New Ipswich Historical Society sets annual meeting

The New Ipswich Historical Society invites the public to its annual meeting Thursday, Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. at the Barrett House Barn, 79 Main St.

The 30-minute business meeting will be followed by this year’s featured speaker, Thomas Hubka, who will share his knowledge of the connected farm buildings commonly found in the Monadnock region. Through architecture unique to northern New England, this illustrated talk focuses on several case studies that show how farmers converted their typically separate house and barns into connected farmsteads.

Hubka's research in his book, “Big House, Little House, Back House, Barn: The Connected Farm Buildings of New England,” demonstrates that average farmers were motivated by competition with farmers in other regions of America, who had better soils and growing seasons and fewer rocks to clear. The connected farmstead organization, comprised of mixed farming and home industry, was one of the collective responses to the competitive threat.

With a bachelor’s degree in architecture and a master’s degree from the University of Oregon, Hubka’s primary research and list of publications have focused on the historic development and relationships between architecture/buildings and culture/people. This program, which is funded by New Hampshire Humanities, is free and open to the public.

Following a question-and-answer session, light refreshments will be served, and Hubka’s book will be available for purchase. For more on Hubka and the meeting agenda, visit newipswichhistoricalsociety.org.