Corrine Nash, 95, has a love for her native town of Marlborough that is unmatched. And even as a resident of Presidential Oaks Retirement Community in Concord, she is always willing to share stories from her hometown.
Nash was recently honored by the Marlborough Historical Society for her years of service. She was presented with a certificated and a bouquet of roses that she proudly displays outside of her room for all Presidential Oaks staff and residents to see.
She was one of several founding members of the Marlborough Historical Society in 1964. Nash was elected by the founders to be the organization’s first president.
“It’s a great hobby,” she said. “I have a lot of great memories.”
Throughout her years Corrine made numerous contributions to her community. In addition to helping start the Historical Society, she was librarian at the town’s Frost Free Library for 23 years, from 1954-1977. She also served children of the school district for several years as Lunch Room Director.
In the 1970s, leading up to the town’s Bicentennial in 1976, Nash worked closely with the producer of a documentary film, “Marlborough America” about the town, its history and residents.
She has been a resident at Presidential Oaks since 2018.
Nash laughs recalling a time in the 1970s when she was taking cataloging classes and learning new “technology” that would improve the cataloging process for the historical society.
“They weren’t quite ready for what I was telling them that I’d learned back then,” she laughed, noting that today’s catalogue system is much more advanced due to online tracking and recording.
She credits the dedication and efforts of Richard Butler and his wife, Jane, who have been instrumental to the Marlborough Historical Society to its current successes.
“It’s been in good hands,” she said. “The Butlers do a great deal with it. When they receive gifts they label them and identify them and store them. It’s what every historical society knows they should do, but not all do.”
Nash added, “They’re very devoted to the town. They’ve always made sure everything is kept in its place and know where it is.”
From days vising grade school students and showing them how to make clothespin dolls to working alongside the New Hampshire State Library during her years with the Frost Free Library, Nash said her love for history, libraries and seeing her hometown grow is beyond words.
“Being grateful for what you have, that’s what we used to teach everyone. Don’t throw it away until you know what it is. You have all these things sitting in your apartment but it can be of great value to someone. Don’t throw it away until you know what it is,” said Nash. “The town has grown a lot due to these groups with historical backgrounds. There’s great history in Marlborough.”