Dancing Forever in the Nelson Town Hall

This article was published in 1990, in Leisure Weekly, a Keene-based entertainment newspaper that has long since ceased publication. Many things have changed, but the essence of the observations remain the same. Following this teaser you can r complete with updated illustrations.

Not too long ago a piano tuner submitted a bill for work done on the piano in the Nelson Town Hall. With his invoice he included the following comment:

“Because of the age of this piano and long abandoned construction practices, it is impossible to give this piano a highly accurate tuning. It has numerous false beats, inharmonicity, and heavy wear. Surprisingly, the overall tone is superior and the action is still fast and responsive. I suspect the piano is favored by those who play on it.”

Over the past decade I have come to know that piano well, playing for contra dances that occur regularly in the Nelson Town Hall. I have always enjoyed playing it, though from its condition it seemed like I shouldn’t.

The remarks of the piano tuner helped me to understand why I enjoyed playing it. Then it occurred to me that what was said about the piano was also a perfect description of the hall itself.

Developer Market News

From 1994 into 2009 Gordon worked for CMP Media, which published a number of magazines (and eventually websites) for the software development industry. His work was on the marketing and advertising side of the business. As a way to effectively engage with potential advertisers, he started a monthly newsletter. One unique feature to this publication was a column called Developer Sounds which was contributed by Jim Aikin, a noted journalist for the audio industry. In his columns he reviewed new music releases and audio technologies which he thought would be of interest to software developers. The publication lasted for a couple of years, which was a long time for a company that was rapidly shifting strategies as well as internal organization.

Keene State Today:
Alumni Spotlight - Bob McQuillen ‘59

Step into Aesop's Tables café in Peterborough for morning coffee, and you'll likely see a distinguished-looking gentleman, his long white locks topped by a hat, returning greetings from various comers and goers. Chances are it's one of his many students from his 35 years of teaching at Conval High School.

Or it might be one of the many folks who know him from contra dances, where he is beginning his seventh decade of playing piano.

The man is Bob McQuillen, Keene Teachers College class of 1959.

Forests of the Monadnock Region

Whether you live in the Monadnock Region or are just passing through, sensing the vibrancy of this area is unavoidable. We are rich in culture, replete with artists, musicians, actors, writers and craftspeople. Eclectic venues and organizations abound,alongside innovative industries. There are strong business and civic leaders, effective social service agencies, and dynamic communities. Our forests, too, make unique and valuable contributions to our lives.

Death Poems

Gordon’s sister, Wildflower, at one time owned a floral shop, which was quite dependent, among other things, on people dying (and the resulting funerals which drove major flower purchases. After a visit to the shop, Gordon couldn’t resist some doggerel at the expense of the deceased.