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Manchester Conservation Commission Outreach Tours Presents: Manchester, the Merrimack, and the Mills

Published: 01/02/2024 10:26 AM

Photo of the center entrance into the Waumbec Mills

Manchester New Hampshire was once the textile mill capital of the world! Manchester’s Amoskeag Manufacturing Company was the largest textile producer in the world and much of the infrastructure that supported this industry is still part of Manchester’s fabric. Manchester was not chosen at random, but instead it was the immense natural resources provided by the Merrimack River that cemented Manchester’s role in the Nation’s industrial revolution.

The Manchester Conservation Commission invites you to join us for the fourth in its series of Outreach Tours on Saturday January 20 at 10:30am to learn how the “Mighty Merrimack” helped build the industrial roots of our City.

This tour is open to the public and will be exploring how the growth of Manchester’s textile industry was a direct result of the natural resources provided by the Merrimack River Watershed.

The tour will meet at the Millyard Museum located at 200 Bedford Street, Manchester (entrance is on the Commercial Street side). Tour participants will have a brief opportunity to explore the museum before a presentation by local historians. The group will then be provided with a tour of the revitalized Waumbec Mills which was built in 1897!

The event ends at noon, after which attendees are encouraged to visit any of the numerous local restaurants for lunch and independent exploration!

The Manchester Conservation Commission is a function of the City of Manchester and is responsible for preserving the City's natural resources for the benefit of its citizens and wildlife. The Commission holds regular outreach tours to help residents and visitors learn more about these natural resources.

Where: Meeting at the Millyard Museum, 200 Bedford Street

When: Saturday January 20, 2024, 10:30AM (until noon)

Parking: Street parking on Commercial and Bedford Streets.

Accessibility: Participants are encouraged to wear sturdy footwear, have clothing appropriate to be outdoors for short periods of time. There may be stair climbing to access some portions of the tour.

This event may be canceled in the event of inclement weather.

The event is free and open to the public, however registration is required. Please register online at this link: https://manchesternh.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=341

A picture of some of the piping underneath Manchester's millyard

Manchester Conservation Commission to hold second “Conservation Walk” at Valley Cemetery

Published: 08/10/2023 1:09 PM

On August 26, 2023 from 10 am to 12 pm the Manchester Conservation Commission will be holding the second event in a series of “Conservation Walks” at the Valley Cemetery in downtown Manchester.

A true Manchester hidden gem, the Valley Cemetery is located just a block from Elm Street and was built in 1840. The cemetery was designed to be a living, “garden cemetery” that should be enjoyed by members of the community on a daily basis. The original cemetery included a chapel, bridges, gazebos, and numerous walking trails that were all well maintained and was a place for families to have picnics and enjoy a day at the park.

Early picture of Valley Street Cemetery

Throughout the 1900s the cemetery fell into a state of disrepair and neglect and had become a place to avoid. However, efforts have been underway since the early 2000’s to reclaim this green space in the heart of Manchester. The Valley Cemetery is now listed in the U.S. Register of Historic Places and members of “Valley Volunteers” volunteer every other Saturday to clean the cemetery and to painstakingly restore many of the headstones.

Join the Manchester Conservation Commission, members from the Valley Volunteers, and representatives from the Manchester Department of Public Works for an informative exploration of this urban greenspace and learn about the history of the cemetery from historians and the efforts of local volunteers to take back the cemetery and restore the garden park that it once was. We will also learn about the challenges and victories of the Valley Volunteers group and how you can help their efforts.

This will be a walking tour of the cemetery and will include some paths that go down into the lower parts of the cemetery. While not steep, participants should wear appropriate footwear and bring sunscreen and bug repellent. Participants will also get to explore the inside of the chapel that is slated for restoration.

Participants should park on Pine Street near Grove Street and then walk into the main cemetery entrance. The Conservation Tour will meet just inside the gate.

The tour will depart promptly at 10 am and should take no more than two hours. We anticipate having Spanish interpretation available and multiple Manchester Transit routes pass within close proximity to the Cemetery.

WHO: Manchester Conservation Commission, Manchester Department of Public Works, and the Valley Volunteers Group

WHAT: Conservation Walking Tour of the Valley Cemetery

WHERE: Park on Pine Street near Grove Street and walk into the main cemetery entrance. The group will meet just inside the gate.

WHEN: Saturday, August 26, 2023, 10 am to 12 pm.

For more information or to register please email: conservationcom@manchesternh.gov

Picture of Valley Street Cemetery Chapel

Join the Manchester Conservation Commission for a Tour of the Manchester Cedar Swamp All Persons Trail on Sunday, July 23rd from 10 AM – 12 PM

Published: 07/06/2023 10:16 AM

The Manchester Conservation Commission, in partnership with the NH Nature Conservancy, welcomes the public for a free educational tour of one of Manchester's unique conservation areas. Join us at the Manchester Cedar Swamp All Persons Trail on Sunday July 23 from 10am-12pm.

The Manchester Cedar Swamp is a gem of conservation with some trees that are over 450 years old. The trees include globally rare Atlantic white cedar swamps, black gum, hemlock, and giant rhododendron patches. 

The universally accessible Cedar Swamp All Persons Trail includes a spacious parking area, inclusive, informational signage, immersive interpretive points of interest, a non-gendered, family-friendly, ADA-compliant portable restroom, and an audio tour available in both English and Spanish.

Note: The meeting point for the tour is the Cedar Swamp Preserve parking lot on Countryside Boulevard, Manchester, NH.

What Are Your Commissioners Up To?

Published: 09/16/2022 4:53 PM

Picture Taken April 6, 2022 - Commissioners stand in front of flagged wetland area during a site walk.

April 6, 2022 - Some of our Commissioners joined local developers on a site walk to review wetland mitigation for a proposed development between Radburn Street and Smyth Road. Site walks are held periodically for larger development projects brought before the Manchester Planning Department or NH Department of Environmental Services, and offer a great perspective into how projects will be developed that may be harder to wrap your head around with just a map or aerial view of a property.

Pictured Left to Right: Commissioner Emmanuel Uwizeye, Commission Chair Brenda Noiseux, Commissioner Nancy Deol, and Commissioner Donald Waldron.

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