USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Concord > Concord directory, containing the names, occupations and residence of the inhabitants of Concord Centre village, with other matters of great local interest, 1853-4 > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7
Communication by railroad with Boston was begun on the first of September, 1842. Since then, roads have been extended to Montreal and Haverhill on the north, to Portsmouth on the east ; Claremont and Keene on the west.
In April, 1817, the "Old North Church," having previously been vacated by the Society who had worshipped in it for more than three- fourths of a century, underwent an internal trans- formation, and became a Biblical Institute for the Methodists.
The present population of Concord Centre Vil- lage, according to the census taken by us when we took the names for the Directory, is 5057 .- That of the whole town reaches, probably, full 9000.
The dwellings put up in Concord during 1852 number something over thirty.
14 CONCORD DIRECTORY.
OUR "DECIDED CHARACTERS."
1
EE
"OLD DICKERMAN."
THERE he is-in a " full length bust "-as nat- ural as life. Who would not know that demure phiz-that everlasting old frock -- that peculiar position ? He has evidently just found something -- and you have only to look obliquely at the pic- ture to see him pick it up!
Enoch Dickerman, (for, in common with his fellow citizens, he has a nom de bapteme as well as patronymic, ) is a native of Pembroke. He has, however, been a fixture of Concord from a period as far back as our memory runs. Indeed, among
1
CONCORD DIRECTORY.
our earliest recollections, the old frock of Dicker- man stands out as prominent as the shirt on Tam- erline's standard. Scarce a day passes in which he is not still to be seen on some part of Main- street, picking up pins, bits of tape, et cetera, from the sweepings of the stores. "A pin a-day is a groat a-year," runs the saw of the adage; and often our youthful arithmetical ability was taxed to know how many groats he made per an- num. But we never worked out the "sun" of his findings-Zera Colburn couldn't, perhaps. Whether bits of coin or small golden trinkets ev- er reward his search we know not :- perhaps he strikes a "streak of luck " sometimes. We hope he does. Yes, now we remember to have heard it said that he once, after a "great day," found a fifty dollar bank note among the sweepings of one of the saloons! What a godsend it was !- nor yet was it much when we consider how long he had been looking for it.
Whether Dickerman is naturally eccentric, or whether the world has jogged the balance-wheel of his head awry, we know not. Doubtless some star of hope turned out the sheerest ignus fatuus, and doused him pellmell into the willow-sloughs of love or ambition, and then set him up on the stool of resignation to dry-leaving him, in the end, only philosophy enough to endure a life of so- bered hopes. But nothing has touched his heart or conscience. The one is as simple and truthful as a child's-the other, as unstained as the chrystal streams. And between the two his soul looks fur- ther into heaven than that of many a Dives whose sweepings supply him with "crumbs" of cofnfort. Dickerman is a Christian. "As honest as old Diekerman," has become a proverb-nor is it one misapplied. Many a Machiavelian would fain smuggle himself into heaven under that homely frock, or ride in upon the shoulders of his blame- less life. But it cannot be. Each must enter in- to those gates, if at all, upon his own merits.
16
CONCORD DIRECTORY.
Every wicked hand that cleaves to the good man's garment to follow, will be palsied there.
How long will he walk our streets ? Time can only solve the question. As he plods on so child- like, so resigned, his very presence seems to say: All my life is in the future,
All my hopes are planted there;
And the days that keep me from them Only make them seem more fair.
"UNCLE JOHN VIRGIN."
WHEN we nominate John Virgin to the second place in our list of "decided characters," we do it without the fear of having "Who's John Vir- gin ?" thrown into our face, as in the case of some more illustrious nominations; for everybody in Concord knows our "ancient and honorable " townsman.
" Uncle John" has many idiosyncracies pecul- iar to the natural orator :- large imagination, though wild from want of culture, a warm temp- erament, and great fluency of language. His oc- casional bursts of genuine eloquence sometimes remind one of Clay; yet, like Webster, all his metaphors are drawn from the sublimest objects in nature. Ilis wild flights of eloquence have al- ways impressed us with the opinion that, had he been properly educated, he would have been heard from in the battle of life. An uncompromising advocate of Whig principles, his oratorical efforts are spent chiefly in their defence. He was wont to be seen hurrying along our streets, with his long cane in hand; but latterly we miss him. He is severely afflicted in his pedal extremities, and seldom comes to town now. He "did the state some service" during the Last War; but whether his ailments result from wounds received in battle is more than we know. Gen. Scott was deprived of his advocacy, during the recent canvass; but his defeat was doubtless owing to other causes.
When the "old hero," as " Unele John" called Gen. Harrison, was up for the presidency, he had
.
٦
-
17
CONCORD DIRECTORY.
no more ardent or sincere supporter than John Virgin. We remember him then; and, in imag- ination, we seem to see him coming down the street with his peculiar gait, staff in hand. Some one accosts him. He halts with military precision and promptness.
" Good morning, Uncle John."
" Ah! good morning, my friend -. "
" How is the election going, Uncle John ?" And then he brings up the cane from the ground -he unconsciously assumes an oratorical attitude, and then breaks out in the following style :-
" Ah! [rising inflexion] the gallant General Harrison! whose name has always been allied with victory! illuminating the great American heart like the brilliant meteor, as it madly dashes thro' the universe! The heroic Gen. Harrison! whose name, that once struck terror to the heart of his country's enemies, shall cause still greater con- sternation among his political foes, when, like the deep-rumbling earthquake or the irresistable tornado, he shall ascend to the throne of the peo- ple's grateful heart! Glory to the noble General William Henry Harrison! whose fame has already burst upon the distant nations with the swiftness of the comet and the brightness of the lightning's glare! Ever shall his name glow like the sun at midday and the stars by night ! [Oratorical pause.] Ah! what mighty voice is that I hear ? Is it the howl of the angry ocean waves, as they madly dash against the earth-bound rocks ? Ah! 'tis the uprising of the glorious American people, in their majesty, speaking in thunder-tones, re- verberating from north to south, from east to west, -' the gallant Harrison is our President!' ""
At times some wight is hardy enough to dispar- age the hero of " Uncle John's " Jaudation-but, wo to him! " By all the mighty cataracts!" be- gins the enraged orator, and before he is through with him he drives him into the knot-hole of in- significance, and then kicks his diminished shad-
-
18 CONCORD DIRECTORY.
ow in after him! But "Uncle John" is generally very kinnly treated, whatever may be the polit- ical complexion of his audience.
Had "Uncle John" been born in Turkey, he might have coveted a respectable harem; but, un- der the circumstances of his American birth, he has chosen a life of Celebs.
" Uncle John now lives over on the " Plain," in a plain house, just at the head of the "Sugar Bowl." We believe a kind family in that " dish" supplies him with his daily sustenance.
" Uncle John" has always manifasted one trait of genuine, unostentatious charity. Wherever he walks, his long cane is quickly brought into requi- sition if any obstruction chances to be placed in the path. When we were a barefooted boy, we remem- ber to have felt gratitude toward him for such an unusual, though Christian charity-for it saved us many a "stubbed" toe. May the kind people of Concord make Uncle John's pathway to a com- fortable old age as clear of obstructions!
JOHN ANDERSON, ESQ.
The opposite of " Uncle John " is a living and breathing antagonism in John Anderson, Justice of Peace.
" When we were first acquaint."
with John Anderson, his "locks" were not " like the raven's," but had the same amount of snow sprinkled amongst them that they now show. His physique was not an iota less full and rotund than now-his step was not a shade less slowly decisive, nor his speech less self-confident. The Wandering Jew, we apprehend, would think there was something awry in his sentence, if he did not change his physical man more in a dozen years than our respected Justice has. But this is not all. That old velvet coat and the elongated vest have become prominent marks of his personal identity. Nor is such less true of his white bea- ver, with spreading rim, to which the crown
------
-
-
19
CONCORD DIRECTORY.
clings with fraternal fastness notwithstanding the wearer's perfect hatred of everything that smells different from Democracy.
John Anderson, is, we believe, a native of Fran- cestown ; yet he is as like a Scotchman as though he had been born in the "land o' cakes and brither Scots." His ancestor doubtless had a hand in the Cullodon affair, and so came over to this country to " save trouble."
John Anderson is characterized far practical common sense, and when his party honored him with a commission of the Peace, they bestowed a gift worthily. There is no man in Concord whose decision, in matters proper to a Justice's court, would be marked by more of the " common law " of common sense and honesty. Too many of our Justices not only " see right through" the cases before them, but sce the bright vision of votes be- yond!
As we said before, John Anderson is a Demo- cratic Republican to the core. His hatred of Federalism amounts to a monomania. The ac- count of his letter, written to an only son in Mas- sachusetts, who had become "tinctured with federalism," would Roland " Unele John's" speech ; but we are not able to give it. The his- tory of parties, during his time, is all at his tongue's end-especially that part which relates the derelictions of the " Federalists." The ghosts of that class of political sinners are not even se- cure against his railing.
John Anderson is a mender of soles; and peo- ple generally find " Anderson on the understand- ing " a great deal better than the more celebrated work of Mr. Locke. His shop is at the corner of Main and Warren Streets; and we would advise every one who has anything in his line to give him a call, for he is a sensible, clever old fellow.
"John Anderson, my jo, John,
Frac year to year you've past, And soon that year maun come, John, Will tak ye from your last ;
20
CONCORD DIRECTORY.
But let na' that affright you, John, Your heart was ne'er your foe, While in innocent delight you've lived, John Anderson, my jo."
-There is one other in town whom we had in- tended to notice, but as he is an exotic we forego the pleasure,
THE GREAT FIRE-THE "BURNT DISTRICT" RESTORED.
ALMOST every city and town of any considerable size, has its " great fire " as a sort of epoch in its history. Concord was made the unfortunate recipient of such an epoch by the calamitous con- flagration of August 25th, 1851. The fire broke out in the long building called " Mechanic's Row," in rear of the Eagle Coffee House, and had made its way into the stable adjoining on the south almost ere the alarm was given. A fresh breeze was blowing from the north, which quickly spread the flames to the stable south, in rear of the Merchant's Exchange. By means of several wooden structures in the rear of the latter build- ing, the flames soon communicated to the wooden buildings south of it, and finally to the Exchange itself. The Eagle was given up from the moment the fire communicated to its rear, where the heat was so excessive that no fire company could be of service. The fire companies labored hard to save the Exchange and Stickney's Block, but their noblest efforts were unavailing; and the flames were at last with difficulty stayed at the south end of Stickney's Wooden Blocks, on the north, and at the north end of Low's Rumford Block, on the south. The morning sun beheld the best portion of Concord laid in ruins, the streets covered with fragments of property, and the State House Yard literally filled with the remnants of the stocks of the extensive dealers burnt out. Long may it be
21
CONCORD DIRECTORY.
before we look upon another such picture. The loss of property by this conflagration exceeded somewhat $100,000.
But Concord people were by no means deficient of recuperative energy; and the sun that rose up- on this (December) morning, shone upon a group of completed buildings more fair than those eaten up by the flames. We propose to give a slight description of these buildings, beginning on the North with
Stickney's North Block.
THE old wooden building that stood where this Block now stands, (corner of Main Street and Free Bridge road,) was burned down a few months after the great fire. The present Block put up by Mr. J. P. STICKNEY is really a beautiful and substantial structure, and Mr. S. deserves to be considered a bene- factor of the town for his commendable enterprise .- It is of brick, three stories in front and four in the rear, with a flat roof. The finish in front is like that of Stickney's Block, both of which are so nearly like the Merchant's Exchange, save in height, that we have not deemed it worth our while to give views of them. As the streets are numbered from the south, we shall observe the same rule with reference to these Blocks.
No. 1 is not yet occupied.
No. 2 is occupied by JOEL D. JOHNSON, who car- ries on the harness and trunk-making business, doing a great deal of custom work. He is comparatively a " new man," but is nevertheless fast acquiring a permanent custom by his attention to business and by doing faithful work.
No. 3 is occupied by DAVID SYMONDS, who is well known as one of the oldest saddle and harness makers in town, and has in consequence an excellent ren of custom work. May he draw out the end of life till he wies into a fair competence and an honorable old age.
The other stores are as yet unoccupied, though, we believe, all rented.
The greater part of the building, up stairs, is oc- cupied by the extensive furniture ware-rooms of
22 CONCORD DIRECTORY,
DANIEL A. HILL. Here ELLIOT A. HILL has carried on the business for many years, and though he has now relinquished it to his sons, he is nevertheless still attentive to his old customers. This establishment has been in operation for more than a quarter of a con- tury, and has in consequence got a large run of tran- sient and permanent custom.
Stickney's Block,
-In front of the State House, has been replaced by a building somewhat deeper, more substantial and or- namental than the old one. It is flat roofed, three stories in front and four in the rear; and is a well- finished building in every respect. The edifice, with the ground on which it stands, cost about $40,000.
No. 1 is occupied by E. HI. ROLLINS, dealer in drugs, medicines, and dye stuffs, and manufacturer of lozengers and brilliant scarlet dye. Mr. R. is well known as a young man of enterprise, intelligence, and business integrity. He has had a large and grow- ing business since his establishment in Concord, and owns the south end of the Block, a part of which he occupies. On the second floor above him are the Mechanic's Bank and the office of the Treasurer of the Concord and Montreal Railroad.
In No. 2 C. W. HARVEY has a well finished and well furnished store of Dry Goods.
No. 3 is occupied by NATHANIEL EVANS, Jr., deal- er in cloths, ready-made clothing, and manufacturer for customers. Mr. E. has been for years extensive- ly engaged in the same business, and has secured, as he deserved, a large and increasing business. A part of the same store is occupied by tiove & HARRIS, large dealers in boots, shoes, rubbers, de. Mr. Har- ris is always attentive to his business, and is begin- ning to give some of his older competitors a hard run.
No. 4 is occupied by WILLIAM H. PAGE, dealer in carpetings, crockery, glass, britannia ware, paper hangings, cutlery, &e. Mr. P. keeps a large ussort- ment of goods, and of an excellent quality; and hav- ing been engaged in this department of business for ten or twelve years, understands it well, and fully satisfies his numerous customers.
No. 5 covers the ground of the whilom celebrated "Great 8" of Estabrooks, and is now occupied by
.
---
5
انو
Eagle Hotel.
١٦١
1
ـيادينا
LI
1
(EACLE HOTEL.I
L.
23
CONCORD DIRECTORY.
JOHN D. JOHNSON, who carries on the same business as extensively.
No. 6 is occupied by MOORE, CILLEY & Co., dealers in hardware, iron, steel and agricultural tools. Their large store is filled with goods in their line, where builders, farmers, and gardeners will find excellent articles for their respective wants.
Eagle Hotel.
From the ashes of the Eagle Coffee House the pres- ent EAGLE HOTEL has risen like a Phoenix to a build- ing of exceeding magnificence and capacity. We present a clever view of it, drawn from a Daguerreo- type by KIMBALL. No Hotel out of the largest At- lantic cities is more beautiful or on a larger scale than this. The establishment has dining and lodging capacity for over 250 persons, and its internal ar- rangements are fashioned in the most approved mod- ern style. Water and gas are carried into every apartment, and everything has been done that in- genuity could suggest to make the house beautiful, convenient and pleasant. The cuisine is excellently arranged, as well as the dining saloons, so that the visitor enjoys not only a Lucullen repast but the ease of the Roman's most luxurious trinculium. Awalk is to be placed upon the flat roof, so that visitors may have an excellent view of the city, or enjoy the orien- tal luxury of dozing in the sun. The whole cost of the building is about $10,000. Major JOHN GIBSON, the well known proprietor, has furnished the building at an expense of over $10,000. Mesers. WHITE, GROVER and BAILY are the chief proprietors. The rental of the building is about $3000 per annum.
Under the Eagle are four splendid stores.
No. 1 is occupied by EDMUNDS, ROBINSON & CO., dealers in cloths, clothing and furnishing goods. An enterprising and go-ahead firm. (See Card.) -
No. 2 is occupied by J. CARTER & Sox, who do a large business in the jewelry line, as well as the bet- ter kinds of sporting apparatus. (See Card.)
No. 3 is occupied by Mr. CHASE, telegraphist, on the one side, and by Mr. TALBOT, barber, on the other.
No. 4 is occupied by MUNROE & MORRILL, confec- tioners.
24 CONCORD DIRECTORY.
Merchants' Exchange.
This Block is south of the Eagle Hotel, and both in size and elegance is worthy of its neighborhood. The former Exchange was a tasteful structure, and had hardly stood a year before it was laid in ashes; but this is its superior both in accommodations and finish. (See Engraving.)
No. 1 is occupied by CLARK & CURRIER, two young men who have just commenced business for them- selves. They keep a first class dry goods store.
No. 2 is occupied by II. A. FAY, a young man who has commenced the experiment of trading on the cash system. As he buys for five per cent less for cash, he means to sell equally low. Hle is an importer of crockery, glass, britannia, stone ware, paper hang- ings and carpetings.
No. 3 is occupied by JOHN A. GAULT, druggist and apothecary. Mr. G. has been engaged in business above 30 years, and by his liberal outlays and good taste seems determined not to be cast into the shade by any new competitors.
No. 4 is occupied by WARDE & WALKER, (succes- sors of Porter & Rolfe, ) dealers in English and Amer- ican hard-ware. A firm of young men of excellent business capacity.
Central Buildings.
This row of wooden structures occupies the place of those burned down, and though a little more orna- mental, are not a whit less combustible. They should have been made of brick.
No. 1 is occupied by J. B. STANLEY, watchmaker and jeweler, on the one side, and by NORTON & CRAW- FORD, booksellers and binders, on the other. The ex- tensive steam printing works of TRIPP & OsGooD are in the basement and rear.
No. 2 is occupied by W. G. SHAW, dealer in cloth- ing, hats, caps, and furs.
No. 3 is occupied by S. G. SYLVESTER, dealer in crockery, looking-glasses, etc.
No. 4 is occupied by WINKLEY & ABBOTT, merchant tailors.
CEF" We invite especial attention to the Cards of the above named firmns.
-
DRUCS & MEDICINES
VONS BARTON
HALVERT JOHN A CALL
EXCHANGE BUILDING.
-
25
CONCORD DIRECTORY.
LOCAL EVENTS SINCE JANUARY, 1850.
[This feature of the Concord Directory will be continued in each biennial issue. ]
1850.
Jan. 4. Died, Jeremiah Stickney, Esq., aged 85 years.
Jan. 28. Lyman A. Walker, Esq., (then) Dep- uty Warden N. H. State Prison, was very severely scalded by an accidental escape of steam from the steam-engine.
Feb. 10. Mr. Peter Jenness, of Chichester, was run over by a train of cars on the Free Bridge road, and instantly killed. The sleigh in which he rode was staved in pieces, and his body horribly mangled. He was a man of humble circumstances in life, yet of excellent probity of character. He left a wife and four children .- In consequence of this sad accident, the Railroad companies built the bridge now spanning the track.
March 12. Town meeting. Hon. N. B. Baker was chosen Moderator ; John P. Johnson, Esq., Town Clerk; Joseph Robinson, M. H. Farnum, Isaac Virgin and Atkinson Webster, Esqs., Select- men; Perley Cleaves, Cyrus Hill, Chs. H. Norton, J. L. Tallent, Geo. F. Sanborn, N. B. Baker, and Ebenezer Svimmes. Reps. to the Legislature.
March 14. A Convention of the friends of the Peace movement met in Concord. Gen. Dan'I A. Hoit, of Sandwich, President-Rev. A. Woodbury, Secretary.
March 23. Mr. Daniel Prince, aged 67 years, committed suicide by cutting his throat. He was wealthy, and of good character; but having lost some property by depreciation of Rail-road stock, his mind became haunted with the idea of inevita- ble poverty; and, on the day before committing the deed, and while laboring under the strange hallucination, he called upon a legal gentleman and made his will. He lingered for some hours af-
26
CONCORD DIRECTORY.
ter, and expressed deep penitence for his rash act.
April 13. Great Snow Storm. It began to snow at about noon, and continued until late at night-the wind blowing from the northwest, and drifting the snow so much as to render the roads mostly impassable. About 15 inches was estima- ted to have fallen-an amount scarcely known to the recollection of the "oldest inhabitant" of the town.
April 28. Great Freshet in the Merrimack. The river began to rise on the 28th, in consequence of heavy rains in the up-country, and continued to rise two days. The Intervale was completely covered, and all the highways across it suddenly turned into low-ways. Great damage was done the Montreal and Northern Railroads.
April 28-(Sunday. ) Luther Dimond, an in- mate of the Alms House, committed suicide by ta- king laudanum.
May 15. The Concord Water-Cure Establish- ment opened.
May 23. Mr. Nathaniel Ewer, residing at E. Concord, (Snaptown,) fell dead as he rose from the dinner table.
June 22. Messrs. Dunlap and Seavey's Plan- ing Mill discovered to be on fire. By the activity of the Fire Department the conflagration was sub- dued-loss $200,00.
July 3. As the Pittsfield stage was crossing the Railroad tracks on the Free Bridge road, the engine struck the leaders, crushing them to death instantly, and dragging their mangled remains some rods. The coach itself received such a shock as threw the passengers off, and seriously injured the driver, Mr. Garland.
Dec. 3. Mr. and Mrs. William Colt, of Man- chester, were killed at the West Parish Railroad crossing. They were riding in a wagon, which was also perfectly demolished.
Dec. 25. Christmas passed as usual, alnost unobserved.
--
-
1
27
CONCORD DIRECTORY.
1851.
March 18. Died, Gen. Israel Boyd, the well- known bookseller."
March 22. Died, the Hon. Isaac Hill, former- ly Governor of New-Hampshire.
April 22. A two-story dwelling, owned by the brothers Ford, (iron founders, ) was burned down. It was one of the most antique buildings in town, though of little value pecuniarily.
July 4. The anniversary of the Declaration was celebrated only by the usual firing of cannon and ringing of bells at morning, noon and night. Mr. H. G. Clarke gave a small pyrotechnic display at night, however.
July 18. An old building near the Rogers place, on the estate of the late Governor Hill, was burned down-loss, trifling.
August 7. Died, widow Elizabeth Stickney, &c. 94 years.
August 9. Severe Thunder Shower. The dark- ness for a few minutes became like that of mid- night. The Monday following another occurred, during which a great quantity of hail fell in the neighboring towns; some of the "stones" meas- ured seven inches in circumference. A Mr. Stan- wood was killed by an electric shock in Hopkin- ton.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.