History Of Lower Gilmanton At Gilmanton Historical Society
August 25.
The First Baptist Church of Gilmanton is a familiar sight to
travelers on Route 107 through the town. Constructed in 1842, the
church, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is a key
feature of Lower Gilmanton, the subject of the Gilmanton Historical
Society’s program on Tuesday, August 25th, 7 pm at Old Town Hall in
Gilmanton Iron Works.
Many are familiar with the two larger centers of Gilmanton, the
Corners and the Iron Works. Less known is the third center, Lower
Gilmanton. Paula Gilman and Lori Baldwin, Historical Society Board
Members, with Pat Clarke, Board Vice President, will present a
program on the history of Lower Gilmanton. Come and learn about
this important part of our town ... so much more than the church
that remains today.
The program takes place at Old Town Hall on Route 140 in Gilmanton
Iron Works on Tuesday evening, August 25. It is free and open to
the public; donations to support the work of the Society are
gratefully received. Refreshments and social hour begins
at 7 pm. The program begins promptly at 7:30.
The Society’s Museum, in the basement of Old Town Hall, is open at
7 pm before the program. The Museum is open for summer hours, May
to September, every Saturday 10 am to noon except Gilmanton Old Home
Day (August 15).
The final program of the Historical Society’s 2015
summer season, September 22, is Exemplary Country Estates of New
Hampshire. For details pick up a brochure at the Town Office and
review the Society’s exhibit on Thomas Cogswell, Gilmanton’s
Revolutionary War hero. Or check the Society’s website,
www.historicalsocietiesnh.org/gilmanton.
There is a link on the Town website.
Letter To The Editor
Egregious Rulings in Belknap County Family Court
In a divorce case in Belknap County, the Marital Master made rulings
and then ruled against his own rulings which caused great confusion.
For example he stated in the Final Decree that both parties made
about equal income, yet while the divorce was pending ordered the
husband to pay property taxes on all 4 properties. Then when the
appraiser grossly over-appraised personal items of which
approximately 90% were items owned solely by the husband, the
Marital Master said, “….if there’s a debate about whether the values
are fair values for all the personal property that there is to be
divided, then I can’t use the values in connection with the overall
property distribution” yet turned around and used the values in the
Final Decree.
Adding to the confusion, the Marital Master ordered the man’s tools
that he makes a living with sold at auction in order to determine
their true value. The collection of tools and personal property
were overvalued for an estimated $52,000 yet brought only $1700 at
auction. The appraisal “values” were approximately 6 times the
actual value of the items. The Marital Master refused to adjust the
figures to accurately reflect their value after the auction results.
This in turn left the man without means to make a living, ruined his
35 year successful and reputable business, and saddled him with a
large amount to pay his ex-wife instead of a lower accurate amount.
The court had the power to correct the mutual mistake of the
disparity in values but denied motions to do so. The man is now
being forced to sell his home which includes his motorcycle repair
shop/state inspection station because the amount was so large.
Those who have or are currently experiencing similar injustices by
the NH Family Courts can call their local State Representative.
Nancy Childress, Esq.
Attorney Childress received her law degree in 2003 from Piercelaw
and is a Family Mediator.
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