USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Greenfield > A brief history of Greenfield, New Hampshire, 1791-1941 > Part 5
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Railroad service was entirely disrupted by the great flood of March 1936 when heavy rains accompanied by a thaw removed the winter's snow from the frozen countryside in twenty-four hours. The passenger trains of March 17, 1936, which ran according to schedule, two north and two south, were the last passenger trains ever to pass through Greenfield. By March 18 the flood had rendered the roadbed impass- able. The railroad substituted a passenger bus, the first to include Greenfield on its schedule. The next day, March 19, all roads were im- passable so that Greenfield had no passenger, freight, or express serv- ice. Regular bus service was established on March 20, with the buses following the same schedule which the passenger trains had formerly followed. Express truck service was inaugurated on March 22. The road- bed of the railroad was repaired as soon as possible and freight train service re-established from Greenfield south on March 29 but so great was the damage north of Greenfield that no freight trains passed over that portion of the line until May 1.
The flood and hurricane of September 21, 1938 were almost equally
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damaging to the railroad. Greenfield had no freight service south from September 21 to September 27 and none north until October 18.
In 1882 a telegraph line was run from Greenfield to Keene. Pre- sumably at an earlier date Greenfield was connected with Nashua by wire. In the flood of 1936 telegraph service was halted from 2 P. M. March 19 until April 1st. After the 1938 hurricane and flood on Sep- tember 21, no wire service was re-established until October 18th.
The present station agent, Frank S. Gage, has held the position since April 13, 1908.
NEW ENGLAND TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY
As early as 1885 a private telephone line connected Greenfield (probably the railroad station) and the soapstone quarry in Frances- town. In the next twelve years other private lines were run in Green- field. One ran from the Mayfield House to the depot. A few others connected the homes of different individuals.
In May 1897 the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company established an exchange in Peterborough and seem to have run one line to Greenfield for the accommodation of the business men. On March 12, 1902 the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company installed a switchboard in Greenfield with twenty-three subscribers. The board was located in the Hopkins Brothers' store; their bookkeeeper Miss Annie McCanna, in addition to her other duties, acted as operator. The service was limited of necessity to the business hours of the store. How- ever, after working hours or on Sunday, in case of emergency, an ar- rangement was made whereby some member of the Edwin C. Hopkins family could go to the switchboard and make the connections. Within a few years the duties of the telephone operator became too demanding to be added to those of bookkeeper and in October 1908 the switch-
board was moved to the home of Fred Perham. The service now be- came continuous twenty-four hours every day. The house has passed to several different owners but the switchboard has never been moved. Elwyn C. Smith bought the property and became the operator on September 15, 1922. He has served the company and the town with the greatest efficiency and patience for the last nine- teen years. Now in 1941, the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company is about to dispense with the switchboard and install a dial telephone system with a small building housing the unattended dial office in the center of the village on land owned by Elwyn C. Smith. Greenfield, with about one hundred subscribers, will be the first town in the vicinity to receive the new system, the latest development of tel- ephone efficiency.
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Oak Park Fair
The electric power line was extended from Bennington to Green- field in 1926. Previous to this time the village streets had been lighted by kerosene lamps on posts or attached to tree trunks. For many years the "lamp wagon" traversed the village streets at twilight. Two sets of lamps were kept; each night the empty ones were removed from their receptacles and the clean, full ones put back. In time, improved sta- tionary lamps were installed and every evening the lamp-lighter tended them on foot, carrying a small stepladder on his shoulder and an oil can in his hand. On moonlight nights the lamps were left thriftily unlighted.
OAK PARK FAIR ASSOCIATION
April 22, 1875 a group of citizens from Greenfield, Antrim, Frances- town, Peterborough, Bennington, Hancock, and other towns met at Duncklee's Hotel in Greenfield to talk over the advisability of forming an agricultural and mechanical society. Ex-Governor D. H. Goodell of of Antrim was chosen chairman and George H. Longley of Peterbor- ough, Secretary. There were about forty present and interest proved to be great enough to form such a society. Stock was sold at $5.00 a share. A second meeting was held at Duncklee's Hotel and the "Oak Park As- sociation" formed composed of the whole of Hillsborough County and the towns of Jaffrey, Dublin, Harrisville, and Stoddard. The first fair was held September 16 and 17, 1875. Mr. Duncklee gave the associa-
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tion the use of the grounds for five years, paying the taxes himself. The officers for the years were: President, D. H. Goodell of Antrim; Secre- tary, J. Farnum of Peterborough; Treasurer, David Starrett, Greenfield; General Superintendent, E. W. McIntosh of Peterborough; Chief Marshal, Charles Scott, Peterborough; Superintendents of different classes, Samuel I. Vose and Dalphon Osborn, both of Peterborough. The Peterborough Cornet Band furnished music at the exhibition. The first fair was a great success. Shares of stock were sold during the year and several persons offered premiums on various exhibits. Annual fairs were held from 1875 to 1886. During this period, the Association had its ups and downs. In 1886 it was decided that no fair would be held that year. Greenfield people were the first to suggest the forming of a new association. In 1899 "The New Oak Park Fair Association" was formed. Representatives from the towns of Bennington, Hancock, Fran- cestown, Lyndeboro, and Peterborough were interested and the old grounds were bought. Stock in the new association was sold at $25 a share. The fair was held September 12, 13 and 14, 1899, with Etna J. Fletcher, President; Fred W. Duncklee, Secretary; George P. Holt, Treasurer, all of Greenfield, and Cristy H. Duncan of Hancock, Vice President. A new fence was built around the forty acres of grounds at this time and also stalls for stock, a new exhibition hall, and grandstand. The half mile track for horse races was put in condition. Baseball games, horse trotting, foot races, band concerts, and entertainment was provided for those who attended. The fair became so popular that re- duced rates were offered by the railroad and special trains were run. The Oak Park Fair Association held fairs annually until 1915.
The Hillsboro County Fair Association was now formed which con- tinued to hold fairs annually for ten years. The last fair was held Au- gust 26, and 27, 1925. Since that time the grounds have been used for occasional baseball games. Hurricane lumber is now piled and stored here. The land is owned by Arthur Goyette of Peterborough. The fence and buildings have been removed and little is left to remind one of the large crowds that once thronged the grounds.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
The devastating fire of 1901 aroused the people to the need of ade- quate fire fighting apparatus. Accordingly, in 1902, the town was authorized to borrow $1250 to buy a hand tub, hose and other equip- ment, and build reservoirs. Wesley Ford was appointed fire chief of the volunteer firemen. In 1915, $1500 was appropriated to erect the build- ing which houses the fire apparatus. In 1928 the fire department was modernized by the purchase of a fire truck. An additional truck was
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acquired in 1937. When motorized equipment was purchased, Perley Russell became fire chief. He was succeeded by Charles P. Hopkins who holds the position today. Previous to the installation of the siren in 1935, the alarm was sounded for fires by the ringing of the church bell.
LADIES BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION
The Ladies Circle was organized in April 1864 to aid in the work of the church and other charities. The name was subsequently changed to the Ladies Benevolent Association. In the early years the association held a prominent place in the social life of the town. Picnic suppers were often brought and the afternoon meetings extended to the evening when the gentlemen were present. Lyceums, levees, and fairs were held to raise money. All through the years the Ladies Benevolent Association has assumed a large share in the maintenance of the church and parson- age and has often contributed to the support of the pastor. The Associ- ation continues to raise money in various ways and is still a vital part of the church organization.
GRANGE
Greenfield Grange was instituted March 14, 1874 by Mr. C. C. Shaw, Secretary of the State Grange, with the following officers:
Master
John Fletcher
Overseer
David Starrett
Lecturer
Steward
Gilman S. Hartshorn Willis D. Hardy
Assistant Steward
George D. Pollard Alfred N. Hardy
Chaplain
Secretary Sidney H. Hardy Gate Keeper Nahum Russell Treasurer Alfred W. Savage Ceres Mrs. John Fletcher Pomona Mrs. Taylor D. Lakin Flora Mrs. Willis D. Hardy Lady Assistant Steward Mrs. Gilman S. Hartshorn Members: Douglas R. Gould, Jacob Gould, Nathaniel Morrison, Reubin A. Dutton, William L. Savage, Taylor D. Lakin, William H. Hopkins, John M. Duncklee, Daniel W. Burnham, John Grimes, Mrs. Alfred N. Hardy, Mrs. George D. Pollard, Mrs. Jacob Gould, Mrs. Alfred W. Savage, Mrs. Nathaniel Morrison, Mrs. Douglas R. Gould.
As far as is known, the regular meetings of the Grange have always been held in the town hall. The Grange has carried on an uninterrupted
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existence through the years, fulfilling its aims and adding to the social development of the town. The organization continues active today with sixty-four members.
GREENFIELD WOMAN'S CLUB By Daisy Perham
Credit should be given to Mrs. Leroy Miner for taking the first step in organizing the Woman's Club in Greenfield. With the aid of a group of young mothers she called the first meeting which was held at the Parsonage, July 11, 1921. Seventeen responded and were enrolled as members of "The Mothers' Club." Officers were elected as follows: President, Mrs. Sarah Plummer; Vice President, Mrs. Nellie Cheever; Secretary, Mrs. Angie Russell; Treasurer, Mrs. Louise Hopkins; Execu- tive Committee, Mrs. Edna Miner, Mrs. Daisy Perham, Mrs. Fannie Hopkins, and Mrs. Agnes Boyle. It was voted to hold meetings twice a month, serve refreshments, take a collection, and pay one dollar yearly for dues. Dr. Miner presented the club with ten dollars as a nucleus for the treasury. The first four meetings were held in the Firemen's Hall but those since have been held at the homes of the members. At the fifth meeting it was voted to change the name of the club to the Green- field Woman's Club and to affiliate with the State Federation. The first interest of the club was the school children and their needs. A con- tribution was made toward the janitor's salary to insure more efficient service. Scales and a drinking fountain, playground equipment, deck tennis, a basketball, and a ping-pong set were provided by the club. Mrs. Miner presented fifty dollars as a foundation fund for a dental clinic for the children; this clinic is still carried on. Sanitary conditions at the school were a problem and two hundred dollars were turned over to the school board to use as they saw fit. Eye glasses and tonsilectomies are provided as needed. Cod liver oil is furnished each year.
Shrubs have been planted each side of the cemetery gates and at the entrance to the Library. A light over the Library door was installed. An unsightly spot in the center of the town was beautified by a triangle of grass edged by granite curbing. The building of the state road to Francestown necessitated the removal of the triangle. The club shared in the expense of building and equipping the new kitchen in the Town Hall in 1938. The club contributes generously each year to the activities sponsored by the State Federation and community projects receive financial aid.
The membership is now sixty-six. The twentieth anniversary was observed July 11, 1941. The club believes that it accomplishes the pur- pose for which it was organized-the social, educational, and moral up- lift of the town.
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SPORTSMEN'S CLUB
The Greenfield Sportsmen's Club was organized December 15, 1936. "The first officers were as follows: President, Thomas E. Burke; Vice- President, Chester Holt; Secretary-Treasurer, George Wade; Board of Directors, Chairman, Donald W. Hopkins, Christie Belcher, Charles Cragin, Rodney White, Robert Blanchard. There are now twenty-six members.
RED CROSS
A group of Red Cross workers took an active part in war relief work during the First World War. At the present time another band is carry- ing on similar work. The women are not formally organized but operate as a branch of the Peterborough Red Cross Chapter.
Various clubs and societies have been active during the years. The Women's Christian Temperance Union was organized in 1881 with about thirty members. The first officers were as follows: President, Mrs S. H. Partridge; Vice-Presidents, Mrs. Charles F. Peavey, Mrs. Charles H. Hopkins, Mrs. Henry Holt, Mrs. Levi Holt; Secretary, Mrs. Sarah Pollard; Treasurer, Mrs. Henry Holt. They continued active for more than ten years.
A Village Improvement Society existed from 1886 to at least 1898.
The Greenfield Cornet Band was organized in 1888 with the follow- ing players: G. Allen, Solo Cornet and Director; W. L. Hopkins, Cornet; E. C. Hopkins, Cornet; Frank Davis, Cornet; C. M. White, Cornet; George Wilson, Cornet; Arthur Starrett, Clarinet; Howard Starrett, Clarinet; Fred Warren, Baritone; Ed. Warren, Bass; Charles M. Mann, Bass; Will O'Malley, Alto; Henry J. Holt, Alto; Wesley M. Ford, Alto; John Henderson, Trombone; Will S. Russell, Bass Drum; Charles Frye, Snare Drum; Millard Mason, Cymbals. The band was uniformed, held regular practice, and played at all town functions for about eight years.
The Columbian Orchestra was organized in 1902 and made up of the following musicians: John E. Hopkins, First Violin and Director; Will S. Hopkins, Clarinet; G. Fred Peavey, Cornet; Mrs. Fred Peavey. Piano; Ernest Rossi, Drums; Leon S. Hill, Flute; Fred J. Ames, Trom- bone; J. B. Curtis, Bass Viol; the later four did not reside in Greenfield. The orchestra was in great demand both here and in all the neighbor- ing towns. The members disbanded in 1918.
Other organizations which have functioned from time to time are Asteroids, Junior Order of United American Mechanics, Christian En- deavor, Phantom Club, Greenfield Dramatic Club, Camp Fire Girls, Girl Scouts, and 4-H Clubs. The Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, and a Brownie Troop are active today.
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CAMPS
Brantwood Camp
Around 1900 Rev. Donald Brown, an Episcopal rector from the vicinity of Boston, purchased property on the side of North Pack Monad- nock near the Greenfield-Peterborough line and built a small camp. Twelve or fourteen needy and deserving boys were privileged to spend. vacations here. The necessary funds were obtaind by Rev. Mr. Brown from various church choirs in and near Boston. In about four years, when Mr. Brown's health failed, Mrs. William H. Schofield took an active interest in the camp. She was instrumental in securing fourteen or more trustees from interested summer residents of Peterborough. Dublin and vicinity, and the necessary financial support for the camp. Mrs. Schofield gave a Common Hall in memory of her husband, the late Mr. Cheney. Other buildings were erected and the camp enlarged so- that four groups of forty-eight boys each were given healthful vacations of two weeks duration. The camp was closed at the outbreak of the First World War in 1917. In 1920 it was turned over to St. Mark's School (Southboro, Massachusetts). From this time the camp has been run as a fresh air recreation project. The boys are selected through Episcopal Church groups in Massachusetts. About sixty boys are taken in groups, changing every two weeks. The camp is generally run for six or eight weeks in July and August. The buildings consist of two maili buildings, six residential cabins for the boys, a cook's house, and infirm- ary. There is also a swimming pool and outdoor chapel. The coun- sellors, without exception, are volunteers who generally are connected with St. Mark's School and donate their services for a nominal salary. Among former directors of the camp are: Gardner Monks, now Head- master of Lenox School, Lenox, Massachusetts; John Harris, now Assist- ant Rector of Trinity Church, Boston; Walden Pell, Headmaster of St. Andrew's School, Middletown, Delaware.
Tall Pines Camp
Tall Pines Camp, located partly in Greenfield and partly in Benning- ton on the shores of Whittemore Pond, opened for its first season in 1915. It was owned and directed by Mr. John Reaveley, the Misses Evelina and Katherine Reaveley, and the late Miss Elizabeth Reaveley. For seventeen years a well equipped summer camp was conducted with facilities for one hundred eight girls. The buildings consisted of two main halls, two smaller recreational cottages, and twenty-three cabins. Horse- back riding was one of the featured sports with ten horses in use. From 1932 to 1938 the camp was carried on for adults. The hurricane of 1938 felled the beautiful pine grove in which the camp was built and practi-
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Otter Lake and Crotched Mountain
cally all the buildings were consequently demolished. The resulting damage, both to the camp and its setting, was so great that it has been impractical to rebuild.
Birch Hill Camp
Some years after Joseph Boyle closed Boylehurst Inn at Sunset Lake, he ran a boys' camp on the same property from 1925 to 1931. In 1937 Mrs. J. M. Pickles of North Quincy, Massachusetts, leased the property and since that time has operated Birch Hill Camp, accommodating about thirty boys and girls between the ages of six and fourteen.
Camp Watananock
Camp Watananock, or the Nashua Fresh Air Camp, on the shores of Sunset Lake, originated in 1927 and was incorporated soon after as "Greggson Incorporated." The funds for creating the camp were the gift of the Gregg family of Nashua. The buildings consist of three main buildings, five utility buildings, an infirmary, five bunk houses, a cottage for the director, and one for the head counsellor. Three hundred under- privileged children, 150 boys and 150 girls, are cared for during a season by taking 75 for each of the four two week periods. Competent agencies in Nashua select the children from Nashua and Hudson.
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The Boston Young Men's Christian Union
The Boston Young Men's Christian Union took possession of its property at Otter Lake (former Peavey property) in 1928. It was con- ducted as a camp for members of the Union, beginning the summer of 1928 and continuing through the summer of 1936. It was used primarily by the younger men for vacation purposes. At this time the policy was changed and in the summers of 1937 and 1938 the camp was opened for under-privileged boys from the city of Boston. During those sum- mers three hundred boys attended each season. The hurricane of Sep- tember 1938 caused so much damage that the camp was rendered unsuitable for under-privileged boys. In the summers of 1939 and 1940 it was conducted by the Citizenship Training Group. Two groups of thirty boys each worked for a four weeks period clearing away brush and chopping trees and at the same time carried on a recreational program. Now, in the summer of 1941, a similar program is planned under the Union. The capacity of the camp at the present time is about forty, including boys and counsellors. Plans are now being made for the development of the camp so that in the summer of 1942 it can be again used for under-privileged youngsters.
MILITARY RECORDS
Many men from what is now the township of Greenfield served in the Revolutionary War. Most of the early settlers of the town answered the call in 1775 and the graves of many are in our cemeteries. A list of men going from Greenfield cannot be given because Greenfield was not incorporated at that time.
Early in the year 1800 a company of Infantry was formed which became a part of the 26th Regiment of the State Militia. This company was the twelfth company of the regiment.
About 1807 a company of Grenadiers was formed as part of the 12th Company, 26th Regiment of State Militia. No man under six feet tall was accepted; gorgeous uniforms consisting of black coats faced with red and tall caps with high brilliant plumes made the men even more commanding in appearance. John McNeil of Hillsboro was the first commanding officer and was six feet six inches tall. This company was of picked men from Antrim, Deering, Hillsboro, Henniker, Hancock. Francestown, Greenfield, and Windsor. Zebediah Peavey of Greenfield was one of the men who succeeded General McNeil as Captain of the Grenadiers. The company disbanded in 1851.
The following men went to Portsmouth in 1812: Peter Peavey, John Savage, Jacob Peavey, Nathaniel Reynolds, John W. Bean, and David Emerson.
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A Rifle Company was formed in 1830 and did military duty until 1851 when by legislative enactment it was disbanded. It is also evident that a company existed known as "The Light Infantry" some time previ- ous to 1838.
Stephen Richardson is the only soldier of whom we have a Mexican War record; he also served in the Civil War. Records up to the Civil War are very difficult to trace and are incomplete.
At the time of the Civil War Greenfield sent many men. The follow- ing list of soldiers are credited to Greenfield. Other men may have gone to war but were credited to different towns though they may have re- sided in Greenfield at the time.
Joseph Ash
George G. Gould
George F. Lancey
Henry Bremer
Loammi Gould
Andrews Martins
Robert Brown
Antonio Goddard
George J. Moore
George D. Chapman
Daniel Guellow
Frank Meyer
John Clark
Levi S. Holt
George E. Messer, Jr.
John Cain
Perkins W. Hopkins Dennis Herlahey
John Miller George E. Messer
Joseph Conception
John W. Herrick
Albert L. Murphy
John S. Draper
August Herner
Harrison Marshall
Edmund Dascomb
Stephen Holmes
Dearborn S. Moody
Nathaniel Eaton, Jr.
Stephen H. Holt Frank Knights
William H. Powers
Nathan A. Fish Jacob Gannett John Gage
Ahira Z. Jones Ervin L. Lee Charles H. Lee
Oscar C. Stiles
Sewell P. Stearns
Andrew M. Smith
Wm. O. Woodbridge
Samuel G. Stearns
George D. Stiles
Ambrose W. Stearns
John E. Spalding
Charles H. Wilson William P. Winn
No record has been found of any enlistments in the Spanish War.
The Honor Roll of the men who served during the First World War is as follows:
James W. Austin
Donald W. Hopkins Joseph S. Aiken
Fred T. Girard
Philip S. Burnham
Pearl J. Warren
George R. Blanchard
Lester B. Lowe
Joseph P. Beaudrey
Phillip E. Magoon
Walter E. O'Malley
Daniel W. Flynn
Harry Dorr
George M. Wade
Leslie W. Dorr
Greenfield, as well as other towns, was touched by the fever of the gold rush in 1849. The following men set out for California:
Robert Blanchard Cyrus Richardson William Reynolds
Rufus Hardy Douglas Gould John Bowers
All returned in a few years except John Bowers who remained in California. Possibly there were others who went in search of gold but we have no knowledge of them.
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Noah Paro
Harry Elwood
John L. Putney
Thomas S. Stewart
Lewis Prescott Wilson
Ridgway P. Cragin
DISASTERS
In 1831 an event occurred which excited and alarmed the population of Greenfield and the neighboring towns. A man who lived in what is now Bennington had apparently been robbed and murdered at Rogers' Corner. Rogers' Corner was a turn in the old road leading from Russell Hill toward Bennington. It was on this same road that the Isaac Butter- field home and the District Number Four schoolhouse stood. At Rogers' Corner are several large boulders on each side of the road. The victim, whose name is unknown, was returning home from New Boston where he had sold his oxen. He stopped at the home of Mark Rogers, near the corner, late in the evening to buy gingerbread for his children. He told the Rogers family that he was to receive $115 for his oxen and had taken $15 to bind the bargain. He said goodnight and was never seen again. The assumption was that someone who believed that he had in his possession the entire proceeds from the sale of the oxen, lay in wait hidden by the large boulders at Rogers' Corner. It is supposed the assailant robbed and killed his victim on this spot. The theory was that the body was temporarily buried near the shore of Whittemore Pond and later, when the search grew more intense, was removed and placed in the Forest Road which was then under construction.
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