Freedom Historical Society

The Freedom Historical Society is Celebrating 60 Years of Preserving Freedom’s Past

Be Part of the $60 for 60 Years Campaign!  Share your love for Freedom and donate $60, $120, $240, $600 or any amount you would like, and be a Keeper of Freedom’s History. The money raised will support future exhibits, education programs, ongoing research, and the continued stewardship of the museum collection.  We are grateful to the generations of Freedom Historical Society Members who have come before us and together created an institution of enduring value to Freedom.  With your support Freedom’s history will continue to be preserved for many more generations, and families and friends will be connected to their heritage.  Your generous donations now will impact the next generation.  We want to keep community pride and spirit here for a very long time.  

Here is our story!  It all started in May 1965!  Early meetings were held in the homes of members and at the Freedom Town Hall. The Freedom Historical Society (FHS) was created through the leadership efforts of two dedicated women, Barbara Dutton and Molly Cunningham. The list of early founders includes John Brooks, Albert Godrey, Clem Lovell, Mabel Davis, Lettie Thurston, Blanche Watson, Ollie Milliken, Mary LIttlefield, Emma Perkins, and Glady Alexander.  All these founders reflect a spirit of civic responsibility, determination, leadership, and passion… all worked to create a sense of pride and place.  

Two years later in 1967. The Freedom Historical Society was incorporated as an educational non-profit. Documents and artifacts continued to be stored in local barns, houses, and the Town Library.  Twelve years later the Society received its “forever home” from the Estate of George & Margie Allard in 1979.  The FHS headquarters became 28 Old Portland Road. The generosity continued and the Society accepted a gift from the Freedom Museum owned by Nelson and Glad Works, and on June 11, 1980, the contents of the Freedom Museum Corporation were transferred to the Freedom Historical Society at the Allard House and Barn.  The next year generous volunteers razed the unsafe Allard Barn and built a new barn to house the new museum collection.  With property, an expanded collection, and a museum facility with a house and barn, the dream of the FHS Founders to build community by sharing the town’s history became a reality.  Next came the stewardship of the artifacts and art collection, sharing family stories, digitizing documents and photographs, and collecting news articles and obituaries.  And most importantly, attention was focused on building membership and financial support to maintain the facilities and sustain this community resource.  

Today we are keeping Freedom history alive for the future through annual exhibits, history programs, walking tours, events, publications, a website, and newsletters.  Just imagine the number of volunteers and members that have contributed time and money over these 60 years.  The level of participation and commitment says so much about the Freedom Community.  We now have over 245 members, 70 volunteers, and over 500 visitors.  And their love of Freedom is passed on from one generation to another to children, grandchildren and friends.  Since its founding, the Freedom Historical Society has sought to preserve and share our town history for present and future generations, building community pride, spirit, and identity.  Thanks for the last 60 years and many more. 

Help Us Meet Our Matches and Challenges and Show that History Matters!

On Tuesday, June 10 starting at 5 PM the first $1700 will be matched by the Freedom Historical Society Board of Directors.  Thank you to our Board:  Brandy Buttrick, Roberta MacCarthy, Ed Barosky, Jayne Britton, Jane Davidson, Paul Elie, Moira Epps, Nancy Essex, Anne Gaudette, Linda Habif, Michael Gaudette, Pam Clemon-Keith, Barbara McEvoy, John Perkins, Steve Thurston, Lauren Stoddard, Carole Taylor, Marcia Trook.

Challenge:  When the donations reach $6,000 the Lifetime Members of the Freedom Historical Society will add $1,000 to this special fundraiser to celebrate Sixty Years.  

Who We Are

In 2021 the Society has major repairs to complete on the Allard House. The house itself and the museum contents within need to be preserved. The needed work includes moisture mitigation and protection, structural repairs, painting and rehabilitation of the porch to replicate historical authenticity. A one-for-one matching challenge grant will enormously help us reach the fundraising goal.
The purpose of the Freedom NH Historical Society is to collect, research and display objects and records relating to the town’s history for the education of current and future generations.. The Society fosters and inspires awareness and appreciation of the town’s past through the records and collections in the Allard House and Works Barn Museum, and through its cultural education programs and publications.