Heritage Day at First Parish Church

Saturday, May 5, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
First Parish Church, East Derry

Curious about the value of that favorite piece in your china cabinet or that odd item from a distant relative? Now's your chance to find out what they're worth, and to have a little fun besides.

Our Heritage Day 2007 features:

• Antique Appraisals from local expert Hercules Pappachristos, for just $5 an item.
• A Highland Games Exposition with a contest where you can test your own skill.
• Historic Displays and Activities with noted local historian Marilyn Ham and the FPC Historic Preservation Committee, the Londonderry Historical Society, plus other local groups.
• A Plant Sale with beautiful flowers and perennials—including several native and historical species— perfect for Mother's Day gifts or early Spring landscaping.
• Refreshments and Lunch throughout the event, including samples of treats that Derry's early settlers might have enjoyed.
• Historic Items and Mementos — acquire some history for yourself: choose from handcrafted local pottery, intriguing books and more from the Derry History Museum, and expressive items by a Church seminarian, and some unique FPC mementos to help you remember the day.

Come back here often to read more as our details unfold. Would you like to contribute by working on our history projects in advance or helping to keep things smooth the day of the event? Contact Paul Lindemann to offer some much-appreciated assistance.

Antique Appraisals

Get professional appraisals and advice from antiques expert and resident of East Derry village Hercules Pappachristos. (See FAQs to the right).

Mr. Pappachristos is a 1981 graduate of Franklin Pierce College in Rindge, New Hampshire. He majored in history and anthropology and has been working in the art and antiques field as an auctioneer, appraiser and dealer since 1989. Mr. Pappachristos is currently an Independent Appraisal Consultant for Grogan & Company and assists with Estate services and Auction Management. He is a member of the New Hampshire Antique Dealers Association and a Trustee of the Robert Frost Farm Museum.

Highland Games Exposition and Contest

The popular Highland Games of modern times grew out of the traditional gatherings of our Scottish past. At Heritage Day we'll learn more about that history, and get a taste of the games with these featured events:

• Caber Toss Demonstration — the artful throwing of a heavy length of tree trunk.
• Stone Put Demonstration — similar to the shot put but with a regular stone, it is one of the main heavy athletic events in the Highland Games.
• Sheaf Toss Contest — open to all, contestants in this agricultural challenge attempt to throw a heavy bag of wheat higher than all others.
• Mini Caber Toss Contest —everyon can try their hand at this difficult challenge (using a slightly safer version of the Caber!).

Also learn more at Wikipedia: HIghland Games, Caber Toss, Stone Put, Sheaf Toss

Plant Sale

Choose from beautiful Mother's Day gifts or get started with early Spring Landscaping and Gardening: you're sure to find something special with our selections of incredibly fresh annual and perennial stock. The Country Gardener is providing the stock, and the team of FPC gardeners led by Kathy Waller will help with all your horticultural needs.

Lunch and Refreshments

Enjoy a delicious menu based on traditional foods, prepared and served by FPC's Robin Summey and a team of fantastic volunteers. Choose from:

• Soups — Potato, Pumpkin, and Clam Chowder
• Sandwiches — Chicken Salad, Tuna Salad, Egg Salad
• Desserts — Strawberry Shortcake, Cookies
• Beverages — Fruit Punch, Coffee, Tea, Water

All served in Currier Hall, so you can get you antiques appraised and then celebrate your good fortune with an excellent lunch!

Historic Items and Mementos

Support the church further by choosing from the selected historically-themed items on sale at Heritage Day.

We'll have a display of handcrafted Nutfield Pottery pieces, created by artisan and FPC member Michael Gibbons just up the road here in East Derry Village.

The Derry History Museum is providing an array of books, research materials, souvenirs, and more from their fantastic collection.

First Parish "Student in Care" and UCC seminarian Moira Guertin Merrill will be on hand with her unique expressive items featuring local photography and her own prayers and poetry from her entrepreneurial effort The View fom my Soul.

Remember the day with a custom FPC yellow mug. And light your way with First Parish Flames, super-clean-burning, nature-friendly, soy-based candles hand poured next door in Londonderry by the Nutfield Candle Company. We'll have large and small candles in five great seasonal scents: Bluebarry Patch, Very Vanilla, Spring Rain, Lilac, and Eucalyptus.