USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Walpole > A history of Walpole, New Hampshire, Volume I > Part 9
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In April 1895 a freshet attracted crowds of spectators. At Cold River Freddy Tole used a boat to carry foot passengers and the beer.
In October 1901 the R.F.D. route was laid out: south 1.5 miles to Sumner S. Watkins corner; southwest 1/4 mile to Josiah Graves; south- east 3/16 mile to Charles S. Hawks; northeast 1/4 mile to #9; southeast 3/8 mile to Fred H. Booth corner; northeast 1-3/16 mile to Walter Moody; south 13/8 mile to David Mann; 13/8 mile to Wesley C. Foster to Edward S. Taggard corner; southwest 3/8 mile to Cyrus Church; southwest 3/8 mile to F. A. Seward; southwest 1/2 mile to John Blanchard; northwest 1 mile to Albert A. Gilson; southwest 5/8 mile to Waldo Burt corner; postoffice. In the afternoon the carrier was to proceed southeast 1.5 miles to George Chickering; northeast 5/6 mile to W. H. Fletcher; northwest 5/6 mile to #4 and back to Fletcher; east 23/8 miles to Lewis Whitney corner; north- west 25/8 miles to Charles Garrity corner; west 7/8 mile to Hatch corner; south 27/8 miles to postoffice. Total 25-3/16 miles; 122 houses; population 512: It was a big improvement over harnessing a tired horse to go to the post office. Dennis G. Phelan, carrier, 1902.
June 1, 1938 the post office was raised to second class.
In 1903 the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the town was com- bined with the Old Home Day (4th) August 18, unlike previous years, on the Common. A band stand was erected at the north end of the Common. The exercises opened at 9:15 with music by the Walpole brass band, and an outdoor basketball game between Walpole and Putney, the first ever
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witnessed by many of the crowd. At 11 there was a speaking program in the town hall with some 700 people in attendance, a large number obliged to stand. A quartet including Mrs. Louis R. Lincoln, Misses Nellie B. Banning, Lizzie M. Maynard and Rebecca L. Hooper sang several selections. The main features of the program were an historical address by Prof. Franklin W. Hooper and an address by Judge Henry E. Howland of New York. At noon some returned to their homes, some pic- nicked on the Common and others in the lower town hall. Dinner was served to the basketball team from Putney, the baseball team from Al- stead and other guests. At 2:30 the athletic contest began with a crowd of 1000 spectators on settees. and in carriages drawn up around the Common. The sports closed with a baseball game between Walpole and Alstead on Miss Mason's field, Walpole winning 9-8.
The stores in the square and the houses on Main Street were decorated, also around the Common, with flags and bunting. The Common looked like a bit of fairyland during the band concert in the evening with many Chinese lanterns and fireworks, red and green fires, rockets, mines and Roman candles. Following the concert the band furnished mustic for dancing in the town hall.
Anecdote from Howland address: "There is a tradition that at one time Rev. Timothy Dwight, president of Yale was passing through Wal- pole. There being no room for him at the tavern, Joseph Dennie shared his room. Dr. Dwight in the course of conversation inquired if Dennie was still publishing the Farmers' Museum in Walpole, stating that he considered him a brilliant man and a fascinating writer, but that his habits of conviviality would, in his opinion, interfere with his success in life. Dennie defended his character and said to the doctor that Mr. Dennie's habits were commendable and all that could be desired. The doctor persisting in his original statement, Dennie tried another tack and asked if he knew Dr. Timothy Dwight of New Haven. Receiving an affirmative answer, he said that he respected him most highly as a scholar and an instructor of youth, but that he considered it a pity that he was such a bigot and made so little allowance for the opinions of others, and pressed his accusations with considerable force. The doctor finally got angry and said: "Do you know who I am, sir? I am Timothy Dwight my- self," to which Dennie replied, "and I am Joe Dennie."
The following are excerpts from the Howland address: "Si Bellows was dignified, benevolent, hospitable, high minded."
"Squire Tom Bellows, impulsive and outspoken 'in wit a man, sim- plicity a child', the terror of all the spinsters in town for he knew their
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ages and never hesitated to express his interest in them by telling them in company. The quaintness of his speech was accented by his stammer, which he said never served him a good turn but once, when he was trying to fix the price of a horse he was selling for $60 and before he could get it out the man offered him $100."
"Jacob N. Knapp, in dignified retirement, charming, witty, instructive, his advocacy of any measure in town meeting equivalent to its adoption."
"Seth Hunt, a regular Marco Polo, crossed the ocean 14 times in sailing vessels, his musical ear offended by the aimless, shrill whistle of small boys which he reproved in no measured terms, but took the greatest in- terest in all their games, furnished skeins of twine without limit for their kites."
"Dr. Morse, the wise, sagacious, outwardly austere, kind at heart."
"Dr. Kittredge, gentle and friendly physician."
"Judge Vose always attired in a dress coat, the regulation dress of the old-fashioned lawyer, learned in law, but modest and shy in expounding it.'
"Benjamin Grant, perfect type of the English squire, planted the shade trees in the village."
"William Ruggles, tall, straight, the old town clerk whose notices of intended marriages posted in the church door were such entertaining reading, a man of such precision of speech that, when asked at the sew- ing society meeting if he would have some cake, would reply, 'a fraction of a portion, if you please,' and upon whom we would steal from behind and give a sudden greeting to see him jump up in the air like an acro- batic dancing master, turn a double pirouette, and facing us bow with great curtsey and return the greeting."
"Bill Ramsay who always had the best oxen in town and at the town fair took the palm. He would let the other teams draw stone on a stone boat until they came to a standstill and then would hitch on his yoke of Durhams, which was his favorite breed, increase the load by fifty pounds or so, and then by adjuration and objugation induce the team to haul the load a rod beyond the best mark yet, and then lean on his team in triumph. After one of these trials a neighbor said to him, 'That's a spry team of yours, Bill.' 'Spry,' he replied, 'chain lightning lingers alongside of 'em.' "
"The cheery, resonant voices of Thomas G. Wells and his brother Ed- win, and of Major Britton, echoing across the street on summer after- noons in friendly challenge when business was at an end, and the row of chairs set out with faithful care by Mr. Britton on the piazza of his
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store over night for the early morning wayfarer, and the rival party gath- erings of the representatives of the two great parties at his store and Mr. Buffum's respectively, are pleasant incidents to remember."
March 1905 at town meeting "the selectmen had accepted the new underpasses at North Walpole, but there was considerable dissatisfaction. Discussion was quite interesting, but at no time did the debate wax hot, since O'Neil, the silver-tongued orator of the North End, was confined at home by an attack of grippe. A special train with three cars took 200 from North Walpole to town meeting. Several resolutions roasting the retiring selectmen were introduced and adopted. One, probably omitted by oversight, provided that the members should be hanged on Walpole Common as a warning to their successors in office. If the Sullivan County Railroad Company could have been corralled in the center of the hall, there wouldn't have been enough left for a decent burial. P. E. Griffin was as bland and debonair as ever. He didn't look half the villain some of his political enemies pictured him. T. B. Peck was the financier of the occasion. His luminous presentation of the town's needs made the tax- payers almost glad for the privilege of being taxed. James Barrett pro- posed overpasses at Riley's and Tucker Bridge crossing, but the cost was too many thousand to be popular. 'Albion's Special' took down about 25 men, mostly employees of the Sullivan County Railroad. The railroad is planning to establish a pumping station near the east end of the new bridge, to pipe the water to Church Street to the present tank house."
In 1911 the town took to court the matter of lighting the subways . under the railroad at North Walpole. The selectmen had agreed to light and continued paying the bill even though the town had repudiated it at town meeting.
In November 1904 a movement was started to organize an Arts & Crafts Association, 25 attending the first meeting at the library. In December an exhibition was held at the Walpole Inn, with products for sale, and lec- tures. In March the association "bought an ancient hand loom to weave rugs and rag carpet, setting it up at Mrs. B. E. Webster's house. This re- minded the older citizens of the days when Miss Margaret Mclaughlin supported herself by weaving rag carpets at her cottage on the River Road." The receipts in 1906 amounted to $1,214.13. The sales room opened again in 1907, 75 members.
In 1905 the new drinking fountain, the gift of Charles P. Howland in memory of Henry E. Howland, was erected in the Square, for man, horse and dog. In later years the Garden Club filled the fountain with pine at Christmas (1948). It is now planted with flowers in the summer.
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In 1909 "Canterbury Pilgrims" by Percy Mackaye was presented on the Common with 1000 present, among them Gov. Quimby. They came by special train and a hundred autos. Prof. Franklin Hooper promoted the production in connection with the Summer Lecture series. There were thirty from away in the cast and as many more from Walpole. The stage was set up at the south end of the Common. All could see the perform- ance, but only about half could hear. The author was spending the sum- mer in Cornish, his wife being descended from an old Walpole family. Total receipts $880, expenses $690.79.
DECADE 1910-1920
In May 1910 a fire at North Walpole started, probably from a defective chimney, in William Duffy's (Dombroski's) bakery at nine o'clock in the evening. Emil Proppe, baker, had just prepared the ovens for baking by adding a large supply of coal. The bakery was in the basement, grocery store on the first floor and Martin Gooske family upstairs. The North Walpole firemen responded with the hand tub, but realizing its inade- quacy, called Bellows Falls. The Combination Wagon made a record trip, followed by the hook and ladder. In attempting to get the steamer out of the station, the pole broke and had to be replaced. Then there was difficulty getting horses until after the fire was out. The flames had spread rapidly, Patrick Ratchford's cottage caught, and the family got out with nothing but an old trunk. Across the street the houses of Robert Howard and Jerry Wolfe caught, but the fire was checked. The slate roof on Daniel Connors' cottage saved that from the flying sparks. At the rear of Duffy's house three horses were removed; but the ice-house burned. Low hanging clouds reflected the fire, as bright as day, a solid wall of flame rising high into the sky. There were hundreds of spectators who were scared when Duffy's oil tank exploded. The Duffys saved only account books. By midnight the fire was all out, and Center Street residents breathed freely again.
In May 1910 there were no men at the Improvement Society meeting, only women. Next day, in every kind of costume and with a great variety of tools, they went to the dump and burned and cleaned it up. After that the men volunteered.
In December 1910 at North Walpole the two tenement houses of Den- nis Brennan on Center Street burned. The fire was discovered by Miss Eva F. Sheridan at 10:15 Monday night, on her way home from skating on the river. The Bellows Falls Combination #1 was called; the North Walpole firemen rushed their hand tub to the reservoir on Center Street
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at Haley's. In priming the pump, the water froze, rendering the tub prac- tically useless. Hose lines were strung down Center Street, men holding the nozzles for water that never came. There was no water to recharge #1, so it was sent back to the Falls. At 10:45 the alarm sounded at the square and the Bellows Falls Department crossed the bridge. The steamer went down Merchant Street to the reservoir at Buckley's. The suction pipe was thrown in, but not being sufficiently immersed, it sucked air, breaking the vacuum in the pump. Water was needed for the boiler of the steamer, but none was to be had; and it was over 45 minutes before the water had been secured to get up steam. The fire had become a roaring furnace and spread across the alley to the next house. Finally a hose was laid from a hydrant on Rockingham Street but the water froze at the couplings, bursting two sections. At last a stream of water came, in time to wet down the nearby houses blistered by heat. Saved were the Crescent Bottling Company's old stand, property of D. H. Cray, and the Red Cross Phar- macy building on Center Street, the Griffin house occupied by Nicola Fiore, and the Barrett house and stores on Merchant Street. The house where the fire started was occupied by two families, Joseph Green and Mrs. Helen Bellinsky. In the larger house, corner of Center and Merchant Streets, there were in the basement: storerooms for Brennan and James Barrett; Michael Andorea's barber shop; Andorea and Nicolas Battaglia families.
December 1910-"About twenty years ago the play 'The Peak Sisters' was given to raise money for a new curtain for the town hall. The money was put at interest, and now the Footlights (drama group) is installing the curtain and three sets of scenery."
Before 1911 it had been necessary to haul hay down to the depot to be weighed. In that year of 1911 the Humane Society installed a new set of public scales at the rear of J. A. Weber's store to save the heavy haul up the hill from the depot. One half of the revenue was to go the society, the other to the weigher. The society had been organized in 1904.
In late March 1913 the water rose six to seven feet on the River Road north and south of the village and carried away the plank from the bridge near Fred Smalley's (#241). Knowlton and Dwinell had to move out of their house. Wright on the Holmes' place (#248) had to move some of his stock since there was four feet of water in one of his barns. Smalley had to move all his horses from his barns on the River Road.
In 1916 the one and one-half story house on Main Street, North Wal- pole, owned by Dennis Brennan, occupied by Patrick Kenney and Mrs. Mary Murray, burned from a defective chimney. "A line of hose was
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laid from hand tub which drew water from the Main Street reservoir beyond D. W. Riley & Company saloon. The white elephant, known as the steamer, came but couldn't get to work. The fire had burned in the chimney all day, finally broke out. The families saved most of their goods. This was the second oldest cottage in the village, having been the farm house of Levi Chapin."
In August 1914 Germany attacked western Europe and started what we now call World War I. In Walpole there began to be stirrings among the women to be doing something. "Mrs. Charles P. Howland held a meeting at her home, at which Mrs. Hand of Cornish spoke on Woman's Place in the Community. There was talk of starting a Woman's Club, to help the Red Cross raise money, and to hold sewing meetings at the various parish houses. In September Mrs. Howland was in charge of a Red Cross tag day, with a persistent group of girls. They had an elaborate booth in front of the library with vegetables, fruits and preserves. Everything liv- ing or moving was tagged, the net proceeds $300." In October Miss Frances Howland went to France as a Red Cross nurse.
Work centers were set up in the parish houses, the women bringing their scissors, needles and thimbles. They also did sewing and knitting at home. Early in the war the War Relief Society was formed. In April 1917 the society reported having sent abroad since July 1, 1916, 3,570 articles, $25 worth gauze and absorbent cotton, 40 comfort bags to France, 16 to the Texas border; to children of the devastated areas of France 225 new articles of clothing, 76 second hand; to American Navy League at Charlestown 13 articles. Meetings were held every Thursday afternoon at the Congregational parlors.
In January 1919 the American Red Cross local report was as follows: Receipts $2,472.22, Expenditures $2,276.52; finished articles shipped, 16,883 surgical dressings, 238 hospital garments, 35 infant layettes (33 articles each), 270 children's garments, 5 knitted afghans, 303 sweaters, 561 socks, 128 other knitted articles, 582 articles of clothing for Belgian Relief, 115 articles to Duryea War Relief of Paris, 566 pounds fruit pits and nut shells (for carbon for gas masks), 267 garments for Committee for Protection of Children of the Frontier. There was a special consignment of knitted stockings and mittens by the Neighborhood Club.
In April 1917 the Selectmen appointed the following committees: Pub- lic Safety; W. I. Corbett, W. H. Kiniry, C. M. Holden, C. H. Barnes, F. A. Spaulding-Food Supply and Production; F. D. Rodenbush, W. J. King, James Barrett-Agriculture; F. A. Ramsay, C. T. Seward, F. O. Smalley.
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Arthur P. Davis was appointed Labor Agent. F. A. Spaulding was ap- pointed Recruiting Officer. In 1918 George L. Houghton was appointed Agent for Food Administration to give information on food conservation.
The Woman's Council of National Defense registered the amounts of white flour and sugar in the possession of householders. A customer was allowed to buy 1/4 bbl. flour at a time, to be matched with substitute. Canning sugar was available on filling out blanks for the amount needed and filing with the local food commissioner. Housekeepers were warned to use their canning sugar for that purpose only. In 1916 the new County Home Demonstration Agent was giving instruction in pressure cooker canning, meat savers, use of milk, use of the fireless cooker. There was also a shortage of coal.
In April 1917, after the United States entered the war, men from Walpole began to enlist, first in the New Hampshire National Guard unit at Keene. June 5, 1917, all men 21 to 30 years of age were required to enroll at the town hall. The draft went into effect in August 1917.
In July 1917 all men were requested to join the military drill on the Common every Tuesday and Thursday evening. In August a Home Guard unit was organized with Capt. Arthur Sawyer, Lt. James E. Hooper, Secretary E. J. Best, Treasurer F. A. Spaulding. During the summer Charles Bellows drilled the Walpole, North Walpole and Alstead men, then returned to New York.
In May 1917 the first Liberty Loan went over the top in Walpole, $37,150 subscribed. During the last week the town bell was rung at 9 P.M. each day, one stroke less as the week progressed, as a reminder of the close of the campaign. The bond issues continued at six month in- tervals for the duration, Walpole making a good showing.
In June 1917 the town hall was struck by lightning and burned. The new town hall was dedicated Friday, June 21, 1918, the program savoring of the times. Charles H. Barnes presided, Weeden's nine piece orchestra furnished music; Rev. L. W. Sanford offered prayer and gave the address of welcome; a chorus sang God Be With Our Boys; Judge O'Brien of Bellows Falls spoke on War and America's Part in the Great Struggle; F. D. Rodenbush sang a solo; Charles P. Howland gave an address taken up with the war and amusing stories; Miss Nancy Mitchell sang a solo; Rev. G. H. Megathlin spoke briefly on the Chautauqua which was to open a five day course in the town hall on Monday; Mr. Barnes spoke on the War Savings Stamp drive commencing the following Tuesday; all sang America; there was dancing until early morning. Plans for the new hall were obtained through the generosity of Miss Fanny Mason. James
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Purdon of Boston was the architect, Morrison & Davis of Salem, Mass. contractors, T. Carl Davis, a native of Walpole, in charge of construction. The building committee included Fred O. Smalley chairman, Willie G. Leonard, Edward M. Holden, and Selectmen Ira W. Ramsay, George W. Kingsbury, William Y. Corbett.
In September 1918 there was a serious influenza epidemic, although there was very little written about it in the local items. The schools were closed for three weeks.
November 11, 1918 the Armistice was signed with Germany, ending the war. Early in 1919 the men began to come home from France, Maxwell Smalley the first discharged. Late the following fall the D.A.R. enter- tained the soldiers who had returned at a banquet and dance. After the banquet it was decided to establish an American Legion post in Walpole.
DECADE 1920-1930
This was a particularly stormy decade. In February 1920 there was a bad storm for two days followed by high wind, making impassable roads which were finally plowed and rolled. Some farmers were unable to ship milk for a week. Homer L. Atkins' barn and shed roofs collapsed under the snow. Again in March there were no trains or RFD for two days. In January 1922 there was a bad storm, the school teams practically having to break the roads and all were late, the one from the Valley arriving about 11 A.M. Later the same month, January 22, Sunday, a terrific gale drifted the snow six feet deep in many places. When the school barge went through the street on Monday morning, it was at an angle of 45 degrees, crawling through the drifts, the children clinging to the top side to keep from rolling out. The snow and cold weather made motoring difficult, the Square looked like old times with 18 horses tied to the hitch- ing posts. In March the new Keene Road was so drifted and filled with cradle holes that traffic was diverted to the River Road. The RFD carrier used the County Road instead.
In April the Connecticut rose to the greatest height in 28 years. The road from the bridge to Westminster was 5 feet under water. The water rose 6 ft. in 15 minutes, all over the Westminster meadows. August 1 there was a bad hail storm which destroyed many gardens and the Angier and Griffin tobacco crops. In October a heavy frost damaged the winter apples before they were picked, Everett Rhodes losing 50-75 bbls.
In March 1923 nature provided an unusual spectacle with a snow squall along with a gorgeous sunset, the sun appearing like a glowing ball of fire, causing a luminous glow through the swirling snow. In the
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evening there were brilliant northern lights. Late that fall the mud was unusually bad, up to the hubs on the River Road. Trucks drawing stone for the new Keene Road cut up the hill roads badly.
In March 1924 Walpole caught the tail end of a blizzard and travellers had to take to the fields. The road to Bellows Falls was cleared and scraped by private subscription to make it passable for automobiles. In April the mud was again very bad. The car conveying the pall bearers for Mrs. George L. Hooper's funeral broke through the crust and sank into mud up to the gas tank. The bearers had to walk home, while other cars went another way. During a thunderstorm in April lightning struck a tree on the hill back of John Graves' house and set fire to a 4-ton stack of straw, a most spectacular fire. The next week there was a foot of heavy, wet snow.
In March 1925 there was an earthquake-"Stores shook and rocked so that the occupants were much alarmed and everyone ran out into the square and gathered into groups until the earth resumed its equilibrium. Miss Webster has an old fashioned door bell and the upheaval made the bell ring violently. At Mr. Bowman's house the clock started striking. People in the Red Mill Inn were very much frightened for the building is old and visibly swayed, while pictures and mirrors flew out from the walls and several said they heard ominous cracks, making them fear the inn would collapse. Those at the basketball game did not know there had been an earthquake until they got home, so they missed a bigger event than the game. Some were made dizzy and many felt the shock without realizing what they were experiencing, thinking some truck going by caused the vibration."
The story is told in Walpole that Village District meetings were not well attended at this time. In March of 1925 a few of the younger voters in a gay mood attended the meeting and by far outnumbered the "regulars". The names of three spinsters, Miss Ola A. Hubbard, Miss Emma J. Sabin and Miss Minnie L. Hathaway, not previously involved in politics, were placed in nomination and elected as commissioners. While it is said that little business was done in the following year, the record shows that Miss Hubbard was elected for a second term. Upon Miss Sabin's resignation after two months in office, the two incumbents appointed Miss Emily M. Jennison to fill the vacancy. It is believed that there is no relation between this and the preceding paragraph.
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