MERRIMACK NH

MERRIMACK NH

Merrimack Community Bandstand

Abie Griffin Park

Built - 1996

The town of Merrimack is located in an area of the state which is only an hour's commute from Boston, the White Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. The thriving town of 25,000 is rich in history and can proudly claim Matthew Thornton as one of its past residents and signer of the Declaration if Independence.

The Merrimack Community Bandstand was built in 1996 and dedicated on September 22nd in observance of the town's 250th anniversary. Funding for the $35,000 structure was done through private and business donations, the sale of local memorabilia - i.e. calendars, pictoral history, caps, pins, auto plates, house tours, afghans, etc.

The very well-built Colonial New England structure was built by Wood Visions of Hudson, New Hampshire in Abbie Griffin Park which is a town-owned 3 acre parcel of land located near the town hall parking lot. There is an abundance of land for the town folk and visitors to spread out and enjoy a wide variety of performing arts and other community functions on the bandstand and since its completion, immediately served the community well and promises to have a very long future and use for the town.

The town's first bandstand has played host to numerous special events including weekly summer series performances through July and August, weddings, photo sessions, Halloween parties, and candlelit walk and tree lightings. A special Memorial Vigil was also held on the structure on September 14, 2001 in rememberance of the thousands of people killed in New York, Washington D. C. and Pennsylvania by 9-11s terrorist attacks.

Some of the headliners performing on the bandstand include the 39th NH Army Band, Rhumboogie Band, Peter Hostage Jazz Trio, the Merrimack Concert Association, the 60s invasion, East Bay Jazz Ensemble and the Shaw Brothers.

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY:

Ruth E. Liberty, Chairman

Abbie Griffin Park Advisory Committee