Meeting Notice
There is no meeting in December. The next meeting of the Lebanon Historical Society will take place online on Monday, January 19, 2026, at 7 p.m. If you’d like to join us virtually, please contact Stephanie at sfjackson130@comcast.net for a meeting link.
Please consider joining the Lebanon Historical Society as an official member. Our membership fees are listed at the membership link here: https://lebanonnhhistory.org/about/membership/. Our monthly meetings are generally held online so you don’t need to be a Lebanon resident to join us. Membership forms can be printed and mailed or you can pay online through our Square marketplace https://lebanonnhhistory.square.site/shop/memberships/2.
Live Free or Die: The Contested History of the Words on Your License Plate
In 1969, when New Hampshire officials decided to put the state’s motto – “live free or die” – on its license plates, many citizens viewed the act as an endorsement of the deeply unpopular war being waged in Vietnam and protested by covering up or altering the motto. In response, authorities cracked down hard: arresting, fining, and sometimes even incarcerating those who engaged in duct-tape dissent. People appealed their convictions, sparking a legal contest over the First Amendment that went all the way to the United States Supreme Court. In this multimedia presentation, historian and former newspaper reporter Dan Billin tells a uniquely New Hampshire tale illustrating the genius – and the fragility – of the First Amendment.
Join us as we celebrate 50 years of bringing the humanities to your community!
This is a free program open to the public. The program is made possible by a grant from NH Humanities, celebrating 50 years of bringing the humanities to our community.
Saturday, November 2, 2024 @ 1:00 pm
Kilton Library
80 Main Street
West Lebanon, NH 03748
Hosted by The Lebanon Historical Society
60th anniversary of the 1964 Lebanon Fire
The Lebanon Historical Society presents a program commemorating the 60th anniversary of the 1964 fire. Lebanon’s second Great Fire on June 19th, 1964, destroyed 20 buildings, displaced 20 businesses and 100 residents, and left two people dead. We’ll revisit this cataclysmic event with images and videos of the fire and a talk by Lebanon’s City Historian Nicole Ford Burley.
Saturday, June 22, 2024, @ 2 p.m. at AVA Gallery, 11 Bank St., Lebanon, NH
LIMITED SEATING! (We will be filming the presentation and will provide a video link at a later date.)
HERE’S THE LINK TO THE VIDEO:
From the City of Lebanon website:
Unveiling “Ndakinna: This Place, Our Homeland” Video
The City of Lebanon Heritage Commission, in collaboration with Junction Arts & Media (JAM), proudly presents a captivating video titled “Ndakinna: This Place, Our Homeland.” This cinematic journey explores the rich heritage of Lebanon, NH, and its deep connections to the ancestral lands of the Abenaki people.
Lebanon’s Land Acknowledgment: The Lebanon Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Commission (DEI) acknowledges Lebanon’s foundation upon the ancestral and unceded lands of the Abenaki people, known as Alnôbak. The land, named Koas (place of the Pines), resides within the broader ancestral territory of the Abenaki and Wabanaki homeland, Ndakinna.
Building Bridges: The video is not just a visual experience but a bridge to understanding and respecting the diverse stories that have shaped our community. The Heritage Commission invites you to watch the video and explore an interactive companion guide crafted in collaboration with the DEI Commission where you can dive deeper into the video narrative.
As part of our community’s recognition of November as Native American Heritage Month, join us in celebrating the cultural tapestry that makes Lebanon unique. This video project and the acknowledgment presented in it echo the importance of place, the enduring Abenaki presence, and our shared commitment to fostering respectful relationships with all who call these lands home today.
JUNETEENTH 2022
The Lebanon Historical Society participated in the City of Lebanon’s Juneteenth celebration on Sunday, June 19, 2022.
Juneteenth is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans. Although President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation was issued on January 1, 1863, it took more than two years for the institution of slavery to end in Texas. On June 19, 1865, Union Army General Gordon Granger read General Order No. 3 in Galveston, Texas, proclaiming freedom for enslaved people in that state. President Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independent Day Act into Law on June 17, 2021.
The program included musical performances, a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation, and a presentation about formerly enslaved people who resided in Lebanon, and the abolitionist movement in our community. Traditional red punch and red velvet cake were served.
Here’s a link to the video of this event: https://reflect-catv.cablecast.tv/CablecastPublicSite/show/25852?channel=2
Our publications make great gifts!
Are you looking for a gift for someone who has an interest in Lebanon history? Visit our Publications page for a list of titles that are available for sale.
Also available are poster reprints of Larry Howard’s painting of the fountain in front of the Marion Carter house.
Some publications, including the new book, are available for sale at the Lebanon Public Library.
You can order publications by mail from the Historical Society by filling out and mailing the order form at https://lebanonnhhistory.org/publications/ or order online at https://lebanonnhhistory.square.site/.
Contact Nicole Ford Burley at nicole.ford.burley@gmail.com for more information.
Display Historical Pictures at your Business
Please visit the following local businesses that have historical pictures of Lebanon and West Lebanon on display:
Marsh Brothers Deli – The Little Store on School St., Lebanon
Simple Energy on N. Main St., West Lebanon
Ziggy’s Pizza in the Staples Plaza, West Lebanon
Would you like to have items relating to Lebanon or West Lebanon history displayed in your place of business? Contact Nicole at nicole.ford.burley@gmail.com.
Interested in volunteering?
The Historical Society is looking for volunteers to help with fundraising, managing our collection of research materials and artifacts, conducting research, etc. Please fill out the form at https://forms.gle/aVNfQXj3STiozSCt5 to volunteer your time.
Lebanon Historical Society 