Since its incorporation as a non-profit organization in 1979, the Chester Historical Society has sponsored educational programs such as "Know Your Town," presented to the fourth grade classes at Chester Elementary School by former educator and Society member, Gladys Nicoll and a 4th grade "Walking Tour" of Chester Center,  a Historical Scavenger Hunt sending individuals and families throughout town searching for 20 of Chester's famous sites, walking tours of the Chester Village Cemetery, another National Historic Site, and with the research and photography of Leroy Noyes, we can offer a program about the historic homes of Chester.

Our home is in Stevens' Memorial Hall. As a Trustee organization of the Hall, the Society has made it our current ongoing project.  We have sponsored cosmetic renovations to our new home, installing period reproduction lighting in the foyer and our office, and painting the interior of our office, foyer, stairwell, and auditorium on the second floor.  We also sponsored the nomination of Stevens Memorial Hall to the National Register of Historic Places, and have received unanimous recommendation from the New Hampshire Division of Historic Resources.  We are proud to announce that the National Park Service has listed Stevens Memorial Hall on their register of National Historic Places on September 10, 2004!

The Society has created a Stevens Memorial Hall Restoration Fund, through which other renovations of the building can done with matching Town funds.  Throughout the year we plan to sponsor events such as walking tours, movie nights, and other special events to benefit the restoration fund, and of course, direct donations to this fund are always welcome.  We are happy to be able to say that through direct donations from the Historical Society, private donations, and a portion of the Town's budget directed to Stevens Hall, we are able to fund the restoration of the original windows in the second floor of the building.  The Town installed the necessary components to be able to heat the auditorium, and the window project was completed in March of 2005, as well as the long awaited sprinkler system!  We now have more programs going on upstairs, with dance, yoga and aerobics classes, as well as Society programs.