History of Carroll County, New Hampshire, Part 42

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Boston : W.A. Fergusson & Co.
Number of Pages: 1124

USA > New Hampshire > Carroll County > History of Carroll County, New Hampshire > Part 42

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I wish to tender the heartfelt and sincere thanks of this society to each and all who have rendered assistance in any way in this enterprise, and we hope the day will never come when they shall feel that their bounty has been misap- propriated, or their confidence misplaced.

The original members of the society were Charles II. Parker, William B. Hodge, Frank P. Hobbs, Rufus H. King, Ida M. Clark, Mary A. Dowlin, Fred W. Prindall, Abbie M. Prindall, Joseph Lewando, Nellie J. Lewando, Charles F. Piper, Sewall W. Abbott. The first board of officers was : Oliver Dowlin, president ; Ida M. Clark, vice-president ; Fred W. Prindall, clerk ; Frank P. Hobbs, treasurer; William B. Hodge, Charles F. Piper, Joseph Lewando, executive committee. These officers were elected January 14, 1886, but the society was not legally organized until March 25, 1886. All early business meetings were held at the office of The Granite State News.

December 4, 1886, the society voted to build a church, as the facilities for holding meetings were not such as tended to advance the progress of the new movement. G. B. Clark, William B. Hodge, and F. W. Prindall were chosen a building committee. Work in this new direction was pressed with ardor ; outside friends gave contributions to the object, while a generous and liberal response came from the believers in liberal religious thought in Wolfeborough. The result was the erection of the beautiful house of worship on Glendon street, which was dedicated with imposing ceremonies January 17, 1888.

The Church. - A church edifice, however plain or humble may be its aspect, is indicative of a progressive community, an inspiration after the

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better and higher life. A well-proportioned, tasty edifice of this kind in a village shows that amid the toil and struggle for physical existence, people devote some fragments of time and fractions of income to the consideration of the moral and religious nature. Such a structure is not only an ornament, but a source of just pride to a people. The tall, graceful spire towering above the buildings devoted to business or domestic pursuits is a sign to all that man's spiritual nature is an object of interest, and neither forgotten nor wholly neglected in that community.

Wolfeborough may now claim to have the handsomest and most com- modious church building in Carroll county. In its general proportions and exterior, this building was patterned after that of the Unitarian society of Lebanon. The architecture might be styled composite, still the predominating order is Gothic, and its tall and beautifully proportioned spire (110 feet high), its massive Gothic-top windows and tasty minaret, present an attractive and pleasing appearance. The main building is 55 feet long by 41 feet wide, with a two-story addition on the south, 24 feet wide by 55 feet long, falling back from the main building some feet. This church was contracted to Messrs Prindall & Hersey of Wolfeborough, and the plan drafted by Mr Prindall.

The church has three entrances on its front, each opening into spacious vestibules, from which aisles lead to the rear of the auditorium. A platform across the eastern end of the audience room, built for the organ loft and pulpit, is accommodated by four flights of steps, the choir being seated at the right of the minister. The ceiling is finished into the roof with a beautiful Gothic arch that gives the auditorium a height of thirty feet. The room is lighted by eight large Gothic-top windows, glazed with various colored cathedral glass. In the evening light is diffused by a gorgeous sixteen-light reflector chandelier, a gift from the ladies.

Eight Gothic arches-four on each side-intersecting with the main Gothic present a very pretty interior. On the south side is the vestry, connected with the main room by three large sliding doors, having amber-colored cathedral glass panels. In the rear of the vestry is the library, a kitchen, furnished with cook-stove, sink, cupboards, and cooking utensils, and is also connected by folding doors with the vestry. A large, triple Gothic-top window of colored glass and four smaller light this part of the building. The walls and ceiling are handsomely frescoed. The finish, stained in imitation of cherry, was done by George B. Horn. There are fifty-six handsome hardwood pews, stained to match the church finish, accommodating five persons each.

The handsome and elaborate chancel window of stained glass, in leaded frame, was a gift from the Channing Religious Society of Newton, Mass. The transom over the central entrance is of stained glass, and has in cut letters, " First Unitarian Society, 1887." The pulpit set of six pieces is cherry, upholstered in old-gold crushed plush, and makes a very pretty suit, for which Mrs S. W. Fay presented the society a splendid pulpit lamp.

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From the tower swings a 1590-pound bell, the heaviest in the county, also a gift. The entire cost of the church, including furnishings, was six thousand dollars.

Dedication. - A clear, cold winter day, with the thermometer indicating the temperature to be sixteen degrees below zero, did not prevent a goodly concourse from this and adjoining towns from assembling to participate in the dedicatory services. The order of exercises, given below, was fully carried out in an interesting and entertaining manner.

Order of Exercises. - 1. Opening Anthem, "Oh, how Beautiful !"

2. Invocation, Rev. J. P. Sheaf, Jr, of Dover.

3. Scripture Reading, Rev. J. P. Sheaf, Jr.

4. Rev. Lewis Phillips, pastor of the Christian Church, read Hymn No. 43,

" Universal Worship," which was finely rendered by the choir.

O Thou to whom, in ancient time, The lyre of Hebrew bards was strung, Whom kings adored in song sublime, And prophets praised with glowing tongue !-

Not now on Zion's height alone Thy favored worshiper may dwell; Nor where, at sultry noon, thy Son Sat weary by the patriarch's well.

From every place below the skies

The grateful song, the fervent prayer, The incense of the heart, may rise To heaven, and find acceptance there.

O Thon to whom, in ancient time, The lyre of prophet-bards was strung, To thee, at last, in every clime, Shall temples rise, and praise be sung.

5. Historical Address, C. H. Parker.

6. Report of Building Committee.

Mr G. B. Clark, in behalf of the building committee, made a statement of the cost of the building and state of the finances, showing that the committee have built a somewhat better and of course a more expensive church than was at first contemplated, but no better than the times and circumstances demand. Anything less would have been unsatisfactory. As it is, the society have a substantial, commodious, well-furnished church in modern style, at a cost which must be put down as moderate.

7. Anthem. Selected.

8. Formal Act of Dedication.

The formal act of dedication by the people, led by Rev. S. C. Beane, of Salem, Mass., was in the following words, the congregation standing and uniting : -

To thee, O God, our Father, we humbly dedicate this house, the work of our hands; that in it we may together worship thee; that in it we may learn to know thee, the only true

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God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent; that here, in the gladness and strength of the life that now is, and in hope of the life which is to come, we may abound in love to one another and to all men, in righteousness of life, and in faith and trust toward the Father of our spirits. O Lord, establish thou the work of our hands; yea, the work of our hands, establish thou it. Amen.

9. Prayer of Dedication, Rev. Fielder Israel, Salem, Mass.

This was full of devotional thought, given in most expressive language, which seemed to take the entire congregation to the throne of grace as humble suppliants for divine love, mercy, and direction.

10. Hymn, composed by Rev. Edward E. Ilale, D.D., sung to Retreat.

O Father, take the new-built shrine; The house our hands have built is thine; Greet us with welcome when we come, And make our Father's house onr home.

Blest with thy spirit while we stay, May we thy spirit bear away, That every heart a shrine may be, And every house a home for thee.

11. Sermon, Rev. Brooke Hereford.

This discourse was from " Ye are not your own," 1 Corinthians 6: 19. It was eloquent, full of rich thoughts and instructive suggestions.

12. Prayer, Rev. Thomas E. St John.

13. Doxology, Congregation.

14. Benediction.

Instead of a sermon in the evening there were short speeches upon "The Faith and Work of a Liberal Christian Church," interspersed with excellent music by the choir. The speakers were Rev. T. E. St John, Rev. J. P. Sheaf, of Dover, who was introduced as our nearest Unitarian neighbor ; Rev. S. C. Beane, a missionary of the Unitarian denomination for eastern New England ; Rev. Fielder Israel, pastor of the First Unitarian Church in Salem, the first and oldest congregational church in America (organized in Salem, August 6, 1629); Professor E. H. Lord, principal of Brewster Free Academy; and Rev. Brooke Hereford, successor of the eminent Dr. Channing. The best evidence that the exercises were interesting is the fact that the audience gave the closest attention for two hours.

Rev. Loren Benjamin Macdonald is pastor. He was born in Newport, N. S., January 21, 1858; removed to Boston, Mass., when eight years of age. In 1878 he entered the theological school of Harvard College; was graduated in 1881; then settled as pastor of the Unitarian Church in Ellsworth, Maine ; resigned in the autumn of 1884 to enter the junior class of the collegiate department at Harvard, and was graduated in 1886. During this time and the

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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

following year he supplied a pulpit in Shirley, Mass. May 8, 1888, he received an invitation to come to Wolfeborough to minister to the new society at an annual salary of one thousand dollars. Mr Macdonald accepted the invita- tion, and commenced his pastorate May 12. He is scholastic, earnest, and eloquent, a close logician and independent thinker. He has proven "to be the right man in the right place," and the society under his ministrations is united, interested, and progressing.

February 23, 1888, Hon. Mark P. Emery, of Portland, Maine, presented the society with a beautiful Bible and an elegant silver communion service.

The officers for 1889 are : C. H. Parker, president; Ida M. Clark, vice- president ; F. W. Prindall, clerk : Joseph Lewando, Frank P. Hobbs, Mrs C. H. Gage, C. H. Parker, Ida M. Clark, F. W. Prindall, C. F. Piper, executive committee.

The Sunday-school has fifty members. Rev. L. B. Macdonald, superin- tendent ; Mrs G. B. Clark, assistant ; librarian, Harry Horne ; secretary, Mrs C. H. Gage ; teachers, Rev. Mr Macdonald, Charles H. Parker, Mrs G. B. Clark, Mrs Charles W. Gilman.

Church Buildings. - The town meeting-house was built in 1786-92. A meeting-house was built in the east part of the town in 1801 by the Baptists and Methodists. About 1850 this was taken down and another erected on the same site. The Christian Society built one in 1838 at Goose Corner. In 1858 this was taken down and another built by the same society in the Bridge village. In 1840 a Free Baptist Church was built in Mill village, and a Union Church at Dimon's Corner. In 1841 a Union Church was erected in Wolfe- borough Centre. In 1845 a Union Church was built at South Wolfeborough. In 1845-46 the Congregationalists erected a church at Bridge village. The society had previously worshiped in the academy building. This church has been once enlarged. These churches were neither large nor expensive. The Friends had a small meeting-house on the Varney road, probably from 1830 to 1850. In 1887 the Unitarians erected a church in Wolfeborough at a cost of six thousand dollars.

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TOWN OF WOLFEBOROUGHI.

CHAPTER XXVII.

Schools - Early Teachers - " Master Connor " -School Districts - School Committees - School Money - Wolfeborough and Tuftonborough Academy - Incorporation - Charter - Lot - Proprietors - Academy Building - Chapel - Pewholders -Trustees of Academy - Preceptors - Christian Institute - School Money for 1888 - Number of Scholars - Social Library - Brewster Free Academy - Temperance.

S CHOOLS. - In 1773 the town voted to raise fifty pounds for a school; in 1774 a like sum. These votes were probably not complied with. In 1781 Mr Collins taught a school several months. In 1782 Isaiah Horne had charge of one for three months. With the exception of 1785, when Nehe- miah Ordway taught, it is not known that there were any others until 1790, when the town was divided into four districts, and schools were kept in distriet one, "above the Bridge," sixty days; two, "below the Bridge," thirty-nine days ; three, "the Cabot or Farm," fifty-six days; four, " the Haines," twenty- five days. The first schoolhouse was probably erected in 1793; it stood near the lane leading to Daniel Brewster's farm. The first schoolhouse above the Bridge was on Benjamin Blake's land.

Early Teachers. - The following persons were known to be teachers here until 1820. The date preceding names indicates the first year they had charge of a school ; many continued to teach for years. 1785, Nathaniel Ambrose, Jr ; 1791, Samuel Tucker, Abraham Peavey, George Nicholson ; 1793, Anna Blake ; 1794, Thomas Demerritt, Colonel Mark Wiggin, William Kent, Betsey Wiggin ; 1796, Moses Thompson ; 1797, Katherine Edmonds, Horatio G. Balch, Moses Bickford, Nancy Wiggin; 1798, Benjamin Canney ; 1799, George Melville, John French, Joseph Odiorne; 1800, Samuel Fox; 1801, Israel Piper, Betsey Lucas, Betsey Fernald; 1802, Nancy Coleman, Charles Barker, Jonathan Copp; 1803, Samuel Wiggin, Betsey Gould, Sarah Johnson, James F. Moulton, Mrs John Snell, Mrs Josiah Frost; 1804, Weathan Wiggin, Hiram Hodge ; 1805, Aaron Boodey, Nehemiah Ordway, Henry Horne, Eben- ezer Meader, Jr; 1806, Stephen L. Creighton, Polly Gould, Charles Foss, John Brown ; 1807, Dudley Leavitt, "the almanac maker," Miss Savage, Sanborn Blake, Thomas Stevenson, Jane Stuart; 1808, John Bassett, Moses Connor, Isaiah G. Orne, Hannah Lucas; 1809, Nathaniel Burleigh, David T. Livy, John J. Coleman, Jonathan Blake, John Rines, Hannah Horne, Mary Young, Charles Foss, Abigail Meserve, Polly Gow; 1811, Joseph Farrar, Joseph Shorey, William Cotton, Daniel Fellows; 1812, John W. Horne, John C. Young, Joseph Edgerly, Thomas J. Tebbetts, Dearborn Wedgewood, Mary

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Hayes, Sally Crosby, Dolly Tebbetts, Betsey Brewster; 1813, Samuel Bur- leigh, Olive Shepherd, Jonathan Bickford, Jr, Nancy Philbrick, Elizabeth Powers. George W. Warren; 1814, Mary Copp, Samuel Leavitt, Jr, Gideon Straw, George Nowell, Sarah Lyford, Deborah Gilman ; 1815, David B. Straw, Henry Tebbetts, Abigail Snell : 1816, Hannah Gage, May Dudley ; 1817, Charles Gilman, Polly Hawkins : 1819, David Fullerton; 1820, Betsey Lucas. I

Moses Connor, known as " Master Connor," was a cripple ; he was a teacher many years. He excelled in penmanship, and prepared many family records. John Bassett had charge of schools twenty-eight consecutive winters. Several of these teachers subsequently became prominent in town affairs. Joseph Farrar was a lawyer: David T. Livy, Thomas J. Tebbetts, and Joseph Edgerly were physicians.

For quite a number of years the selectmen had the entire management of schools, which were at first generally kept in private houses, and the simple school furniture was moved from place to place when needed. Teachers' wages at this time varied from four to twenty dollars a month, inclusive of board. In 1801 " the school lot " was sold and the interest of the proceeds of the sale divided among the school districts in proportion to their number of legal voters. This amounted to $156, and the school-tax to $175. In 1804 the town voted to raise fifty dollars for schools in excess of the sum required by law. In 1807 there were eight school districts. In 1809 it was voted to divide the amount received from the school fund among the districts, in proportion to the number of children between the ages of three and eighteen in each, and this method of division continued for a long period. Afterwards it was divided, "one half according to the number of children, and one half according to poll and estate."

About 1820 there seems to have been an increase of interest in relation to educational matters. In 1821 Richard Rust, Samuel Nowell, and Moses Hoit were chosen a superintending school committee. In 1823 John P. Cleaveland, Dr Thomas J. Tebbetts, Dr David T. Livy, Aaron Roberts, and Thomas Rust were chosen as school committee, and the requisite qualifications of teachers determined. The school districts were increased to twelve. The number of scholars were: " above the Bridge," 89; "below the Bridge," 92; "Furbur," 57; "Pine Hill," 62; "Center," 83; "Haines," 118: "Farm," 102; " Young," 24: "Jenness," 20; "Pierce," 19; "Doe," 37; "Tebbett's," 43; making a total of 746. The school tax was $506.49; the income from school fund $193.53; furnishing an allowance of less than one dollar for each scholar. In 1829 three additional school districts were formed ; subsequently the whole number was increased to seventeen ; the town also chose a prudential com- mittee that should include residents in each district. These were Charles B. Orne, William Thompson, John Cate, Lyford Shorey, Joseph Banfield,

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Obadiah Stoddard, John C. Young, Matthias Haines, Timothy W. Young, Robert Newell, Joshua Pierce, Richard Nudd, Samuel S. Parker, Thomas Cotton, Jr, and Walter Avery. In 1831 Jonathan Blake, John C. Young, and John Cate were appointed a committee to ascertain the condition of the town funds. This committee reported "school money, $2,966.58; literary fund, $408.65; parsonage money, $1,062.96; making an aggregate of #4.438.19, secured by sixty-two individual notes that appeared to be well secured." It would seem as if the citizens were using the fund as a sort of banking institution. For the last fifty years schools in Wolfeborough have been managed much as in other towns. Sometimes there has been raised for school purposes a larger sum than the law required.

Wolfeborough and Tuftonborough Academy. - The awakened interest in educational matters in 1820 led to the adoption of measures to establish an academy in Wolfeborough. On the fourth day of May, 1820, there was held at the inn of Ichabod Libbey a meeting of certain persons styling themselves "the proprietors of the Wolfeborough and Tuftonborough Academy." Jonathan Blake was appointed chairman, and Daniel Pick- ering, secretary. At this meeting it was voted to raise a sum equal to five thousand dollars for a fund with which to erect a building for an academy and other purposes. It was voted to raise the same by subscrip- tion, each donor to pay the interest on the sum subscribed annually for . ten successive years, and that was to be in full for his obligation. At an adjourned meeting, Henry H. Orne, Andrew Lucas, Jr, and Samuel Avery were appointed a committee to draft a petition for an act of incorpora- tion ; and Samuel Avery, Nathaniel Rogers, IIenry H. Orne, Henry Rust, 3d, James Hersey, James Folsom, and Henry R. Parker, a committee to obtain subscriptions and superintend the erection of an academy building. A sum of $5,270 was subscribed in sums varying from $30 to $350, the annual interest on which was to be paid for ten years.

The academy was incorporated June, 1820. The charter was granted to Samuel Avery, Jonathan Blake, Daniel Pickering, and their associates. It authorized the association to hold real estate of the value of $15,000 exempt from taxation. The academy lot, one acre, was deeded by Stephen Pickering, of Greenland, and Daniel Pickering, of Wolfeborough, to Samuel Avery, Nathaniel Rogers, Henry R. Parker, Henry Rust, 3d, James Folsom, Henry H. Orne, of Wolfeborough, and James Hersey, of Tuftonborough.

At a meeting of the proprietors, held October 21, 1820, the following were chosen trustees : Henry H. Orne, Samuel Avery, Samuel Fox, James Hersey, Samuel Parker, William Pickering, Asa Piper, Samuel Peabody, H. R. Parker, Jonathan Blake, and Nathaniel Shannon. Henry H. Orne subsequently declined serving, and Joseph Farrar was chosen in his stead.

It is probable that the academy building was raised and partly finished

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in 1820. At a meeting of the proprietors, July, 1821, money was raised to complete the building, and the school went into operation in September, under the direction of John P. Cleveland. The lands and building cost two thou- sand dollars ; and in addition there was a fund of about two thousand dollars. A considerable portion of this fund was donated by William Guppy.

In the summer of 1827 the upper story of the academy building was finished for a chapel for the use of the citizens, at a cost of $222, Nathaniel Rogers being the contractor. Forty-three pews were sold at prices varying from $3.50 to $7.75. The sum realized from the sale was $218. The pur- chasers of pews were : George Brewster, Samuel Connor, David T. Livy, Joseph Clark, Samuel Avery, Benjamin Tibbetts, Daniel Pickering, Henry B. Rust, Thomas Rust, Henry R. Parker, Luther Varney, Samuel Fox, William P. Edgerly, Joseph Edmands, Henry Rust, JJr, Joshua Conner, William Guppy, Nathaniel Rogers, George F. Brewster, James Downs, Stephen Giles, Enos Bean, John Horn, Jeremiah Connor, Samuel Meder, and David Fuller- ton. In 1831 Daniel Pickering, Samuel Avery, Joseph Farrar, Thomas Rust, Paul H. Varney, Henry B. Rust, David T. Livy, Enos Merrill, James Hersey, Andrew Pierce, and John Wingate were chosen trustees of the academy.

This board of trustees continued in office by the filling of vacancies that occurred from time to time until 1857, when at a meeting of the proprietors, at which John Fox presided and John M. Brackett acted as secretary, Zacha- riah Batchelder, Abel Haley, John M. Brackett, Jeremiah F. Hall, Joseph L. Avery, Moses Thompson, Moses T. Cate, Charles II. Parker, Thomas L. Whitton, George W. Hersey, and John L. Meder were elected to the office of trustees. At an adjourned meeting it was voted to raise $2,000 for the purpose of repairing the academy building, and John M. Brackett, Abel Haley, Joseph L. Avery, Charles H. Parker, and Charles Remick were appointed a committee to superintend the work.

Mr Cleveland, the first preceptor of the academy, was succeeded by James Towner, who was followed by Mr Bailey, W. H. H. Hoitt, Enos Merrill, Erastus Perry, Thomas P. Beach, Charles Duren, Nehemiah C. Coffin, Mr Fowler, Jeffries Hall, William H. Farrar, Benjamin Stanton, Joseph G. Bartlett, Goodale Vittum, Joseph B. Clark, B. L. Pease, Ambrose Smith, Charles II. Hersey, and John Wingate. In the autumn of 1823 thirty-eight males and six females attended the school. Its greatest prosperity was about 1835, under the administration of T. P. Beach, when Henry Wilson was one of the students.

[Christian Institute. - The academy was continued with varied success until 1866, when the property was leased to the Christian society on condi- tions. Professor E. T. Moulton was placed at the head of the school, which was called the "Christian Institute." He was followed by John W. Lary and George F. Chase. In 1870 John W. Symonds succeeded Mr Chase, and remained two years, when the " Institute " was removed from Wolfeborough.]

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In 1874 the old trustees of the academy voted to reopen the school. In 1876 Rev. De Witt Durgin was in charge. In 1878 the use of the building was granted to school district No. 17, on condition that a high school should be kept in it. In 1886 the old charter was renewed and the name changed to "Brewster Free Academy." Subsequently it came into the possession of the trustees of the Brewster estate, and the grounds are now the site for the Memorial and Town Hall. The academy building is now occupied by the " Brewster Free Academy," but will eventually become the property of Wolfeborough for a schoolhouse.

School Money for 1888. - School tax, $1,974 ; from Brewster estate, $1,300; town fund, $258; literary fund, $333; dog tax, $158. Total, $4,023. For schoolhouses : from town tax, $600; Brewster estate, $400. There are now (1889) three hundred and five scholars between the ages of five and fifteen years.

Social Library. - At a meeting of a number of the inhabitants of Wolfe- borough and parts adjacent, to take into consideration the propriety of estab- lishing a library, held at the schoolhouse above Smith's bridge, January 10, 1804, Isaiah Horn was chosen moderator; Samuel Nowell, clerk ; and John L. Piper, treasurer and librarian. Piper, Horn, Nowell, Daniel Brewster, and William Guppy were appointed a committee to draft a constitution, and Samuel Meder, Henry Wiggin, James Wiggin, Samuel Fox, Jonathan Blake, George Brewster, William C. Warren, James Hersey, Benjamin Horn, and Samuel Mason, with the above-named committee, were appointed a committee to determine the books that should constitute the library. It was also voted that the price of a share in the library be two dollars. At an adjourned meeting held on the twenty-first day of the same month a constitution, con- sisting of thirteen articles, was adopted. By this it was determined that the officers of the society should consist of a president, a secretary, a treasurer, a librarian, and three inspectors; the duty of the last-named officers being to make a semi-annual examination of the books in the library. Members of the association were required to pay an annual tax of thirty-four cents, and were allowed to take one book from the library, which they were to return within two months, or subject themselves to a fine.

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History of Carroll County, New Hampshire, Part 42

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Boston : W.A. Fergusson & Co. Number of Pages: 1124

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Boston : W.A. Fergusson & Co.
Number of Pages: 1124