The Plymouth Historical
Society was organized on November 6, 1973 and it was incorporated in
1974. Membership is open to everyone and dues for active members
are currently $5.00 per person, per year. Lifetime memberships are
$100.00. The goal of the Society is to preserve and make available,
records and other memorabilia relevant to Plymouth and its environs.
The Plymouth Historical Museum welcomes donations of pictures, personal
memorabilia, collections, vintage clothing, and anything else that can
be displayed for the enjoyment of the general public.
The Museum is housed in the former Plymouth Public Library on Court
Street. The vintage building started out as one of two Grafton
County Courthouses which were built in 1774. It is currently
the oldest building in the State of New Hampshire that was specifically
built for courthouse use. Initially, it was located on the corner
of Russell and Pleasant Streets and it was there that Daniel Webster
lost his first criminal case (in 1806). After the new courthouse
was built in 1823, the old building was sold and moved to South Main
Street, where it became a wheelwright shop for many years. Senator
Henry W. Blair purchased the building, which had by then fallen into
terrible disrepair, and gave it to the Young Ladies Library Association
(YLLA). He was able to gain the use of the land on Court Street
and had the building moved to the site, where it was restored and
put into good use by the YLLA, an organization still in existence
today. In 1982, the building was entered into the National Register
and is a part of the Plymouth Historic District, established in March
1986.
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