CALENDAR OF EVENTS
New Hampshire Telephone Museum's 2021 Special Exhibit
Ends October 30th, 2021
As the railroad system expanded, so did the need for a reliable method of communicating. The New Hampshire Telephone Museum’s 2021 special exhibit explores the history of railroad communications as it evolved from a system of simple signs to the use of the telegraph and then the telephone.
In addition to the communications methods they utilized, this exhibit delves into the use of the railroad to carry another form of communication – the U.S. Mail – a system which, coincidentally, was perfected by the future president of the Bell Telephone System, Theodore Vail.
In keeping with the communications theme, the exhibit is rounded out by a fun look at the words and phrases of today whose roots stem from the days of the railroad.
In addition to the communications methods they utilized, this exhibit delves into the use of the railroad to carry another form of communication – the U.S. Mail – a system which, coincidentally, was perfected by the future president of the Bell Telephone System, Theodore Vail.
In keeping with the communications theme, the exhibit is rounded out by a fun look at the words and phrases of today whose roots stem from the days of the railroad.
Thank you to our 2021 Special Exhibit Sponsors
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NHTM MUSEUM SERIES
We're always on the look-out for interesting speakers and fun events, so on occasion, we're apt to arrange a Pop-Up Event. Pop-Up Events might be anything from an hour lecture or a mini-exhibit that lasts only a day. There's no way for any of us to know what or when a Pop-Up Event may occur, so you'll just have to be sure to sign up for our newsletter, follow us on Facebook or look for our ads. When a Pop Up Event is scheduled it will take place either outside or via Zoom until further notice.
Past Events
BEHIND THE STEAM: EARLY TELEPHONES - MAY 20, 2021
Information technology, biotechnology, and nanotechnology are converging in ways that were not easily anticipated. We now have distinct new fields such as bioinformatics, computational genomics, nanocomputing and ubiquitous computing. These converging and emerging technologies also introduce a cluster of ethical problems that were not easy to predict or anticipate. Herman Tavani examines a range of issues -- from privacy and informed consent to autonomy and freedom to property rights involving the ownership of genetic information that resides in databases.
Herman T. Tavani is Professor of Philosophy at Rivier College and Co-Director of the International Society for Ethics and Information Technology (INSEIT). He is the author, editor, or co-editor of five books on ethical aspects of information technology.
Hosted by: The New Hampshire Telephone Museum & the New Hampshire Humanities
Herman T. Tavani is Professor of Philosophy at Rivier College and Co-Director of the International Society for Ethics and Information Technology (INSEIT). He is the author, editor, or co-editor of five books on ethical aspects of information technology.
Hosted by: The New Hampshire Telephone Museum & the New Hampshire Humanities
WATCH THE REPLAY HERE
Funded by:
IS PRIVACY DEAD? - FRIDAY, JUNE 25TH
Open Questions is a series of thought-provoking community conversations presented by New Hampshire Humanities. This series explores essential questions important to Granite Staters. Each program is facilitated by philosophy professors who will explore essential questions about meaning and life.
Maria Sanders is a Philosophy professor and coordinates the Philosophy program at Plymouth State University. She is an applied ethicist whose research engages the public in scholarly philosophical dialogue within the areas of medicine, business, education, and law while encouraging thoughtful interaction with existing and emerging technologies in an attempt to create opportunities for civic engagement and reflective living. Dr. Sanders also hosts a weekly radio program on WPCR-Plymouth (91.7 FM) entitled Philosophy 4 Life which offers a public forum for philosophical discourse. She also co-hosts a television show, Happiness Quest, on Pemi-Baker Cable TV and is currently leading a town-wide "Happiness Quest" in Plymouth, New Hampshire.
Hosted by: The New Hampshire Telephone Museum & the New Hampshire Humanities
Maria Sanders is a Philosophy professor and coordinates the Philosophy program at Plymouth State University. She is an applied ethicist whose research engages the public in scholarly philosophical dialogue within the areas of medicine, business, education, and law while encouraging thoughtful interaction with existing and emerging technologies in an attempt to create opportunities for civic engagement and reflective living. Dr. Sanders also hosts a weekly radio program on WPCR-Plymouth (91.7 FM) entitled Philosophy 4 Life which offers a public forum for philosophical discourse. She also co-hosts a television show, Happiness Quest, on Pemi-Baker Cable TV and is currently leading a town-wide "Happiness Quest" in Plymouth, New Hampshire.
Hosted by: The New Hampshire Telephone Museum & the New Hampshire Humanities
Funded by:
Ethical Aspects of Converging Technologies - Friday, July 23rd
Information technology, biotechnology, and nanotechnology are converging in ways that were not easily anticipated. We now have distinct new fields such as bioinformatics, computational genomics, nanocomputing and ubiquitous computing. These converging and emerging technologies also introduce a cluster of ethical problems that were not easy to predict or anticipate. Herman Tavani examines a range of issues -- from privacy and informed consent to autonomy and freedom to property rights involving the ownership of genetic information that resides in databases.
Herman T. Tavani is Professor of Philosophy at Rivier College and Co-Director of the International Society for Ethics and Information Technology (INSEIT). He is the author, editor, or co-editor of five books on ethical aspects of information technology.
Herman T. Tavani is Professor of Philosophy at Rivier College and Co-Director of the International Society for Ethics and Information Technology (INSEIT). He is the author, editor, or co-editor of five books on ethical aspects of information technology.
A Reading of the Telephone tales - SaturDAY, August 21st
Every night, at nine o’clock, wherever he is, Mr. Bianchi, an accountant who often travels for work, calls his daughter and tells her a bedtime story. Set in the 20th century era of pay phones, each story has to be told in the time that a single coin will buy. One night, it’s the story of a carousel so beloved by children that an old man finally sneaks on to understand why, and as he sails above the world, he does. The next night, it’s a land filled with butter men, roads paved with chocolate, or a young shrimp who has the courage to defy expectations and do things differently.
Reminiscent of Scheherazade and One Thousand and One Nights, Gianni Rodari’s Telephone Tales is composed of many stories within a story. Each is set in a different place and time, with unconventional characters and a wonderful mix of reality and fantasy. Awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 1970, Gianni Rodari is widely considered to be Italy’s most important children’s author of the 20th century. These stories entertain with wit, surprise, and imagination.
Miss Sue from the Pillsbury Free Library, will select a few stories to read. Join us, as we gather in our outdoor space located on Depot Street. Families are welcomed into the museum afterward to wander and enjoy.
Hosted by: The New Hampshire Telephone Museum & the Pillsbury Free Library
Reminiscent of Scheherazade and One Thousand and One Nights, Gianni Rodari’s Telephone Tales is composed of many stories within a story. Each is set in a different place and time, with unconventional characters and a wonderful mix of reality and fantasy. Awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 1970, Gianni Rodari is widely considered to be Italy’s most important children’s author of the 20th century. These stories entertain with wit, surprise, and imagination.
Miss Sue from the Pillsbury Free Library, will select a few stories to read. Join us, as we gather in our outdoor space located on Depot Street. Families are welcomed into the museum afterward to wander and enjoy.
Hosted by: The New Hampshire Telephone Museum & the Pillsbury Free Library
The History of Radio with Peter St. James- Friday, August 27th
Peter St. James began his radio career while still in high school working weekends as a board operator for Red Sox games in Norway, Maine. To help pay for college, he later worked a 6PM to 11PM shift at WABI/WBGW in Bangor.
After graduation, St. James worked at WSKW/WTOS and WHOM, before moving to New Hampshire in 1974, taking a job at WMOU/WXLQ. St. James has an almost fifteen-year affiliation with Oldies 99.1 - WNNH-Concord and more than ten years, at 107.7 WTPL in Concord.
With a life-long career in radio, St. James has amassed awards, accolades and a lot of fans from every corner of the State with no signs of slowing down.
After graduation, St. James worked at WSKW/WTOS and WHOM, before moving to New Hampshire in 1974, taking a job at WMOU/WXLQ. St. James has an almost fifteen-year affiliation with Oldies 99.1 - WNNH-Concord and more than ten years, at 107.7 WTPL in Concord.
With a life-long career in radio, St. James has amassed awards, accolades and a lot of fans from every corner of the State with no signs of slowing down.
Blue Star Museum Summer Program - May - September
Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and museums across America offering free admission to the nation’s active-duty military. NHTM has participated in this program for over 7 years and we are proud to offer free admission for active duty military personnel and their families during this summer-long program.
The 2021 Blue Star Museums program begins on Armed Forces Day and ends on Labor Day.
The 2021 Blue Star Museums program begins on Armed Forces Day and ends on Labor Day.
SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE MUSEUM DAY - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH
Mark your calendar for America’s annual celebration of boundless curiosity on Saturday, September 18, 2021 and be part of our national Museum Day event. Museum Day brings together museums, zoos & cultural centers from all 50 states and offers free admission to all ticket holders. After spending the past year indoors, this year our central theme is centered on encouraging people to get out, learn about the world around them, and EXPERIENCE AMERICA.
Museum Day is a one-day event in which participating museums and cultural institutions across the country provide free entry to anyone presenting a Museum Day ticket. Participants are allowed to download one ticket per email address.
Museum Day is a one-day event in which participating museums and cultural institutions across the country provide free entry to anyone presenting a Museum Day ticket. Participants are allowed to download one ticket per email address.
Community Conversation - Wednesday, September 29th
Learn about the origins of telephone service in Warner from the people who worked for the local telephone company.
With Rebecca Courser as moderator, Paul Violette and others will share stories of their years working to provide and maintain telephone service in all types of weather and through changing technologies.
Audience members will be invited to share their stories as well! This program is part of a series produced by the Warner Historical Society.
**We encourage people to email their telephone service memories to us at the info@nhtelephonemuseum.org before the program. We are happy to share your stories with the attendees.
With Rebecca Courser as moderator, Paul Violette and others will share stories of their years working to provide and maintain telephone service in all types of weather and through changing technologies.
Audience members will be invited to share their stories as well! This program is part of a series produced by the Warner Historical Society.
**We encourage people to email their telephone service memories to us at the info@nhtelephonemuseum.org before the program. We are happy to share your stories with the attendees.
Hosted by: The New Hampshire Telephone Museum & the Warner Historical Society
Introducing PARTY LINE PORTER
from Polyculture's at Reed's North
We've been collaborating on yet another fun project. This time we've been working with the fine folks at Polyculture Brewing Company and Krystin Watts, a local illustrator, graphic designer and fellow beer enthusiast, to develop the PARTY LINE PORTER!
Reeds North restaurant in downtown Warner will host a beer tasting October 20th from 6:00-7:30.
Reeds North restaurant in downtown Warner will host a beer tasting October 20th from 6:00-7:30.
Stop! Look! Listen! - SunDAY, October 24, 2021
Vintage railroad melodramas with Pianist Jeff Rapsis
Jeff Rapsis is a writer/editor, educator, composer and performer who specializes in creating live musical scores for silent film screenings. His talent and enthusiasm have made him a crowd-favorite! We've had the pleasure of working with Jeff in past years and we are delighted to be collaborating with him again!
Join us for live music which will accompany this double-feature program of classic silent-era train thrillers on the big screen.
'The West-Bound Limited' (1923) and 'Transcontinental Limited' (1926) are a pair of rarely seen silent-era railroad melodramas that promise an express ride to excitement!
In 'The West-Bound Limited,' a fired employee takes revenge on the railroad by setting a trap for a head-on collision between a passenger train and a freight train.
In 'Transcontinental Limited,' Jerry Reynolds is an aging train engineer fast approaching retirement, but his eyes are giving out even faster! Will he still collect his pension?
Both movies were shot on location on actual working railroad lines. Made at a time when massive steam engines ruled the rails, both films are filled with scenes that train buffs will find fascinating today.
Railroad films were a popular sub-genre during the silent film era, when trains were the primary mode of long distance travel in the U.S. As an important part of the daily life of virtually every community in the land, railroads formed a popular background for many early films.
In reviving these two rarely shown train melodramas, organizers aim to show silent film as it was meant to be seen—in restored prints, on a large screen, with live music, and with an audience.
"All those elements are important parts of the silent film experience," said Rapsis, who will accompany the films. "Recreate those conditions, and movies of early Hollywood like these railroad dramas leap back to life in ways that audiences still find entertaining."
Rapsis performs on a digital synthesizer that reproduces the texture of the full orchestra, creating a traditional "movie score" sound. He improvises a complete original score for each film in real time during the screening.
"Creating a movie score on the fly is kind of a high-wire act, but it can often make for more excitement instead of everything being planned out in advance," Rapsis said.
Rapsis encouraged people unfamiliar with silent film to give it a try.
"If you haven't seen a silent film the way it was intended to be shown, then you're missing a unique experience," Rapsis said. "At their best, silent films still do connect with cinema-goers. They retain a tremendous power to cast a spell, engage an audience, tap into elemental emotions, and provoke strong reactions."
This double-feature is sponsored by the New Hampshire Telephone Museum. NHTM's Special Exhibit and this program are part of a railroad theme exhibition as partners of the "Museums Sharing Experiences" collaborative.
Join us for live music which will accompany this double-feature program of classic silent-era train thrillers on the big screen.
'The West-Bound Limited' (1923) and 'Transcontinental Limited' (1926) are a pair of rarely seen silent-era railroad melodramas that promise an express ride to excitement!
In 'The West-Bound Limited,' a fired employee takes revenge on the railroad by setting a trap for a head-on collision between a passenger train and a freight train.
In 'Transcontinental Limited,' Jerry Reynolds is an aging train engineer fast approaching retirement, but his eyes are giving out even faster! Will he still collect his pension?
Both movies were shot on location on actual working railroad lines. Made at a time when massive steam engines ruled the rails, both films are filled with scenes that train buffs will find fascinating today.
Railroad films were a popular sub-genre during the silent film era, when trains were the primary mode of long distance travel in the U.S. As an important part of the daily life of virtually every community in the land, railroads formed a popular background for many early films.
In reviving these two rarely shown train melodramas, organizers aim to show silent film as it was meant to be seen—in restored prints, on a large screen, with live music, and with an audience.
"All those elements are important parts of the silent film experience," said Rapsis, who will accompany the films. "Recreate those conditions, and movies of early Hollywood like these railroad dramas leap back to life in ways that audiences still find entertaining."
Rapsis performs on a digital synthesizer that reproduces the texture of the full orchestra, creating a traditional "movie score" sound. He improvises a complete original score for each film in real time during the screening.
"Creating a movie score on the fly is kind of a high-wire act, but it can often make for more excitement instead of everything being planned out in advance," Rapsis said.
Rapsis encouraged people unfamiliar with silent film to give it a try.
"If you haven't seen a silent film the way it was intended to be shown, then you're missing a unique experience," Rapsis said. "At their best, silent films still do connect with cinema-goers. They retain a tremendous power to cast a spell, engage an audience, tap into elemental emotions, and provoke strong reactions."
This double-feature is sponsored by the New Hampshire Telephone Museum. NHTM's Special Exhibit and this program are part of a railroad theme exhibition as partners of the "Museums Sharing Experiences" collaborative.
Hosted by: The New Hampshire Telephone Museum
For more information on the music, visit www.jeffrapsis.com.
For more information on the music, visit www.jeffrapsis.com.
Additional past events...
STORYTELLING IN THE DIGITAL AGE - FRIDAY, JUNE 26TH
BEYOND THE 'I': WHEN MEMOIR MEETS HISTORY - FRIDAY, JULY 24TH
RUNNING THE RAILROAD - AN INSIDER EXPLAINS THE BASICS - FRIDAY, AUGUST 28TH
MOVIE NIGHT: "MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS" - FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH
HISTORY WALK - FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23RD
STORYTELLING IN THE DIGITAL AGE - FRIDAY, JUNE 26TH
BEYOND THE 'I': WHEN MEMOIR MEETS HISTORY - FRIDAY, JULY 24TH
RUNNING THE RAILROAD - AN INSIDER EXPLAINS THE BASICS - FRIDAY, AUGUST 28TH
MOVIE NIGHT: "MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS" - FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH
HISTORY WALK - FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23RD