Francestown Improvement & Historical Society
Connecting People to the Past and To Our Community Today
The Francestown Improvement and Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 147 Francestown, New Hampshire 03043
Proud Recipient of a 2015 LCHIP Grant
Interested in learning more about us?
About the Francestown Improvement and Historical Society
The Francestown Improvement & Historical Society (FIHS) has been a vital community organization since founding in the summer of 1911. Since then, FIHS has been responsible for a wide range of important activities and projects for the town and people of Francestown, New Hampshire.
Take a few minutes to explore our website to learn more about F.I.H.S, our mission, our Museum, the Beehive, our collection and the annual Labor Day Celebration. We invite you to join our organization to help us as we continue our important work in Francestown.
Funds raised during Labor Day Weekend allow F.I.H.S. to continue its mission
Francestown Improvement & Historical Society Mission Statement
Enhance community facilities
Enhance community facilitiesProvide financial support and leadership for projects that benefit the community
Provide financial support and leadership for projects that benefit the communityPromote the welfare and beautification of the Town of Francestown and
Promote the welfare and beautification of the Town of Francestown andImprove the recreational facilities.
Improve the recreational facilities.The Francestown Improvement & Historical Society is also dedicated to the:
Preservation of its historical collection,
Preservation of its historical collection,Acquisition and preservation of materials and artifacts of historical value, and
Acquisition and preservation of materials and artifacts of historical value, andProviding public access to its historical collection to expose and educate the public to Francestown’s rich and diverse history.
Providing public access to its historical collection to expose and educate the public to Francestown’s rich and diverse history.HISTORY of the FRANCESTOWN IMPROVEMENT & HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Founded in 1911 as The Village Improvement Society in 1911 to “promote an interest among the people toward improving and beautifying of the town”, a merger in 1961 with The Francestown Historical Society (1923) created the Francestown Improvement and Historical Society, known locally as FIHS.
The first mission of the Village Improvement Society was to clean-up town roads and create a town dump. Through the years FIHS contributed to the Town’s recreation fields, school playgrounds, public and private buildings, and both Town and community organizations. The Francestown Community Church, PTO and preschool, Old Meeting House, the Town’s Recreation Committee, Year 2000 Celebration, the Francestown News, and the Francestown Garden Club are among the more recent recipients. Every year FIHS funds and display US flags on utility poles, Christmas Tree lights, Holiday decorations, Town signs, plantings around the Town Common and park benches.
The most prominent annual event in Francestown is the Labor Day Celebration, a weekend long festival and fundraiser for FIHS. Begun in 1917 to raise funds ($600) for the Red Cross in support of WWI American service members overseas. The Celebration has continued every year since, except for 2021. In addition to funding the society’s annual operating expenses, Labor Day and other FIHS help support the aforementioned community events and organizations.
Starting in 1923, the second floor of the Bixby Memorial Library was “devoted to the collection and public display of items relating to the history of the town”. In 2001 FIHS moved its collection to the former Town administrative office building, aka the Annex. In 2004 FIHS purchased the “Beehive,” the former boarding house of the Francestown Academy. Constructed in 1846, as a boarding house or dormitory for the Academy, State Architectural Historian Emeritus, James Garvin, has noted its significance as one of the few remaining private academy residences in New Hampshire. The name “The Beehive” comes from either the level of activity in and around the building with students coming and going or from the building’s design resembling a hive of chambers built around central hallways. In 2021 the Beehive was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
With the assistance of several lead donations and a substantial grant from the New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) the Beehive was completely renovated. opening to the public in 2017. With seven display rooms the Beehive provides space for displaying the Society’s vast historical collection of artifacts and memorabilia.
FIHS also owns ten acres of recreation land and tennis courts leased to Francestown and a small public park on Main Street and the former Masonic Lodge.
In 2017 FIHS received a significant donation that facilitated the purchase of the historic, 204-year-old Francestown Village Store. After three years of fundraising and extensive renovations, the building, formerly the Long Store. reopened in 2020 as the Three Sisters Building with a convenient store, art gallery (now Morphs & Milestones) and professional office.
