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Memories of Wilmot
Loretta Rayno
In June of 2014, the Wilmot Historical Society interviewed Loretta Rayno, age 79, who shared stories of her childhood, her experiences in the United States Women’s Army Corps (WAC) after World War II, and her return to Wilmot.
Credits
Interview by: Lindy Heim, Wilmot Historical Society
Audio by: Kathy Neustadt, Danbury Oral Historian
Videographer: Judy Hauck, Wilmot Historical Society
Produced by: Theresa Chamberland of StoryCatcher Studios
The Birth of Freedom Acres and A
Taste of the Wild
In the fall of 1946, Kay White and Donna Niles, veterans of the WWII Women’s Army Corps, left New York city on a vacation to New England and, due to a sick puppy they had with them, spent a couple of days in a friend’s cabin halfway up Mt. Kearsarge to let the puppy recuperate.
They were so impressed with the area that a short time later, they purchased 26 wooded acres at the foot of Mt. Kearsarge. The parcel was on the west side of the Old Winslow Road in Wilmot, and it is here they decided to put down their roots and try homesteading the land—which they called Freedom Acres Farm.
Wild fruits and berries were plentiful, and in 1949, Kay unearthed her great-grandmother’s preserve recipes and made several different types of jams and jellies. The result was so successful, that she and Donna decided to send them as Christmas gifts to their Army buddies and friends in New York City.
This generated a great demand for more of these delicious preserves—which ultimately turned into a 40-year mail order business they called Taste of the Wild.
In this interview, Wilmot Flat resident Loretta Rayno, who was a close associate of Donna and Kay for 28 years, shares first-hand stories of Donna and Kay and their jelly business that ultimately brought 45,000 tourists a year to Wilmot.
Credits
The Birth of Freedom Acres and A Taste of the Wild
Presented by the Wilmot Historical Society
Featuring
Loretta Rayno
Guests
Mary Fanelli – Wilmot Historical Society
Kathy Neustadt – Danbury Oral Historian
Judy Hauck – Videographer
Judy Hauck – Narrator
Lindy Heim – Interviewer
Produced by: Theresa Chamberland of StoryCatcher Studio
Photography
Kate Smith by Wikimedia Commons
Mount Kearsarge from Bog Mountain by Margaret Doody
Wilmot Historical Society
Charles Thompson and Elizabeth Kirby
In this documentary, Charles Thompson and his sister Elizabeth (Thompson) Kirby, share their life stories and their lives living in Wilmot, New Hampshire. These interviews were recorded in 2020, on October 20 and 29, by the Wilmot Historical Society members Judy Hauck, Lindy Heim, and Fred Ögmundson, at the home of Charles and Jackie Thompson, in Wilmot, New Hampshire.
Credits
Wilmot Historical Society Members
Interviewers: Fred Ögmundson and Lindy Heim
Videographer: Judy Hauck
A special thank you to: Catherine Stearns, Wilmot Historical Society vice president
Arthur and Annie Thompson
In this documentary, Charles Thompson and his sister Elizabeth (Liz) Thompson Kirby share stories of their parents’ lives in Wilmot, New Hampshire. This interview was recorded on October 10, 2020, by Wilmot Historical Society members Judy Hauck, Lindy Heim, and Fred Ögmundson at the home of Charles Thompson and his wife Jackie in Wilmot, New Hampshire.
Credits
Videographer: Judy Hauck
Interviewers: Lindy Heim and Fred Ögmundson
Photos
* Wilmot Historical Society
* Norris Cotton, New Hampshire Senator, 1954-1974
Photo source: Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norris_Cotton#cite_note-obit-1
* Donald Andrew Hall
Photo source: Video interview with Gail Matthews and Stephanie Perkins Wheeler of “Kearsarge Valley Magazine”
Wilmot Flat
Baptist Church
In this documentary, Charles Thompson, and Liz Kirby share their memories of the Wilmot Flat Baptist Church. This interview was recorded in two segments, one on October 23, 2020, and the other on April 30, 2021, by Wilmot Historical Society board members Judy Hauck, Lindy Heim, Liz Kirby, and Fred Ögmundson. They spoke with Liz and Charles at his home on Cross Hill Road in Wilmot, New Hampshire.
Credits
Wilmot Historical Society Members
Videographer: Judy Hauck
Interviewers: Fred Ögmundson, Liz Kirby, Lindy Heim
Photos by: Wilmot Historical Society
The Wilmot Volunteer Fire Department
In this documentary, Charles Thompson, shares his memories of the Wilmot Volunteer Fire Department. This interview was recorded in two segments, one on October 23, 2020, and the other on April 30, 2021, by Wilmot Historical Society board members Judy Hauck, Lindy Heim, Liz Kirby, and Fred Ögmundson. They spoke with Charles at his home on Cross Hill Road in Wilmot, New Hampshire.
Credits
Wilmot Historical Society Board Members
Videographer: Judy Hauck
Interviewers: Fred Ögmundson, Liz Kirby, Lindy Heim
1942 Wilmot Volunteer Fire Department
Wilmot Volunteer Fire Department Parade Floats
2022 Wilmot Volunteer Fire Department Members
The Grange in Wilmot
In this documentary, Liz Kirby and her brother Charles Thompson share stories and history of the Grange in Wilmot, New Hampshire. This interview was recorded on October 29, 2020, by the Wilmot Historical Society members Judy Hauck, Lindy Heim, and Fred Ögmundson at the home of Charles and Jackie Thompson, on Cross Hill Road in Wilmot, New Hampshire.
Credits
A Special thank you to Wilmot Historical Society Vice President, Catherine Stearns.
Wilmot Historical Society video crew
Videographer: Judy Hauck
Interviewers: Fred Ögmundson and Lindy Heim
School Life In Wilmot In the Mid 1940s and 1950s
In this documentary, Elizabeth Kirby and her brother Charles Thompson share stories of what school life was like in the mid-1940s and 1950s in Wilmot, New Hampshire. This video was recorded on October 1, 2020, by Wilmot Historical Society members Judy Hauck, Lindy Heim, and Fred Ögmundson, at the home of Charles on Cross Hill Road in Wilmot, just up from the original Thompson family home, where his sister Elizabeth now resides.
Credits
Wilmot Historical Society Members
Videographer: Judy Hauck
Interviewers: Fred Ogmundson and Lindy Heim
Henry and Annette Stevens
In this documentary, Henry Langley Stevens and his wife Annette Stevens share stories of the Wilmot community and of their lives growing up in Wilmot, New Hampshire. This interview was recorded on August 12, 2010 by the Wilmot Historical Society volunteers Charles Thompson and Lindy Heim at Henry and Annette’s home in Wilmot.
Walter Walker
In this documentary, Walter Walker shares stories of his life growing up and raising a family. He speaks about six generations of his family who lived on their farm on Walker Brook Road in South Danbury, New Hampshire. This interview was recorded on April 28, 2011 by Wilmot Historical Society volunteers Lindy Heim and Charles Thompson at Walter and Judy Walker’s home on the family farm in Wilmot, New Hampshire.
Credits
Interviewer: Charles Thompson
Videographer: Lindy Heim
Produced by: Theresa Chamberland of StoryCatcher Studios
Esther Ruth Lajoie Grace
In this documentary, Esther and her husband Tyler share stories of growing up and raising a family in North Wilmot. Esther Grace, née Esther Ruth Lajoie, was born in North Wilmot, New Hampshire. This interview was recorded on August 5, 2011 by Wilmot Historical Society volunteers at Esther and Tyler’s home on Cross Hill Road in Wilmot, New Hampshire. Esther died in December of 2019.
Credits
Interviewer: Lindy Heim and Charles Thompson
Videographer: Lindy Heim
Produced by: Theresa Chamberland of StoryCatcher Studios
May Jones
In this documentary May tells stories of growing up, farm life in the early days, the roadway changes when Route 11 came through Wilmot, her 58-year career at New London Hospital, her 3-years as Wilmot Chief of Police, and the argument of how Wilmot is pronounced is finally settled. She retired from her position at the New London Hospital in 2015. (Press Release)
Two interviews were recorded by Wilmot Historical Society volunteers. The first interview with May was filmed on October 12, 2018 at Barbara Sanborn’s home on Pancake Street and the second interview was on May 5, 2019 at Lindy Heim’s home at 55 Campground Road. Barbara Sanborn was at both interviews and shared her stories as well.
Credits
Interviewer: Lindy Heim
Videographer: Judy Hauck
Produced by: Theresa Chamberland of StoryCatcher Studios
Barbara Laughy Sanborn
In this documentary Barbara tells stories of being adopted, marrying and raising her family in Wilmot, and her love for making quilts.
Two interviews were recorded by Wilmot Historical Society volunteers. The first interview with Barbara was filmed on October 12, 2018 at Barbara’s home on Pancake Street and the second interview was on May 5, 2019 at Lindy Heim’s home at 55 Campground Road. May Jones was at both interviews and shared stories her stories as well.
Credits
Interviewer: Lindy Heim
Videographer: Judy Hauck
Produced by: Theresa Chamberland of StoryCatcher Studios
Thelma Minard
Thelma tells the story of how she and her family ended up in the town of Wilmot, New Hampshire from Vienna, Virginia, in 1971. Her story includes the historical backstory of the town purchasing the former one-room-school house building for one dollar, and her involvement in the process of obtaining funds to transform the building into the Wilmot Public Library. Thelma ends her story with details of publishing her cookbook, Tom Piperson’s Pig and Other Culinary Delights.
Two interviews were recorded by Wilmot Historical Society volunteers at the Wilmot Public Library in Wilmot New Hampshire. The first interview was on September 9, 2010 with Thelma and the second interview was on November 30, 2018 with Fred Ogmundson, Carol MacDonald, and Mary Ogmundson.
Credits
Videographer: Lindy Heim
Interview September 9, 2010 by: Lindy Heim and Carol MacDonald
Interview November 30, 2018 by: Lindy Heim and Judy Hauck
Produced by: Theresa Chamberland of StoryCatcher Studios
Clara Langley
In this historical documentary, Clara Langley shares stories about teaching in schools from Maine to Maryland and then at the Wilmot Center School. The building in which she taught now houses the Wilmot Public Library. Clara met Frank E. Langley in the early 1950s, and they married and raised their family in Wilmot.
Two interviews were recorded by Wilmot Historical Society volunteers. The first interview (below) was recorded at Clara’s house in Wilmot New Hampshire on December 15, 2009. The second interview was recorded on November 30, 2018 at the Wilmot Public Library with Fred Ogmundson, Carol MacDonald, and Mary Jane Ogmundson. (Link to 2nd interview)
Clara was born in Fayette, Maine, on June 21, 1918, and died in Wilmot, New Hampshire, on December 20, 2015 at the age of 97.
Transcript of audio tape interview with Clara’s husband Frank Langley June 15, 1993. (Interviewed by George Peterson) Click Here
Credits
Interviewers: Lindy Heim and Marc Davis
Videographer: Lindy Heim
Production: Theresa Chamberland of StoryCatcher Studios
Donald Andrew Hall
This interview of Wilmot’s most famous poet, Donald Andrew Hall Jr., by Gail Matthews and Stephanie Perkins Wheeler of Kearsarge Valley Magazine was originally aired in August of 1990 and is republished here with permission.
Former Poet Laureate of the U.S. from 2006-2007 and of New Hampshire from 1984–1989, Donald Hall died on June 23, 2018, at Eagle Pond Farm in Wilmot, where he hayed with his grandfather during boyhood summers and later cultivated a writer’s life.
Additional Resources
Bill Moyers Interview: A Life Together: Donald Hall and Jane Kenyon, December 1993
NHPR spoke to Donald about his work again and again. Listen to a selection of NHPR’s favorite conversations with Hall: Conversations with Poet Donald Hall, New Hampshire’s Adopted Native Son
Credits
Interview by: Gail Matthews and Stephanie Perkins Wheeler of Kearsarge Valley Magazine
Filmed in the home of Donald Hall in Wilmot, New Hampshire
Clayton Nowell
Clayton Nowell has lived on his farm in North Wilmot since 1950. On this page you will find two interviews with Clayton. One from 1975 when the Boston Globe documented his life in words and photos, and the other a more recent video filmed in October of 2017.
In the 1975 Globe article, a younger Clayton tells about farming and living in a rural community. Link to Boston Globe article
In the video below, Clayton updates his story for Liz Thompson Kirby, Lindy Heim, Judy Hauck and Christine Jenssen at Lindy’s home in Wilmot, October of 2017.
Credits
Interviewer: Liz Thompson Kirby
Videographers: Judy Hauck, Christine Jenssen, and Lindy Heim
Production: Theresa Chamberland of StoryCatcher Studios
Wilmot One-Room School Reunion
At their annual meeting in November of 2016, the Wilmot Historical Society hosted a reunion of former teachers and students of Wilmot’s one-room schoolhouses. Thirty-one students two teachers attended. Liz Kirby, a former schoolhouse student herself, organized the event and Fred Ogmundson served as master of ceremonies. “Alums” came from near and far to attend this memorable reunion of friends and schoolmates.
Jack McAuliffe
In this historical documentary, (see below) Jack McAuliffe shares stories of his youth including taking us back to the Depression when his family drove from California to Wilmot, New Hampshire.
Jack tells his guests, Liz Thompson Kirby, Chuck and Jackie Thompson, and Cinematographer Lindy Heim, about many of his experiences in Wilmot in grammar school through high school.
Jack, who was born in Owens Mouth, California, on June 20, 1924, died in Gilford, New Hampshire on November 19, 2015 at the age of 91.
Credits
Interviewer: Lindy Heim
Videographer: Lindy Heim
Production by: Theresa Chamberland of StoryCatcher Studios
Audio Interview Transcripts
Marjorie Joyce Tilton – Interviewed by Judith Walker in two sessions. February 23, 1993 and March 11, 1993. (pdf)
Reminiscences read by Wilmot residents – Several Wilmot residents read written reminiscences: Florence Langley (read by Judy Walker), Lida Gross and E. Campbell (read by Betsy Forsham), Lucy Hall (read by Donald Hall). At the end, Fran Wilcox shares her own reminiscences about Wilmot. (pdf)
Reminiscences at a WHS Meeting Feb 18, 1990 – Rolland Gove, Lida Gross, Mildred Howard, and Connie Forsham. (pdf)
Frank Walker – Frank Walker, interviewed by his son, Walter, about working in the garnet mine in North Wilmot. Circa early 1980. (pdf)
Annie Thompson – interviewed by Lynn Bacon in 1992. Edited by her children Elizabeth and Charles Thompson in 2020. (pdf)
Earle Chandler – On May 10, 1993 Helen White interviewed Mr. Earle Chandler, Wilmot Selectman. (pdf)
John Lawrence Rayno – On July 21, 1993, George Peterson conducted an interview with John Lawrence Rayno, a 79-year-old native of Wilmot. (pdf)
DIARIES & DOCUMENTS
William Arthur Thompson – The three Thompson diaries themselves are still in the possession of Charles Thompson of Wilmot. 1888 diary starts on April 14. (These are large files and may take a while to open.)
WWI war records – (pdf)
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