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Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire: Puzzle Scavenger HuntCelebrate Black History Month with a Journey of DiscoveryThis February, the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire (BHTNH) invites you to participate in an educational and exciting Scavenger Hunt. Explore the untold stories of New Hampshire’s Black history through our historical markers and win exclusive prizes.How to Participate:Download the Puzzle: Each week, we will release a new puzzle worksheet on our website. This puzzle will contain clues to one of our historical…

 Shari Robinson, (President) is Assistant Vice-Provost of Student Life at the University of New Hampshire. She oversees Psychological and Counseling Services; Health & Wellness; Sexual Assault and Rape Prevention Program; Student Accessibility Services; Military Veteran Services and UNH Chaplain and Spiritual Life Association. She received her doctorate in Counseling Psychology from West Virginia University. She is a licensed psychologist in New Hampshire. Her areas of professional interest include counseling issues related to equity, inclusion, and diversity, working with students of…

Amos Fortune (c.1710-1801) was a prominent tanner, bookbinder, and philanthropist who bought his freedom in colonial New England as an African-American man. In 1781, Amos and his family relocated to Jaffrey, New Hampshire, where Amos established a prosperous tannery. Upon his death in 1801, he bequeathed $233 to the town of Jaffrey for educational programs, and $100 to the church to purchase “a handsome gift,” making him the town’s first benefactor. His contribution to the town for educational purposes established…

William Hobdy was the first Black business owner on record in Derry, NH.[i]  He was the sole proprietor of Star Cleaning & Repairing Co., which opened in the summer of 1899.[ii] Located in the Derry Depot, his shop was under that of F.S. Pillsbury.[iii] Besides owning a business, William was also a talented musician with an entrepreneurial spirit: In November 1902, he held the first-ever ragtime ball in the area.[iv] He hosted ice cream gardens for summer visitors at his…

The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire is excited to announce the unveiling of a historical marker honoring Nellie Brown Mitchell and Edward Everett Brown in Dover. This unveiling is part of our statewide program, Mapping Untold Stories, which makes New Hampshire’s Black history visible and brings to light the rich history and contributions of Black people in New Hampshire.Nellie Brown Mitchell  was a successful Black soprano concert singer, music educator, inventor, and activist. She was a native of Dover.…

The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire (BHTNH) invites the public to attend the unveiling of this historic marker in Nashua as part of our statewide program, Mapping Untold Stories. This program makes New Hampshire’s Black history visible and brings to light the rich history and contributions of Black people in New Hampshire. The Nashua marker at Holman Stadium honors Black baseball legends Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe, who played there in the 1940s. The unveiling will be held before…

  The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire (BHTNH) invites the public to attend the unveiling of this historic marker in Milford as part of our statewide program, Mapping Untold Stories. This program makes visible New Hampshire’s Black history and brings to light the rich history and contributions of Black people in the state. The Milford marker honors Harriet Wilson, the first African American to publish a novel in English. Her book, “Our Nig,” or Sketches from the Life of…

Brigadier Jerry Robert Russell, aka Brigadier Jerry, was born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1957 and became interested in music at an early age when he began to follow U-Roy’s King Sturgav Hi Fi. In the 1970’s, he became a member of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, a Rastafarian organization which was making many converts at the time and began to toast on their Jah Love sound system. He then became friends with singers Fred Locks and Freddie McGregor, who were both…

Good Friday ToursThe Black Heritage Trail of NH is partnering with St. John’s Episcopal Church to offer both an in-person and virtual Good Friday Walk of 14 sites on the Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail. Each of these sites will pair a story of an African American with each of the Stations of the Cross.The Way of the Cross | Virtual | April 5 | 7-8:30 pm Register HereThe Way of the Cross Walk | In Person | April 7 | 1…