"OUR WOMEN OF SANDWICH"
(2020 Summer Virtual Exhibit)
JOAN BEACH LITTLE
Corner House Inn ~ 1973
Joan Beach Little (1931-2015) was a life-long resident of Center Sandwich; the daughter of Watson E. and Florence (Hudson) Beach. She attended local schools and following graduation from the Quimby School, she furthered her education at the Laconia Business School.
A stay-at-home mom until her children were older, Joan started her career as an administrative assistant working for local businesses throughout the years. She retired from the State of New Hampshire Department of Public Health after many years of service.
Joan was devoted to the Sandwich community and maintaining its history; she worked part-time for many years at the Sandwich Historical Society. She was a life-long member of the Community Church of Sandwich, and was the church’s organist for many years. She was a talented pianist and organist with a deep love of classical music and Big Band music. She created and worked tirelessly on the family genealogy.
Joan was a generous, selfless, and positive person. She was always helping others. She was also feisty, independent, determined, strong, and very interesting as she was interested in everything!
A stay-at-home mom until her children were older, Joan started her career as an administrative assistant working for local businesses throughout the years. She retired from the State of New Hampshire Department of Public Health after many years of service.
Joan was devoted to the Sandwich community and maintaining its history; she worked part-time for many years at the Sandwich Historical Society. She was a life-long member of the Community Church of Sandwich, and was the church’s organist for many years. She was a talented pianist and organist with a deep love of classical music and Big Band music. She created and worked tirelessly on the family genealogy.
Joan was a generous, selfless, and positive person. She was always helping others. She was also feisty, independent, determined, strong, and very interesting as she was interested in everything!
Joan with Lorraine Elliott & Sharon Moulton Saunders at the Elisha Marston House ~ 2000
She had a great love for the history of Sandwich and enjoyed her job at the Historical Society. She loved and cherished her home at 15 Skinner Street. It meant the world to her and so did the town of Sandwich. ~ Sally Washington (daughter), July 2020
Note from the Editor: the following excerpt was taken from the 96th Excursion Bulletin (2015). It was a beautiful tribute to Joan by her friend, neighbor and fellow historian, Geoff Burrows.
Joan and I were “townies”. Sharing the experience of living in the village forged our friendship. Joan grew up in the family home on Skinner Street. Her neighbors were my grandparents, so her childhood friends were my aunts and uncles. We both shared an interest in genealogy so Joan’s stories of growing up on Skinner Street helped me learn about my own family. Her memories of Sandwich over eighty years were invaluable to the Sandwich Historical Society.
I frequently saw Joan walk past Burrows Store on Skinner Street on summer evenings, heading down to Rural Cemetery, a very special place for Joan. Joan served on the Rural Cemetery Board of Directors a number of years.
Other times, Joan went down to the Baptist or Methodist Church to practice the organ for a coming Sunday service. Music was a skill taught to Joan by her father, Watson Beach. Joan’s commitment to the Federated Church was proven by her service as church organist.
Joan cared about the village. She served on the Historic District Commission several years. She kept informed of the many proposals offered to “improve” life in the village. And Joan voiced her opinion!
At Joan’s memorial service, her daughter, Sally, said her mother was “curious”. Joan did ask questions. I would tease her, “Joan, you ask too many questions!” Then we would laugh!
Joan became the Photo Archivist for the Sandwich Historical Society after she retired from the State of New Hampshire Department of Human Resources. The principles of proper museum techniques were important to Joan: Wear gloves to handle artifacts. Only staff has access to the vault. When one declares something to be so, “Cite your sources!”
Computers opened up a new world for Joan. Quickly, Joan embraced email, the Sandwich Board and delved into genealogy. Several times I would tell her what I was working on with genealogy. The next time I saw her she would have something she found on the internet that she thought might help me. We laughed at the idea that Joan was looking more tired because she was on the computer late into the night.
Her work at the Historical Society led her to publish the popular Sandwich in Time from the pages of the Sandwich Reporter. Often she signed a message “Bonny Biddy.” I wondered why until I found an ad in the 1933 Sandwich Fair Booklet: “Watson Beach, Bonny Biddy Farm.” That she became the Bonny Biddy connected her to her heritage.
Joan Beach Little valued the privilege of living in Center Sandwich. That she was third generation meant Joan had deep roots in Sandwich. How she lived in this town contributed to the experience of Sandwich for all.
Joan and I were “townies”. Sharing the experience of living in the village forged our friendship. Joan grew up in the family home on Skinner Street. Her neighbors were my grandparents, so her childhood friends were my aunts and uncles. We both shared an interest in genealogy so Joan’s stories of growing up on Skinner Street helped me learn about my own family. Her memories of Sandwich over eighty years were invaluable to the Sandwich Historical Society.
I frequently saw Joan walk past Burrows Store on Skinner Street on summer evenings, heading down to Rural Cemetery, a very special place for Joan. Joan served on the Rural Cemetery Board of Directors a number of years.
Other times, Joan went down to the Baptist or Methodist Church to practice the organ for a coming Sunday service. Music was a skill taught to Joan by her father, Watson Beach. Joan’s commitment to the Federated Church was proven by her service as church organist.
Joan cared about the village. She served on the Historic District Commission several years. She kept informed of the many proposals offered to “improve” life in the village. And Joan voiced her opinion!
At Joan’s memorial service, her daughter, Sally, said her mother was “curious”. Joan did ask questions. I would tease her, “Joan, you ask too many questions!” Then we would laugh!
Joan became the Photo Archivist for the Sandwich Historical Society after she retired from the State of New Hampshire Department of Human Resources. The principles of proper museum techniques were important to Joan: Wear gloves to handle artifacts. Only staff has access to the vault. When one declares something to be so, “Cite your sources!”
Computers opened up a new world for Joan. Quickly, Joan embraced email, the Sandwich Board and delved into genealogy. Several times I would tell her what I was working on with genealogy. The next time I saw her she would have something she found on the internet that she thought might help me. We laughed at the idea that Joan was looking more tired because she was on the computer late into the night.
Her work at the Historical Society led her to publish the popular Sandwich in Time from the pages of the Sandwich Reporter. Often she signed a message “Bonny Biddy.” I wondered why until I found an ad in the 1933 Sandwich Fair Booklet: “Watson Beach, Bonny Biddy Farm.” That she became the Bonny Biddy connected her to her heritage.
Joan Beach Little valued the privilege of living in Center Sandwich. That she was third generation meant Joan had deep roots in Sandwich. How she lived in this town contributed to the experience of Sandwich for all.
