Governor Frank Collins invented Old Home Day in 1899. His idea was to throw a party for everyone who was or who had ever been a New Hampshire resident, along with descendants of former residents.

At the time Gov. Rollins realized that New Hampshire was losing its population during and after the Civil War. Many residents were moving west.

Communities across the state celebrated, including a strong turnout in Londonderry. Concord had a large celebration.

Mary Tetreau

“Apple Fever” – what a great slogan for Old Home Day! It was brought to you by the creative students in Pat Slozak’s 4th grade class. Alissa Rogers came up with “Apple Fever” and the students voted it the winner!

To celebrate, the students chose an ice cream party. Old Home Day chair Kathy Wagner, along with Steve Young, provided the ice cream and the fixin’s.

Here is a photo of Pat Slozak and her fourth grade class.

Mary Tetreau

In the 1960s and 1970s Old Home Day (OHD) evolved into a bigger event, according to longtime Londonderry, NH resident Reed Clark. He emphasized that OHD had a “very little parade and very few booths.”

At Matthew Thornton school, boys and girls competed in egg races and spoon races. The youngsters competed in running races such as the 100-yard and 250-yard dashes, and two longer races. You can imagine the fun and excitement this involved!

Reed said proudly, “One year my four kids won all four events! There was a headline in the paper about it.”

Mary Tetreau

Reed Clark, whose family has lived in Londonderry, NH for generations, remembers going to Old Home Day as a boy. “It was a bean supper,” he said, “no booths or parades. A gathering of families. 1400 people lived in town and about 100 went to Old Home Day.”

Reed’s Dad took the family every year in a 1938 Buick Special.

Mary Tetreau