Rye Day and more: Town's 400th anniversary celebration heats up in August

Karen Dandurant, Portsmouth Herald
·4 min read

RYE — The town's 400th anniversary celebration has a busy month of events in August, according to Lew Karabatsos, 400th committee organizer.

The events range from family fun to a possible event featuring professional swimmers.

Here's a look ahead:

Trip to Appledore and Star islands

On Thursday, Aug. 3, Rye 400th organizers are promoting an opportunity to visit Appledore and Star islands, part of the historic Isles of Shoals. The boat, the Shining Star, will leave from Rye Harbor at 9 a.m.

Sponsored by The Inn at Rye Place, this special, day-long tour was created by the Rye400 Committee in cooperation with the University of NH’s Shoals Marine Laboratory and the Star Island Corporation. This trip is not available commercially from any of the local harbors. Only Star Island is typically accessible for day trips; Appledore island is highly restricted and only accessible through a limited arrangements with the Shoals Marine Lab.

The cost for the tour is $75 person and reservation must be made in advance. The boat will navigate around all of the islands where people can see environmentally protected areas for the seals. The first stop will be Appledore Island, home of poet Celia Thaxter, where a member of the Shoals Marine Lab will lead a walking history tour. Next will be Star Island, where another expert will provide a guided tour. The tour will return to Rye Harbor about 4 p.m.

Rye 400th Scavenger Hunt

The Rye downtown "Scavenger Hunt" will be Saturday, Aug. 5, at 1 p.m. and is billed as appropriate for all ages. Participants are encouraged to meet at Rye Congregational Church.

Locke family history

On Sunday, Aug. 6, from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the Locke Family Association and the Rye Historical Society invite anyone related to or interested in the first families of Rye to explore their family history. Several genealogists will be on hand to help find links to 17th and 18th century Rye families. There will be family representatives who can share local lore and provide resources to make connections with your extended family. This event will be held on the town green at 10 Old Parish Road next to the Rye Library. Lunch will be available from a food truck until 2 p.m.

Historic markers are part of Rye 400th

Rye 400th Historic Marker Committee members.
Rye 400th Historic Marker Committee members.

A permanent display of seven historic markers, part of the Rye400 Project was installed in May and June, at locations throughout the town. A ribbon-cutting for the new historic signs will be held on Friday, Aug. 11 at 4:30 p.m. on the Rye Public Library Common. The markers and where they can be found are:

  • Bracket Road Burial Site 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 Rye Public Library Common.

  • Pulpit Rock Tower at end of Neptune Road.

  • Trefethen Corner at Madden Group building.

Historic markers were placed throughout Rye as part of the town's 400th anniversary celebration.
Historic markers were placed throughout Rye as part of the town's 400th anniversary celebration.

The project was a community effort with input from the Historic District Commission, Rye Conservation Commission, Rye400 Committee, and Rye Town Center Committee. Karabatsos said the Committee worked with Public Works Director Jason Rucker, Police Chief Kevin Walsh and Library Trustee chair Jeff Ross, to secure appropriate spots for the signs.

Rye Day

The annual Rye Day event will be held on Aug. 19, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Parsons Field. The day of fun and games and live music will kick off with a parade. Also at the event, there is a plan to create the number 400, comprised of people, for an aerial photo to commemorate the 400th anniversary. Karabatsos said they are looking to recruit about 200 people to be part of the photo, which will be taken about 2 p.m. Information on the day of events and registration to appears in the 400 photo can be found at ryenh400.org/events/ryeday.

Save our Shores: Swimmers to go from Isles of Shoals to Rye Beach

The "Save our Shores" event, featuring professional open water distance swimmers, is being planned for Sunday, Aug. 20. Organizer Bob Fernald said the swim from the Isles of Shoals to Rye Beach is about 6 miles and each swimmer, who are already selected, would be accompanied by a boat for safety. More details on this event are coming soon as several approvals are needed for the event to happen, including from the New Hampshire Marine Patrol, Coast Guard and the town of Rye.

Information: ryenh400.org

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Rye NH 400th anniversary celebration heats up in August