Rye Historical Society Announces New Book Celebrating 400 Years of Local History

RYE— The story of Rye, New Hampshire, is very much an American story — one shaped by its coastal location, deep-rooted traditions, and the generations who have called it home.

A new book by lifelong resident and historian Alex Herlihy brings this story to life, tracing Rye’s
evolution from its earliest Native American inhabitants more than 12,000 years ago to the
vibrant, close-knit town it is today.

Herlihy’s richly researched work explores Rye’s fishing and farming roots, its role in the
Revolutionary War — when local residents joined the 1774 march on Fort William and Mary —
and the rise of its 19th-century tourism and hospitality culture. Rye’s connection to national and
world history also shines through, from the 1874 landing of the first successful trans-Atlantic
cable to the mid-20th century boom shaped by World War II and the growth of the Seacoast
region.

Today, Rye continues to balance progress and preservation. Its winding roads, historic homes,
and extensive conservation lands reflect a community that honors its past while looking toward
the future.

The book offers a comprehensive overview of Rye’s four centuries, complementing Langdon
Parsons’ classic History of Rye, N.H. (1905) and enriched by contributions from more than
twenty residents past and present.

Author Event and Book Pre-Orders
Pre-orders for Rye: The Story of an American Town are now open through the Rye Historical
Society. Copies will be available for pickup at the author event on Wednesday, Nov. 20,
at 6:30 p.m. at the Rye Congregational Church, where Herlihy will discuss his research
and insights in an engaging interview and Q&A session. Pre-order at
RyeNHHistoricalSociety.org.

Books may also be picked up later at the Rye Town Museum or shipped directly to readers.

About the Author

Born in 1945, Alex Herlihy is a native of Rye who grew up on Wedgwood Farm on Lang Road,
purchased by his parents in 1937. His lifelong passion for local history was inspired by his family
home, his mother’s curiosity about the past, and a career teaching history at Oyster River High
School in Durham. A charter member of the Rye Historical Society (founded in 1976) and
longtime member of the Rye Civic League, Herlihy has also served on several town boards. He
credits his parents, Jessie and Edward Herlihy, for inspiring his enduring love of Rye’s story.