropriate, read from the town’s official charter. Historical Society President Peter Lambert gave a bit of the town’s historical background, and the program featured a poem by Walter Heath from his Echoes from Monadnock series, titled “Jaffrey.”

The winners of the Jaffrey 250th student essay contest were announced, and the winning submissions, all written on the theme of “What Jaffrey Means to Me,” were read by their authors, Rutvij Bakhade in the elementary division, and Arden Klaud in the middle school division. The winner of the high school division, Chance Desrosier, was unable to attend, and his piece was read by his great-uncle, Bruce Hill.

Jeffrey Crocker was the keynote speaker, speaking at length on his experience growing up in Jaffrey as one of its few Jewish residents, and the welcoming atmosphere of the town.

Bernie and Louise Watson were honored for their song, “Jaffrey, New Hampshire,” a folk-style honoring of the town’s scenic routes, Contoocook River and Mount Monadnock. At the conclusion of the program, the Watsons led the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” to Jaffrey.