Calendar of Events
January 2024
January 8th at 7pm Kickoff at first Select Board meeting of the year
February 2024
Feb 17 - Stoddard Snow Shindig: Outdoor event at Island Pond with ice skating, fishing derby, and bonfire with s’mores. Lunch served by Stoddard Fire and Rescue.
Feb 24th - Chili Fest 4 7pm @ Town Hall. Free to attend and sample. Bring your favorite chili to offer up for sampling. Voting for best Chili
March 2024
March 16th - Library Program 10am - Noon
May 2024
May 4th (5th Rain Date) 10:00 AM - Get to Know Stoddard Hike Event -Andorra Forest: Mansell Link to Jefts Rd to the Jefts Cemetery and return. Take a journey through history and nature. Meet your Andorra Forest hosts and learn more about the forest and its early inhabitants. Park off Rt. 123N near the gate or on the shoulder of 123N. Please do not block the gate. No dogs please. For much more information about the hike please see the Trail Details and Trail Map.
May 18th Concert kickoff: family friendly, aiming at 4 pm Saturday. Weekend after Mother’s Day and before Memorial Day. 50s Band, classic cars, food truck. Held in the parking lot at the Faulkner School
June 2024
June 5th - James Faulkner Elementary School Celebration of Stoddard--join some of Stoddard's youngest citizens to see what they have been learning about Stoddard and the world this year. Opening of the JFES 1999 Time Capsule
June 15th - 9 am-2pm. Calling serious hikers for 5 mile hike over moderate terrain with some challenging inclines. Join Glenn Stan, Steve Jacob’s, Zach Pearl and other to go from Old Antrim Rd to Bacon Ledge to Trout Pond to Shedd Hill Rd. NO DOGS PLEASE. Enjoy nature. Learn about the geology of the land, some local history, and a bit about forest management. Meet at the Charles Pierce Reservation gate on Shedd Hill Rd. If hiking with a partner, park one car on Shedd Hill Rd at the entrance to the Pierce Resrvation and another on Old Antrim Rd.
Contact Geri Bailey geribailey103@sbcglobal.net with any questions
June 15th - 3 pm-6pm Fabulous Folk and Soft Rock Music concert 1158 Route 123 North
Hosted by Jeff and Sorrell Downing
The trio of Jonah Bobo and Brendan and Damon Smith comes to us from New York City, off the national tour of “the Simon and Garfunkel Story”, to serenade us with mellow covers from James Taylor, Paul Simon, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, to name a few…
This is a benefit for the Stoddard Food Pantry, which welcomes donations of cash, check or purchased food items and toiletries such as toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner.
Bring your beverage of choice and your own lawn chair. Fried dough will be for sale, and well as our Stoddard swag and a tee shirt especially designed for the Food Pantry.
June 22nd (23rd rain date)- Get to Know Stoddard Hike and Farmhouse Tour. Upton Farm and Forest. Travel back to the mid-1800s and visit the Daniel Upton farmhouse, which has never been modernized. We'll enjoy corn cakes and coffee cooked on the historic wood stove, a tour of the farmhouse, and a hike to see remnants of the agrarian lifestyle of that time on the trails in the Upton Forest.
9:00 am to 10:30 am Corn cakes and farmhouse tour
10:30 am to 12:00 pm Hike to the Beaver Pond and back
Meet at 389 Juniper Hill Road, Stoddard, which is within the Upton Forest. Google maps will get you there. If you get lost, text 603.446.3580 or jcline389@gmail.com.
June 28th - Stoddard Town Hall, 7 p.m. Singer and storyteller Jazimina MacNeil will share the story of Stoddard musician Elbridge Locke. Several years ago, Jazimina was searching for local music and came across the story of Elbridge Locke, a Stoddard native who spent the Civil War writing and performing songs in Union Army camps across the country. Jazimina, a nationally recognized singer, will share Locke’s story and perform his songs. She will be accompanied by well-known local musician Gordon Peery.
June 29th - Pitcher Mountain Farm Day - Activities include open farm day, historic house tour and open house at Butterfield House, and two hikes.
4:45 a.m. Sunrise hike to Pitcher Mountain Fire Tower for spectacular views. PLEASE NONE THE TIME CHANGE
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Open Farm Day, Farm activities
Cowboy Breakfast with the Farmers
Farm and Animal Tours
Abenaki and Native traditions
Buffalo Lunch served with Burgers, hot dogs, and cheesesteaks.
Farmer's Market with local farms and vendors & 250th memorabilia
Demonstrations & crafts
Games for kids & fun for the whole family!
Petting area
10:30 a.m. Butterfield House tour of the oldest house in Stoddard, across the road from the farm. This tour has limited space. THIS TOUR IS FULLY BOOKED
12 – 2 p.m. Open house at Butterfield House for those who cannot attend the house tour.
12:30 p.m. Pitcher Mountain Farm history with Alan Rumrill, at the farm
2-3:30 p.m. From Butterfield House to Robinson Cascades, on Robinson brook. Hike past Andorra Pond, the Rev. Isaac Robinson cellar hole, Robinson Brook, and the site of the first Stoddard meetinghouse. This is a 2¼ mile loop on old roads and marked trails. Moderately challenging, bring water, wear comfortable hiking shoes, and spray for ticks.
July 2024
July 6th - Get to Know Stoddard Hike—Paddle at Robb Reservoir. Join the Harris Center’s Phil Brown, Alan Rumrill, and Geri Bailey for a leisurely paddle through one of the most diverse ecosystems in New England, where we'll look for eagles, turtles, and herons – and discuss the remarkable history of the 1,750-acre Robb Reservoir reservation.
9:00 am to 11:00 am Paddle THIS EVENT IS FULLY BOOKED
11:00 am to12:00 pm Historical Perspectives.
July 11th - 14th Old Home Days.
THURSDAY JULY 11
James Faulkner Elementary School 6:00 PM
Stoddard Conservation Commission presentation, Jason Kovarik: The Past, Present, and Future of Land Conservation in Stoddard.
FRIDAY, JULY 12th
James Faulkner Elementary School 6:00 PM
Presentation - Stacy Eaton: People you Know Picture Show: A retrospective of the last 50 years of the town’s history.
SATURDAY, JULY 13th
Stoddard Town Hall 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Bazaar - Local Crafts, artisans, Bake Sale, Stoddard Swag, Food and Drink, Sponsored by Stoddard Women’s Fellowship.
Historical Society Building 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Open to the Public
Parade 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Featuring bands, floats, Clowns, Skaters, Fire Trucks, Youth Organizations, Community floats, and so much more.
Gazebo 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Children’s games/Prizes, Face Painting, Little Red Wagon Presentation: “Treasure Island”
Home and Garden Tours 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Garden Club - Home and Garden Tours: Tour 5 Stoddard properties, free admission. Park at JFES or Town Hall and take a shuttle to the properties; you can also pick it up at the Historical Society. Information sheet available on the shuttle. Shuttle service courtesy of Fenton Family Dealerships. Contact David Lesser (dblesser1@gmail.com) if you have questions.
Art Studios at Crescent Pond 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Open House
Stoddard Fire Station 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Chicken Barbeque, Hamburgers, and Hot Dogs, Raffle Tickets Eat In or Take Out, Seating for over 100 Barbeque Tickets on Sale now at Mill Village Store
Live Music, Tom Foolery Band
1 Shedd Hill Rd (across from Fire Station)
SUNDAY, JULY 14th
James Faulkner Elementary School 8:00 AM -10:00 AM
Free Pancake Breakfast - Donations Appreciated
Stoddard Congregational Church Service 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Art Studios at Crescent Pond 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Open House
Historical Hike Led by Alan Rumrill 1:00 PM
Hike through Stoddard’s 3 historic town centers. The town has had 3 town centers since it was settled in 1768. Hike and learn how and why the 3 centers were developed. Meet at the Butterfield House, 2089 Rte. 123 North, across the road from Pitcher Mountain Farm. Those who are willing to carpool, meet at the Davis Library at 12:45 p.m. 1½ mile hike, moderately challenging, wear comfortable hiking shoes, bring water and tick spray.
Historical Society Building 2:00 PM - 4 PM
Open to the Public
August 2024
August 10th - Join a floating party at the Highland Lake Palooza, where a band plays from 4-7. Kayaks or boats can be put in at the 123 Launch (closest Launch to the event) or the Marina. There is limited parking both places and if the 123 launch lot is full you can park on the side of rt 123.
August 14th - Performing at the Gazebo from 5pm - 8pm will be Joey Clark and the Big Hearts. Joey Clark is a NH native who became a songwriter in Nashville. Joey’s memorable lyrics are set to rhythms borrowed from swing, bluegrass, old-time, country and folk-rock.
August 16th - Camp Day for grown-ups 3pm - 6pm on North Shore Rd Granite Lake, and annual meeting of the Stoddard Historical Society. Active program for the whole family, including typical camp games, songs, hot dogs and s’mores. Rain date August 17
September 2024
Sept 14th - Fourth in concert series 3-6 PM. Tennis Court, Hidden Lake Association Performing will be "Boom Box" that covers 80's and 90's Classic Rock, Pop and Southern Rock.
Sept 14th - Get to Know Stoddard Hike (10:00 am) Discover the Little Big Forest (LBF) hike, alive with end-of-summer mushrooms and captivating Points of Interest like trees, rocks, fox dens, and eagles. Parking at new parking area on Shedd Hill Rd.
Sept. 21st - Auction for Stoddard Church, Lakefalls Lodge, Aten Road, Stoddard. To donate items for auction, please email Kim, kfishrumrill1962@gmail.com, or Mary, mroentsch@gmail.com.
Proceeds benefit church's Building Fund. Details soon to follow.
October 2024
Oct 5th - Oct 5 – Get to Know Stoddard Hike (10:00 am to 1 pm) Approximately a mile each way, fairly flat terrain.
Perley Swett died in the 1970s as probably the last old-time Stoddard Yankee still living on the original family farm. His colorful history filled newspaper articles during his lifetime, and a more recent popular book called Perley: The True Story of a New Hampshire Hermit.
Join Alan Rumrill to walk to his homestead and gravesite, hearing the stories along the way. Afterward we’ll have a barbeque and learn about Florence Brooks Aten, who built the Adirondack style lodge in the 1920s that is now the center of Lakefalls. Meet at the parking area of Lakefalls, which is on the Granite Lake side of Stoddard (Get directions by entering Lakefalls Lodge into Google maps.)
October 18 -Premier of Stoddard Stories Film
Stoddard Town Hall, 7 pm
To preserve the memories of a number of people with a long-time connection to Stoddard, we’ve conducted a number of interviews over the past year. A professional videographer has put together these really interesting recollections into the film Stoddard Stories, which the Historical Society will present to us for the first time. (Popcorn provided.)
November 2024
November 2nd - Grand Finale: 250th Birthday Bash at Lakefalls; which will include music and dancing
April 2024
April 13th - Town Cleanup. From 10am to noon. Followed up with a cookout at the town field from noon - 2pm
April 19 - Stoddard Town Hall, 7 p.m. Alan Rumrill will present an illustrated program on the history of Stoddard from 1768-2024. He will share the story of the town’s contentious Revolutionary War history and trace the rise, fall, and rebirth of the community as it focused on agriculture, industry, tourism, and land conservation over the past 250 years.
April 20 - Ham and Bean Dinner, 5 p.m., Community Room at Faulkner School. Meal includes ham, baked beans, mac ‘n cheese, coleslaw, brown bread, rolls, corn bread and dessert. Cost: $10 adults; $5 children under age 12; free under age 3. Proceeds benefit Stoddard Congregational Church's Building Fund. For reservations, call Linda, 603-446-7821; or Carol, 603-446-7562.
July 27th
Davis Library 9 am -1 pm:
Used book sale at the Davis Public Library
Blueberry festival at the Historical Society 10 am- 2 pm:
Featuring home made baked goods and all things blueberry.
Family History Day, near the Historical Society.10 am-12 pm:
What games did kids play 250 years ago? Come by to try them out.