USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Walpole > A history of Walpole, New Hampshire, Volume I > Part 8
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In 1908 Kenneth, son of Frank Howard, in coasting down the steep hill at the north end of Elm Street, at the corner of Turnpike Street, collided with Spaulding & Slade's grocery sleigh. Driver Allen Russell jumped out and picked up the boy who thought he was not hurt. How- ever, they found that the horse had stepped on his left thumb and severed it completely. They found it lying on the sidewalk.
In January 1914, as a result of a coasting accident on Prospect Hill, Howard Weymouth had to have 100 stitches taken in his face at the Bellows Falls Hospital; and in 1916 Grace Foster and Leona Corey were hurt coasting on the Hill Road in District #10. The road was icy and they hit a bare spot.
Situated halfway between New York and the White Mountains, Boston
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and Saratoga, Walpole developed as a mecca for summer boarders. By June they began to arrive and the streets teemed with nurses and baby carriages. Many stayed at Mrs. Wright's Boarding House on the west side of the Common where croquet was a favorite pastime, and the "old men's game of round ball". At Drewsville Mrs. F. A. Wier kept boarders for many years, charging $5 to $8 per week.
"In 1882 there were more summer boarders than ever before, old and young, enjoying quiet ease, repose, slumber, musical soirees, parties, general unceremonious run-together. They formed what they called the Impromptu Club of home and foreign talent under the leadership of W. A. Swasey of New York and Charles F. W. McClure of Cambridge, Mass., put on a play, had a grand reception and ball at the Dinsmore. Every pleasant evening the streets of the village presented a holiday ap- pearance and the tradesmen looked smiling and prosperous." In 1889 Thomas Nelson Hastings stayed at the Elmwood, coming from Cam- bridge with his horses and carriage which were cared for at Fred Lebourveau's stable. That spring Fred had mated and sold three pairs of fine horses, two grays, two chestnuts, and best of all two bay mares that could trot double in three minutes and better single.
DECADE 1880-1890
About 8 P.M. on a day in November 1880 fire was discovered in the shed between the Wentworth House and its stable. The hotel, barn, piggery of Charles G. Maynard and livery stable of Wm. A. Maynard burned. Rain prevented further conflagration. In response to a telegram, the Bellows Falls company came as fast as horses could carry them. The village was cast into gloom and lost interest even in the presidential election.
Late in the winter bystanders watched the digging of the cellar for the new hotel, the stone for the new foundation being brought from Fitz- william by rail. On Feb. 10, 1882 there was the official opening of the new hotel, a grand ball and supper. Music was furnished by Maynard & Wheeler's full orchestra, with hotel celebrities from all over New Eng- land present.
One Saturday in February 1881 the correspondent counted 28 sleighs in the square, while there were several more out of sight in sheds. In January 1889 "The most disgusted looking person we have chanced to meet recently is the young man who early in December bought a new and stylish sleigh, resplendent with gay upholstery and silver trimmings,
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in which to take his best girl to ride. How sad to think what might have been, with a little snow on the ground."
In 1881 there was talk of a telephone line from the depot to the village; in 1882 connection with Bellows Falls. In May 1882 a trial telephone was set up between E. K. Seabury's store and his residence, line to be ex- tended if successful. A year later it proved a great help. While Mr. Sea- bury was engaged at his store, a pair of his horses hitched to a lumber wagon took fright at his house and started to run for the street. Mrs. Seabury hurried to the telephone and gave the alarm in time for Mr. Seabury to go out and stop the horses.
In November 1882 C. C. Davis had a telephone installed in his store. In October 1886 he sent an order to Boston by telephone, upward of 100 words. The message had to be relayed at Fitchburg, but was promptly and correctly filled.
By 1893 there was a public telephone office, telephone booth installed. In November 1897 F. E. Hawks, station agent, made arrangements for a telephone exchange through the village to Walpole station. Everyone would subscribe to the cost, stand a proportion of the cost of maintenance and own his instrument. By December 20 the line was completed from the station to Perry & Porter's store, with eight instruments-N. W. Hol- land's grain store, station agent's residence, Mrs. E. F. Tobey, F. A. Lebourveau's livery stable, the Dinsmore, F. A. Spaulding's store, Perry & Porter's store. There was also a telegraph to the agent's house. By January there were 13 instruments, by summer a need for a central ex- change. By September the Walpole Telephone Exchange was organized with F. E. Hawks manager, George E. Sherman secretary, F. A. Spaul- ding treasurer, and T. H. Hastings, H. A. Perry, W. W. Porter and F. A. Spaulding executive committee. Members were assessed two dollars each to meet expenses and repairs. In May 1899 the organization took steps to establish a central office, the system being overtaxed. It was voted to limit the lines to five parties to increase the hearing capacity and reduce the number of bells to which one had to listen.
In January 1904 the New England Telephone & Telegraph Company completed the work of setting a new line of poles from the depot to the village and renewing the wires attached to the trees on Main Street.
On the death of President Garfield in 1881 all business was suspended in Walpole, the buildings were hung with crepe and the national colors; the Democratic flag, heavily draped, was hung from the Republican staff, the bells were tolled and a memorial service was held at the town hall with Hon. Henry E. Howland giving the address.
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This was a period of attempts to change the old custom of keeping the village stores open through the evenings. In 1881 the stores were closed every Wednesday evening during the winter. In October 1882 "George P. Porter and M. H. Gorham refuse to enter into an agreement to close their stores every Wednesday at 6 P.M. It has become common practice to close one evening each week during the winter season. There are in every community some men who prefer to sit about warm stoves, toast their shins and gossip rather than enjoy a quiet evening with their fam- ilies at home. No doubt the hotel proprietor will be glad to have them accommodated by Porter and Gorham." In 1885 agreement had been reached, and by 1889 the stores were closing at eight every evening ex- cept Saturday.
In 1883 there were tennis matches on the Common, in 1884 there were complaints that the baseball players there were too noisy and profane. The town had passed an article prohibiting cannon firing and circus exhibitions on the Common. The suggestion was made that the town buy Dwinell's Island for the baseball clubs. In March 1887 the town voted with a good majority to prohibit ball playing and to discontinue the roads across the Common. In May, when George Jennison was harrowing the Common, a bolt fell out of the harrow and his horses, a young and frisky pair, went off without it, jerking Jennison off the ground. They dashed up Depot Street (Westminster) and through the Square, finally were brought up in the ox sling at Charles Roundy's blacksmith shop.
"This usually quiet village was stirred last Sunday morning (Dec. 9, 1883) by a burglary committed in our very midst sometime during the night. On Saturday three suspicious persons, that is strangers, were seen in the village acting strangely. . . . The first irregularity was noticed by Fred Lebourveau a little after seven Sunday morning who had occasion to enter his blacksmith shop, when he missed a bit-stock; further investiga- tion showed that a bit and steel punch had also been taken. These facts were told to Oscar W. Rogers who was immediately suspicious of wrong- doing. He went at once to examine the door of the Savings Bank. He found it O.K., but on his way back he noticed chips at the door of C. C. Davis' drug store; the lock had been removed by boring and a steel punch. Mr. Davis was notified. He found that his safe had been opened- $55 in cash and $7000 in securities missing. He went at once to Bellows Falls and spread the alarm by telephone to Greenfield, Springfield, etc. On Monday a telegram from Hartford, Conn. 'We have arrested your man, come at once.' The thieves had entered the blacksmith shop through a window, leaving marks of long, box-toed shoes in the soft earth."
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In April 1884 there was a meeting of fifty farmers to discuss establish- ment of a creamery in Walpole, cost to be about $3500. Mr. Sadd from Connecticut was there to present the plan, his state being the first to adopt the creamery with one established at Farmington in 1871. A creamery would be an innovation in a neighborhood of old and new fashioned churns, scores of milk cans, female elbow-grease, and in many families butter worse than oleomargarine, strong enough to walk without being carried, and salt enough to remind one of Lot's wife. Creamery butter was selling for 35-45¢, dairy about 25¢ per pound. On Sept. 10, 1888, a creamery was opened in Westminster, with a large amount of Walpole capital.
In 1885 Frank Spaulding was leader and conductor of the Brass Band, Charles B. Hale secretary, Albert C. Dickey treasurer. There were 23 members. In 1887 the band sponsored a series of stereopticon lectures by Dr. Hendrickson to raise funds. In 1889 they disbanded and the stand in the Square was removed. They found it impossible to maintain a brass band in a small village where the members lived too far apart to get together for practice. In 1903 F. E. Hawks organized a brass band with 18 members. They gave a concert to raise money for uniforms.
In June 1886 the remodelling of the town hall had begun. On the Common were stacked old lumber, doors, posts, mouldings, many of which were taken as souvenirs. Nothing remained of the building but the bare walls which were moved 18 feet to the north. During these altera- tions there was no lock-up. A citizen was arrested for being too hilarious and was locked in Room #20 on the third floor of the Dinsmore. He climbed out the window and escaped. It was then decided to use a box stall in the hotel stable.
The town hall was reopened January 27, 1887 with a band, the Choral Union, Frederick N. Knapp as speaker, and Maynard & Wheeler's Orchestra providing the program, followed by dancing. There were nearly 1000 present. Private parties placed a new upright piano in the hall.
In 1886 there was complaint of too many overhanging branches along the highways, breaking and stealing whips, knocking off hats, scratching buggy tops, giving a shower after a rain. The pines and hemlocks locked branches over the roads which were also narrowed by alder, elder, sumac, maple, scrub oak, apple.
On May 4, 1887 a Village Improvement Society was organized with Josiah G. Bellows president, C. R. Crowell and E. K. Seabury vice presi- dents, C. C. Davis secretary. The women were particularly active in the
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work. The Common received a great deal of attention from the group. The dump was moved from Turnpike Street near the old wheelwright shop to the bank south of Dennis Griffin's tobacco field (site of high school now). The Ravine was made more attractive and more accessible. The roads were named and marked.
In January 1888 there was a bad storm and the roads were in wretched condition, but in March "The storm last week was too much for our reportorial enterprise. We were unable to get to the post office. The blockade in our neighborhood was complete, in some parts of the town not raised until Saturday. Two or three small houses were buried nearly out of sight. Travel now is by systems of canals. No one has ever seen anything like it." This was the Blizzard of '88.
DECADE 1890-1900
In late September "the library committee and a few others met with Hudson E. Bridge who disclosed his plans to erect a one-story building of native stone, completely cellared and comprising three rooms, to be presented to the town for a library and reading room purposes. This meeting was called because the committee was planning to move from the present inconvenient quarters to Howard Hall. There are now nearly 4000 volumes. Mr. Bridge has purchased the Buffum Block and lot adjoining, with additional land of George R. Jennison, the site of the birthplace of his father, to whose memory he proposes to erect the build- ing. The building in which his father was born is now located on High Street, owned by Mrs. Caleb Farnam."
The Union Magazine Club voted to give its magazines to the library for its reading room-The Forum, Popular Science, Eclectic, Nineteenth Century, Harpers', Scribners', Century.
In April 1894 there was a bad fire in the woods near Drewsville. The fire started south of the brewery and spread over several hundred acres. About the middle of the forenoon H. B. Lovell, owner of the land which at that time was being cut off, heard of the fire. When he reached the scene he found already a wall of fire travelling rapidly toward Drewsville. With three men he battled it until noon, but found they could not hold it. At their call for help one hundred men responded and set back fires. The breeze drove the fire on to the edge of the woods near the village, where it was checked.
In April 1895 the river was the highest since 1862 but not bad in Walpole. The Fitchburg trains continued to run, depositing passengers at Bellows Falls with no way out. The high water was caused by rain and
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melting snow. It rained all day Saturday, the 13th, continued to Monday morning.
There was danger from logs upstream-Woodsville and in the White River. About 1,000,000 ft. were lost from Woodsville. Probably three- quarters were lodged along banks and secured in main drive later. Con- necticut River Lumber Company lost about 3,000,000 ft. through break- ing of booms near head of river. Water was high in Bellows Falls. Much property was salvaged from the eddy by going out in boats, hitching a rope to logs, etc., horses pulling them out.
Above the dam all the new piers of the Fall Mountain Paper Company, extra high, were covered, some tipped over and washed away. Boat houses which had been hauled up onto the North Walpole shore in the fall were afloat by Sunday afternoon, anchored by ropes.
Crowds of sightseers wandered around all Sunday night. "The sight of the water dashing over the falls near the toll bridge, and of the rapids below the bridge . . . was likened by many to the rapids below the falls at Niagara. The big rock in the middle of the river opposite the Fall Mt. office, that has never before been covered during a flood, was hid from sight completely and waves dashed over it and were tossed 50 ft. in the air.
"Carl Butter, a German employed at Vt. Farm Machinery Company went down to the brewery at Cold River Sunday to visit some friends and was unable to get back that night because of the water coming over the roadway of the bridge. He waited till morning, and as matters were getting worse, he stripped off all his clothes, tied them in a bundle and swam across amid the cheers of a crowd of both sexes. . .
"During the highest of the water a stream poured through the west abutment of the toll bridge and it was thought for a time that there was danger of it being weakened; but so far as is known the water flowed between the heavy granite blocks without damaging them. . . .
"Referring to the high water, Moses Miller of Bellows Falls, Vt., re- members nearly every flood from the time of Noah. ... He was about 7 years old at the time of the flood of 1828 when the water was about the same height. ... He also remembers the flood of 1842 ... about same height ... and 1862 ... 2 ft. higher ....
"The water on the dam late last night was about 121/2 ft. deep and fall- ing slowly. .
Hundreds of people thronged about Westminster bridge, fearing for its safety, "When one of the big log piers from above the Falls came moving along with great power, all held their breaths as it barely passed
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under the bridge on east side where the bridge was higher. Mr. Gilbert's large plant of shops and buildings were surrounded by water on the Westminster side. ... A newly constructed raft, which nobody could control, gave a scare to two or three adventurers, taking them down the river about 2 miles to Grout's station where by some freak of fortune they got off in safety and telephoned their good luck back to anxious friends. Fred Graves, occupying a river farm, had to remove his stock and family, his buildings being entirely surrounded by water, and his property con- siderably damaged. John P. Holmes had to move his family into the upper rooms of his house."
There have been many travelling companies in and out of Walpole through the years, among which we might mention the Phila May Com- pany which came several times; Guy Brothers' Minstrels, whose advance agent lived in Walpole, and various Uncle Tom's Cabin troupes. In 1899 "The Uncle Tom's Cabin troupe who gave a tent show here Wednesday evening is reported as not half bad after all, although the street parade at high noon hardly gave promise of anything particularly juicy. It consisted, mostly, of a few gorgeous individuals of the cakewalk variety; some sorry looking steeds that, if not grown white in a single night, had, during years of honorable service; and several friendly look- ing bloodhounds, who wagged along as if life were a joke and they had no idea of making a meal now and then off stray Topsies, Evas, Uncle Toms and their ilk. But then, the music was good of its kind, the numer- ous little donkeys trotted on as if unlimited thistles were in view, banners waved, the small boys cheered and qu'avez vous? People in a country village are easily amused."
"Apropos of the above sentiment a hawker of small wares proved an- other drawing card on Thursday evening and quite a crowd collected in the square at the behest of gong and bell and flaring light. A trained dog was exhibited who performed quite clever tricks. He was a knowing dog, for when asked which he would rather do, die or get drunk, he quietly laid down and died without a murmur, having apparently heard that Walpole had passed into history as a 'dry' town. In some other town, Westminster for instance, the choice might have been different. The glib tongued owner of this phenomenon then held forth with joke and story to more readily effect his sales, which we are told, however, were not extensive."
Moving pictures were beginning to be seen in Walpole. In 1898 "The Kinetoscope represented many amusing scenes as well as several wonder- ful ones. The cavalry passing in review, the express train, the sleighing
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in Central Park, the watermelon contest and others might be mentioned. One pretty scene was feeding the doves, and a very realistic one was the pillow fight among the seminary girls. The graphophone reproduced vocal and instrumental solos, band music, etc., and also Robert Ingersoll's speech on Napoleon. Perhaps the best of these was the U.S. Marine Band and a cornet solo "When the Swallows Homeward Fly." The latter was very distinct and a pleasure to hear. Take it all around, the program was unique and well worth the price of admission. The Ladies' Aid Society under whose auspices the entertainment was given netted $10."
In May 1900 there were Edison's moving pictures in the town hall, views of Philippine and South African wars a specialty. In 1909 there were 200 people present at an exhibition of moving pictures at the town hall, but in 1911 we note "There was poor attendance at Hadley's mov- ing pictures at the town hall." The subject was travel in foreign lands. For some time movies were shown at the Unitarian Parish House. Local pianists (Gladys Metcalf, Esther Williams, etc.) furnished the accompani- ment for the shows which were otherwise silent.
In 1898 "The topic of war was overshadowed by the failure of the Cheshire County Mutual Insurance Company. Established in 1825, it was considered as safe as the hills. Many were bitter." In July Santiago's surrender was celebrated by the firing of cannon crackers in the square on Thursday, and the following Monday with a parade, fireworks, bon- fire, orchestra music. By 9:30 P.M. all the lights were out. Then cannon reverberated for sometime and finally exploded. No one was hurt except Judge Bellows' cow in an adjoining field. She was struck and killed by a flying missile. Money for the celebration was procured by subscription, but this last episode was unforeseen.
In October 1897 "A horseless carriage containing three men passed through here on Monday, taking the River Road to Keene and travelling we are told at the rate of 12 miles per hour. This method of locomotion is quite a novelty in this vicinity at least and to the favored few who witnessed the sight afforded ample subject for conversation."
In August 1902 "There was a serious accident at Mrs. Charlotte Burt's. Mr. & Mrs. Chandler had come to call and hitched their horse at a post. The horse became frightened by the invention of Satan. Mr. Chandler tried to calm the horse; Mrs. Chandler tried, but he reared, throwing her down and stepping on her. Mrs. Burt rushed to her aid. The horse after striking her with his knees turned and ran. He was caught just beyond the bridge by Messrs. Burt, Murray and Mitchell." By 1906 automobiles
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became so common and so speedy that signs had to be put up to guide and limit speed.
Hon. T. N. Hastings drove his auto home from Boston, 110 miles, in four and one quarter hours in 1904. In 1912 Dr. Craig had the local Ford agency. In April he had sold five cars: four-passenger cars to H. A. Perry, Frank Spaulding and Edgar Wells; two-passenger cars to Mr. Sturtevant and Roy Mullen. Warren Knowlton then had a Metz which he said could beat any car for speed, comfort and economy. Mrs. Mullen and Mrs. Shackley obtained their drivers' licenses. In August Mrs. Shackley was going at a good rate of speed to "make" a pitch. There was a sharp curve, then downgrade. She skidded and toppled over into the ditch. Dr. Craig helped Mr. Shackley bring the car home and on the way ran into a stone post by the Unitarian Church.
In 1913 a large truck carried pine lumber from South Acworth to Cold River, about 4000 feet to a load, the first truck of its kind ever seen in this vicinity.
In 1914 C. W. Morse had a 400 gallon gasoline tank installed in front of his new store for the accommodation of the public. Later there was excitement in the Square one evening when an out-of-town auto caught fire. In filling the gas tank some was spilled and in lighting the tail light it caught fire. Arthur Davis put it out promptly with an extinguisher.
Some accidents resulted in making adjustments to the new vehicles. H. A. Perry forgot to set his brakes, was run over when he tried to crank it. Russell Spaulding and Louis Ballam broke their arms cranking autos. Henry Kilburn drove around a curve too fast, turned turtle.
In 1913 Edgar Wells added a limousine to his garage for the accom- modation of his customers.
In July 1899 an Old Home Week Association was formed with Thomas N. Hastings president; Charles H. Barnes, Dr. A. P. Richardson and Patrick Griffin vice presidents; Thomas B. Peck secretary; Josiah G. Bel- lows treasurer; Edwin Guild, Edwin K. Seabury and Ira W. Ramsay executive committee. Three hundred and fifty-eight invitations were sent out, 1200 people attended the Old Home Day which was held August 30 at the Pines in Copley Amory's pasture on the Drewsville Road, not far from the site of the massacre of Flint and Twitchell. For those who did not have their own transportation Fred O. Smalley ran a barge from the village, charging 10 cents for each passenger. There were also livery carriages.
After the basket picnic there was a program of music, singing and ad- dresses. Those taking part were Rev. Frank W. Pratt, Hon. T. N. Hast-
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ings, Hon. Josiah G. Bellows, Rev. John Bartow, Prof. Franklin W. Hooper, Rev. William Channing Brown, Judge Henry Howland, Charles H. Barnes, Rev. E. A. Keep.
The Bellows Falls Band gave a concert in the Square before the picnic and played during the festivities. There were also many family gather- ings.
For a few years there were annual Old Home Days, but more recently the affair has been combined with other events of note and has been held at less frequent intervals.
DECADE 1900-1910
In 1900 Copley Amory erected a large stone watering trough at the Homestead Farm with this inscription, "Traveller remember here lived Col. Benjamin Bellows, founder of Walpole, from 1750 until his death in 1777. His son, Honorable Thomas Bellows, a distinguished citizen who died 1848, his grandson, Reverend Thomas Bellows who died 1890, and that they owned and tilled this farm 138 years."
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