There were no large signs announcing the projects, describing what is being done and who is funding it. The projects were started and completed with little fanfare. However, they are all important and define what makes a small town like Hampton special. What am I referring to? Recently there have been several projects in town that should be applauded, especially since in most places, they would have been undertaken by a municipality or even the state, considered public works in nature and funded by tax dollars. The recent projects are the library’s sunroom expansion, a roofed pavilion on the Town’s municipal compound, and the rebuilding of an old mill dam on the Little River.

The Fletcher Memorial Library Sunroom Expansion and the Dupuis Family

The Library project is probably the more traditional type to be assisted with private funding from a local family. Needing to create an area to accommodate presentations, speaking events, and larger gatherings, the Library needed to incorporate the new area into the existing architecture of the building’s Italianate Victorian style. The result is an addition that accomplishes both, a tasteful structure that melds well with the building and the creation of a wonderful interior space.

During the initial fund-raising effort, the library was able to raise $23,000, but still needed another $25,000 for the project, and initially considered asking the Town to fund the remaining amount. And here is where the Dupuis family came forward. The family had been looking for an appropriate project to fund in memory of Joan Dupuis, a long-time resident who had worked for over 20 years at the elementary school and touched the lives of many people. What better tribute to someone who cherished education than an addition to the local library, a place that would continue her lifelong commitment to learning? So, the Dupuis family provided the remaining funds needed for the project from the Joan Dupuis Memorial Fund for Children. The September 2019 issue of the Hampton Gazette provides a more in depth piece on the life of Joan Dupuis and the dedication of the Library’s new space.

The Town Pavilion and the Mennonite Community

What is more special in a small town than a place where people can gather? The town is fortunate for the recently constructed pavilion by the town’s Mennonite community. This beautiful structure with its arching rafters and stone pavers is a place for multiple uses. The labor that built the pavilion came from the town’s Mennonite community. Although relative newcomers, they have quickly become an important and vibrant addition to the town. Their deep commitment to family and community is felt by many people and is clearly reflected with the construction of the pavilion.

The pavilion already has been used by many groups during the pandemic, as it provides a large outdoor space to hold events and meetings. I recall having an Inland Wetlands Commission meeting one evening while the Scouts met at the opposite end of the pavilion. At another meeting, a full moon rose from the east, creating a dramatic backdrop. The pavilion certainly provided a special space to safely gather and conduct the town’s business during these difficult times. I look forward to the official dedication of the pavilion, expected sometime in the Spring of 2021, at which time the Gazette will cover more fully the efforts to create this new addition to the town.

The Fuller-Badger-Rockwell Dam and Paul and Laurie Pribble

The final project I would like to acknowledge is one that most people could overlook, but it provides an important contribution to the town. When I have guests visiting Hampton for the first time, I like to take them for a drive around town. Universally, the response is how beautiful the area is and how extensive its New England character. The old cluster of homes in the village, the farms set on our hilly and rocky landscapes, the many small streams, some even with old mill ponds. Much of what we have is disappearing, and perhaps one of the fastest to disappear is the old mill pond with its earthen and stone dam. Here is where Paul and Laurie Pribble enter. The dam holding back water for an old mill pond adjacent to their property had been breached; the loss of the dam drained down the pond and left a scarred environment. The Pribbles decided to repair the dam. This is not the usual home project, something you go to the Home Depot for. This type of endeavor requires the services of a professional engineer with experience in the repair of old dams and the submission of plans to the town for approvals. All of this, along with the construction work, was completely funded by the Pribbles. The end product: a fully restored dam and mill pond that has a long history.

The Fuller-Badger-Rockwell dam, the historical name for the structure, is located on the northwestern side of Route 97 opposite Hemlock Glen. There has been a dam at this location on the Little River since the mid-18th century, initially used to operate a small sawmill. This part of the Little River, from Old Kings Highway and north past Route 97, is more commonly known as “Hemlock Glen”. In 2007, this area was placed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Hemlock Glen Archaeological District. Hemlock Glen, and another small stretch of the Little River in Howard Valley, were areas in Hampton where small mills operated beginning in the mid-18th century and peaking in the mid-19th century. They were Hampton’s “industrial areas”. There were sawmills, grist mills and even a mill for the manufacturing of pins and spoons. Most years they were seasonally operated, depending on the river’s flow. Dams helped create a stored source of water that, when slowly released, provided the needed power for mills.

The difficulty in writing this article is it provides only a brief description of the story behind each project. However, the intent is more about identifying projects that deserve a special notice for their contributions to the quality of life in Hampton, and to say “thank you” to the people responsible: the Dupuis family, The Mennonite community, and Paul and Laurie Pribble.

Peter Witkowski