Daffodils for Dunbarton

In 2015, our club celebrated the town’s 250th anniversary by selling and planting over 100,000 daffodils. In 2024, we brought back the daffodil sale for one year to commemorate the 20 year anniversary of this momentous project. We sold over 7000 additional bulbs to the community, with many of those being planted in highly visible public areas.

Each year starting in April, residents and visitors alike share in the beauty along our fields and roadways. Neighboring areas of Goffstown, New Boston, and Weare have also added their own contributions, making the John Stark Scenic Byway a springtime destination.

Where can you see daffodils around town? We recommend checking out the following locations:

Pages Corner at the intersection of 77 and 13
Route 13 from intersection of 77 and 13 to Winslow Road, Pages Cemetery and historical buildings
Consider continuing down Route 77 towards North Woods Road where it intersects with 77
Our town center around our library and town buildings
Intersection of Grapevine Drive and Route 13
Dunn's cottage, 1050 Gorham Pond Road
Additionally we encourage you to drive around Dunbarton to enjoy the plantings by many of our community members - who have embraced and supported the Daffodils for Dunbarton project by planting in their own yards.

Below are the names of the bulb mixes that were most recently sold, with information about the famous individual that each was named after.

Daffodil Map

General John Stark

John Stark (1728-1822) came to Dunbarton (then known as Starkstown) when his father, Archibald Stark, became one of the original 10 grantees of the land here. John built a sawmill that provided the early settlers with the wood to build their homes. He was an important leader in Rogers' Rangers and fought in the French and Indian war. He also helped to cut new roads into the northern wilderness. He married Elizabeth Page, daughter of Caleb Page, another original grantee, in 1758, and they lived for several years with her family at Page's Corner. Together they had 11 children and raised an orphan named Johnny Ray. John Stark joined the Revolution at the beginning of the conflict and fought bravely at Bunker Hill, Trenton, and Princeton. As general, he was the hero of the Battle of Bennington, which led to the American victory at Saratoga. He was the oldest surviving general of the Revolution. In 1809, unable to attend a reunion to celebrate the Bennington victory, he sent this message: "Let this be my toast to you - live free or die... death is not the worst of evils." It has become New Hampshire's state motto.

Molly Stark Mix

Elizabeth Page (1736-1814) came to Dunbarton (then known as Starkstown) in 1751 when her father, Caleb Page, became one of the original 10 grantees of the land here. Caleb first built a fort to protect his family and his neighbors from Indian attack in the area of Page's Corner. Elizabeth took her turn standing guard at the front with her loaded musket. Her father later built a large house that made life on the frontier more comfortable. Elizabeth married John Stark there in 1758. His pet name for her was "Molly." They had 11 children and also raised an orphan. She taught them to read and write. They settled in Manchester where she often had to manage the family and farm on her own when John was away during the war. She helped to monitor British troop movements in the early days of the Revolution and also nursed American soldiers stricken with smallpox. She was a woman of great spirit and strength and was her husband's greatest supporter.

Caleb’s Courage

Caleb Stark (1759-1838) was the oldest child of General John and Molly Stark. He was born and raised at his grandfather's home at Page's Corner. Hearing that the Americans were about to battle the British, Caleb at age 15, took his horse and musket and slipped away in the middle of the night against the wishes of his grandfather. He rode to Medford, Massachusetts, to join his father and took part with other soldiers in the Battle of Bunker Hill. His act of courage is symbolized on the town seal of Dunbarton. He served with distinction during the Revolution and became adjutant general under his father who commanded the northern division. After the war, he became a successful merchant and built the Stark Mansion in 1785. Lafayette visited him there and stayed overnight during his tour of the United States in 1825. Caleb and his family are buried in the Stark Cemetery, one of the historic sites in Dunbarton.

Scipio's Flag

Scipio Page (17xx to 1815ish - no clear records) was the freed slave of Captain Caleb Page. He was a military man and fought in both the French & Indian War and the Revolution. Scipio was also Captain of a Black militia encompassing Dunbarton, Goffstown, Weare and Bow. In 1788, in an unusual move for the times, the Proprietors granted him land near One Stack Brook. When his military service was discovered in 2009, Scipio’s grave finally received an American Legion Flag. A Black Heritage Trail of NH marker has been installed at Pages Cemetery in his honor.

Dunn Cottage Blend

Dunn Cottage Blend is named after the Dunn’s who built their home in 1995. Donna began to fulfill a dream she’d had as a young girl: to create a daffodil field. Planting bulbs began slowly at first but picked up speed over the next twenty years. There are now more than 8,000 daffodils with dozens of different cultivars. Their field on Gorham Pond Road is open to photographers and families every Spring.