2022-2023 Annual Appeal
The mission of the Laconia Historical & Museum Society to preserve, protect and share Laconia’s story was strengthened throughout 2022! With the support of our community, we will continue to make great strides in meeting our mission in the coming year.
The Society’s social media presence on Facebook and Instagram continued to grow and programming was opened to in person attendance for our presentations and events. We were ecstatic to join forces with local artist, Joanna DeCesare for a fund-raising opportunity in October and to work on a special project for Laconia Country Club’s 100th anniversary. Our 2023 programming calendar will be announced in January.
Next year is going to be incredible!
One of the largest projects LHMS will undertake beginning in 2023 is digitizing the expansive collection of Laconia’s archives. This important work will ensure that the story of Laconia will be accessible to all and the items that tell our story will be safely kept for many years to come. Your Annual Appeal gift will support this effort!
Laconia Historical & Museum Society relies on the gracious contributions we receive from our community. With your help we will achieve our 2023 goals!
With appreciation,
Tara Shore, President
Ethan Wood, Secretary
Heidi Smith, Vice President
Warren Huse, Treasurer
Pam Clark, Assistant Treasurer
Directors: Lynn Keltz, Ray Peavey, Robin Moyer, John Perley and Jessica Bedard
Securing the Future
Laconia, New Hampshire, has a rich history that is worth protecting and sharing with future generations. Thanks to Laconia’s public-sprited citizens who have donated historic artifacts, LHMS maintains a collection of approximately 2,000 historic objects, over 150 linear feet of manuscript and photographic collections, and 350 bound volumes. The long-term care and preservation of this collection is at the heart of the Society. Equally significant to the mission of LHMS is providing access to collections and the history the city.
Listed below are the opportunities to become a member and/or contribute to a specific fund.
Membership
Become a member or update your current membership here using PayPal and then fill out our membership form so we can mail you an LHMS membership card. Membership rates start at $15 and extend up to $100.
Giving Opportunities
Contributing to any of the following will help the Laconia Historical and Museum Society provide the public access to local history. Click the PayPal buttons to donate to that cause or send a check to Laconia Historical & Museum Society, PO Box 1126, Laconia, NH 03247
Building Fund
LHMS realized its most significant long-range goal with the purchase of a former Laconia Car Company shop building to serve as the permanent home for its collections. While the collection is now housed in a climate-controlled environment, ongoing maintenance and repairs require funding. Providing for these costs will allow the Society to concentrate on the business of history by providing programs for all ages, exhibitions, and improved access to collections.
Collections Care Fund
Provides funds to care for and conserve the artifacts entrusted to the Laconia Historical and Museum Society. Typical collections care needs include archival supplies, UV filters for collections storage windows, and environmental monitoring devices… $100, $500, $1000 donations needed.
ALSO needed: Laptop computer- $1000, Nilfisk UZ 934 Vacuum Cleaner with HEPA filtration- $600
Wish List
LHMS could use a quantity of “hanging files” for its collections of photographs and manuscripts — both legal- and letter-size. Gently-used are fine! Contact the Society at 527-1278 or lhmslpl@metrocast.net
Become part of a lasting legacy through estate planning
Planning for your own future and that of your heirs, and for the future of the Laconia Historical and Museum Society are part of charitable estate planning. Just as LHMS preserves Laconia’s past for the benefit of future generations, YOU can help both your own and the society’s future well-being through planned giving.
When you remember the Laconia Historical and Museum Society through planned giving, you can save on gift and estate taxes, income and capital gains taxes.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, LHMS depends upon the goodwill of members and friends to help sustain its programs.
Private philanthropy has brought us this far — and we have accomplished much in the 35 years since Winnie Hackett, Gilbert Center, George Bingham, Stan Kidder, Gwen and Rolland Gove and others restored and reinvigorated the Laconia Historical Society in 1981, along with Bob Dearborn and the group who founded the Laconia Museum Society, as well as through the days during which Julie Upham, Esther Peters, Paul Normandin and others oversaw the merger of the two groups into today’s LHMS.
And, for the past 12 years, we have continued to expand our programs and contributions to the field, under the direction of several executive directors and in partnership with the Laconia Public Library. We have also acquired a historic building in which to store, conserve and safeguard our constantly-increasing collections.
Your support allows our programs and services to continue to be available to researchers and to the public. In addition to your annual membership dues, contributions in support of specific programs and contributions to the annual fund, please consider remembering LHMS in your estate planning when you consult with your attorney or financial advisor. Through planned giving, you can help LHMS continue to serve its mission of saving, preserving and sharing the rich history of Laconia, Lakeport and The Weirs.