USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Concord > History of Concord, New Hampshire, from the original grant in seventeen hundred and twenty-five to the opening of the twentieth century, Volume I > Part 60
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In the Nineties seven new bridges replaced the old over the four rivers along and within the territory of Concord : over the Merrimack, the Lower, or Pembroke, in 1891, and the Free, or Loudon, in 1894, -the former of wood, the latter of iron ; over the Contoocook, the Horsehill, in 1895, and the Boscawen and the Twin, at Penacook, in 1898,-all three of iron; over the Soucook, at Clough's mills, in 1896, one of wood ; over the Turkey, at St. Paul's School, in 1898, one of iron. Both of the bridges at Penacook-the Boscawen of iron and the Twin of wood-had been condemned, but it was dcemed safe to replace the latter by the former, building in place of the Boscawen or the main one, a new bridge of iron.
The figures of expenditure on account of roads and bridges during the two decades, though large, seem never to have been extravagant; rather, in fact, but the natural result of Concord's pleasant position upon the banks of useful rivers, its possession of three hundred miles of roads for easy communication, its political and business centrality, its steady growth in population, and its general prosperity and en- lightened advancement.
It has been told in a previous chapter how the use of gas was introduced into Concord, and that in 1857 the city government ordered the streets of the city proper, at twenty-one designated points, to be lighted thereby at the public expense. The Concord Gas Light Company had continued its successful efforts to supply increasing private and public demands, and by 1881 the original public street lights had become one hundred thirty-three. Before long, gas found a rival in electricity, for by 1886 an electric light company had its plant in Concord. In May of that year the city council appropriated one thousand dollars " for lighting a portion of the city by electricity," and authorized Mayor Woodman "to con- tract for fifteen are lights." On the 29th of April, 1887, the direct- ors of the Gas Light Company, on motion of Colonel John H. George, voted it to be " expedient to put in an electric plant," and to make preparations to carry " the vote into complete effect the pres- ent season ;" the president, John Kimball, and the treasurer, John M. Hill, being authorized "to procure any necessary legislation," and " to negotiate for any existing plant." Within a month later, how- ever, it was decided not to take "immediate action."
In 1888, the city provided one hundred eighty-seven gas lights
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ELECTRIC LIGHTING.
and seventeen electric, under an appropriation of three thousand five hundred dollars for the former, and two thousand for the latter. Meanwhile, negotiations between the Gas Light Company and the Electric Light Company were continued, finally resulting in May, 1889, in the purchase of the latter's plant by the former corporation. The Gas Company had thus secured the exclusive field for furnishing both kinds of light, and that year it contracted with the city govern- ment to supply as many gas lights as the committee on lighting the streets should order, for eighteen dollars and a half, each, a year,- the same burning till midnight, twenty nights a month ; and also to supply forty-seven electric lights for one hundred dollars, each, a year,-burning till midnight every night.
In 1892 the Concord Gas Light Company leased its plant to the United Gas Improvement Company, of Philadelphia, having a capital of ten million dollars, and already operating gas and electric works in forty towns and cities. It contracted "to increase the candle power 16 to not less than 20,"-thus affording an equivalent to a reduction in the price of gas,-and at once to make further improve- ments of the plant, involving the expenditure of fifty thousand dol- lars. As authorized, this corporation organized, under the laws of New Hampshire, a local company, known as the Concord Light and Power Company, which soon commenced operations.
About the same time the Concord Land and Water Power Com- pany, being engaged in developing the utility of Sewall's Falls as a source of power, purchased the electrical plant formerly owned and operated by the Gas Company, and contracted with the city of Con- cord to furnish, for ten years from the 1st of July, 1892, arc lights,- to burn all night,-for seventy-five dollars eacli a year. Operations under the new arrangement were commenced before the middle of October, 1892, with sixty-five lamps, the current for which was sup- plied in two circuits, by two "50-light improved Wood dynamos," and transmitted over nine miles of wire strung upon three hundred poles erected in various parts of the city.
By 1900 the appropriation for the gas and electric lighting of the streets within the gas precinct reached ten thousand seven hundred fifty dollars. Mayor Woodworth, in 1897, had said: "The street lighting department shows a great increase in expenses during the past ten years, and I have no hesitation in declaring Concord to be now one of the best lighted of cities. This condition of things may be regarded as a great luxury, but it has come to seem to every one a strict necessity." 1
There never was indifference, in Concord, as to the varied applica-
1 See Earlier Street Lighting, in note at close of chapter.
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
tion of electricity to the practical uses of life,-an application so wonderfully characteristic of modern progress,-and never was there negligence in improving its advantages. The introduction of the electric telegraph has received notice in its chronologie place; but now, in the Eighties and Nineties came the period of a comprehensive application of electricity to telephonic, illuminating, and motor uses, as well as telegraphic. In 1895, Mayor Robinson, in speaking of " an electrical department, with an acknowledged adept at its head," then contemplated, said: " In a progressive city like ours, where a little forest of electrical wires is being reared through our business centers, blanketed with a rapidly thickening net-work of conflicting wires; with a growing electrical light plant in operation, a telephone sys- tem increasing in usefulness, an extending street railway, the lines of the telegraph companies, and the various other wires, alive and dead, with which our streets and buildings are bestrung,-we cer- tainly require the superintendence of an electrical expert, who can give to the subject such attention as the safety of our people de- mands."
Instead of a regular electrical department, Fred W. Landon served during the years, 1895, '96, '97, as " Inspector of Electric Wires," and annually reported to the city government. His examination covered the fire alarm service and the following companies : Concord Land and Water Power ; Concord Street Railway ; New England Telegraph and Telephone ; Western Union Telegraph ; Postal Telegraph and Cable.
In 1899 Mayor Martin pronounced the system of "many poles and wires " as "dangerous and unsightly," and recommended the passage of an ordinance requiring the wires to be placed in conduits under ground. No ordinance to that effect was passed; but, that very year, the New England Telegraph and Telephone Company set the worthy example of voluntarily removing, along North Main street, the dangerous inconvenience complained of, from its otherwise accept- able, and almost indispensable, service.
In 1890 the Concord Street Railway, or the Horse Railroad, as then designated, adopted, by permission of the city government, elec- tricity under the single trolley system, as its motor. It had been operated nine years ; at first by horse power, and later, by steam. The final change of motors, though deprecated by many as an unde- sirable experiment, and, at best, premature, was not long in verifying the zealous confidence of Moses Humphrey, the aged but wide-awake president of the road, that, with the change, Concord would be given "a better service than any other city in the state enjoyed."
Soon after Concord became a city, the question of providing a Common or Park was agitated. From the first, there was in the city
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PENACOOK PARK.
council a joint standing committee on streets and commons ; but on the 26th of August, 1854, a joint special committee was appointed " to make examination as to some suitable site for a Common." At the next meeting of the city government, held on the afternoon of Saturday, September 2, the members of both branches, in recess, visited, at the suggestion of the committee, a site for a common, " fronting upon and lying south of Thorndike street." Upon return from inspection, bills, each entitled "An ordinance providing for the purchase and location of a public Common," were reported by the committee to each branch. In the board of mayor and aldermen an amendment to purchase and locate in Fisherville, a common of not less than four acres, was rejected, and the bill itself was denied a passage by a vote of one yea to five nays. In the common council, the bill went to the committee on second reading, and got no farther. The day of parks in Concord had not yet come; nor was it to come for nearly twenty years.
In 1873 the water commissioners recommended the addition of a few acres of the city farm to the property of the water-works "to include those portions of the works situated on them." "Besides," said they, "the grounds can, with little expense, be improved, so that, in connection with the works, they will be very attractive and pleasant as a place of resort for our citizens." This practical sug- gestion did not go unheeded, and the next year (1874) the commis- sioners reported : "That portion of the city farm, which was placed under the management of the Board by an ordinance of the city has been fenced, and is now a part of Water Works Park; and "the Board would be pleased to receive private contributions for improv- ing and beautifying the same." This wooded parcel of land, pleas- antly situated near the dam of the city water-works in West Con- cord, and subsequently called Penacook park, began, by 1881, to receive appropriations from the city treasury for its improvement- one or two of these being one thousand dollars. A pavilion for musi- cal and other entertainments was among the structures early erected within its enclosure. A small steamer plied the waters of the lake, contributing to the enjoyment of patrons. The street railway gave easy access to the grounds, and, incidentally, received financial advan- tage from visitors.
In 1882 the park was under the superintendency of Omar L. Shepard, and in 1883 came under that of Oscar F. Richardson, who held the place, by annual election of the city council, for twelve suc- cessive years. This first of the Concord parks was for years highly appreciated and largely patronized. It helped educate the public mind to the desirability of such resorts of healthy rest and recreation.
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
Rivals arose to engross popular favor, so that in 1895 it was reported of it : "Penacook park has been kept in a tidy and neat condition. Very few people visit these grounds at the present time. An annual appropriation will undoubtedly be needed for their maintenance and care."
The park tendency-as it may be briefly designated-became more and more decided, so that even the "Committee on Streets and Com- mons " of the city council became, by change of name in 1885, the "Committee on Parks and Commons." This tendency was encour- aged by generous, public-spirited gifts of appropriate sites. In 1884 Mrs. Armenia S. White conveyed by deed to the city "certain prem- ises on the northerly side of Washington and Centre streets for a public park." On the 27th of December of the same year the gift was accepted by ordinance, and the said premises were " established as a public park forever, to be known and called by the name of " White Park.'" Thereupon provision was made that the mayor and aldermen should choose six legal voters of the city, to constitute, with the mayor ex officio, a board of park commissioners-two mem- bers to be chosen annually for three years, after the allotment of the first year. To this board were to be entrusted the care, improve- ment, and management of the park, with authority also "to receive the money proposed to be donated by Mrs. White." The first board, as constituted in January, 1885, consisted of Lewis Downing, Jr., John M. Hill, Joseph B. Walker, William P. Fiske, Benjamin C. White, Josiah Minot -- with Mayor Edgar H. Woodman ex officio. It was not until the close of the year 1889 that the first annual report of the park commissioners, consisting then of Stillman Hum- phrey, John F. Jones, Benjamin C. White, Henry W. Clapp, Josiah Minot, and William P. Fiske, was made to the city council. In the summer of that year, the work of improving White park really began, the funds drawn upon being a gift of seventeen hundred dollars from Mrs. Nathaniel White, and another of five hundred from her daugh- ter, Mrs. Charles H. Newhall, with two city appropriations of one thousand dollars each made in 1887 and 1888. Unsightly features of the grounds were removed ; surveys and plans were entrusted to Charles Elliot of Boston, eminent in landscape gardening; the fine springs, which, years ago, had been an important source of water supply for Concord, were carefully preserved, and the artificial pond constructed, upon which, before long, stately swans-the beautiful gift of Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy-were to glide with attractive grace.
How the work thus auspiciously begun was continued for eleven years upon a plan calculated to make of this park a blessing and an honor to the city cannot here be specifically told. The original area
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WHITE AND ROLLINS PARKS.
of the grounds was somewhat extended in 1890 towards Beacon street, by a strip of land purchased with proceeds arising from the sale of the " Boy's Playground," so called, situated on the interval near Free Bridge. Further extensions were made later, until the park was desirably bounded on all sides by streets. As just seen, the city had begun to appropriate in favor of the enterprise even before active operations therein commenced. The annual appropria- tion for the work was thenceforward regular. From the one thou- sand dollars of the previous years it became, in 1891, one thousand eight hundred; in 1892, two thousand five hundred; in 1893, three thousand-so remaining three years ; in 1896, three thousand two hundred fifty-maximum figures which were retained two years. In fact, the city never failed to signify in its appropriations that it duly appreciated the high advantages, actual and possible, of White park.
Mayor Clapp, in his inaugural address in 1891, after speaking of "the most commendable development " of White park "during the past summer," as "a very delightful surprise to many of our citizens," said: "There is within our reach at the South End a very desirable woodland park. The trees on it are the growth of a century, and to save them from being cut down the tract has been purchased by some public-spirited gentlemen, and will, I understand, be offered to the city in memory of our late distinguished townsman, Hon. Edward H. Rollins." On the 15th of September of that year, Frank W. Rollins, trustee, tendered to the city, in writing, certain real estate for a public park. The premises thus tendered were accepted by the city council on the 20th of December, 1892, in a resolution promising that they should be kept entire, and forever known as Rollins park ; the city further agreeing to enclose them with a suitable fence, lay out walks, introduce water, and, generally, to assume the future maintenance of the said premises in a proper and reasonable condition as a park.
This pleasant tract, of convenient situation, on Broadway below Pillsbury street, came, in 1894, under improvements looking to the important public use for which it had been set apart. The city made for it an appropriation of one thousand dollars, which was continued for the next two years, and the park commissioners, with enlarged jurisdiction, soon assumed the charge of it conjointly with that of White park. In 1895 they examined the grounds carefully, in company with James H. Bowditch of Boston, accomplished in park forestry, and came to the conclusion " that no special attempt at decoration or beautifying the grounds with choice plants would be wisc, but rather to make it accessible by means of drives and paths, for a quiet, restful outing, where people could at once be ushered
37
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
into dense woods and study the beauties of a woodland park of nat- ural growth."
The plan suggested was somewhat modified. In 1896 marked improvement of the premises was reported, an artistic bridge having been constructed ; shrubs and trees planted ; hundreds of ferns trans- planted and rockeries built, and a stone wall, with entrance, begun along Broadway. In 1897 water was introduced, and a drinking- fountain provided; an artificial pond was constructed ; tables and seats were placed in different parts of the grounds, and an attrac- tive rustic shelter was erected in the center. It was reported, in
the year 1898, that the park was much used by picnic parties, and that open-air concerts had begun to be held there. The purchase by the city, in 1899, of three or four acres of land ad- jacent, it was anticipated, might prove of great advan- tage. In 1900, with an appropriation of only four ยท hundred dollars, no new work was attempted. The commissioners had hoped to make a beginning on . plans already prepared to
Contoocook River Park.
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PUBLIC PARKS.
develop further the beautiful spot, but funds were not available at that time.
Meanwhile the park system had been extended to embrace smaller areas of idle ground. In 1895, under a general appropriation of five hundred fifty dollars "for Parks and Commons," the triangle of land on North State street, just south of the pumping station, was made a small but attractive park; needing for its proper setting out with trees and shrubbery only a slight additional appropriation, which it received, and also the name of Bradley park. About the same time another triangular bit of land at the West End was pre- sented to the city for the same purpose. The desired improvement of this was nearly completed in 1900, under an appropriation of one hundred dollars, and the improved ground was named Ridge Avenue park.
The parks thus far described belong to the city system, but another here to be spoken of-the Contoocook River-is appurtenant to the street railway, of which, in an important sense, it may be said to have been a creation. In the Nineties the railway opened an easy approach to a region of manifold natural attractions along the banks of the Contoocook, and John Whittaker of Penacook, with character- istic enterprise, commenced running a steamer six miles up the river to Broad Cove. Forthwith the locality so beautiful and picturesque with its shady woods, quiet or plunging waters, and other charming features of river scenery, all hitherto but little heard of and as rarely visited, became a favorite park. By 1900 it had gained full recogni- tion as a summer resort where thousands might daily enjoy its many recreative attractions in outings replete with health and delight.
Other parcels of land in the city proper have also been designated as parks, such as those belonging to the state house, the city hall, and the state library. State Capital Driving park, which lay along Clinton street, finally became included in the State Fair ground.
In the earlier days, Centennial park, as one of the picnic places was called, lay near the highway at the Soucook bridge, some three miles from the state house, and consisted of several acres plentifully shaded with handsome elms, and having the river near by. For years this natural picnic ground enjoyed constant popularity, and attracted all classes for clam-bakes, chowders, and lunches.
While pleasant haunts of nature adorned by art were thus devoted to the enjoyment of the living, resting-places of increasing beauty came to be provided in sacred memory of the dead. The same artis- tic taste that beautified the Park, beautified the Cemetery ; and thus the departments of park and cemetery found connection. Concord, as seen in former chapters, had never neglected her cemeteries.
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
Committees of her best citizens had for many a year been in charge of them; and town and city had from time to time answered sug- gestions of improvement by furnishing the means for its accomplish- ment.
In the Eighties the cemeteries of Concord, regularly in charge of committees of three chosen by the city council, were: The Old North and Blossom Hill, Woodlawn (at Fisherville), East Concord, West Concord, and Millville. Their relative importance, in 1887, was sig- nificd by the receipts and expenditures that year reported ; those of Blossom Hill being five thousand six hundred eighty-three dollars ; of the Old North, two hundred thirty-seven; of East Concord, sixty- four; of West Concord, twenty-five. There was entered upon in connection with the first a work requiring time, money, and taste, when, on the 16th of May, 1887, an ordinance was passed "for the improvement of Blossom Hill Cemetery." Under this a special com-
Entrance to Blossom Hill Cemetery.
mittce of twelve was selected to direct the contemplated work. At the head of the committee was Mayor John E. Robertson, who appointed Aldermen George O. Dickerman and John C. Ordway, with Councilmen Frank J. Batchelder and Josiah E. Dwight to be members of the same. The members of the regular cemetery com- mittee selected James H. Chase to represent them upon the special committee ; and finally the lot owners, at a meeting called by the mayor, recommended to the city council the six remaining members, who were confirmed; being Joseph B. Walker, Samuel S. Kimball, Gustavus Walker, William F. Thayer, Edson J. Hill, and Gardner B. Emmons. All were to serve for three years and without compen- 'sation. The committee organized with Mayor Robertson as chair- man ; Alderman Ordway, secretary ; William F. Thayer, treasurer; Joseph B. Walker, Samuel S. Kimball, and James H. Chase, execu- tive committee. After considerable deliberation " a front stone wall three feet high was agreed upon as the first work to be done."
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CEMETERIES.
Proposals were advertised for, and a contract made for building a part, but the city appropriation of three thousand dollars was not much drawn upon that year. In 1888 and 1889 the work was pros- ecuted under additional appropriations-three thousand dollars for the former year, and three thousand three hundred for the latter. In 1890 the city appropriated four thousand dollars, and the "front wall of Blossom Hill Cemetery " was-as reported by the committee, through Joseph B. Walker-completed with the exception of the "returns," or " curved approaches to the proposed gateway " at the main entrance. This had been done upon less than half of the last appropriation ; the balance being " deemed sufficient to complete 'the returns,' and to commence the extension of the wall along the front of the Roman Catholic cemetery, if such be ordered-as, in the opinion of the committee-it should be."
By an ordinance passed November 11, 1890, the special commit- tee was dissolved, and a board of commissioners of cemeteries was substituted. This consisted of six persons selected from Wards 4, 5, and 6-two from each-by appointment of the mayor subject to con- firmation by the city council ; the tenure of office being three years, with the Old North and Blossom Hill cemeteries in charge. The cemetery committee of three were retained in Wards 1, 2, 3, and 7. The first commissioners of cemeteries were Frank J. Batchelder, George O. Dickerman, John E. Robertson, Charles G. Remick, Joseph B. Walker, and Obadiah Morrill.
In 1891 the commissioners entered upon their duties. They gave finishing touches to the work upon the wall. Grading drew largely upon the appropriation of three thousand dollars for that year. The extension of the front wall along Calvary cemetery was begun, to be continued to completion in 1894, with special appropriations amount- ing to eighteen hundred dollars. But details of the labors expended and improvements wrought during the later Nineties, not only upon the larger cemeteries of the Old North and Blossom Hill, but upon Concord's smaller but no less sacred burial places, cannot be given here.
In 1895 the secretary of the board of commissioners, George O. Diekerman, wrote in the annual report to the city council: " While the city possesses a cemetery large enough to meet the requirements for several years, yet your commission would respectfully recommend that action be taken by the city council looking to the purchase of land lying between the southerly line of Blossom Hill cemetery and Penacook street." And again, in 1896, the secretary wrote: "The occupants of this 'City of the Dead' are increasing rapidly. Our superintendent reports that the number of burials is but a little less
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