USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Haverhill > Haverhill's historic highlights > Part 12
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Wells River and Woodsville was more important than had been recognized. Without it there would be no railroad transportation facility out of Woods- ville to the west and south. Probably the line to Berlin would also have been abandoned had there been no bridge over the Connecticut River.
It should be recalled that the railroad came to Woodsville when it was but a very small settlement with few houses, a country store, and a saw mill, both operated by John L. Woods, in whose honor the railroad named the village. (See "Woods-ville" Chapter.)
President Grant's special train on Woodsville-Wells River bridge.
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TWENTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS
The earliest record of a school appropriation was in March, 1773, when it was voted to "hire a master to keep a town school this present year." Similar action was taken in each of the next two years. Where the school was conducted is not known, but it was probably at Ladd Street, Haverhill Corner, or Horse Meadow, perhaps alternating between them.
In 1786 the town was divided into four school districts: No. 1, from Piermont line to the Oliverian (Haverhill Corner) ; No. 2, from Oliverian to south line of Fisher farm (Ladd Street); No. 3, to bridge leading to Col. Howard's Island, (No. Haverhill); No. 4, to Bath line (Pine Plain) .
These four districts were to cover all the area from the Piermont line to the Bath line along the Connecticut River. There were no school houses before 1787. By 1811 there was a school house for No. 1 at Powder House Hill, for No. 2 at Ladd Street, No. 3 at North Haverhill and No. 4 near Kimball farm.
Also in 1811, it was voted to increase the number of school districts but nothing was accomplished until 1815, when nine districts and definite bound- aries were fixed. The first four districts appear to have remained with slight change, as follows: No. 5, Briar Hill; No. 6, near Benton line, Jeffers Dis- trict; No. 7, Union District, included Piermont; No. 8, Pike (as now known) ; No. 9, Haverhill Center, at junction of County Road to Benton with Lime Kiln road.
As more families settled in the town it was found advisable to further subdivide the rest of the area not included in the existing nine districts. At its peak, Haverhill had twenty school districts with a school house in each. They were crude but compared favorable with those which other towns had at the time. These were as follows: No. 10, North and east of No. 9; No. 11, Briar Hill along road to Swiftwater; No. 12, Horse Meadow, Brick School house now a residence; No. 13, Woodsville; No. 14, East Haverhill, between No. 6 and No. 8; No. 15, County road near old stone Town House; No. 16, on Pond Road; No. 17, set off from No. 1, near Piermont line; No. 18, between "The Brook" and Pike; No. 19, between Ladd Street and North Haverhill, Powers District; No. 20, between No. 9 and No. 6, Lime Kiln District.
School appropriations are interesting. In 1800, $33.00 was raised for four districts. In 1810, this had increased to $500.00; in 1820, $600.00;
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in 1830, $700.00; in 1880, $1,730.00; in 1890, $4,000.00; and in 1900, $4,500.00.
With very inadequate records it appears that soon after the twenty districts were in operation, a new policy came into being, that of consol- idation of districts. Over the years every one of the original districts was involved in unions with adjoining districts until by 1885 there were only two school districts in the town, one known as the "Haverhill School District" and the other as "Woodsville Union High School District."
In 1962, the Haverhill District raised by taxes $119,055.00 and received from the State Aid and other sources $33,335.00, making a total budget of $152,390.00.
In 1962, the Woodsville District raised by taxes $109,804.00 and re- ceived from State Aid and other sources $81,797.00, making a total budget of $191,601.00.
The cost of education has increased for Haverhill from $33.00 in 1800 to $1,730.00 in 1880, to a total of $343,991.00 in 1962, of which the taxpayers pay $228,859.00 and aid from all other sources totals $115,132.00.
It would appear that Haverhill has been liberal in providing an education for all its boys and girls, especially in recent years.
Another comparison which indicates how costs have increased during the past century and a half, is found in the record of appropriations for build- ing school houses. In 1805, the sum of $1,000.00 was raised to build four school houses which indicates an average cost of $250.00 each. In 1848, district No. 13 voted $255.00 for a school house to be built by John L. Woods which included fixtures, a stove and an out-building. The teacher was paid $13.00 per month and board to be furnished by various families having children in school.
An interesting development concerning this first school house in Woods- ville was that some of the voters felt that the lumber used was not well seasoned, the chimney was not satisfactory and must be rebuilt, some finish around the entry door was lacking, etc., etc. At a special school meeting a committee of three was named to look into this. They reported on needed changes and estimated their cost at $21.00, which should be deducted from the price of the building or the district should build a new one. Mr. Woods accepted this ultimatum at an adjourned meeting. Following this, Russell King was named to make the alterations at a cost not to exceed $21.00. This school house was first used in the fall of 1848 and served its purpose until the two-story wooden building was completed in December, 1872 at a cost of $5,980.36.
The first school house was at the foot of Clay Hill, which is south of
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the present Woodsville Court House. It was used for almost exactly twenty- five years. The second school building was on the site where the grade school, brick building was built in 1901 at a cost of just under $20,000.00. The sec- ond school house served the district for over twenty-eight years during which time (1885) the district system in town was abolished, and all of Haverhill except Woodsville was put into one district.
There was considerable opposition to building the third school house as it was thought to be so large it would never be fully occupied. How wrong this attitude was, is shown by the fact that in 1913 it was found necessary to build a separate high school on King's Plain, which is still so used.
The most recent new school building in Woodsville was made necessary by the unfortunate fire which completely destroyed the grade school, after sixty years of usage. The new very modern grade school building was com- pleted in 1962 at a cost of $317,000.00 The land, equipment and other costs were $58,000.00 for a total of $375,000.00. Of this total 30% or $112,500.00 came from State Building Aid, $128,000.00 from fire insurance on the grade school building which burned, and the balance of $134,500.00 by a bond issue to be retired by future tax assessments. The state aid is to be retired as the bond issue matures and will be met with state funds.
EARLY CHURCH DIFFICULTIES
The first meeting of the proprietors of Haverhill was held in Plaistow in June, 1763 at the house of John Hall, innkeeper and himself a grantee named in the charter of the town of Haverhill. One of the subjects discussed was how could religious worship be provided in the new settlement. The legality of this first town meeting was questioned, and a second meeting was called in September, 1763 at the same place. Among several votes recorded was one "to join with Newbury in paying for preaching one or two months this fall."
It appears that Rev. Silas Moody came to this locality that fall and preached five times, two of which were in Haverhill. He was, no doubt, the first clergyman to hold a religious service in this town (1763). He was a relative of Moses Little and a recent graduate of Harvard. Apparently the wilderness did not appeal to Moody as he declined to remain.
In September, 1764, "The Church of Christ of Newbury and Haverhill, at Coos," was organized after Rev. Peter Powers had preached for several weeks in both towns to the great satisfaction of the settlers. In January, 1765 the two towns joined to "call Mr. Peter Powers to become their gospel minis- ter." He was installed a month later and served both towns for 16 years
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(1781) making his home in Newbury. He was supported by the "minister tax" voted in both town meetings and assessed by the selectmen in the same manner as expenses for roads and schools. Newbury paid about 3/5ths and Haverhill 2/5ths of Power's salary. A log house on the Ox-bow in Newbury was the meeting place, and Haverhill folks had to cross the Connecticut River for church services every Sunday. In 1781, Newbury declined to continue the arrangement, and Rev. Powers moved to Haverhill which had grown in popu- lation. He preached in some of the larger homes until the fall of 1783 when a special town meeting voted "not to hire Rev. Powers to preach any more."
During the next seven years there appears to have been no resident minister in Haverhill. Some continued going across the river to worship in Newbury. By 1790, a church had been built by popular subscription on Ladd Street. It was on the east side of the road just south of the Henry Bailey resi- dence (now owned by the Fournier family). This was the start of the Con- gregational Church in Haverhill.
The first minister called was Rev. Ethan Smith in 1792 who served for seven years. During this period, the minister tax was assessed. But certain residents of North Haverhill and Horse Meadow continued to attend and support the church in Newbury. They objected to the tax for support of the church in Haverhill and later refused to pay it.
Finally, two of these offenders who lived at Horse Meadow, Timothy Barron and Ephraim Wesson, were placed in the jail at North Haverhill for failure to pay their tax assessment. One day the jailor left the door unlocked, and Barron and Wesson walked out and went to their homes. They were re- arrested and fined. They were not returned to jail, and the records do not show whether or not they paid their fines.
This episode really aroused bitter feelings in both towns, and opposition to the minister's tax increased. More people refused to pay it. Those who lived in the South Newbury area joined the Haverhill church, and most of the North Haverhill and Horse Meadow residents continued going across the river to worship. These people all claimed exemption from the tax as they were supporting on a voluntary basis the church of their choice.
As time passed, the entire system of religious taxation was discontinued in both towns, and worshipers were allowed to support on a voluntary basis the church of their choice.
After Rev. Ethan Smith retired in 1799, there were many candidates and occasional preachers until 1815 when Grant Powers became the pastor. One Rev. John Smith had served from 1802 to 1807 but took only two members into the church. Rev. Powers states that the membership had been reduced to twelve members (three males and nine females) when he took over. He
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retired in 1829 after 14 years of very active service. In his "History of Coos Country," which he published in 1841, the year of his death, he reports the church had 119 members when he left it.
The late Frank R. Rogers, in an article he prepared for the 150th anni- versary in 1940, is the authority for the statement that the first Congrega- tional Church of Haverhill was located on Ladd Street from 1790 to 1830 when the Methodists finished a building north of the common but had finan- cial difficulties and sold it to the Congregational Church for $3,000. Soon after, Rev. Henry Wood received a call to preach at Haverhill. In his first year, 40 joined the church and 20 more came in later. Rev. Wood retired in 1835. The first Congregational Church has continued to the present time with capable pastors in residence most of the time.
Having erected the first building in Haverhill to be used for church serv- ices (1790), the members of the Congregational denomination very appropri- ately took the name-First Congregational Church of Haverhill, New Hamp- shire. It has continued for 172 years to provide outstanding religious in- fluence in its area.
MASONRY IN HAVERHILL
In January, 1798, over 164 years ago, a group of leading citizens of Haverhill, Newbury and Bradford, Vermont petitioned the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons for a lodge to be chartered at Haverhill. This re- quest was granted in June, 1799, and "Union Lodge No. 10" was organized with a full list of officers that same month. This was the first secret society organized in the upper Connecticut River valley.
Among those who were active in sponsoring this movement and who signed the original petition were General Moody Bedel, John Montgomery, Joseph Bliss, William Cross, and William Lambert of Haverhill, Micah Barron and William Wallace of Newbury, Arad Stebbins and Andrew B. Peters of Bradford. At a public installation of the officers of the lodge conducted by Nathaniel Adams of Portsmouth, the New Hampshire Grand Master, Micah Barron was named worshipful master, John Montgomery, senior warden, Moody Bedel, junior warden and William Lambert, deacon. Towns under the jurisdiction of Union Lodge were Haverhill, Bath, Piermont and Orford in New Hampshire, Newbury and Bradford in Vermont. Meetings were held at Newbury and Bradford, Vermont as well as at Haverhill and Orford for con- venience of members.
This lodge was moved to Orford in 1809, where it continued as Union
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Lodge No. 10 until 1860 when the name was changed to Mount Cube Lodge. However, Haverhill Masons became dissatisfied chiefly because of the distance to Orford to attend meetings, and they obtained a charter in 1826 for Grafton Lodge No. 46.
In the years that followed, a bitter anti-Masonic feeling developed which prevented the lodge from taking in new members, and in 1844 the charter was forfeited for failure to make returns. In 1857, the Grafton Lodge charter was restored and has enjoyed a reasonable growth ever since with many leading citizens as its members. A partial list of the masters of the lodge follows: Joshua Blaisdell, first master in 1826, and again in 1831 and 1839; Samuel Page, John L. Bunce, William Ladd, Charles G. Smith, Peabody Kimball, Charles P. Griswold, Tyler Westgate, Wilbur F. True, E. B. Pike, Herbert E. Smith, Fred S. Wright, and Roy E. Dunkley-just to name a few.
Carroll H. Ingalls, a recent Master of the lodge, has loaned the author a pamphlet about Jeremy Ladd Cross, perhaps the most famous Mason of Haverhill. His father was Deacon William Cross, the famous sexton of Ladd Street Meeting House (see Ladd Street Bell story). Jeremy Ladd Cross was regarded as one of the best authorities on the secret work of Masonry during his later years. He died in Haverhill in 1860, aged 77 years, and was buried in Ladd Street Cemetery. His headstone bears the Scottish Rite 33rd degree emblem.
FIRST CHURCH IN WOODSVILLE
From early records it is reasonably certain that the first real attempt to organize a church in Woodsville took place during the year 1875. This was the year in which Attorney Samuel B. Page came here from Concord, New Hampshire to open a law office. He was a devoted Episcopalian and often expressed his feelings in favor of a local church. At that time, there was a Congregational Church in Wells River which had many members from this vicinity. Woodsville had become quite a trading center and had attracted many families to settle here since the railroad came in July, 1853.
Through the efforts of Attorney Page, Bishop William W. Niles author- ized an Episcopal Mission to be organized here in late 1876 or early 1877. Prior to September, 1878, when Rev. W. B. T. Smith became the first rector, it appears that Rev. W. C. Dawson and Rev. A. R. Graves conducted services at various times, coming from other New Hampshire parishes. A. B. Craw- ford, a candidate for Holy Orders, was sent by the Bishop to take charge as a lay reader. Services were also read by Attorney Page and Dr. Gibson.
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St. Luke's Episcopal Church.
Soon after the arrival of Rev. Mr. Smith in 1878, a movement was start- ed to build a church. In May, 1879, Charles B. Smith gave the land. During that summer, $1,200 was subscribed locally, and Bishop Niles raised $1,500 elsewhere. On November 26, 1879, ground was broken, and on August 24, 1880, the cornerstone was laid at a public ceremony by Rev. W. B. T. Smith, assisted by Rev. G. G. Jones. The building committee consisted of C. B. Smith, Ira Whitcher, and Attorney S. B. Page.
It appears that Rev. Mr. Jones was succeeded by Rev. W. H. Burbank in October, 1880, and he conducted the first service in the new church build- ing at Christmas time, 1880.
The consecration service was not held until June 7, 1882, at which time the church building was entirely completed and debt free. Bishop Niles, who consecrated the Church, was the third bishop in this diocese. He continued as bishop until 1914 and is reverently remembered by many present church members. His last visitation to Woodsville was on November 5, 1905, for confirmation. His health was not good at that time, and the next year Rev. Edward Parker was elected bishop co-adjutor of New Hampshire.
The succession of bishops of this diocese is as follows: Rt. Rev. Alexan-
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der Viets Griswold, D.D., 1811-1843; Rt. Rev. Carlton Chase, D.D., 1844- 1870; Rt. Rev. William Woodruff Niles, D.D., D.C.L., 1870-1914; Rt. Rev. Edward Melville Parker, D.D., D.C.L., 1906-1925; Rt. Rev. John Thomson Dallas, D.D., L.L.D., 1926-1948; Rt. Rev. Charles Francis Hall, D.D., 1948 -.
A complete list of resident rectors and their years of service in Woods- ville, is as follows: Rev. W. B. T. Smith, 1878-1800; Rev. G. G. Jones, 1880; Rev. W. H. Burbank, 1880-1883; Rev. Herbert A. Remick, 1883-1892; Rev. William Lloyd Himes, 1892; Rev. Arthur W. Jenks, 1892-1895; Rev. James C. Flanders, 1895-1905; Rev. Frederick C. Cowper, 1905-1913; Rev. George R. Savage, 1913-1915; Rev. Alexander A. Cairns, 1915-1923; Rev. I. A. R. MacDonald, 1923-1926; Rev. Edred May, 1926-1929; Rev. Forrest L. East- man, 1929-1945; Rev. Robert N. Porter, 1948-1952; Rev. Frank W. Cole, 1953-1955; Rev. George Magoon, 1957-1961; Rev. William H. Thompson, 1962 -.
Thus, we find St. Luke's was the first church in Woodsville. As early as June, 1877, four persons were confirmed by Bishop Niles, and in November, 1878, 17 people received Holy Communion. In the Spring of 1879, 14 were confirmed, one of whom was the late Mrs. Annette Dodge (grandmother of Frank Clyde O'Malley).
From such a humble start, St. Luke's has grown to a communicant strength of 160. Its present property includes, in addition to the church edi- fice with its beautiful stained-glass memorial windows, a fine parish house on Central Street, and a rectory on Maple Street. All of this property is now in excellent repair. If evaluated on a present replacement cost basis, it would probably total over $60,000. Also, many valuable articles have been given to the church, and several endowment funds from which the annual income helps to support St. Luke's church.
It is of interest to record here that the donor of the outstanding chancel windows is only known by the initials, J. B. C. However, she is known to have been a very generous church-woman who saw the church while under con- struction and made the gift of these very valuable and beautiful windows an- onymously, and possibly in memory of a dear friend.
St. Luke's has definitely been a great influence for good in this com- munity for the past 85 years. It has been the scene of many services of all types. Five hundred and ninety-five persons have been baptized, 338 con- firmed, and 135 married here. The last rites for about 400 have been conduct- ed here. (No burial records prior to 1892.)
The church still welcomes all who seek its hospitality and inspiration.
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SIX PORTALS TO ETERNAL REST
Almost every event in the history of the town of Haverhill has a repre- sentative tenderly embraced by Mother Earth in some one of the six ceme- teries of the town.
Probably the oldest of these is at Ladd Street, where one finds the last resting place of a large number of the sturdy pioneers and their families. To mention only a few of them: Colonel Charles Johnston, Colonel Timothy Bedel, Governor John Page and members of such fine old families as the Mer- rills, Ladds, Montgomerys, Bells and Dows.
In 1774 the first plot was set aside by the town, a portion of the present Ladd Street Cemetery-the northwest corner of it. An addition was made in 1853 and another in 1868. In 1849 a cemetery was established on Powder House Hill, but only a few bodies were buried there and they were later re- moved to Ladd Street Cemetery. In addition to being the oldest cemetery in the town of Haverhill, it has the finest location on an elevation overlooking the Connecticut valley. It is just far enough from the busy highway to be restful, quiet and serene. The oldest marker bears this inscription:
In memory of Mr. Jonathan Sanders who died January 11, 1774 In ye 64th year of his age "Blessed are ye dead Yt Die in ye Lord"
There are many other tombstone inscriptions of great interest in Ladd Street Cemetery such as those of John Page and his wife Hannah. (See Pages & Pages.)
Another very old burying ground is at the south end of Horse Meadow. In the oldest section of this cemetery is a stone bearing the following inscrip- tion :
This stone is placed here by Timothy Barron of Bath In memory of his grandshire, Captain Timothy Barron, who died November 7, 1797 in the 58th year of his age. He was one of the first settlers of this town and the
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first person interred in this burying ground. He was seized and possessed of the land he was buried upon and there is never to be any conveyance from him or his heirs. Our Fathers; where are they and The prophet do they live forever?
There is no record of any other dedication of this hallowed ground for a burying ground. In 1866, land for an addition to this cemetery was bought of Schuyler Merrill, and in 1893 more land was bought of Lafayette Morse. The Morse farm borders this cemetery on the north and is now owned and occu- pied by William J. Clough.
It appears that Hannah "Polly" Harriman was the first settler to die in this town, and she was buried at Horse Meadow in 1763 in an unmarked grave. Possibly it was in the oldest section of this cemetery, but years earlier it actually was set aside for the purpose. Some have claimed that the area was opened up as a cemetery about the same time the Ladd Street burying ground was (1774). It is entirely possible that the statement, "First person interred in this burying ground," on Captain Timothy Barron's gravestone is an in- accuracy.
Among those buried here are Captain Ezenezer Mackintosh of Boston Tea Party fame, Joshua Howard, John L. Woods, Charles M. Weeks, Asa Porter, and members of prominent families; Kimball, Whitcher, French, Southard, Eastman, Carr, King, Butler and Woodward, to name but a few.
A third cemetery is at Number Six. Little is known of when this area was first used as a burying ground. Nathan Mead, who died in 1812, has the oldest gravestone but there are doubtless many graves which preceded that date. This cemetery was used by the early settlers in the eastern part of Haverhill and those in the western part of Benton (now known as the Page District). The Morses, Meads, Elliots, Jeffers, Whitakers and many other families have lots here.
The East Haverhill cemetery was first used in 1822, when a son of John Boswell was buried there. It became a burying ground officially in 1824 when a deed was given; additional land was added later. There are a number of unknown and unmarked graves here. Some of the families which are buried here include Page, Pike, Pierce, Baker, Noyes and Cutting.
Another cemetery is at Center Haverhill. It was first used in 1832 when a son of William Gannett was buried there. The land was given by Arron Smith. It has since been enlarged at least twice. Families buried here include the Gannetts, Bacons, Morses, Pikes, Keysers, Cloughs and Sleepers.
The last addition to the cemeteries in the town of Haverhill was first
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opened for use in 1899 near Woodsville on the road to Swiftwater. This has already been enlarged once. Nearly all lots in this well located cemetery are owned by residents of Woodsville. Some of the families are Bailey, Mann, Cummings, Wilson, Craig and Dearborn.
It is quite appropriate here to comment on the fine care which all six of these cemeteries now receive. They have each been through various stages of care and neglect over the years. Today they are all supervised by the town cemetery commissioners with special emphasis on having all the lots cared for, especially before May 30. It appears also that there is much more general interest in caring for these sacred spots than was formerly the case.
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