Gilmanton Corner Library Celebrates The Berenstain Bears In
January!
Fifty years after the Berenstain Bears charmed preschoolers and
their parents, the loveable bear clan still remains close to
children’s hearts. In 1962 Stan and Jan Berenstain created the
gentle stories of Papa, Mama, Brother and Sister Bear that were
inspired by their own family. Getting the kids to do chores, fears
of the first day of school, and the values of kindness and
generosity were woven into favorite stories. Over the years 300
titles have been released into 23 languages, producing over 260
million copies of Berenstain books.
The newest of the Berenstain Bears Books to come to the Corner
Library are: Come Clean For School, Week at Grandma’s, and The Big
Bedtime Book. There are also three new DVDs: The Bears Mind Their
Manners, Fun Family Adventure, and Always Look on the Bright Side.
A Free Berenstain Bear Activity Book will be given to every
child who comes to the library for the month of January!
New adult requested books this month are: Explosive Eighteen by
Janet Evanovitch, Heat Rises by Richard Castle and Zero Day by David
Baldacci. Our new winter hours are Mondays 3-5, Wednesdays 3-5 and
Saturdays 10-12. Please call 267-6200 for more information.
Gilmanton Gravestone Returned to Beech Grove Cemetery
Submitted By John Dickey
Mack Gravestone, found in a basement, was recently returned
to Beech Grove Cemetery in Gilmanton . (Photo by John Dickey)
Thanks to the Gilmanton Cemetery Trustees, and the efforts of
others, a long-missing gravestone has recently been returned to its
rightful location in a family plot in the Beech Grove Cemetery in
Gilmanton Corners. Beech Grove is located on the east side of Route
107 south of the junction of Route 140. The cemetery is reached by a
long access drive that winds through the woods between stone walls.
The gravestone was discovered this summer in the basement of the
Andrew Mack house shortly after the house was purchased by the Barr
and Humphrey families. The Mack house stands next to the church on
Route 107 in the Corners. Those who have lived in Gilmanton for a
while may know it as the Gilmore house or, prior to that, as the
Brinig house. The house dates to approximately 1820 and was long the
home of the Mack family. Andrew Mack was a prominent citizen of
Gilmanton during the 1800s. Born in Londonderry, NH in 1786, he was
educated at Pinkerton Academy and graduated from Dartmouth College
in 1808. He was the preceptor of Gilmanton Academy from 1808 to
1810, and again from 1812 to 1821. He married Maria Burns of
Gilmanton in 1824. He was a member of the Academy’s Board of
Trustees from 1833 until his death in 1875 at the age of 89. He
served as President of the Board of Trustees from 1854 until 1875.
Andrew Mack also served Gilmanton as Town Treasurer and was a Deacon
of the Centre Congregational Church. After Andrew Mack’s death, his
wife Maria continued to live in the house until she died at the age
of 96 in 1891.
Andrew and Maria Mack had four children. The long-missing stone
commemorates the sad, untimely death of two of their children. Son
Thomas died suddenly on October 13, 1851 at the age of 19 while he
was a member of the senior class at Dartmouth College. His younger
sister, Maria, passed away at the age of 17 almost exactly a year
later on October 3, 1852. The gravestone contains the poignant
inscription: "Lovely and pleasant in their lives and in death not
long divided". The stone also contains a small notation at the
bottom indicating its carvers, O. & G.A. Cummings, Franklin. While
there are no records to document this, it appears likely that the
Macks had the stone made to mark the graves of their two children
and had it placed in Beech Grove Cemetery in the family plot. At
some point during the elder Mack’s lives, the stone broke in half
and was placed for safe keeping in the basement of the house. It is
possible that the Macks intended to either have it replaced or
repaired, but were never able to do so. Thus, the stone remained in
the basement for well over 100 years.
After finding the stone in the basement, the Barrs and Humphreys
contacted the Gilmanton Cemetery Trustees with the wish that it be
returned to the family plot. After doing some research, the Trustees
concluded that it should be located next to the gravestones of the
parents in Beech Grove. JR Stockwell, a member of the Trustees,
carefully repaired the stone, and with the help of Roger Clark and
family, transported it to the cemetery and installed it in the
family plot.
Letter To The Editor
The Gilmanton School Board meeting on December 13, 2011, which was
well attended, was the only chance for citizens to speak about next
year’s budget before it was voted on by the School Board. Most of
the attendees did not realize that the time allowed by the School
Board for public comment was so short. When one attendee asked if
she could email her concerns and suggestions it became clear that
people didn’t realize that the board would be voting on the budget
that same night. Cuts in the budget were discussed, none of which
would affect the School Administration. Most of the comments
indicated that programs should be kept while making cuts in other
areas.
Some hard choices have to be made. The School Board voted for the
proposed budget with some cuts with no mention of any cuts in the
administration budget. The cuts were to teachers, technology,
library books and a proposed 0% salary adjustment. The proposed
budget amount is $10,073,106. This represents a $1.38 per thousand
increase on the tax rate. The budget is increasing even after last
year’s surplus of $521,000. Where is the fiscal responsibility that
we should expect from the School Board and Administration?
Taxpayers were upset about a tax increase last year and the town
responded by decreasing their budget considerably. The School Board
should be doing more to keep their budget and our tax rate under
control.
Joanne Gianni
Gilmanton Iron Works
GCC Food Pantry And Thrift Shop News
The Christmas and New Year’s holiday have passed; the decorations
have been put away; and the resolutions for 2012 have been made. But
we at the GCC Food Pantry and Thrift Shop still have those holiday
feelings and the giving spirit is still in us, so we are having
another great sale. From January 2nd thru Saturday, January 21st the
entire store is 50% Off. That’s right, everything for
everyone in your family is now 50% Off at the GCC Thrift
Shop.
If your diet has already kicked in and the pounds are coming off,
come on in and get yourself some new duds to keep looking great
while not spending a bundle. If you and the family just want to
change up your look while not spending a fortune at the mall, come
in and check out all the great brand name clothing in our shop. We
have a wonderful selection of fabulous winter clothing and it is now
All 50% Off thru January 21st.
And if you are still feeling the giving spirit, remember folks need
to eat all year long, items can be dropped off at the Pantry during
our business hours or left in one of the collection boxes located at
the Gilmanton School, Iron Works Market, Year Round Library or the
Academy Building.
If you wish to make a monetary donation you can mail it to GCC Food
Pantry and Thrift Shop, PO Box 6, Gilmanton IW, NH 03837.
We are located on Route 140 in Gilmanton Iron Works, across from the
Iron Works Market. We are open on Monday 9 am – 1 pm, Wednesday 3 pm
– 7 pm, and Saturday 10 am – 2 pm. Parking is located in the
Gilmanton Community Church parking lot just west of the shop.
The GCC Food Pantry & Thrift Shop will be open Monday, January 16th
.
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