USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Chester > History of Chester, New Hampshire, including Auburn : a supplement to the History of old Chester, published in 1869 > Part 21
USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Auburn > History of Chester, New Hampshire, including Auburn : a supplement to the History of old Chester, published in 1869 > Part 21
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167
INDUSTRIAL HISTORY
Haying was work when all the grass was cut with scythe. In olden times three or more men started for the field as soon as they could see in the morning. They mowed until breakfast and from breakfast till noon. The boys spread the swathes.
In the afternoon all turned to and raked with small hand rakes, the ox hay rack on one pair of wheels was driven into the field, and the hay was pitched on and off by hand and often the last load was drawn into the barn at twilight.
With the mowing machine, had tedder, horse rake and hay fork, haying is light work in good weather.
Daniel Bell owned the first mowing machine in Chester and lost his hand in running it.
The first horse rake was made with wooden teeth. The farmer drove until the rake was full then turned it over and left the hay in a heap. This was followed with a rake with steel teeth and a pair of handles. A small boy rode the horse and a man followed behind. When the rake was full of hay he lifted it by the handle and dumped the hay in a heap. Then came the self dumping wheel rake on which the driver sits, and by his foot causes the rake to dump. With a good horse one can rake over many acres in an afternoon.
The hayfork is a great labor saving device. With it one can unload a ton in ten or fifteen minutes.
It would seem that farming should be easier and attractive to the young men in these times. In the olden times it was all hand work from sunrise to long past sunset. Today every farm is equipped with modern machinery and the hired help works only eight or nine hours while the man that runs the farm works much longer. No one would go back to the olden-time methods of farming if that were possible.
COOPERAGE.
Ebenezer Wilcomb had a small shop in the east part of the town where he made by hand fish barrels, halves and mackeral kits. The staves were of pine, and the hoops were of oak, maple and birch. As he worked alone the business was small. He found a market for his product in Newburyport, Mass.
Later Charles S. Wilcomb had a cooperage shop in the Village and employed several men for a number of years.
The Dale Brothers did an extensive business in the manufacture of staves in the north part of the town. They did not make barrels but shipped the staves to Townsend, Mass., and other places where they found a market. Their mill was burned 10 Dec., 1876.
At one time there was a pail factory owned and operated by Amos Haselton.
THE GRANGE.
Chester Grange, No. 169, Patrons of Husbandry, was organized Feb. 10, 1892, with twenty-five charter members-eight of whom are still living (1922) and retain membership. At present there are 200 members, the oldest being Carlos W. Noyes, who was one of the charter members.
The meetings are held twice a month in Stevens Memorial Hall, and are well attended. The literary program has always been an
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HISTORY OF CHESTER
importan feature as the discussions frequently touch upon the most important topics of the day.
The members also lend a helping hand to the sick of the community and a collection is taken at every meeting to furnish fruit or flowers to sick members. The Grange has a scholarship in the New Hamp- shire University entitling it to the appointment of one student each year.
Recently a committee on Home Economics has been established to aid the Grange in its extension work. It also owns shares in the Rockingham County Farmers Exchange and is interested in co-oper- ative marketing.
Once a year the Grange entertains the other organizations of the town, giving especial attention to the children.
Previous to the annual town meeting the various articles in the Town Warrant are freely discussed, thus enabling the members of the Grange to act wisely in voting. Our motto is-"In essentials unity; in non-essentials liberty; in all things charity."
SHOE-MAKING.
Before 1860 shoes were made by hand in little shops at nearly every house in Chester. The stock was fitted up in Haverhill, Mass., and sent in wooden boxes large enough to hold sixty pairs of shoes.
The soles came in long strips and had to be shaped by hand; the uppers were bound with leather binding, sewed on by hand, with three- cornered needles and linen thread.
After the soles were tacked on to the last, a peg set was run around the sole to indicate where the pegs were to be placed in the sole and the boys had their stent to peg with a hammer in one hand and an awl in the other a certain number of pairs each day.
The soles were then sandpapered smoothly, wet down with oxalic acid and polished by rubbing with a bone.
At Walnut Hill the Randalls, the Stevenses, the Richardsons, the Chases, the Merrills, the Kimballs and Humphrey Niles and Zaccheus Shirley made shoes in small shops.
Mr. Shirley worked in a little shop on the hill evenings until eleven o'clock. The neighbors said he never varied one minute from eleven when out went his light.
In 1859 John S. Corning began the manufacture of shoes at Chester Center. In the vicinity were many good workmen including the Wests, the Morses, the Robies, the McDuffees, the Tibbettses, the Parkers and others. After Mr. Corning went out of business, John Underhill continued the manufacture of hand made shoes, keeping the same skilled workmen. His factory was over the Melvin store, which burned in 1882.
In 1869 A. J. Merrill began the manufacture of women's shoes pegged by machinery. He used the Varney foot power pegging machine. The uppers were stitched with union wax thread. Leather binding was put on with the Singer sewing machine. These shoes were made in the shop by team work, four men making 60 pairs a day. He employed about 60 hands and turned out 300 pairs a day.
A few years later women became tired of wearing wooden pegged shoes. The demand was for sewed shoes and the workmen turned their hands to making sewed shoes.
The introduction of many new machines led to transfer of the
SUSAN J. (CROMBIE) CLARKE
GEORGE P. CLARKE
JENNIE G. (CLARKE) DRAKE
169
INDUSTRIAL HISTORY
industry from the small shops in the country to the large factories in the large towns and cities where railroad facilities were excellent, thus enabling the manufacturer to produce large product for the market.
Without railroad facilities Chester has lost the industry which between 1840 and 1880 was a considerable source of income.
STORES AND TRADESMEN.
At one time the eastern part of the town in the vicinity of Walnut Hill was more flourishing than it is today. Here over a hundred years ago Josiah Chase built a store which was demolished in 1921. It stood opposite the John A. Hazelton estate.
From 1898 to 1902, James Hardy and his wife kept this store. It was a typical country store where one could purchase anything from a barrel of flour to crochet cotton or fancy articles.
From 1907 to 1911 the Hardys kept a store in the Hooke place on the Raymond road. The place is now owned by Herbert Fenerty.
From 1845 to 1860, William Hazelton kept a store near the house now owned by Frank Warren. An amusing story is told of an old lady who lived in the neighborhood at that time. One day she went into the store and asked Mr. Hazelton if he had any bean pots. He replied that he had and asked her to go up stairs and pick out the one she wanted. She complied with his request. When the noon hour came Mr. Hazelton locked the store door and went to dinner, forgetting all about the old lady up stairs.
Upon returning an hour later, he heard a tapping noise in the store chamber and going up found the woman still rapping the bean pots to see if they were not cracked.
In 1845 Samuel Hazelton kept a store in what is now the shed of the place owned by Gilman Jenness. At that time Mr. Hazelton had a pet calf. One day the calf got out of its pen and wandering into the rear end of the store, found the molasses hogshead. The calf licked away at the bung until it fell out of the barrell and the molasses ran all over the floor. This was indeed a sticky trouble.
About 1852 Daniel Osgood kept a store in what is known as the Squire Shirley place, now owned by Albert Merrill. There were a large number of children in that part of the town in those days and Mr. Osgood did a good business in selling candy with groceries.
From 1860 to 1870 George Merrill kept a store in the small shop now owned by George Noyes. During the Civil War he sold flour for $22.00 per barrel, calico for $1.00 per yard, and sugar for 30 cents a pound.
About 1880 the Chester Market was built. It was owned and carried on by Samuel S. Morse. In May, 1894, he sold the business to Frank Leighton, who in turn sold it in September following to Mr. Piersons. He kept it for about a year and then sold it to Mr. Ordway. From 1896 to 1907 the business was owned by John H. Robie. From 1907 to 19II it was owned by Edwin H. Anderson. From 1911 to 1920 it was again in charge of John H. Robie. In July, 1920, Percy Sumner Stowe, a World War veteran, bought the business and in making improvements adding ice cream counter much to the joy of both young and old. In Dec., 1922, he sold the business to Wilson S. Wells. The building is owned by Miss Isabel H. Fitz.
Johns and Beadle came to Chester in 1896 and opened a market in the basement of the Samuel Morse house on the Derry road. They
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HISTORY OF CHESTER
kept a few groceries but dealt mostly in meats. They then removed into the store owned by Mrs. Edward West. The building was burned in 1911. Several people including George Sanders kept a store in the building at different times.
About 1868 William Greenough built a store on the Parson Flagg place between Crawford's and Dr. Emerson's. In 1875 he sold the store to Charles S. and Charles A. Wilcomb. In 1878 it was changed over into a shoe shop. Later it was moved down on to the lot where the W. R. C. Hall now stands and used for an evaporator. It was burned 16 Oct., 1902.
From June, 1847 to July, 1848, John H. Brown kept a store in that part of the Vanderbilt place which was taken off when the house was remodelled. His books show that he sold eggs for 12 cents a dozen, kid slippers for $1.00 a pair, overalls for 50 cents, coffee 10 cents a pound, cord wood for $2.50 per cord, and boys boots for $1.50 a pair.
At one time a man named Tompkins had a store in the same place.
In 1870 Mrs. Alonzo A. West and Mrs. Clement A. West were engaged in dressmaking and millinery in a shop which had formerly been the law office of Judge Henry F. French. Here they sold needles and thread and other useful articles.
There was another called the "Old Union Store" which occupied the present sit of Arthur H. Wilcomb's store. In course of time this store was burned and Henry Moore built another store on the same site. This store was burned in Sept., 1871. Mr. Moore rebuilt im- mediately. Later he sold to Henry and David Dale, who carried on the business under the name of Dale Brothers. In 1881 they sold to John M. Webster. In 1883 he sold to Charles A. Wilcomb, who in 1885 sold to his father Charles S. Wilcomb. In 1887 the latter sold to another son, Arthur H. Wilcomb one-half of the store. The business was carried on under the name of Charles S. Wilcomb and Son. In 1904 Arthur H. Wilcomb came into possession of the whole store and business. He has made many improvements including steam heat and electric lights.
In 1832 John W. Noyes came to Chester and engaged with David Currier in trade. Their store stood where Webster's now stands. The business was carried on under the name of Currier and Noyes. In 1835 Mr. Currier sold his share of the business to William Greenough and the firm was changed to Noyes and Greenough. About 1850 Mr. Noyes sold his share to Osgood Richards and the firm was then known as Richards and Greenough. The store was burned Dec. 28, 1856.
The store was rebuilt and kept by Thomas Melvin and William Crawford. In the meantime William Greenough removed to Lawrence, Mass., but in 1862 he returned to Chester and repurchased the store. Later Melvin and Crawford repurchased it of Mr. Greenough.
Mr. Crawford retired from the business in 1872. Mr. Melvin continued until the second store was burned in 1873.
Again the store was rebuilt and Lawrence Morse and John Melvin, son of Thomas J. Melvin carried on the trade. In 1877 Charles A. Wilcomb bought out Morse and Melvin and Henry H. Lane became his partner. In 1880 the business was purchased by Mr. Wilcomb and for the third time the building was burned in 1882.
The fourth building was erected in 1883 by John Newton Hazelton who carried on the business until 1884. He then sold to George S. and John M. Webster, who have continued business for forty years under the name of Webster Brothers.
I71
INDUSTRIAL HISTORY
RAILROADS.
Chester, in its early days, was one of the important towns of the State, located on the main thoroughfare between Concord and the North Country, and Boston. Having among its citizens inen of great influence in State and Nation, yet the railroads were constructed on the north, south and east, leaving Chester in the center of a triangle.
In the early seventies it was decided to construct a railroad from Nashua to Rochester, thereby connecting by a direct line, New York and the west with Portland and the provinces. Three routes were surveyed, two through Derry and Chester, the third through Hamp- stead and Sandown, where the road was finally built. The Chester route was considered by the engineers to be the most feasable, it had easy grades and little rock work and could be constructed for much less than the lower or Hampstead-Sandown route. Our people made liberal subscriptions to the stock but were out voted by the subscribers favoring the lower route. At the meeting held to decide upon location, Hon. Thomas J. Melvin, President of the State Senate, made a power ful argument in favor of the Chester route but it was of no avail, as the subscribers to the stock favoring the lower route were allowed to vote. It being contended many of these were not bona fide subscribers.
In 1891 the New Hampshire Legislature granted a charter to the Chester & Derry Railroad Association for an electric railroad from Chester to Derry, via East Derry and Beaver Lake, a distance of seven miles. The corporation immediately organized with Col. William S. Pillsbury of Derry as President, Charles Bartlett of Derry as Vice- President, Col. Frederick J. Shepard of Derry as Treasurer and Arthur H. Wilcomb of Chester as Clerk. Mr. Wilcomb was also chosen agent to solicit subscriptions to the capital stock of the association. The project remained in statu quo as no outside interests could be induced to undertake the building of the road, until 1894, when through the influence of Mr. Henry S. Warner of Derry, Mr. Henry W. Burgett of Brookline, Mass., an electric railroad contractor, who had con- structed several lines in this State, was induced to build the road, provided the local people would raise $50,000 by sale of stock and issue $50,000 in five per cent, 30 year gold bonds, a total of $100,000 for which he would build and equip the road ready for operation. Upon examining the charter it was found there was no provision therein allowing the association to do this. This defect was remedied by the legislature of 1895, Mr. Wilcomb of Chester, introducing and attending to the passage of a special act to that effect.
Construction began May 1, 1896, at Derry Depot, 150 Italians and many local teams and persons being employed. After many financial and other difficulties, resulting from the failure of Mr. Burgetts finan- cial backer and the order of the New Hampshire Railroad Commission to stop building until the right to issue stock and bonds had been passed upon by them (evidently they were not acquainted with the fact that this authority had been given by the legislature in 1895) also many of the subscribers to the stock refused to pay their subscriptions, claiming they had subscribed upon the supposition that the road would not be built and they would not be called upon to take the stock. However, all of these obstructions were overcome and the road completed and put into operation Sept. 26, 1896. The opening celebration was held in Chester and was a gala day for the old town, thousands riding over the line on that day. The following program was carried out :
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HISTORY OF CHESTER
... Program
+ -
President of the Day, ARTHUR H. WILCOMB
Committee of Arrangements
A. H. Wilcomb Rev. J. G. Robertson Rev. Bernard Christopher
E. T. Morse A. P. Morse George S. West J. A. Hooke
Chester asks all her sons and daughters and friends to join her in the Celebration attending the Opening of the Electric Railroad on
Tuesday, September 22, 1896
10.00 A. M. Arrival of car with Officials and Invited Guests, to be saluted with the ringing of bells and firing of cannon.
II.OO A. M. Opening Exercises.
I. Prayer by Rev. J. G. Robertson.
2. Short Addresses by Gov. Busiel, Hon. G. A. Ramsdell, Senators Gallinger, Chandler, Hon. J. G. Crawford and other prominent invited guests.
2.00 P. M. Band Concert by The Derry Brass Band.
2.30 P. M. Bicycle Race-Five Mile.
2.45 P. M. 100 Yards Dash.
3.00 P. M. Base Ball Game. CHESTER & DERRY R.R. CLUB US. DERRY [Suitable prizes will be awarded the winners in the several contests.]
4.30 P. M. Car will leave with Invited Guests.
8.00 P. M. Band Concert and grand display of Fireworks,-the Concert to be continued in the Town Hall imme- diately after the Fireworks.
James E. McCannon was the first motorman and Herbert L. Chase the first conductor.
The first car load of freight, ten tons, was brought into town over the road for Charles S. Wilcomb & Son. The road has been in operation for over twenty-eight years, while not paying dividends to the stock holders it has been able to meet its running expenses and interest on its bonds with the exception of a few years when the expense of keeping the road open during the winter has been excessive. The road carries passengers, freight, mail, express and milk and does all that a steam railroad can do, it has a small elevator at Derry so that cars of grain are easily transferred from the Boston & Maine cars. The building of this road increased the valuation of Chester nearly its entire cost.
This railroad could not have been constructed but for the untiring efforts and financial support of Prof. Cassius S. Campbell, Col. Fred- erick J. Shepard, Greenleaf K. Bartlett, Esq., and Charles Bartlett of Derry; Hon. John W. Noyes, Charles S. Wilcomb, Mrs. Eliza R. Crawford and Arthur H. Wilcomb of Chester, and the people of Chester making liberal subscriptions to the stock.
The present officers of the association are: President, Greenleaf K. Bartlett; Vice President, Charles Bartlett; Treasurer and General
I73
INDUSTRIAL HISTORY
Manager, F. J. Shepard; Clerk and Auditor, A. H. Wilcomb; Supt. Alan B. Shepard.
TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE.
In 1877 the New Hampshire Legislature granted a charter to the Chester & Derry Telegraph Company, giving rights to construct a line to Derry Depot. A company was formed with Hon. John W. Noyes, President; Lucien Kent, Esq., Clerk; and Postmaster Charles A. Wilcomb, the chief promoter of the enterprise, Treasurer and Manager. Stock was taken by the townspeople to the amount of $500.00 and the line built to Derry Depot with offices at East Derry and Derry Village. The first office was in the store and post office of C. A. Wilcomb who with Mr. Cyrus F. Marston were the first operators, the East Derry office was in the store and post office of Frank W. Parker who was operator ; the Derry Village office was in the store of Charles Bartlett who was operator ; the Derry Depot office was in the Boston & Maine Railroad office, where messages were transferred to the Western Union lines, George F. Priest was operator. The rate to Derry was ten cents. A local line was built to the Goldsmith place with stations at the residences of C. S. Wilcomb and Cyrus F. Marston. These telegraph lines were operated successfully until 1886 when telephones were substituted at the Chester, East Derry, Derry Village and Derry Depot offices at a cost of $60.00 per annum for each instrument. The first telephone to be installed in Chester was in November, 1884, when Mr. Cyrus F. Marston connected one with the telegraph circuit to receive the election returns.
In 1904 the telegraph company was re-organied under the name of the Chester & Derry Telegraph and Telephone Company with Charles H. Knowles, Esq., President, Samuel E. Ray Vice President, Arthur H. Wilcomb, Clerk, Treasurer and Manager.
The capital stock was increased to $1,500.00 and rural lines built to all parts of the town. The first line was built at Charles H. Knowles place, a distance of four miles, and had ten subscribers at $6.00 per annum. There are now over 100 subscribers, the rental being $15.00 per annum. Connection with the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company is made at Derry. The first central office was located in A. H. Wilcomb's store and post office, in 1914 it was moved to its present location with Wilson S. Wells as operator. The present officers are Cyrus F. Marston, president; Walter P. Tenney, vice- president; Leroy D. Morse, clerk and auditor; Arthur H. Wilcomb, treasurer and manager. Mr. and Mrs. Carl H. Tewksbury, operators.
The first radio receiving set in Chester was installed by Loren E. Rand in 1923.
At the town meeting of 1923, it was voted to raise and appropriate six hundred dollars for the purpose of installing 50 electric lights on our streets, and the selectmen were instructed to contract with the Derry Electric Co., for a period of ten years, to furnish said lights. The Electric Co. agreed to this contract provided 50 townspeople would sign contracts for electric service, and through the efforts of Herbert W. Ray, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, and Edwin P. Jones, this number was secured and service began, Feb. 2, 1924. The street lights extended about one mile on each road from the center of the town, but a few months later were extended to Auburn line. This was considered the greatest improvement to the town since the building of the electric railroad.
174
HISTORY OF CHESTER TOWN OFFICERS IN CHESTER. MODERATORS.
1870-71 Nathan S. Morse.
1887
Nathan S. Morse.
1872-73 William Greenough.
1888 Samuel S. Parker.
1874 Nathan S. Morse.
1889 Nathan S. Morse.
1875-76 William Greenough.
1890-91 Fred I. Drowne.
1877-78 William P. Underhill.
1892-94 Arthur L. Emerson.
1879-83 Silas F. Learnard.
1895-96 Addison A. Bean.
1884 Charles A. Wilcomb.
1897- Nathan W. Goldsmith.
TOWN CLERKS.
1870-73 Cyrus F. Marston.
1889-90 George S. Webster.
1874-76 Henry Moore.
1891- Cyrus F. Marston.
1877-88 Cyrus F. Marston.
TOWN TREASURERS.
1870-1892 John W. Noyes.
1914-1923 John M. Webster.
1893-1902 George S. West.
1924- Leroy D. Morse.
1903-1913 Arthur H. Wilcomb.
SELECTMEN.
1870 James M. Kent, Charles S. Wilcomb, James D. Lane.
1871 S. S. Chamberlin, George S. Smith, Edwin Hazelton.
1872 George S. Smith, Edwin Hazelton, Benjamin Davis.
1873 Benjamin Davis, John N. Hazeltine, Charles H. Knowles.
1874 John N. Hazeltine, John A. Hazelton, Nelson Gillingham.
1876
William Greenough, Samuel S. Parker, George W. Dolber.
1877 1878 William Greenough, Samuel S. Parker, George W. Dolber.
1879 Charles Chase, George W. Wilcomb, Moses Webster.
1880 Charles Chase, George W. Wilcomb, Moses Webster.
188I Charles S. Wilcomb, Addison A. Bean, Augustus P. Morse.
1882 Charles Chase, Addison A. Bean, George S. Webster.
1883 Addison A. Bean, George S. Webster, Cyrus F. Marston.
1884 George S. Webster, Cyrus F. Marston, Dwight M. Mitchell.
1885 Charles Chase, Dwight M. Mitchell, George S. West. 1886 Charles Chase, George S. West, Oren F. Page.
1887
George S. West, Oren F. Page, Benjamin Dearborn.
1888 George S. West, Samuel S. Parker, Robert H. Hazelton.
I889 Oren F. Page, John N. Hunt, Charles F. True.
1890 Addison A. Bean, George S. West, Augustus P. Morse.
I891 Addison A. Bean, George S. West, Augustus P. Morse.
1892 George S. West, Augustus P. Morse, Martin Mills.
1893 Augustus P. Morse, Martin Mills, William T. Owen.
1894 Martin Mills, George D. Rand, Augustus P. Morse.
1895 Martin Mills, George D. Rand, Wallace L. Kimball.
1896 George D. Rand, Wallace L. Kimball, Edward T. Morse.
1897 Charles H. Edwards, Oren F. Page, Charles H. Greene.
1898 Charles H. Edwards, Charles H. Greene, Herbert L. Chase.
1899 Charles H. Edwards, Charles H. Greene, Herbert L. Chase.
1900 Charles H. Greene, Luther B. Lane, John C. Ramsdell. Charles H. Edwards, John C. Ramsdell, Franklin P. Shackford.
1901
1902 John C. Ramsdell, Franklin P. Shackford, Leroy D. Morse.
1903
George S. West, Herbert L. Chase, Leroy D. Morse.
1904 George S. West, Leroy D. Morse, William T. Owen.
1905 William T. Owen, Leroy D. Morse, George E. Gillingham.
1906 Leroy D. Morse, William T. Owen, Elmer A. Sanborn.
1907 George S. West, Addison A. Bean, Elmer A. Sanborn.
1908 George S. West, Addison A. Bean, Nathan W. Goldsmith.
John N. Hazeltine, Moses Webster, John A. Hazelton.
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