It’s sometimes difficult to decide what historic sites and locations to highlight and promote a 400-year history. The Rye Heritage Commission (RHC) recognized that challenge and, in April, 2022, formed a subcommittee of six Rye residents to identify and create, for the town’s 400th-year celebration, a series of signs and locations commemorating different aspects of Rye evolution. The members included Eileen Behan McCue, chair, Jaci Grote, Alex Herlihy, Andy Stecher, Lydia Tilsley and Peter White.
Their task was daunting. The goal was to identify subjects that would not only cover both the natural and developed community, but also current and former environments and/or events. The list started at 75 topics. From there, the committee began to review each suggestion, continuing to narrow down that number, site by site. Ultimately, they settled on seven diverse, historical topics and their locations:
Bracket Road Burial Site at Bracket road, opposite 605 Brackett Road
Family Farms that Shaped Rye’s History at 81 West Road
Goss Farm, Awcomin Marsh, Rye Harbor, Isles of Shoals at the Goss Farm parking area
Historic Hotels at Ocean Boulevard, opposite the former Drake House Hotel, between Sea and South Roads
Historic Rye Center at the Rye Public Library Common
Pulpit Rock Tower at the end of Neptune Road
Trefethen Corner at the Madden Group building
The team worked with Brenda Riddell of Graphic Details in Portsmouth, to design the signs and with Portsmouth Sign Company to fabricate them. Each measures 24” X 30” and includes images and historically relevant information, written in collaboration with content experts Paul and Denise Pouliot (Cowasuck Band of Pennacook-Abenaki People) the Brown Family members and Larry Keech. The visuals were provided by the Rye Historical Society and private family collections.
The project was a true, community-wide effort with input from the Historic District Commission, Rye Conservation Commission, Rye400 Committee, and Rye Town Center Committee. In addition, the group consulted with Public Works Director Jason Rucker, Police Chief Kevin Walsh and Library Trustee chair Jeff Ross, to secure appropriate spots for the signs. The signs are on town-owned land with the exception of the one for Trefethen’s Corner. That one is on The Madden Group building, recognizing it as a site which, until the 1960s, served as a popular General Store.
The final element of the plan was fundraising. A mailer was sent to every household and residents generously raised more than $24,000 to cover the costs of the project. The results represent the most successful fundraiser in RHC’s history.
The signs, telling Rye’s story in a visually compelling way, were erected in their respective locations in May. Get in your car or take a walk and take a look — a map with each sign location is available at www.ryenh400.org. Thank you Rye Heritage Commission and sign committee for a job well done!
