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Legislators back advisory council to re‑interpret controversial Hannah Dustin memorial
Summary
Representative Nagel brought an amended bill creating a multi‑stakeholder advisory council to re‑examine the Hannah Dustin site in Boscawen. Native leaders and town officials largely supported a process to add interpretation and broader history at the site rather than immediate removal; local historians and descendants urged preservation with expanded context.
Representative David Nagel opened the hearing on HB1664 by describing complex and contested histories tied to the Hannah Dustin memorial in Boscawen. He said his amendment replaces a removal request with legislation creating an advisory council and a multi‑stakeholder process to expand interpretation, improve site stewardship, and consider signage changes.
Native leaders, including Denise and Paul Pulio and the New Hampshire Native American Commission, urged that the monument is painful for many Indigenous people and supported a re‑visioning process that preserves the site for interpretation rather than erasure. They emphasized the value of film and research the group produced, arguing the memorial has been used historically to justify exclusionary narratives and that reinterpretation can turn the site into a place for honest engagement.
Boscawen town officials and the Boscawen Historical Society favored added context and improvements rather than removal. Elaine Clow, president of the historical society, noted the site’s long civic history and urged inclusive interpretation that recognizes both colonial mothers and Indigenous experiences while preserving the memorial’s artistic integrity.
Testimony described past advisory work dating to the 2010s that produced recommendations, some of which were implemented (trail improvements, mowing, lighting and cleaning), and urged reconstituting a working friends group and advisory body to complete the agreed steps. Representative Nagel said the amended approach reflects political realities and creates a pathway for private funding and coordinated stewardship.
Ending: The committee closed the hearing and indicated it would expect amendments and continued discussion; the sponsor and stakeholders agreed to continue the advisory‑council approach and to share the prior 2016 advisory report with members for review.
