What To Know For Windham's Nutfield 300th Celebrations

WINDHAM, NH — The Windham Nutfield 300th Anniversary celebration takes place this weekend, Friday through Sunday. The festivities mark the 300th anniversary of the original settlers' arrival to the land they called Nutfield, which later became the towns of Windham, Londonderry and Derry. Here is the schedule and what you need to know.

A bit of history: Pawtucket Indians were the earliest known inhabitants occupying the land around the Merrimack River in what is now known as Lowell, Massachusetts. Their domain extended throughout New Hampshire. In 1718, Scottish immigrants arrived to Boston, and some of that group sailed further north to Casco Bay in Maine and then south to Haverhill, Massachusetts.

From there, they heard about a large area of land that was called "Chestnut Country," known for its large number of chestnut trees. That area later became known as Nutfield. They received a land grant from Massachusetts and began settling there. On April 12, 1719, the first sermon was preached in Nutfield near the shore of Beaver Lake, and a month later, more than 100 families had already settled in the newly discovered land. Nutfield later became known as Windham, Derry, Londonderry and a part of Litchfield.

History tours: As part of the 300th anniversary celebrations, Windham residents will be able to use an online guide to view properties of historical significance in town. Among them is the Windham Presbyterian Church, the Windham Town Pound, the Armstrong Memorial Building, the Dinsmoor-Hopkins Cellar Hole and the Campbell Mill.

Other towns are celebrating this year, too. The Londonderry Nutfield 300th celebration will take place Aug. 13 to Aug. 18, and Derry celebrations will take place July 4 and Sept. 14. Derry also held a Derry Founders' Weekend in April.

Schedule of Windham Events

Friday, May 31:

4:30 p.m. — Kick-off at the Town Common, 3 North Lowell Road, with opening remarks by Peter Griffin followed by the Windham 275th Time Capsule Dedication with Richard Armstrong and cannon firing by the First Regiment.

6 p.m. to 8 p.m. — Power at the Tower car show, at A.J. Letizio Enterprise Center, 55 Enterprise Dr. Hot dogs and refreshments free to those who attend.

Saturday, June 1:

11 a.m. to 5 p.m. — 36th annual Strawberry Festival and Book Fair, at Windham High School, 64 London Bridge Road. With food, music, games and the famous homemade strawberry shortcake. Book fair to benefit Nesmith Library, after 4 p.m. get a bag of books for $5. Interactive demonstrations and hands-on experiences on pottery, beeswax candle making, historic flax processing, and more. Free historical items available while supplies last.

Sunday, June 2:

10 a.m. — A Family Fun Walk/Run 5K, at Cobbetts Pond Plaza, hosted by Fight 2 Finish Cancer.

Noon to 4 p.m. — Town Museum open house, at 3 Lowell Road. New artifacts will be on display from the Campbell family.

2 p.m. to 4 p.m. — Searless School and Chapel, located at 3 Chapel Road, will be open for the public to view. Betty Dunn will play the tower chimes.

3:45 p.m. — Outdoor service by Windham Presbyterian Church will be held at Town Common, 3 North Lowell Road.

4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. — Ham and bean supper will be held at Windham Presbyterian Church, at 1 Church St.