USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > Lakeport > Historical sketches of Lakeport, New Hampshire, formerly Lake Village, now the sixth ward of Laconia; the historical collections of Horace G. Whittier > Part 1
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Gc 974.202 L11h 1767960
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
E
GO
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01096 2451
HISTORICAL SKETCHES
OF -
LAKEPORT
NEW HAMPSHIRE
FORMERLY LAKE VILLAGE, NOW THE SIXTH WARD OF LACONIA
THE HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF
HORACE G. WHITTIER
EDITED BY
MARTIN A. HAYNES
LAKEPORT, N. H. PRIVATE PRINT OF MARTIN A. HAYNES
1915
ЯЗМЯО
SQUARE UNION AVE LAKEPORT
1767960
1
Haynes, Martin Alonso, 1845-
F 42517 ed. .4 Historical sketches of Lakeport, New Hampshire, formerly Lake Village, now the sixth ward of Laconia. The historical collections of Horace G. Whittier .. Lakeport, N. H. , 1915. 0.
BHEI.F CARD
309144
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EDITION FORTY COPIES
THIS IS NO.
37
AND IS PRESENTED TO
track &. Wilder
WITH COMPLIMENTS OF
MARTIN A. HAYNES
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THE EDITOR'S PREFACE.
The late Horace G. Whittier left a very valuable collection of data relating to the history of his native village. It preserves many facts and incidents that, but for his interest in the annals of the village, would now be irretrievably lost. It is simply the inevitable course of events that the uninviting-looking old account books in which Mr. Whittier jotted down his " Sketches " will, at some time along in the future, be consigned to the rag-bag or the junk-pile by some thrifty but unappreciative housewife in her spring cleaning. The loss of these records would be in the nature of a publie misfortune, and it is to gnard against any such possibility that I am printing a limited number of copies, not for general circulation, but to be placed for reference in a few libraries, public and private.
Several chapters, especially those referring to Abraham Folsom and the early days of the settlement, have been entirely re-written and much authentic matter added to Mr. Whittier's meager notes. Three whole chapters here introduced are from the pens of other parties, written in the course of general newspaper work many years ago. The "staff correspondent" who writes so entertainingly of the old Niagara Engine Co. and of the early boating days on Lake Win- nipesaukee, will be recognized by some as none other than Prof. J. Warren Thyng, a native of Lakeport, and an artist with the pen as well as with the pencil.
These Sketches must be read, except in two or three minor de- tails, as of a date not later than 1905. The ten years that have elapsed since then have witnessed many astonishing changes, and not always for the better. Business enterprises then "booming" are now not merely dormant, but dead. And the ranks of those spoken of by Mr. Whittier as in his time the business and social life of the vil- lage, have been shockingly depleted by the passing of those who have crossed with him "over the divide." No attempt has been made by the editor to bridge the gap or to bring the record up to date.
M. A. H.
Lakeport, July, 1915.
CONTENTS.
I. TOPOGRAPHY AND GENERAL FEATURES - I -
II. NAMES, FROM "LOWER WEIRS" TO "LAKEPORT" 5
III. EARLY INDUSTRIES AND BUILDING OPERATIONS - -
IV. IRON MINING IN GILFORD -
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- 14
V. "GUNDALOWS" AND HORSE BOATS - -
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15
VI. STEAMBOATS - -
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. 19
VII. LAKE VILLAGE IN 1844 - - - - -
23
VIII. LATER CORPORATIONS AND MANUFACTURES -
31
IX. CHURCHES - -
X. RAILROADS - - - -
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XI. SCHOOLS - - - - - -
XII. THE POST OFFICE - - - -
56
XIII. OLD NIAGARA ENGINE, NO. I -
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- 59
XIV. HOTELS AND LANDLORDS -
- 62
- - 63
XVI. CASUALTIES - - - - - -
68
XVII. BUSINESS BLOCKS AND BUILDINGS -
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74
XVIII. SECRET SOCIETIES -
- - 1 - 76
XIX. CAPTAIN JOSEPH L. FOLSOM, U. S. ARMY -
- 81
XX. LAKEPORT IN THE REBELLION -
- 83
XXI. PHYSICIANS - -
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- 93
XXII. CEMETERIES - - - - 95
XXIII. STRAY NOTES FROM OUR SCRAP BOOK -
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- 96
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XV. FIRES - - - -
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- 40 49 53 -
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FIFI
Published for F. S. Peasley.
Panorama of Lakeport, N. H.
LAKEPORT, NEW HAMPSHIRE,
CHAPTER I.
ITS TOPOGRAPHY AND GENERAL FEATURES.
Lakeport is the present local designation of the area constituting the Sixth Ward of the City of Laconia. A typical section of the "City on the Lakes," its characteristic physical features are its hills and its lakes. Hemming in the southern end of the village, on the east side, is an elevation of 250 feet above the surface of Lake Opeeche, known as "Cole's Hill"-so named for Hon. Benjamin J. Cole, who at one time owned most of the land upon it. "Reservoir Hill"' is really a northerly extension of Cole's Hill. Upon its crest is the reservoir of the Laconia and Lake Village Water Works, put in in 1885. By actual survey it has an altitude of 205 feet above the street surface at the Elm street railroad crossing. To the west of Reservoir Hill and separated from it by a narrow valley is "High School Hill," an egg-shaped elevation, evidently a clay-and-boulder relic of the ancient ice sheet. It is crowned by the stately brick building erected in 1886-'87 for the High School of Lakeport. "Belvidere Hill" is the elevation upon the west side, between Lakes Paugus and Opeeche. It was given its name by George S. Young, who in 1844 was a resident on the heights, being suggested to him by a hill of that name in Lowell, Mass.
The Winnipesaukee river flows directly south very nearly through the center of Lakeport. Its source is four miles above, at Weirs, where, as the outlet of Lake Winnipesaukee, it runs a course of only about thirty rods into Lake Paugus. Again, at the southerly end of Paugus, it flows another thirty rods in a comparatively narrow chan- . nel into Lake Opeeche. In its stretch at Lakeport the water has a fall of between twelve and thirteen feet, furnishing one of the best water powers in the state.
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2
2
LAKEPORT, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Lakeport has one brook-"Black Brook"-the outlet of Lily Pond in Gilford, and emptying into Lake Paugus. It is a small stream, and, running most of its course through alluvial bottoms, its waters take on the dark tinge which would inevitably suggest its appropri- ate name. In fact, it is a poor town that does not have a Black Brook somewhere within its borders.
Lake Paugus, the northerly water boundary of Lakeport, is four miles long and one mile wide. Anciently, and until about 1871, it was known only as Long Bay, but at that time it was renamed by Martin A. Haynes, publisher of the Lake Village Times newspaper. He and Prof. J. Warren Thyng, in one of their frequent sanctum smoke-talks, decided that "Long Bay" and "Round Bay" were not worthy names for such beautiful sheets of water, and they proceeded to re-christen them, each choosing a name. Haynes selected Pau- gus as a suitable substitute for Long Bay, in honor of the old Indian chieftain who once ranged this region and the country to the north of it. In the local newspaper, thereafter, these lakes were always alluded to as Paugus and Opeeche, and the names met popular ap- proval and have become firmly established.
Opeeche is a smaller body of water than Paugus, and its old des- ignation of Round Bay was manifestly suggested by its shape. But why an independent lake, both fed and emptied by a rapid stream, should be designated as a "bay" is hard to tell. Relative to the name Opeeche, Prof. Thyng wrote to the author : "The robins used to be very numerous in the vicinity of 'the Bay,' and meeting the word 'opeeche' ( the robin ) in Longfellow's 'Hiawatha,' I thought it would be an appropriate name for that little body of water."
EUPHONIOUS NAMES.
As in all towns and villages, various localities in Lakeport have their by-names. Some of these have been derisively applied, al- though most of them have been conventionally used simply for convenience in designating some particular section of the village, and generally with more or less appropriateness in one way or an- other.
That part of the village on the west side bordering on Opeeche is called "Kittery," while the portion of Lakeport on the east side of
3
TOPOGRAPHY AND GENERAL FEATURES.
the river was called "Portsmouth." At the present time the latter by-name is very rarely heard, but "Kittery" sticks. The names, of course, were suggested by the two towns at the mouth of the Piscat- aqua river, although the relative compass positions in one are the exact reverse of those in the other.
"Black Brook" is the general designation of the neighborhood on the shore of Paugus near the month of the brook.
Barely out of the village proper, on the west side and adjoining the railroad, is a settlement once generally known as "Cassville," but having, at different times, various other designations. It was so called from Wesley B. Cass, who until a few years ago was the only one living there. It is also called "Odellville," from Joseph 1 .. Odell, who owned a tract of land on the west side of the railroad, which he laid out into house lots, many of which have been built upon. It has also been known as "Murryville," from Martin Murry, the first to erect a house upon land bought of Odell. Later, the name "Italy" has been applied to it, from the fact that gangs of Italians, from time to time employed in grading the railroad, were quartered in cars upon sidetracks there. Also, one Charles Maffrey, an Italian, bought a house there which became a rendezvous for parties of his countrymen.
"Cass's Point" is the point of land in Paugns just across the rail- road from Cassville. It was once owned and occupied by Wesley B. Cass, and prior to his occupancy was owned by Enoch George and was known as "George's Point."
"The Island" is that section of Lakeport lying between the Boston and Maine Railroad and Lake Opeeche. It is in a measure cut off from easy communication with the rest of the village by the de- pressed roadbed of the railroad, and is accessible for teams only by way of an elevated bridge over the railroad. The first house upon The Island was built by William Pitt Moulton, at the south end of Moulton street.
That portion of Fairmount street lying between Elm street on the west and Belvidere street on the east is known as "Cat Alley." A barn once stood there on the lot now owned by Horace G. Whittie . The building was commonly known as the "Company barn,' having been at one time the property of the Lake Company. It was che
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4
LAKEPORT, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
club house for all the cats in the neighborhood, whose midnight concerts sometimes made life in that part of the town hardly worth the living.
"Highland Park" is located in the northerly part of Lakeport, extending from Elm street eastward to the railroad. Originally a part of the John Gray farm, it was purchased by a speculative syn- dicate, which had it surveyed, laid out into house lots and disposed of with theatrical and spectacular accompaniments to the sale. A number of buildings have already been erected and the city has laid out streets.
CHAPTER II.
NAMES, FROM "LOWER WEIRS" TO "LAKEPORT."
From Rev. J. P. Watson's painstaking and valuable history of Gilford we glean that in the earliest days this locality was known as the "Lower Weirs." It is reasonable to assume, both from the sim- ilarity of river conditions and from the above designation, that this was a great fishing place for the Indians, as well as the Weirs, four miles above. Tradition, also, has preserved the memory of W- shaped stone weirs that criss-crossed the river when the earliest settlers came.
The earliest settler within the present limits of Lakeport was un- questionably Abraham Folsom .* His activities were upon the New Salem (later Meredith) side of the river. As early as September 29, 1766, a proprietors' committee appointed to "view the settle- ment of New Salem" reported : "1. Abram Folsom has a house built, & 10 acres of land fell, & 3 acres clear, & his son there." On the incorporation of the town under the name of Meredith, in 1768, Abraham Folsom's name appeared several times in the records of the first town meeting, held March 26, 1769. Again, when the names of all the legal voters in Meredith were entered on the town records, March 29, 1777, the last name recorded was Abraham Fol- som's. Now, interlocking as to dates with this name on Meredith records, there appears the name of Abraham Folsom in the Gil- manton records. Abraham Folsom signed the Association Test in Gilmanton August 28, 1776, and the name appears in Lancaster's history as one of the new settlers in Gilmanton in 1781. It is quite probable, and not inconsistent with conditions at that time, that the two were identical, Folsom having interests in both towns.
Abraham Folsom's improvements and building of a mill on the Meredith side of the river were really in the interest of the northeily (or Gilford) section of Gilmanton, and that town took measures to encourage and assist him. May 10, 1780 the proprietors voted that
*Mrs. Sally Forrest, a daughter of Abraham Folsom, died at Tilton December 15, 1893, at the advanced age of 86 years. She was born at Lakeport October y, 1807.
6
LAKEPORT, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Lots Numbers 4 and 6 in the eighth range, except five acres at the We irs, reserved for a mill privilege, be sold and the money obtaine:i for them be laid out for building Gilmanton's part of the bridge over the river at the Wears * * and that the mill privilege be given to the people of that part of the town forever. This was the genesis of the present Gold street bridge. The bridge was built in 1780; and that Folsom built his grist mill in 1781 is established by a vote of Gilmanton at the annual town meeting held on the 14th of March, 1782, in relation to the two lots ordered sold to build their half of the bridge "above Folsom's mills." Folsom first built a grist mill on the site continuously occupied for a grist mill down to the day of the great fire, May 26, 1903-after which it was not rebuilt. He soon added a saw mill to his equipment, located upon the present site of the Electric Company's power house, which was in active operation until 1861, when it was torn down.
Historian Watson thinks it probable that Folsom built his house subsequently, probably in 1783. But the Meredith records herein- before quoted are conclusive that as early as 1766 Folsom had a house built and "ten acres fell." Certain it is that his house-the first within the limits of Lakeport-was located near the present Aaron C. Badger house, on Sheridan street. The well and cellar were distinctly visible until within a few years.
For a time before the mills were put up the locality was known as "Folsom's Falls," which was now changed to "Folsom's Mills" and so continued for many years, until, with a change of ownership, a change of name naturally followed.
With the building of the bridge and the utilization of the water power by Mr. Folsom, other settlers were attracted hither, houses were built and little industries sprang up. After many years of business activity and usefulness, Mr. Folsom died. In 1825 Nathan Batchelder acquired the Folsom property, and the little ville there- upon took on the name of its new captain of industry and became "Batchelder's Mills." Mr. Batchelder was the progenitor of de- scendants who became influential in the business and political affairs of state and nation. A son, Richard N., was Quartermaster General of the United States Army, and a daughter became the wife of Ben- jamin J. Cole, for a tong term of years the leading business man of the community.
7
COMMUNAL NAMES.
"Batchelder's Mills" had become a trade and business center of considerable importance. Business enterprises of various kinds had been established, several mills and shops were operating, and there was an air of progress, with a rapid but healthy increase of popula- tion. As early as 1829 the people who had foregathered here came to the conclusion that the place had outgrown its old name of rather constricted significance, and accordingly chose the name of "Win- nipesaukee Lake Village." In the earlier days the full title was very often used, but in the interest of brevity the cumbersome name was decapitated, the first word soon fell into absolute disuse, and as "Lake Village," pure and simple, it was known for more than fifty years.
But once more the place outgrew its name. In 1891 many of its progressive residents had imbibed the idea that a community of nearly three thousand inhabitants was altogether too big to be labeled merely a "village." The subject of a change of name was agitated, culminating in a largely attended public meeting which by a decisive majority voted to change the name to "Lakeport." The acquies- cence of the Post Office Department in renaming the post office, and of the railroad as to the station name, followed as a matter of course ; and even when, in 1893, Lakeport united with Laconia as Ward Six of the new municipality, its local designation was retained, and, from its peculiar appropriateness, will doubtless continue in- definitely.
It is to be noted that Lakeport was never a distinct political entity until, in 1893, it became a ward in Laconia city. Until 1876 it was a part of two towns, the dividing line being upon the river and lakes. Until 1855 it was about equally divided between Gilford and Meredith, but in that year, by act of the legislature, the town of Meredith was divided and its southerly section, including the Lake- port district, incorporated as the town of Laconia. . This action was undoubtedly hastened by an appalling tragedy on town meeting day, March 13, 1855, when the floor of the crowded town house at Mer- edith Village gave way and four persons lost their lives-James W. Durgin, Washington Smith, Benjamin D. Robinson and Nathaniel Nichols.
There was now the peculiar condition of two large and flourishing villages, within a mile of each other, cach divided about equally
8
LAKEPORT, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
between the towns of Gilford and Laconia-Lakeport, at the head of Opeeche, and Meredith Bridge at its foot --- the latter, however, taking on at once the name of the new town, Laconia.
This unnatural division continued nearly twenty years. But in 1874, by legislative enactment, the Gilford portion of Laconia village was annexed to the town of Laconia, and two years later the legis- lature of 1376 took the west side of Lakeport from Laconia town and gave it to Gilford. This "swapping off" between the two towns was very much to the convenience and benefit of the two villages in the matter of schools and public improvements, until, in 1893, they came together under a city charter.
The Dam, Lakeport, N. H.
C
CHAPTER III.
EARLY INDUSTRIES AND BUILDING OPERATIONS.
It is altogether probable that Abraham Folsom's first house, which was a matter of record as early as 1766, was a pioneer's log cabin. Subsequently-probably about 1783-he built a second house, doubtless a framed building with lumber from his own mill, on the elevation at the rear of the present Benaiah S. George residence, on Elm street. The old cellar was in evidence until a very recent time. Sometime after the building of this house Folsom built the house on Franklin Square recently owned and occupied by Albert H. Davis. Soon after Nathan Batchelder bought the Folsom property here he remodeled this house to his liking and occupied it as his residence, and our older residents even now may sometimes be heard to speak of this place as "the Batchelder house."
To get power for his grist and saw mills, Folsom constructed a dam across the river, with a wing running northerly. The remains of a part of this old dam can be seen to the present day, running north-easterly from the Gold street bridge to the Gale Point, so called, at the rear of Henry J. Odell's residence and dry goods store. Before the new dam was built, in 1851, during the period of low water one could walk nearly the whole length of the okl dam without wetting the soles of his boots.
Mr. Folsom died, and Joseph Libbey administered upon the es- tate. On the farm was a large lot of standing timber of the finest quality-the old primeval growth-and before the farm was sold to Batchelder, Libbey cleared a part of the land, drawing the logs to the saw mill here. Some of the lumber was used in erecting new build- ings here, while a part of it was drawn to Laconia-then known as Meredith Bridge. The frame of the original bank building in Bank Square, now the Eagle Hotel, was from trees cut on the Folsom farm.
Nathan Batchelder came here from Loudon, to work, in the fall of 1823. In 1825 he bought the Abraham Folsom farm and appur- tenances, but did not permanently establish his home here until
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LAKI PORT, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
1827. He was enterprising and did very much towards building up the village. He built the old Wilder store, on Franklin Square, now occupied by George II. Dame as a stove and tin shop. Also two houses to the rear of this building, both of which were destroyed in the g eat fire of May 26, 1903. At or near the same time he built another and smaller house farther down the street, in front of the mill lately occupied by Horace II. Wood & Co. This was taken down about forty years ago.
Besides building these several dwelling houses, he erected the "old woolen mill," which was destroyed by fire February 16, 1885. 'This mill stood west of the grist mill upon the site now covered by the Boulia. Gorrill plant. This was early known as the "old Pulciter mill," and when burned was occupied by P. Bartlett & Son as a hosiery mill.
"The old cotton mill," as it was familiarly known, as well as the one known as "the lower mill," and later as the "Belknap Mill," were built by Mr. Batchelder. The latter was nearly doubled in size after passing from his ownership. These mills were both occupied by Horace Wood & Co. for the manufacture of hosiery when burned in the great fire of 1903.
Notwithstanding Mr Batchelder's activity and enterprise and all he accomplished here, it was not very many years before he sold all his interests to David Pingree and Nathaniel Davis. Davis at that time owned what is now known as Governor's Island, but which was then called Davis Island and is still so designated by some of our older citizens. It is not improbable that in this purchase Pingree and Davis were acting as the agents of the Winnepissiogee Lake Cotton and Woolen Manufacturing Company. This corporation had been chartered by the New Hampshire legislature in 1831, and the control of the outlet of the lake was absolutely essential for the car- rying out of its purposes.
In 1851 the Lake Company put in the present substantial stone dam. The old Folsom dam was becoming decayed and unsafe ; and in addition, the company doubtless desired to increase its reservoir capacity by a higher dam. Thomas Ham, then in the employ of the Lake Company as their engineer, did the surveying and made the plans, and the work was under the general supervision of James
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EARLY INDUSTRIES AND BUILDING OPERATIONS.
Bell, at that time agent of the company. The overseer on the con- struction work was John Clark, familiarly known as "Boston John," from his unvarying habit of saying, whenever a piece of work was completed, "That's Boston !'
In 1861 the wing that extends southerly from the main dam to the plant of the Electric Lighting Co. was built under the supervis- ion of Josiah B. French, then agent of the company. Mr. French was succeeded by Jotham P. Hutchinson ; and in 1895 Harry W. Daniell of Franklin took charge as local agent, and still fills the po- sition.
E- Mr. Whittier's record in relation to dams is incomplete and misleading. He makes no mention at all of the old " Lyford " or " Batchelder and Lyford' dam, which was built in 1828 upon practically the site of the present Lake Company damn. This was a loose boulder and rubble construction, and obviously must have ended the value and im- portance of the Folsom dam, a few rods above. The wing of the Folsom dam, by the way, must have run southerly from the western end of the main dam, instead of northerly as incorrectly noted by Mr. Whittier, in order to direct the water to the Meredith side for Mr. Folsom's use. And it is probable that Mr. Whittier's statement that at low water, until 1851, one could walk chy shod nearly the whole length of the " old dam," refers to the Lyford-not the Folsom-dam. Associated with Nathan Batchelder in his enterprises here, were William Batchelder and John Chase. They got an act of incorporation in 1831, under the name of "Winnepissiogee Lake Cotton and Woolen Manufacturing Company," the "whereas" of which sets up that "being owners of the farm, mill, and null privileges, commonly called Folsom's Mills, in Meredith, up- un which the proprietors have erected, and are about to put in operation, two factories for the manufacture of cotton and wollen cloths, and for the manufacture of machinery, at their said mills, for the greater convenience in carrying on said business, have petitioned-" &c.
It was not until 1846, however, that the Lake Company as it has been known to us for nearly ibice quarters of a century, really came into existence. In that year the legislature passed an a. t in addition to the act of 1831, by which an extension of capital stock was authorized to not exceeding one million dollars, and individuals and corporations owning mills or mill privileges were authorized to subscribe for and hold stock. Under this authority the stock was all held by the Essex Company of Lawrence and the Locks and Canal Company of Lowell, who, what- ever may have been claimed to the contrary, were mainly interested to hold the headwaters of New Hampshire streams for reservoirs.
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