Plymouth Regional High School students had the honor of spending time with local community members as they shared their stories of the efforts to save the artifacts and the historical Old Webster Courthouse in Plymouth, NH. Students prepared and conducted individual interviews discussing the building. They heard stories of the past and explanations of how this building served its community for many years. The students wanted to share the heartfelt anecdotes of those who wish to save this important structure. The Media Production team will unveil their findings in a short documentary on the Italian Farmhouse property on March 9th at 6PM. This event will be hosted by Common Man's Alex Ray.
Video Summary
Individual Interviews
Alma Grand, a retired kindergarten teacher, has lived in this area for forty years. She is an artist and active member of the Young Ladies Library Association, owners of the Courthouse.
REAL ALMA GRAND.mp4Louise Samaha McCormack grew up in Plymouth and has lived in this area for most of her adult years. She is a retired Professor from Plymouth State University and is active in the Plymouth Historical Society.
REAL LOUISE MCCORMACK.mp4Katherine Hillier lived in the area since the 1970's. She enjoyed her many years as the director of Pease Public Library, and is now active with the Plymouth Historical Society.
REAL Katherine Hillier.movSteve Rand is a life long resident of Plymouth and third generation owner of Rand's Hardware. He currently serves as a State Representative.
REAL STEVE RAND.mp4Ross Deachman was born and raised in Plymouth, and has practiced law here for 50 years. . He serves on the Pemibaker Regional School Board, and has been a member of the Historical Society since its inception in 1973. He is well known for his knowledge of Plymouth's History.
REAL ROSS DEACHMAN.movThe Honorable William Batchelder is a Plymouth native. He practiced law in Plymouth until 1970 when he was appointed as a Judge to the Superior Court; in 1980 he became Justice of the NH Supreme Court.
William Batcheldor.mp4Elizabeth Batchelder, a Plymouth resident since the 1950's has enjoyed living on a small farm on Fairgrounds road. She and her husband raised six children, all of whom went through the Plymouth schools. She has been active in the Young Ladies Library Association and the Plymouth Historical Society for decades.
REAL Betty Batchelder.mp4DANIEL WEBSTER COURTHOUSE
History written by Katherine Hillier and Lisa Mure
Constructed in 1774 by order of the Royal Governor, and under the steady hand of David Webster, an original settler and town leader, the Old Webster Courthouse served as one of two courthouses in the newly established Grafton County. During its tenure as a courthouse, many distinguished men pled cases within its walls. None are better known today than a young attorney named Daniel Webster who pled for the defendant in a murder trial here in 1806. The verdict was all but inevitable: the two murdered men were sharing a jail cell with the defendant. Daniel Webster lost the case, but went on to become one of the most famous politicians and orators of his time.
In 1823, after nearly 50 years as a county courthouse, the Old Courthouse was replaced. Over the next fifty years it served as a school, paint shop, and eventually was moved to South Main Street where it was used as a wheelwright shop, then was deserted for many years.
In 1876 Henry W. Blair, a Plymouth attorney, Representative to the United States House of Representatives, and later a United States Senator, recognized the historical value of the dilapidated Old Courthouse and purchased it. He paid to have it moved to a location behind the second courthouse, and to restore it. In 1878 he gave it to the Young Ladies Library Association to use for their library. It served as a library for 112 years, and is still owned by the Young Ladies Library Association.
In January of 1991, 112 years after moving into the Old Courthouse, the Plymouth Public Library moved into a new structure, built with funds donated by Charlotte Pease to the YLLA. The Courthouse was abandoned once again but not for long.
After thoughtful deliberation regarding the future of the Old Webster Courthouse, and Senator Blair’s wishes that it forever be a center of culture, it began its next chapter of service to the town – as an historical museum occupied and operated by the Plymouth Historical Society. The Historical Society thrived in its new home. Its collection of historical documents and artifacts continued to grow. It offered a range of services, including exhibits, programs, and research materials.
The Plymouth Historical Society Museum received heavy use throughout the period of planning for Plymouth’s 250th celebration, and the entire year of festive events. Then, as if to punctuate the end of the year-long celebration, on December 31, 2013, half of the Old Webster Courthouse ceiling collapsed. Replacement of the ceiling entailed careful conservation, and the process was slow and painstaking.
On June 4, 2016 the Museum formally reopened with a large celebration marking the Museum’s rebirth. It is now open year-round on Saturdays, offering monthly programs and changing exhibits highlighting Plymouth’s history. Ongoing projects focus on preserving and organizing the collection, while a committee formed in 2017 is dedicated to raising funds for the Future of History campaign – a multi-year effort to fund historical preservation of the structure, upgrades to heating, cooling and water drainage, an all access entry and restroom, and an expanded rear addition for storage and visitor groups.
The Old Webster Courthouse is indeed a cornerstone of history, not only of the town and surrounding region, but of our state and country’s founding, a history of justice, of education, of civic engagement, of community. Come for a visit to see its bones and listen to its story.
For contributions to the Future of History fund for the structure’s preservation and enhancement, please visit oldwebstercourthouse.com…244 years and counting!