One of the most charming things about New England is unveiling bits of history. From the moment we saw our new facility at 135 McCollum Road, we became enthralled with unraveling the clues of its past. We invited old neighbors to share their stories and reached out to the New Boston Historical Society to help with research. Any property can be special, but we found that ours is extraordinary.

Legend has it that the original home was built in the late 1780’s as a gift to the daughter of Captain George Christie, who married a Butterfield boy, according to an article written by Rena Davis, which appeared in the Goffstown News in 1978. The property stayed in the Butterfield family until the 1940’s!

By 1961, the home fell into the hands of a woman named Mary Bunting, a trailblazer of her time, who graced the cover of Time Magazine in November of that same year. So what did Mary Bunting do that awarded her the cover of such a revered magazine? Mary was a champion for women. She often complained about what she called “the unexpectation of women” and vowed to change what women in America believed they were capable of, as well as the way their male counterparts viewed their abilities. As a child, she loved to learn, though she wasn’t what you would call a ‘good’ student. And yet, in adulthood she achieved a doctorate degree in bacteriology, spent years teaching college science courses, and later became the Dean for Douglas College at Rutgers University, then the President of Radcliffe in 1960.

Time Magazine - November 3 1961 — Time Magazine

Mary Bunting | **Nov. 3, 1961**

Mary did it all. She was a wife, mother, student and professor, homesteader, volunteer, and -way too early in life- a widow. During her career, Mary’s mission was always the same: Teach women to put their brains and education to creative use. “Marriage, motherhood, the fledgling of children, and possibly widowhood subject a woman’s life to stressful changes, and she must be ready to come out alive,” she said. During her time at Radcliffe, she began part-time study programs for married women, created housing systems for families with children, and incorporated women into Harvard classes that were historically exclusive to men. By 1970, joint commencement exercises were being held for the two elite institutions. In that era, marriage was life’s goal for women. Mary redefined roles so women knew they were capable of being more than a wife and mother if they chose.

Mary's parents were civil servants, and the desire to serve certainly didn't stop with Mary. She had four children, one of whom literally wrote the book for numbering houses in New Boston. In the 1970’s, as a volunteer fireman, John Bunting walked the streets of every road in New Boston with his surveyor’s wheel, laying out how addresses should be assigned. He also implemented the use of cisterns as water sources for fire fighting. The current New Boston fire station is named for him.

The Bunting family has left a legacy that New Boston will not forget. Now it's time for Second Chance Ranch Rescue to carry on that legacy. "We do not take lightly the responsibility of being caretakers of a place with such a rich past. Our hope is to honor the values woven into this land—service, learning, conservation, and community—and to contribute meaningfully to New Boston, just as those before us have done," says Ranch owner Kristen Jordan. "The Bunting legacy lives on not only through civic service, but through thoughtful stewardship of the land. The Bunting Wildlife Sanctuary located near us on Meadow Road stands as a lasting tribute to the family’s deep respect for the environment and their commitment to preserving New Boston’s natural beauty for generations to come. Our dogs have already found joy there—exploring the trails, decompressing, and finding peace in the same landscape the Buntings worked to protect. We are proud to be the next chapter in this property’s long and meaningful history. Becoming part of this community and growing our presence has brought our team of volunteers purpose. It has felt truly serendipitous to land in a place so rooted in service, environmental care, and love for people. We cherish New Boston and are honored to carry forward the legacy of impact that has been passed down here through generations."

Honoring the Legacy of Our New Facility & Some Adoptable Dogs!