Program — Nutfield 300th Founders Weekend

The program of events for Founders Weekend is as follows. (Subject to changes and additions.) Heritage Weekend public celebration activities are free and open to the everyone.

Participating in the Nutfield Families Reunion and Conference requires registration; please see the Conference page for details.

FRIDAY APRIL 12

FREE PUBLIC CELEBRATION

1:00 – 5:00pm Tours

First Parish Church
Self-Guided Tours

  • Forest Hill Cemetery

  • Upper Village

 

FAMILIES CONFERENCE

1:00 – 5:00pm Welcome

First Parish Church

  • Check In

  • Badge & Gift Bag Pick Up

Upper Village Hall

  • Family Stations
    (dedicated table spaces)

  • Genealogy HQ
    (expert assistance)

Taylor Library — Local History Resources

Friday & Saturday, 10:00am – 3:00pm

The adjacent, historic Taylor Library has special Founders Weekend open hours to assist researchers with their specialized local history collection.

Welcome Dinner — 4:30–7:30pm
Fody’s Tavern, E. Derry
Priority seating to Conference attendees. Welcome speeches & a Northern Ireland history and poetry talk by Dr. Linde Lunney. $35

SATURDAY APRIL 13

FREE PUBLIC CELEBRATION

9:00am – 5:00pm
First Parish Church

Lobby, Currier Hall, & A/B Room

  • General Info and Handouts

  • 300th History & Fun Kids & Adults Activities

  • Food Service

  • Derry, Londonderry, and Windham History Museums

Rainbow & Music Rooms 

  • Lightning Talks: 15-minute presentations on area history and preservation topics

Nutfield Classrooms

  • Live Demos by Pottery and Flax/Linen Artisans

  • Kids Activities by FPC and Nutfield Coop: crafts and fun history puzzles and games

Meetinghouse

  • Preservation Project Displays

  • Timber Framing Demo

  • Guided Tours and Restored Steeple Unveiling

 

FAMILIES CONFERENCE

8:30am – 5:00pm
Upper Village Hall

Family Stations (Main Hall)

Geneology HQ (Conference Room)

  • Heather Rojo

  • Dr. WIlliam Raulston

Keynote Talks

  • 8:30am Welcome

  • 9:00am Heather Rojo — Discovering Your Nutfield Ancestors

  • 10:00am Bob Starratt — From Londonderry to Londonderry: the Sterret(t) Saga

  • 11:00am – 2:30pm
    Free Time, Bag Lunch

  • 12:00pm – 1:00pm TJ Cullinane — Early Settlers Guided Tour of Forest Hill Cemetery

  • 2:30pm Dr. William Roulston — Ulster at the Time of the Nutfield Migration

  • 3:30pm Rebecca Graham — Good Wives and Subtle Warriors: Women of the Eastern Frontier

Guided Tours of Forest Hill Cemetery

See distinctive headstones and learn about the Early Settlers and other Derry notables buried here, led by local expert TJ Cullinane.

Saturday: 10:00 – 11:00am — General Tour;
12:00–1:00pm Early Settlers
(also General Tour Sunday 2:30 – 3:45

Nutfield Gala

Adams Memorial Building, 6:00pm–9:30pm

A ticketed event in this historic downtown Derry building. (just $50). See details on the Gala page.

  • Opera House: Hearty appetizers & drinks, music & dancing, Nutfield Poem reading.

  • Green & Conf. Rooms: History Displays

  • History Museum: open 6:00pm – 8:00pm

SUNDAY APRIL 14

FREE PUBLIC CELEBRATION

10:00am – 11:00am
First Parish Church

  • Historic Worship Service, with recent Pastors

  • Light Reception and Coffee Hour

 

FAMILIES CONFERENCE

9:00am – 1:00pm
Meetinghouse & Forest Hill Cemetery

  • Tours

Upper Village Hall

  • Family Stations, Genealogy HQ

  • Luncheon

1:00pm Nutfield Ecumenical Worship Service
First Parish Courier Hall
Representatives from area houses of worship.

Refreshments: Coffee, Soft Drinks, Cake

Afternoon

Self-guided Tours: Cemetery, Village, Towns

2:45pm Forest Hill Cemetery General Guided Tour

History Museums Open
Derry, Londonderry, Windham

4:00pm MacGregor House Fountain Dedication
by Derry Village Rotary at MacGregor Park, downtown Derry

All information is subject to change; check back often to see the latest.