USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Walpole > A history of Walpole, New Hampshire, Volume I > Part 56
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The Bridge Fuel and Grain Company's building (#90), at the corner of High and Main Streets, was at one time a bakery shop. S. S. Washer opened there in 1895 in what had formerly been a meat shop. He had a daily sale of 90 loaves of bread and 10 dozen rolls, to say nothing of cakes, pies, cookies, candy, and cigars. He also sold ten cases of soda water a week and ice-cream and oysters in season. Later Mrs. Cota had a bakery here. For a time Charles Holden had a grocery store, but there was not much business at this location until Robert Guest purchased in 1945. He remodeled the building attractively and carried on a grocery and meat store for several years. Besides the grain, oil, coal, and bottled gas business the present owners have a retail store area for paints, some hardware and farmers' supplies.
The brick building (#10) at the corner of Turnpike Street was owned by Mrs. DeWitt Ordway in 1910. About that time she rented the lower floor to Fred A. Metcalf and Ira Hitchcock who operated a grocery store
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here until 1914. Then Ira Hitchcock sold his interest to Clarence W. Houghton and the business continued as Metcalf and Houghton. They soon moved to a new location on Westminster Street (#5). In 1915 Alex- ander Bain opened a fish, meat and grocery store here, continuing until 1930. For about a year Adolphus Stevens operated a grocery store and he was followed by Francis Bashaw for about three years. It is now a dwell- ing house.
In 1926 Herbert R. Tucker took over the main floor of the building now occupied by the Thrift Shop (#8). He carried on a good printing business besides stocking a good line of merchandise to supply the needs of the community, such as stationery, cards, kitchenware and many ar- ticles not usually found in a small community. In October 1931 he bought the dry goods and shoe department from the Cahalane and Bemis Store. Herbert Tucker continued in business here until 1937 when he moved to #5 on Westminster Street. Mrs. Ralph Libby went into busi- ness here at #8, specializing in dry goods and shoes. She later moved to the space in the south portion of the Bemis Block which had been va- cated by the post office. In 1946 Mr. and Mrs. George R. Harris took over Mrs. Libby's old store space and operated a book store along with their photographic work. The shop was known as The Leaf and Lens. More recently St. John's Church has operated a Thrift Shop here.
The Village Store (#6), on the north side of Westminster Street, was for many years a drug store owned by Archie I. Davis. In 1919 he sold out to Roy Peck of Bellows Falls. In 1929 Peck added to his store what had been Knowlton's jewelry shop and put in a luncheonette. In 1939 the place was completely done over and modernized. The present owner, Randall Daniels, operates a grocery store and sells novelties, still con- tinuing the luncheon business but discontinuing the pharmacy.
The Tin Shop (#5), north side of Westminster Street, is the location to which Fred A. Metcalf and Clarence W. Houghton moved their grocery store from Turnpike Street. When Fred A. Lebourveau bought the build- ing, he rented it to Charles W. Morse who operated a plumbing shop here until 1927 when Adolphus Stevens took over the business. Robert L. Galloway became a partner of Stevens from 1937 to 1940 when it be- came Galloway & Ratte. After about two years Galloway became owner and operated a sizable business in plumbing, heating, contracting and electrical wiring. He is now forming the Central Plating Company with Houle in the building back of the plumbing shop.
From 1900 to 1920 Frank A. Spaulding was operating a very successful store at #168 on the west side of Main Street, now known as the Bemis
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Store. Charles H. Slade was in partnership with Spaulding for a short time. For a little while it was the only grocery store in town, and during that period Mr. Spaulding found it most difficult to satisfy the customers. In 1921 Fred A. Metcalf and Reginald F. Cahalane bought the store and operated it until 1926. They carried a large stock of groceries and hard- ware, a quite complete line of dry goods, and boots and shoes as well. They maintained two trucks for orders and delivery. Many farmers were still making butter and bringing it to the store to exchange for groceries. Metcalf and Cahalane began the sale of baker's bread at this store. In 1926 Metcalf sold his interest to Guy H. Bemis who purchased Cahalane's share in 1931. In 1945 Mr. Bemis remodelled the store for self-service.
In the north part of the Bemis Block the C. C. Davis drug store was carried on from 1866 until 1946. After the death of Arthur P. Davis, son of C. C. Davis, in 1937, the store was managed by Lila Pierce. She later purchased the business in the south side of the same building from Mrs. Libby, calling her place the Little Store. The Davis heirs sold the drug store business in June 1946 to Lyndon I. Wilson of Ware, Mass., who ran it for only a short time, selling to a Mr. Woodman who stayed but a few months. He sold in July 1949 to Ralph Brainard from Colebrook, N. H., who carried on the business until January 1954 when he sold out to Lester Chickering who has since taken on a partner, Alfred Martin.
The early mercantile business in Drewsville is quite fully covered in the chapter on the homesteads. The present store (#615) has been op- erated mostly by owners of the building. In 1919 Charles Moultrop, a travelling salesman, bought the store and his wife operated it most of the time, later carried on by Wallace Sencabaugh. Before buying the building, the R. J. McKenvens rented the store and worked up an active business, not only in groceries, but also in automobile tires and parts. During the last three years of their being there, Mrs. McKenven served as postmaster. In 1930 the property was sold to Mrs. Ellen Buxton of Con- cord and the store was operated by Fred Swazey and later by Ralph Vin- ing before being purchased by Harley Prentiss, the present owner.
There have been various mercantile enterprises in North Walpole. In 1878 Mr. Lockwood opened a store on Merchant Street and was suc- ceeded there by F. G. Pierce, and then by S. C. Webster. However, the business was not fully satisfactory until taken over by Martin Barrett, followed by his son James who had a grocery and dry goods store. The closing of the grade crossing left this a dead end street and business went elsewhere.
In 1898 H. H. Davis opened a drug store on Center Street in North
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Walpole but this has long been gone. At about that same time Miss Bridget Ryan had a bakery on this street. Later the Dombroskis had their bakery near the north end of Center Street.
At the corner of Center and Vine Streets there was a bottling works. Also, there were many saloons during the 1890's and early 1900's. Fifteen in the village comprised: on River St., Flavin, Moynihan & Bowen, Lloyd, Godsoe & Murphy, Killeen, Reilly & Connors, Macleod, Denigan; at the bridge, O'Neil; on Center St., Manella, O'Neill, Patsy Galway, Macleod and Brennan. In fact, the saloon in the house at the corner of River and Main Streets became Killeen's store. The present business was started in 1915 by Patrick Killeen and is now operated by Harold Killeen who sells meats and groceries.
Most of the stores in North Walpole are now on Church Street. Au- mand's and Sons, the first store at the south end of the street, was incor- porated in 1958. Ernest Aumand started barbering in the next building to the north in 1921. He gradually put in candy and ice cream and then added sporting goods. After the 1927 flood he started the present build- ing to which he has added until he has filled all the available space. At the beginning Mrs. Aumand took care of the store while Ernest barbered. The stock now includes furniture, appliances, toys, clothing, paints, and boats.
Where the State Liquor Store is now (#92) Ernest J. Baldasaro started barbering 32 years ago. After being there twelve years, he moved to #90. In 1951 he built the Mt. Kilburn Sport Shop, next north, and now op- erates both the barber shop and the sport shop with the help of his wife.
On the east side of Church Street is the J & W Market (#96). When Tom Kenney came back from World War I, he worked here for Eugene Cray and before long bought the business which he operated until his retirement recently. James Van Etten now owns the business, selling groceries, meat, produce and beverages. Tom is still about the premises off and on.
Still farther north on Church Street is Karpinski's Store (#114). Stan- ley Karpinski was originally in business with his brother in Bellows Falls. He bought the property here in 1925 and developed the meat and gro- cery business.
FARM MACHINERY
Pinnacle View: Unable to get satisfactory service for his farm machinery, Albert Fletcher gradually worked into the business of selling and serv- icing such machinery. His first agency (1936) was for barn equipment
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and the business was carried on at his farm buildings (#435). In 1938 he became a sub-dealer for a large wholesaler and took on a wide range of farm equipment, including Allis Chalmers. On Feb. 2, 1948 he formed a family corporation with his sons and the same year erected the cement block building on the premises. In addition to farm equipment the com- pany also sells light industrial equipment, serving the territory for 50 miles around.
R. N. Johnson: In 1929 Ralph N. (Jack) Johnson started raising pota- toes on a large scale in Walpole, out on Fay Hill. At the same time he took the agency for John Deere farm equipment. About 1936 he took on other lines and moved into the livery stable in the village. In 1937, the 100th Anniversary of the John Deere Company, he began holding John Deere Day, attended by the farmers and their families for miles around. In 1943 Johnson bought a part of the old Bellows Homestead (#482) on Rt. 12. On the west side of the highway Copley Amory had erected a sheep barn, a comparatively low building, open on the south side with divided doors which could be used to close the building. This building Johnson converted to stock and display rooms for farm equipment, with ample grounds and sheds for the vast amount of new and used machinery in stock. In 1945 the firm was incorporated, including R.N.'s son James K. . .. In 1947 they built a repair shop. They now handle equipment for "Farm, Woods and Industry," supplying Cheshire and Sullivan Counties in New Hampshire and Windham and Windsor Counties in Vermont. The John Deere Days which were originally held at the town hall are now held at the place of business.
BOOKS
OLD SETTLER BOOKSHOP: In 1929 Lee Byron Baker established this second hand bookstore. In 1943 Rense A. Kolvoord bought the stock and house, #270 on Rt. 12. He has a stock of thousands of books, sold mostly by mail order. He specializes in hard to locate first editions, lit- erary and political subjects.
In 1946 Eric B. Lundberg bought the old Gilson place, #267 on Rt. 12 and operated a scientific (botanical) book business. In 1959 he sold to John Kolvoord brother of Rense.
OIL, COAL, GRAIN
Connelly Fuel: In 1889 Jerry E. Keefe started a coal business in North Walpole. He later took his son William J. into the business and in 1920 bought out the P. B. Lane business. The coal sheds were at Cold River
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until 1927 when the company bought out the A & K Coal Company on Russell Street and moved to that location. After the death of his father in 1927 William J. continued the business until his own death in 1935. In April 1940 John J. Connelly bought the business and the offices are now in Bellows Falls.
Bridge Fuel & Grain Co .: In 1913 Frank A. Spaulding had a coal and grain business in the old toll house at the Village Bridge. In 1931 Carl Smith bought the business and operated until 1947 when his estate sold to George Leighton Bridge. Mr. Bridge and his son, George Leighton Jr., were forced to move when the new by-pass of Walpole Village went through their property. The company is now located at #90.
Checkerboard Warehouse: In 1960 the Ralston Purina Co. erected a building in which are sold their feedstuffs on the west side of the rail- road near the northernmost underpass in North Walpole.
Cray Oil Company: On Dec. 27, 1920 Eugene Cray signed with the Texas Co. for the franchise to distribute their products in Vermont and New Hampshire and a distribution plant was put into operation in North Walpole. At approximately yearly intervals distribution plants were set up at Woodsville, Littleton and Lancaster, N. H .; at St. Johns- bury, Vt .; at Berlin, N. H .; at Newport, Ludlow, Chester, Newfane and Fairlee, Vt. This now constitutes the largest independent oil company in Vermont and New Hampshire. While the company has been in business Cray has built 102 filling stations, many of which have been leased to the operators. The company distributes gasoline, fuel oil, kerosene and lubricants. They employ 450 people, 32 being in the main office in North Walpole.
Mr. Cray also operates a chain of four drug stores in Vermont and is the distributor for National Distillers in western Massachusetts with offices at Springfield, Mass.
Kane and Healy: In 1944 Kane and Healy bought the Biltmore land on the west side of Church Street in North Walpole. Distributors of fuel oil, they have their tanks here.
Claremont Oil Company: In 1896 the Standard Oil Company bought land on the west side of the railroad in the north part of North Walpole. The tanks on the east side of Church Street now belong to the Claremont Oil Company.
Service Stations: In North Walpole Guy Baldassaro operates a gaso- line filling station on Church Street near the north end of North Wal- pole; Edward Reardon operates a station on the old tavern site in Walpole
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Village; at Cold River there is a service station owned by Eugene Cray; at Drewsville Harley Prentiss operates a station; Griswold's in the square.
PEDDLERS
Some came with pack on back, some pushing a cart, others with a horse drawn vehicle. "Old Coma", a withered little Irishman, plodded along the dusty roads in summer pushing his cart of palpably cotton napery which he assured one and all was 'pelpet', meaning pure linen. There was also the elegant Orison Bragg from Keene with his dazzling red cart drawn by a span of nettlesome black horses, with his outfit of shoes from Con- gress gaiters for Grandma to tiny white kid for the baby. He wore mut- tonchop whiskers and was always saying, 'My wife, she's troubled with gars'. (about 1884)
A peddler from Bartonsville came pushing a two-wheeled handcart about town selling dress goods and notions. He had white hair and eye- brows, but he dyed his mustache black. (about 1895)
In October 1895 a mule team from St. Louis came through town ped- dling stoves.
There was the tin peddler who exchanged the contents of the house- wife's rag bag for shiny tin ware and other kitchen necessities. He sat high aloft in a creaking, rather faded red cart with little doors on the sides, and festooned with brooms, mopsticks, pails and other insignia of his trade. A patient horse, as a rule faded like the wagon, drew him about the countryside and his advent each summer was eagerly awaited.
September 1898, Joe Gordon, tin peddler, shipped 2,500 lb. rags to Boston
The soft soap man came at intervals and bought grease, wool and hides, making payment with soap to those farmers' wives who did not 'set' the leach barrel every spring, an accomplishment long forgotten.
Early Walpole peddlers were Hiram Redding (bought a cart in 1838 from Uriah Newton), Cyrus Bugby, Josiah Ball (tin). Others listed in the 1850 census were George Burt, Horace N. Thatcher, John Buntin, Alan- son D. Comstock, Ebenezer Titus.
An important factor of the old days was the meat cart painted yellow and with a white canvas top, that made trips biweekly through the out- lying districts of the town. The interior was scrupulously clean and there was a lavish display of meats in orderly arrangement and occasionally fish in tubs of ice. The butcher in long white frock was an affably friendly man who weighed the customer's choice on steelyards, threw a bone to the dog and a bit of liver to the cat and told willingly the news of the
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village. In the 1890's George Whitney in the Valley and W. A. Fletcher at #270 were running meat carts. Others who did butchering but did not necessarily have carts were Chapin and Burt (built 1884 a slaughterhouse on land now owned by G. L. Bridge on the River Road); Lewis Whitney in the Valley at the end of Maple Grove Road; Amasa Tiffany (Middle Street); George Watkins (South Street); John Adams (Whipple Hill); David Cushing (Carpenter Hill, #359); William Punt (lived Turnpike Street); Henry Chandler (1879 built slaughterhouse on Ravine Brook); Charles C. Worcester 1885 on Sparhawk Hill Farm; M. H. Gorham (peddled); Henry Tole 1890 slaughtering for B. Lovell, peddling from cart; George Whitney 1891 hired A. F. Maynard place (Drewsville) and ran a meat cart.
The early fishman announced his coming with a long horn. None of the early names have been recorded. Herbert E. Wells had a fish cart 1898-1910; Rowe Wier 1891.
Mention must also be made of those who every spring peddled hulled corn and horseradish.
The baker drove briskly through the farming districts, a string of bells announcing his approach.
Today the housewife is waited upon by the breadman, the milkman, the oil man, the dry cleaner, the insurance man, the sewing machine and vacuum cleaner agents and repair men, magazine salesmen, the Fuller Brush man, the Rawleigh or Avon agent, to mention a few. Or she may order from mail order houses with their guarantee of satisfaction. And it is no great effort to hop into her car and drive into town to satisfy her wants, so much quicker than hitching up a horse if she were so fortunate as to have one at her disposal. "Trading" habits have changed, the old Saturday night habit having given way to Friday night, and now crowded by Thursday because that is pay day. (Information largely from Edith Tiffany)
SAVINGS BANK ROBBERY
"On November 21, 1864, the Savings Bank of Walpole, incorporated 1853, was robbed of about $52,000 in money and securities of various kinds, a large share of which belonged to Col. A. Herbert Bellows. David Buffum was president and Benjamin F. Aldrich treasurer. The bank office was in Aldrich's store. The burglary was accomplished by entry through a window into the store. ... It was conjectured that the treasurer's movements had been 'shadowed' for some months in order to
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THE TOWN HOUSE before 1875 (#67)
THE TOWN HOUSE between 1880 and 1915 (#67)
(Watkins)
THE TOWN HOUSE BURNING in 1917 (#67)
(Watkins)
THE TOWN HOUSE AFTER FIRE in 1917 (#67)
(Watkins)
11
PENCIL SKETCH OF FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH (#173) Before It Was Raised in 1873
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH in 1900 (#173)
Episcopal Church
ST. PETER'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, DREWSVILLE
ST. JOSEPH'S R. C. CHURCH about 1890 (#68)
8855
ST. JOSEPH'S R. C. CHURCH about 1955 (#68)
(Harris)
ST. PETER'S R. C. CHURCH, NORTH WALPOLE (#N102) (Baker)
PROSPECT HILL MEETINGHOUSE before 1869
UNITARIAN CHURCH before 1920 (#142)
UNITARIAN CHURCH, Feb. 19, 1920 (#142)
Unitarian Church Walpolo, NA
UNITARIAN CHURCH about 1950 (#142)
ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH about 1910 (#58)
(Watkins)
POTTERY MADE IN WALPOLE, Historical Society Collection (see #452) (Hastings)
CRAFT'S TAVERN PUNCHBOWL
(Hastings)
Owned by Andros
CLOCK BY ISAIAH
Owned by Kingsbury
EATON (#582) (Hastings)
SILVER BY ISAIAH EATON (#582)
Owned by Kingsbury (Hastings)
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-
BUREAU BY HOLLAND BURT Owned by Bridge (Hastings)
SECRETARY BY HOLLAND BURT Owned by Hastings
(Hastings)
ascertain what disposition he made of the safe key before retiring for the night.
"This key was made up in three pieces, one of which was left in his desk drawer, one was put into his business safe and the other was kept in his pantaloons pocket on retiring from business at night. . .. They pro- cured the piece the treasurer kept in his pocket first by stealthily entering his house by means of round forceps applied to his door key and enter- ing his sleeping room and taking his pantaloons which were found on his doorstep the next morning. With false keys they entered his safe and drawer and were soon prepared to enter the bank safe. .
"Much excitement prevailed in the village the next day, and many crude and unjust speculations were made implicating some of the most worthy citizens of the town in the robbery. Although $5,000 reward was offered no clue to the guilty parties was obtained till the following Feb- ruary when information was received from Washington that some of the stolen bonds had been sold. ... Col. A. Herbert Bellows immediately started for Pennsylvania and obtained such intelligence as warranted him in employing New York detectives. The detectives obtained a clue which led them to suspect Mark Shinburn, who lived at Saratoga. They im- mediately repaired to Saratoga, but did not find Shinburn at his home on his farm. . . On calling at the post office . . . they found that he had recently . . .. taken a letter from his box . . (and) gone to a minstrel performance.
"Shinburn knew one of the detectives and it was arranged that this detective should keep out of sight, when the performance closed, at which time it was proposed to arrest him. The other two stationed themselves . at the entrance door to the auditorium of the theatre. The play be- . . ing over, Shinburn escaped the eye of the first detective, in passing out; but on arriving at the second door he was recognized by detective number two. Whereupon, at a signal, number three sprang forwards and the two closed in with him and had him in irons instanter. He contrived to get a letter from his pocket, which the detectives fortunately saw and took from him before he had time to destroy it, which, on opening, was found to contain two of the stolen bonds and some coupons which had been sent to Philadelphia to be sold, but were returned. This was sufficient evidence to warrant his being brought to Keene, where he was held for trial." (AH 123-4)
In December 1897 (?) Wm. B. Watts, head of the detective branch of the Boston Police Department wrote of thieves and thief catching under
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the title "From Jimmies to Dynamite" in the Nickell Magazine. In the course of a very entertaining article he said:
"Maximilian Schoenbein, far better known as Max Shinburn, was adept in the conception and execution of criminal plans. He has been distinguished by his critics, the Pinkerton Brothers, as the greatest bank, vault and safe breaker of this or any other country. He is a German by birth, and first came to this country in or near the year 1860.
"To perfect his knowledge of the mechanisms of safes he obtained em- ployment under an assumed name in the works of the Lilly Safe Com- pany. In their employment he gained a knowledge so intricate and exact of the construction of safe locks that he could readily duplicate any then in the market. Moreover, his ear was so acute and sensitive that by the turning of the dial he could determine at what number the tumblers dropped into place.
"He soon heaped up a fortune by his successful burglaries, and, al- though an inveterate gambler, he was so shrewd a speculator that he actually made another fortune by lucky turns of the market. He spent his income at first with an extravagant hand in dissipation and luxurious living and was a typical 'high roller' until he was arrested at Saratoga Springs for the robbery of the Walpole Savings Bank April 1865.
"The evidence against him was so conclusive that he was convicted and sentenced to ten years of imprisonment. He broke out of the jail at Keene on the night following his conviction and contrived to elude cap- ture for many months, but was finally arrested after an unsuccessful at- tempt to rob a bank at St. Albans, Vt. He was sent to the state prison in Concord, but again this crafty and daring burglar was an over-match for his guards. His escape from the Concord jail was one of the most daring and skilfully planned in criminal history.
"His confederate in this escape was his partner in the robbery at Wal- pole, George Miles alias George White. A masked hole in the gate of the prison was cut one night by the contrivance of White and Shinburn and the next day Shinburn broke away from a marching line of convicts in the yard of the jail, escaped through the hole in the gate, got away in a light wagon waiting outside and in a minute was gone with his con- federate, White, as fast as a fast horse could carry them over the line into Massachusetts."
Shinburn continued his life of criminality and for a time lived in Eu- rope until he felt it safe to return to this country. He was finally arrested by the Pinkerton Agency in New York on June 28, 1895, on the"
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charge of robbing the First National Bank of Middleburg, N. Y. He was tried upon this charge and convicted in January 1896.
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