USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Newton > Bicentennial celebration, Town of Newton, New Hampshire : historical booklet and program celebration July 30, 1949 > Part 2
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There were a few Methodist brethren at this time who met at the home of Obadiah Peaslee to enjoy free prayer. Disputes arose among the taxpayers as to who should have the use of the meeting-house on Sundays, and in the year 1832, the selectmen apportioned to the several denominations, the Sundays according to their ratable estate in said Newton. There does not seem to be any record of what became of this church but an article in "The Newton Gleaner", printed in June 1891, says "The old meeting-house on the hill has passed away, another building took its place and that too dis- appeared in flame and smoke and the generations have come and gone".
To return to the Baptists again we find that the mem- bership at this time (1755) was about 40 members. About 12 years after the church was formed we have a notice of a meeting of the society at which time action was taken upon the parish rates and it was voted to take the same as the
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Province rates. At this time 75 men signed an obligation. How many of these men were members of the church is not known but it is an uncommon event that so many men in a small town should enter into a solemn compact or covenant.
From 1782 to 1793 there is no reliable information in regard to the prosperity or adversity of the church but in February 1795 a new society was formed with nine women and nine men members. Some of these members came from South Hampton, Kingston and Plaistow, N. H., and from Amesbury, Mass. The first year of the society's resurrected life, their number doubled and four years later there were 75 members.
In 1828 the Portsmouth Baptist Association was formed and this church joined with 56 members.
In 1830, the present site of the town became more thickly settled, and as it was hoped to get new members from West Amesbury, now Merrimac. It was decided to give up the church at Brimstone Hill. This church was taken down ex- cept for a portion which was moved to what is now known as Bartlett's or Westcott's corner and became the ell of the Archie Dunn house.
In 1832, Deacon Tewkesbury, John Bartlett, John Sar -. gent, John Sanborn, Enoch Nichols, Benjamin Rowell, and others joined with several brethren of West Amesbury and built a house of worship on the corner lot opposite, what was then, the lower end of Colonel Jayne's orchard, now known as the Merrimac road at the corner of the Battes road. The land was donated by Deacon Rowell. For the next eleven years several pastors occupied the pulpit and the church seemed to be quite prosperous.
"Sometime during the year 1841 and during the pastorate of Elder James Boswell, a number of the brethren became interested in a new church at the creek, now Merrimacport, so the Newton people decided to move the meeting house to a more convenient location. Accordingly in the early spring of 1842, while the snow was still on the ground, preparations were made for the moving. Deacon Rowell raised the building and put stringers under while M. F. Hoyt went to Salisbury for a ship's cable. Other brethren en- gaged oxen in the towns of South Hampton, Brentwood, Plaistow, Kingston, East Kingston, Amesbury, and Haverhill.
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Finally, on the day set, the team consisting of 199 yoke of oxen and their numerous drivers, started in a bee line for Newton Village. Men went in advance to cut away trees and tear down walls. All went well at first, but coming to Black River brook, in the John C. Bartlett meadow, the frost broke through and the team came to a standstill. The 199 yoke of oxen pulled to no purpose. A council was held and owners of the teams promised to come again in one week. Meanwhile the building was raised from the mud and when the second attempt was made, an extra yoke of oxen was added making the number 200 and this time there was no delay. In the afternoon, the team drew their load out on the street near the spot where S. W. Crafts house stood. Before sundown the meeting-house was located where the First Baptist Church now stands."
In the spring of 1870 several were baptised by Rev. Edward Whittier, evangelist, in Marden's Mill Pond, Lower Village, among whom was Mrs. Isabelle M. Hoyt Bradley.
On November 2, 1876, sister Polly Tukesbury died and left in her will, money to build a parsonage, so on December 1, 1879 a meeting was held and plans for the building of the parsonage were made. The land was purchased on the Colby Road, now Highland Street, where the present parson- age stands, from from W. W. Wilder. Benjamin Wakefield built the house. Rev. N. B. Wilson became pastor in 1880 at a salary of $450 and donations. The church escaped the dis- astrous fire of May 1887.
The chapel was built in the fall of 1895 and was dedicat- ed on December 10th. September 4, 1898, Rev. J. W. L. Coombs became pastor and this same month a stable was built at the parsonage. During the summer of 1900, ex- tensive repairs were made on the church and a furnace installed.
Rev. William J. Wilson became pastor in 1927, and in April 1929, the church was destroyed by fire which burned the village postoffice and store at the corner of Highland and Main Streets. The church was burned to the ground but the chapel was saved although badly damaged. In 1930 the present church was erected on the old founda- tion and although the interior was unfinished, services were held in it during the summer months and in the chapel in
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the cold weather. The building was completed in 1939, and on October 15, of that year the church was dedicated. John E. Fickett was pastor at the time and was later ordained in the church he had worked hard to have completed.
The present pastor is Roy R. Gibbs.
NEWTON JUNCTION BAPTIST CHURCH As It Appeared In 1902.
The Newton Junction Baptist Church was organized August 1, 1875, with the Rev. Otis Wing as the first pastor. The church was moved to its present site from Whittier
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Street extension, about the year 1900 and shortly after, the first Junction village school, which stood beside the church, was annexed and used as a vestry. A steeple and bell tower were also added which contributed much to the beauty of the building. Some of the first names on the church roll were Boswell, Rowell, Webster, and Gould. The present member- ship numbers about forty persons.
FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH
The residents of that part of Newton known as Carter Village called a meeting in 1809, forming a new parish. Later, on November 5, 1832 in the house of Thomas Currier, the Christian Church was formed. The present Church was built that same year and was the first of its denomination in New Hampshire.
The first pastor, the Rev. John Harriman of Plaistow, came to Newton in 1833.
In June 1856, the Rev. Nathaniel Day became the pastor
FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH, ROWE'S CORNER
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..
and gave faithful service for 28 years. His term of ministry will live forever in the hearts of the parishioners.
The house designed and built by Daniel Pierce in 1890, which stands beside the church, was given by a group of loyal supporters for a parsonage.
The Christian Church has met the needs of its parish- ioners and has been, at all times, a center of social as well as the religious life of the Lower Village.
Education
The United States has been the most forward-looking of all countries in democratizing education by discarding stand- ards that measured the quality and extent of education ac- cording to a pupil's social grade and family resources. The beginning of American education reflected the influence of European, namely British, institutions of learning. It re- quired that neglected children must not only read and write but that they must be instructed in occupation and religion as well.
In the early Colonial days the church was a foremost
NEWTON HIGH SCHOOL 1900
Ernest L. Silver, Principal
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influence in public education and many of our first schools were taught by parsons.
Little is known of our town's schools shortly after its in- corporation in 1749. About 1860 it is known that the town was divided into six school districts including the Rowe's Corner school, the Village Primary school now the Library and which then stood on the rise behind the present Village school, the Pond Street school, the Peaslee school near the Chrigstrom farm, the Junction school which is now the church vestry and the Carter Village school in the New Boston district. These schools were supervised by a Prudential Committee who authorized their closing when fewer than twelve pupils attended, hired and paid teachers, supervised repairs and ordered the lengthening of any school term according to funds raised by parents of the district.
Since too few pupils attended several of these schools and because it was found consolidation would offer better opportunities with a smaller expense to the town, several of these schools were closed or removed to other localities.
The Peaslee school was closed in October 1873 because of dissension between the parents of that district and a mem- ber of the Prudential Committee. In 1907 a new grammar school was erected in Newton Village and the same year the Pond Street School was closed. The school at Newton Junc- tion was closed in June 1942 and since the closing of these schools much has been done to modernize the two remaining buildings.
Interest has been added to the school curriculum with the introduction of two cultural subjects. A Music super- visor was appointed in 1922 and interest has been stimulated in the better compositions by means of records, harmony sing- ing and operettas which have been given by the pupils. In 1947 an Art supervisor was engaged.
In 1924 the State supplied funds to pay a district nurse to take full charge of medical inspection.
A high school, opened in 1882, was held in the Town Hall, located on the site of the present building. It was destroyed by the great fire of 1887 and the classes numbering over forty students, were continued at Odd Fellow's Hall until 1903 when the high school grades were discontinued. One of the school's most outstanding teachers was Dr. Ernest
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L. Silver, who later served for many years as Principal of Plymouth Normal School.
In the year 1755, the town expenditures for schools amounted to $250 and about one hundred years later they had increased to $300 per year. In 1948 the budget for our grammar schools alone reached $15,000.
The school law passed by the legislature in 1919 estab- lishing a State Board of Education was one of the most pro- gressive as well as comprehensive pieces of legislature en- acted by the state. Mr. James MacDougal became the first Superintendent of School Union 55, including Newton.
Newton will be faced in the near future with the serious problem of over-crowded school conditions. The town looks forward with hope and interest to a new consolidated school building which will serve as a community as well as an edu- cational center.
Prominent Men
Our town, settled by rugged and enterprising stock has sent forth sons to take their part as statesmen, businessmen, bankers, doctors, and musicians.
EDMUND RANDOLPH PEASLEE, M.D. LLD
Doctor Peaslee was one of the most eminent of medical professors and practitioners in the United States, and his pub- lished books and papers made him a standard authority in England and other foreign countries.
He was born in Newton, New Hampshire, January 22, 1814, the son of James and Abigail Chase Peaslee, descend- ants of one of the first settlers in the town. After careful preparation, he entered Dartmouth College and was grad- uated, with high honor in 1836.
He then began the study of medicine. He pursued his studies further at Yale Medical School and was graduated in 1840. Then he went to Europe and for a year continued his studies in the best foreign hospitals. On his return from abroad he established himself at Hanover, where he practiced medicine until he moved to New York City in 1858.
His advancement in his profession was very rapid and in 1842 he was made Professor of Anatomy in Dartmouth Medical School. The following year he was appointed Pro-
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BIRTHPLACE OF EDMUND PEASLEE, M. D., LL. D. This is one of the early homes in Newton.
fessor of Anatomy and Surgery at Bowdoin, and a year later was called to New York Medical College. In later years the duties of his very large practice, compelled him to relinquish several of his positions as College Professor.
His work entitled "Human Histology" was a volume of great value. Another volume upon ovariotomy was one of the most valuable medical books ever published in America, and at once was adopted as a standard text in. England.
THOMAS MERRILL CARTER
Thomas Merrill Carter, the eminent bandmaster of Boston, was born December 25, 1841 in a modest colonial home, located at the corner of Main and Heath streets in Newton Lower Village.
He attended the Newton schools and when fourteen years of age became an apprentice in the office of the New- buryport Herald. In 1859 he joined a newly organized band in that city, studying wind instruments with Mrs. A. W. Ingraham.
When the Civil War broke out many of the band mem- bers left for the fighting front. Mr. Carter was elected to fill the vacancy of band leader. Between 1869 and 1870, he conducted an orchestra on the steamer "Providence" of the
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THOMAS MORRILL CARTER.
Fall River Line. His band had the distinction of playing at Nantasket Beach for fourteen consecutive summers.
Mr. Carter was the conductor of the first grand band concert given in Boston in 1905, when he had 325 musicians under his direction.
His greatest composition, the one with which we are most familiar, is the "Boston Commandery March". This
THOMAS M. CARTER'S HOMESTEAD.
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NEYTON N. H.
The Carterville band was an active well known and popular organ- ization from 1865 to 1905. The band played for many occasions in Newton and the vicinity. The picture above, taken in 1895, shows the band with the conductor, George S. Smith.
is probably one of the most popular marches ever written and is known the world over.
On December 20, 1910, Mr. Carter with his band re- turned to Newton to give a concert, sponsored by the Village Fire Company. According to reports the hall was filled to overflowing, a fitting tribute to a grand band master.
NEWTON TOWN HALL
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EARLY BUILDINGS
The following data represent the earnest attempts of the book committee to list the early homes of Newton. We do not claim that it is complete or correct in all respects. Many of the homes were built before 1700 and the others shortly after this date.
Early Owner
Present Owner
Address
Wentworth Peaslee
Arthur Baird
Birch Meadow Rd.
Daniel C. Feaslee
Edga. Fa.terson
Peaslee Crossing Rd.
Major Hanson
Norman Perkins
Whittier Extension
Job Stevens
Fred Knowlton
Whittier Extension
William Webster
Horace Williams
Whittier Street
Philip Whittier
Charles Bowley
Lartlett Street
Asa Whittier
Jerome Boyd
Lartlett Street
Nathaniel Lovering
James Har.is
Whittier Street
Timothy Whittier
Lmy Mills
Fond Street
Zebadia Hoyt
Mr. Henry Sancourt
Pond Street
Joseph Hoyt
William Mattson
Pond Street
Gilbert Cariton
Timothy Hanley
Pond Street
David Bartle.t
Earls Nichols (hei.s)
Highland Street
Micah Hoyt
Edith & Annie Moreton
Highland Street
Joseph Bartlett
Mr. Lamb
Thornell Road
Methodist Church
Edgar Weeks
Main Street
George Currier
Walter Perkins
Amesbury Road
Jeff Currier
P. S. Woods
Amesbury Road
Enoch Nichols
E'mer Fritts
Nicholsville
Elmer Curiier
Hon y Pottie
Exeter Road
Jonathan Bartlett
Ida Bartlett Hanson
Main Street
Thomas Currier
Claire Kendall
Amesbury Road
Ebenezer Peaslee
Charles Chrigst.om
Peaslee Crossing
Samuel Cass
Coorge Malloy
Merrimac Road
The old Town Hall which for some years served as the Church, Town Hall, and the High School was destroyed by the village fire of 1887. The above picture taken in 1902, shows the Town Hall that was built in 1888. The Al Boswell Fund of $1,000 was given for future improvements.
The town is fortunate in having other Trust Funds such as the Johanna Dalton Fund of $1,000 for the worthy poor of Newton Junction, the Etta Sawyer Fund of $1,000 for improvement of the Highland Cemetery, and the Gale Me- morial Fund of $25,000 for any worthy project.
The Gale Library, formerly the old village school, was located in the rear of the present village school. It was constructed of hand-hewn timbers, braced and pinned. It
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NEWTON GRAMMAR SCHOL ABOUT 1903 Was moved in 1908 to become our present Library.
was moved in 1908 to the present site, and now serves as our library.
Newton has received a number of bequests to be used for library improvements, including the John A. Gale Fund of $1,000, the Nathaniel Lovering Fund of $350 and the Axtell Fund of $1,000.
OCCUPATION OF THE PEOPLE
The occupation of Newton's early settlers was probably farming although Joseph Peaslee, who died here December 3, 1660 had built a saw mill on Brandy Brow brook. The town having scant water power, had few mills until the advent of the steam engine. The Bartletts had a mill on Mill brook, behind the old homestead, now known as the Thornell place. Other water mills were located at the brook,
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The Colby house, one of the early Newton homes was located just above C. B. Leonard's home on Highland Street. A well at the right of the house is still in use today.
near the residence of Samuel Baker, which old timers claim was a silk mill. A mill on the brook in the "Dugway" was owned by Jonathan Ferrin and a wheelwright shop at Rowe's Corner was operated by Marden. The latter is the only dam still in existence, although remains of others are still evident.
The Traveler's Home had a reputation state wide for providing good accommodations. The saying was "once a visitor alway: a patron."
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BOX FACTORY, NEWTON JUNCTION, Owned by Annie Dalton, 1903.
Bricks were made in at least two places. The Peaslee brickyard was at the west of the meadow now owned by Samuel Baker and traces of broken brick, beds of ash, and charcoal, give evidence of a kiln located on the farm of Francis Chase.
With the advent of steam power, the lumber business became most prominent until 1890. The late John T. Brown, at one time had three portable saw mills operating in this vicinity. David S. Bartlett, son George, and Grandson Ned F. Nichols ran a saw, shingle and cider mill for many years at the corner of Highland and Whittier Streets. The Websters had a saw mill at Mill brook and Simeon Rowell operated one near the railroad at Newton Junction.
About the year 1860 many people made pegged boots in their farmhouses, in "two by four" shops, and in some larger shops. This type of work gave part time employment to many and was soon followed by shoe making. The larger shoe shops were the Gardner Clifford shop on the site of the village Baptist parsonage, the A. J. Sawyer shop on the site of the residence of Kent Walker, the Charles M. Rowell shop
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CARRIAGE SHOP OF ED HAYFORD ABOUT 1890 Employed 40 men with annual output of 1,000 carriages.
now site of N. H. State Highway Department, the Richard Peaslee shop near the residence of Kenneth F. Briggs, and the Andrew Currier shop at Lower Village which is still standing.
Wooden boxes for the shoe trade, packing cases, wood heels and shoes have been made in plants near the railroad siding at the Junction, where Nichols' Hatchery is now.
Carriage and wagon shops were increasingly active from 1870-1890. The largest of these was conducted by the Hayfords and only ceased when the automobile ousted horse- drawn vehicles. John Gordan, for many years chief of the Haverhill Fire Department, operated a carriage shop where the Junction Fire apparatus is housed. At the height of the carriage industry about 1900, the following concerns were doing business.
Edward Hayford & Son, corner of Highland and Main Streets
T. W. Bagley, Highland Street
A D. Marden, at Rowe's Corner
Bartlett and Peaslee
C. J. Dalton Body
A W. Wilder, all located at the Newton depot.
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THE NEWTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
The people of the Town of Newton started their fire department after the so-called "Village Fire" of 1887. This fire started in the Inn, "Traveler's Home" now the present site of the home of Samuel F. Boyd, spread to Highland Street, and down as far as the residence of James Lewis. It then jumped across the street and levelled Wilder's Store, the Town Hall, Hayford's Carriage Shop, and several other buildings.
The disastrous village fire May 12, 1887 which levelled the center of the town, caused much loss and sorrow. The Reverend N. Day, a Christian Church minister, at that time, inspired by the energetic spirit of the townspeople in rebuild- ing, wrote the following poem.
This was printed by Henry S. Burbeck an enterprising youngster of eleven.
As the poem seems to reflect the spirit of old Newton, it is reprinted below.
THE VILLAGE FIRE
Hark! upon the night air pealing, Comes the rapid clang of bells; O'er the hills and through the valleys, Loud their warning music swells!
Starts the sleeper from his slumbers !- Is it real? or does he dream ?-
Now, within his darkened chamber, See the bright, red firelight gleam!
Rapid footsteps, earnest voices, Now within the streets are heard; And, above all tumult rising,
Fire! is the fearful word.
Now the clatter of the horses, And the hum of rolling wheels, -- In the midnight consternation, All the town in frenzy reels.
But the fire-fiend scorns all efforts, He is surely king to night, And afar, in mocking splendor, Shines his startling, brilliant light!
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How the red waves roll in madness, Roaring, mounting up on high; While their liquid, fiery fingers, Point and struggle to the sky!
Green, ancestral trees now wither, In the conflagration's breath; And the leaves of early spring-time, Scared and ruined, fall in death.
Surely doomed! the lovely village Turns to ashes in our sight, And the hoarded gains of many Vanish on this doleful night.
Morning dawns on smouldering ruins, Sad hearts hail the break of day; Home and store house, hall and cottage, All so quickly passed away.
But the heart of man is mighty, Strong to bear the ills of life, And though baffled, disappointed, Yields not in the fearful strife.
O'er the blackened ruins rising, Ere the virgin snows come down, Shall appear, in grace and beauty, Fairer works to deck the town.
As, when o'er the prairie sweeping Fiery billows scorch and blast, Robes of fresher, living greenness, O'er the naked earth are cast;
So, from out these ashes springing, Phoenix like to greet our eyes, Fairer forms of architecture In a quick succession rise.
As within the heated furnace Finest gold is purged from dross, So the heart of man grows richer, By its sorrow and its loss.
Stepping stones, in dire disasters, We may find to reach the goal; Through defeat, may rise to conquer, With a firm, undaunted soul. Rev. N. Day.
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MAIN STREET EAST OF B. & M. RAILROAD 1903
About 1890 the residents of the "Newton Fire District" purchased their first piece of fire appartus, the steamer known as "Tiger No. 1." It had been made by the Amos- keag Manufacturing Company of Manchester, New Hamp- shire, and had been formerly used by the city of Lawrence, Massachusetts. In 1891 alterations were made in the base- ment of the Town Hall to house this steamer, which was drawn by any pair of horses available. but usually by those of William Wilder or Alvah Sargent. The boundaries of the "Fire District" were approximately as follows: from the top of Gould's Hill to Sargent's Corner, including the present home of Elmer Bearce, and as far up Highland Street as the home of Ross Lyons. The people of this district supported the fire department by paying a special tax, and they elected Fire Wards to take charge of affairs. Some prominent men of this period were: John E. Hayford, John G. Rowe, Frank Kimball, John Germundson, Fred Went- worth, Owen D. Kelley, and A. Ralph Estabrook. In 1926, the old steamer was sold for $50.00 At the Town Meeting in March 1925 the Town voted to buy its first fire truck at a cost not to exceed $4,000.00, following a motion by A. Ralph Estabrook that the money be taken from the Gale Memorial
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Fund. Consequently the new famous Reo was purchased from the Peter Pirsch & Sons Co. of Kenosha, Wis. This truck was housed until 1941 at Eastabrook's Garage, and served the town well. Shortly after the purchase of this truck, Hay- ford's Garage, which was located alongside the rail- road track to Merrimac, where buildings of the New Hamp- shire State Highway Department now stands burned. In 1929 the home of Mrs. A. J. Sawyer burned. Her home was located on the corner of Highland Street, and included the Newton Post Office. This fire jumped the present home of Guy Nick- erson and ignited the First Baptist Church, razing it.
In 1941 the Town voted to buy its second fire truck, a Ford, from the Buffalo Corporation, of Buffalo, New York, at a cost not to exceed $5,000. This truck has since been housed at Estabrook's Garage, while the Reo was moved to Newton Junction, and located in a special building, renovated and provided by the Matthew Matson Leather Company. This property is now occupied by the Nichols' Hatchery, a branch of the Nichols' Poultry Farms of Kingston, New Hampshire. The men of Newton Junction and vicinity have formed the Newton Junction Firemen's Association, and the chief officers of the Fire Department are Hayden E. Cheney, as Deputy
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