The meeting was called to order on Tuesday, April 25, at 7:30 p.m. in the Wilton Public Library. Present were Stanley Young, Michael Dell’Orto, Corinne Blagbrough, Don Channing, Phyllis Tallarico, Jesse Salisbury, Richard Rockwood and Nancy Clark.

The March minutes were read and accepted. The treasurer reported the amount of $830.47 in the Heritage Commission account. Three more signs have been ordered.

Michael reported on the 2006 Preserving Community Character Conference sponsored by the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance and Historic Belknap Mill. In general, attending commission members came away with the conviction that the Heritage Commission seems to be doing a good job. We have already implemented many of the programs discussed and recommended by the speakers, or continue to work on such ongoing projects as the raising of historic signs around town and our intention to establish a Heritage Trail. Michael further reported on Past Perfect software which was discussed in a document preservation seminar at the conference. This software catalogues documents, books and objects, tracks loaned objects, compiles membership and capital campaign lists and generally fits the bill for many of the HC’s needs. He also recommended the acquisition of a digital camera and tripod to record objects as well as documents. He proposed applying for a grant to purchase the software, camera and a larger scanner. The Commission agreed to move forward on this.

Jesse Salisbury of Lyndeborough has acquired the Hazen family’s collection of obituaries, and included among the papers was an article from a July 1910 Manchester paper which detailed the misadventures of a Chas. F. Terrill who was arrested for breaking and entering in Lyndeborough and jailed in Wilton. He was judged insane and committed to the asylum in Concord but while being transported there he escaped from the train somewhere between Amherst and Bedford. Local residents were then enjoined to keep an eye out for a large one-armed man with a hook and everyone was notably terrorized by the incident.

The Commission then turned to work upon the Historical/Cultural overlay of the Natural Resources map. The meeting adjourned some time after nine o’clock.

The Commission met again on Tuesday, May 16 at 2 p.m. in the Wilton Public Library to continue to work on the Natural Resources map. Present were Stanley Young, Michael Dell’Orto, Corinne Blagbrough, Don Channing, Leslie and Phyllis Tallarico, Gail Hoar and Nancy Clark.

Respectfully submitted,

Nancy Clark, Secretary