History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Part 16

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1168

USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire > Part 16

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La Voix du Peuple, was begun in 1869, but was. short-lived.

The Labor Journal was started March 24, 1870, by Daniel S. Holt, and soon after suspended.

The Public Forum, a weekly paper, was started sep- tember 30, 1871, as a Democratic journal, by George J. Foster & Co., Joshua L. Foster being its edi- tor. It was soon after removed to Dover, its name changed to that of Foster's Democrat, and is still pul,- lished there.

The New Hampshire Journal of Music was begun January 1, 1872, by Imri S. Whitney. John W. Moore was its editor till the close of 1874. Discontinued.

The Saturday Night Dispatch was begun Saturday, January 24, 1874, by Merritt S. Hunt. James O. Adams was associated with Mr. Hunt as editor and proprietor from September 1, to December 1, 1874. It was subsequently changed to Manchester Times, and conducted by Henry H. Everett until late in the win- ter of 1883, when it was discontinued.

The New Hampshire Sunday Globe was begun Feb- ruary 7, 1875, by Rollins & Kingdon. Discontinued. The Manchester Weekly Budget was established

HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

June 16, 1883, by William 31. Kendall, Jr., and David | ray, in 1841, octavos of sixteen pages each. The first M. Ladd, by whom it is still published. The success book now known to have been imprinted in Manches- ter was "The Life and Adventures of Seth Wyman ; Written by Himself," and printed by J. H. Cate, in 1843, a duodecimo of three hundred and ten pages, bound in cloth. This book was suppressed by rela- tives of the autobiographer, before a hundred copies were sold, and is now a scarce book. of the Budget has been phenomenal, the circulation having reached seven thousand five hundred copies weekly. The size of the paper is twelve pages, seventy- two columns; subscription price, two dollars a year. The circulation of the Budget now penetrates nearly every village and school district in the State.

The American Young Folks was established in 1875, and consolidated with the Boys and Girls of New Hampshire in March, 1882. Editor. George W. Browne. Issued semi-monthly by the American Young Folks Company.

The Echo des Canadiens was established July 2, 1880, with Leander Boudreau editor and Charles L. Fitz- patrick and Leandre Boudreau proprietors. Discon- tinued.

Le Rateau was established November 5, 1881. P. C. Chatel, editor and proprietor. Discontinued.

Manchester Guardian was established July 14, 1883. Charles A. O'Connor, editor-in-chief. Discontinued.

The Semi- Weekly Record was started December 1, 1883, Frank H. Challis, editor and publisher. " A penny newspaper," published on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Discontinued.

Notes and Queries, a magazine containing miscella- neous notes and queries, with answers, for professors and students, teachers and pupils, is published monthly by S. C. & L. M. Gould.

Mr. S. C. Gould manifests a deep interest in his- torical matters, and has a collection of books, pam- phlets and magazines relating to Manchester, number- ing over sixteen hundred, from 1743-1885.

This collection comprises book and pamphlet lit- erature, including some of the leading magazine literature published serially. It contains the published literary efforts of former and present residents, whether native or temporary, and whether published prior to their residence here or subsequent to their departure ; also, all works relating to or published by the city. The collection also includes more or less of literature relating to Bedford, together with some relating to Londonderry and Derry, of which towns Manchester was formerly a part.

The first published pamphlet in reference to Man- chester, now known, is the (Rev. Joseph Secombe) " Discourse uttered in part at Ammauskeeg-Falls, in the Fishing Season, 1739; 'Business and Diversion in- offensive to God, and necessary for the comfort and support of human society ; '" from the text, "Simon Peter saith unto them, 'I go a fishing.'" This dis- course was printed in Boston, in 1743,-one hundred and forty-two years ago,-and only five copies are now

Educational .- In 1784 the town voted a liberal expenditure for educational purposes, and in that year also the town was divided into four school dis- tricts ; but it was not until 1795 that a school-house was erected in "Derryfield." This primitive educational institution was built by private subscription and was located upon what was then known as the Falls road, in the rear of the present residence of Hon. David Cross. This house was purchased by the town in 1798, and it was also voted that year to erect two additional ones. In 1809 the town was redistricted and a school-house built at the Centre.

The school district system, which was originated in 1773, continued until 1868, when the city assumed control of the schools. The first teachers were, --- 1791, Jonathan Rand ; 1792, Edward Blodget, Ste- phen Potter and Frederick Ilastings ; 1793, William White and Peter Severens; 1794, John Tufts and Peter Severens ; 1795, John M. Laughlin ; 1796, 1797 and 1798, Samuel Moor, Jr. ; 1799, Samuel Moor, Jr., and Mathew Reed.

Mr. Rand was the first teacher in town of whom any record can be found. The wages paid were from eight to twelve dollars a month. The highest sum paid per month from 1791 to 1801, as appears from the selectmen's book, was "to Samuel Moor, Jr., twelve dollars for keeping school in the lower district one month."

The school property now owned by the city is val- ued at over three hundred thousand dollars, and con- sits of a High School building, on Beech Street, valued at forty-five thousand dollars, and numerous others.

HIGH SCHOOL .- The High School was first kept in the old building now standing on the corner of Low- ell and Chestnut Streets. The house was erected in 1841 at a cost of three thousand dollars, and was used for a district school, with David P. Perkins as the first master. Some five or six years later it was changed to a High School, and in 1867 it was moved to its present location, on Beech Street, the new building having been erected to meet the demand for better accommodations for the school.

FRANKLIN STREET SCHOOLS .- The school formerly called the South Grammar School was originally kept known to be extant. The first pamphlets to be im- in a chapel on Concord Street, from which it was printed in Manchester, now known, were " An Address delivered at Pembroke, N. H., May 13, 1841," and "A Historical Sketch of Bedford, N. H., a discourse deliv- cred July 4, 1841," both by Rev. Thomas Savage, A. M., and printed at the office of Emerson & Mur- moved, in 1847, to the brick building on Park Street, built for its use. Ten years later it was transferred to its present location, on the corner of Franklin and Pleasant Streets. This building and lot are valued at eighteen thousand dollars.

MANCHESTER.

SPRING STREET SCHOOLS .- A school was begun in 1848 in the brick building on Spring Street, and then called the North Grammar. Moses T. Brown was its first principal.

LINCOLN STREET SCHOOLS .- Under the name of the East Grammar, a school was begun in 1867, in the new High School house, with two divisions, gathered from the North and South Grammar Schools. In the fall of 1868 another division was added, and in the spring of 1869 it was moved to the old High School building, where a first division was added and a master was appointed. In 1871 a new house was built for its accommodation on the corner of Lincoln and Merrimack Streets, worth fifty thousand dollars, where it is now located.

ASH STREET GRAMMAR SCHOOLS .- In 1874 a fine building was erected on the corner of Ash and Bridge Streets to meet the growing demand for school facili- ties, and a grammar school was established, composed of pupils residing in the northeastern section of the city. The building is a fine specimen of school arch- itecture, and is valued at fifty-eight thousand dollars.

MAIN STREET SCHOOLS, WEST MANCHESTER .- With the annexation of Piscataqnog village, in 1853, the grammar school came under the care of the city. It was kept in the Centre Street building until 1874, when it was removed to its present location, on Main Street. An addition was made to the building in 1882 for the accommodation of the considerable in- crease in pupils.

WEBSTER STREET SCHOOLS, WEST MANCHESTER. -During the year 1882 a handsome school building was erected on Webster Street, between Elm and Chestnut, at a cost of seventeen thousand dollars. It is designed for scholars residing at the north end of the city. Two schools are already located there.

There are other schools located on Blodgett, Bridge, Lowell, Manchester, Merrimack and Beech Streets ; also on South Main Street and School Street, West Manchester. There are a number of suburban schools. The largest of these is located at Bakers- ville. The school building was erected in 1883 at a cost of twelve thousand dollars. Others are: No. 1, Stark District; No. 2, Amoskeag; No. 3, Bakers- ville; No. 4, Goffe's Falls; No. 5, Harvey District ; No. 6, Webster's Mills; No. 7, Hallsville; No. 8, Youngsville; No. 9, Mosquito Pond.

CATHOLIC EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS .- Mount St. Mary's Academy, corner Union and Laurel Streets, is under the control of the Sisters of Mercy. This is a boarding-school for young ladies. It has been in existence for twenty-five years, and has an average attendance of sixty pupils. The course of studies, embracing five years, includes all the branches of a useful and Christian education. Young ladies of all religious denominations are received, and inter- ference with their religious convictions is serupulously avoided. The present superior is Rev. Mother Fran- ces Leeson.

The school for boys in Park Street, taught by twelve Sisters of Mercy; Rev. Thos. Corcoran, princi- pal. Number of scholars, about four hundred.

St. Joseph's School for boys, corner of Lowell and Beach Streets, taught by six Sisters of Mercy. Num- ber of pupils, two hundred and fifty.

St. Joseph's School for girls, corner Lowell and Pine Streets, taught by six Sisters of Mercy. Number of pupils, two hundred and fifty. The schools of St. Joseph's parish are under the immediate supervision of the right reverend bishop.

St. Agnes' School for girls, corner Union and Spruce Streets, taught by seven Sisters of Mercy. Number of scholars, three hundred.

St. Augustine's School for boys and girls, East Spruce Street, taught by Sisters of Jesus and Mary. Number of pupils, five hundred.

St. Mary's School for boys and girls, connected with St. Mary's Church, West Manchester. This school has just been erected, and will be under the control of the Sisters of Providence. It will accomodate four hundred pupils.

Charitable Institutions .- St. Patrick's Home and Hospital, Hanover Street, conducted by the Sisters of Mercy. Number of orphans, sixty; patients in hospital, fifteen.

St. Patrick's Home for Aged Women, Hanover Street, managed by the Sisters of Mercy. Number of inmates, fifteen.

GERMAN SCHOOL .- The first German School-house in the State of New Hampshire was dedicated here in 1884. It is located at the corner of Third and Ferry Streets, and is of brick, thirty-two by forty-eight in size, and two stories in height, with a flat roof. Over the main entrance, on Third Street, are two tablets of polished granite, bearing in gilt letters of German text the words, "Deutsch Schule " and the year of erection, "1884." The German School Society, to which this convenient and comfortable little edifice owes its existence, was organized August 22, 1875, ' mainly through the efforts of members of theTurn- verein.

THE STATE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL .- The movement which resulted in the establishment of this institution was started in 1855, when the Legislature passed an act authorizing the Governor and Council to appoint a board of three commissioners, empowered to buy a tract of land and erect buildings thereon, to provide a "house of reformation for juvenile and female offend- ers against the laws." The commissioners-the Hon. Frederick Smyth, of Manchester, the Hon. Matthew Harvey, of Concord, and Hosea Eaton, of New lps- wich-were appointed that year, and selected, as the site for the house proposed, the farm which was once the home of General John Stark, two miles north of the city hall, on the east bank of the Merrimack River, containing about one hundred acres. The price paid was ten thousand dollars, and another piece of ten acres was bought soon after for a thou-

6-4

HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

sand dollars more. The building was commenced in the spring of 1856, finished in the autumn of 1857 and furnished in the spring of 1858. Its cost was thirty-four thousand dollars; the total cost of build- ing and land was forty-five thousand dollars. The house was dedicated on the 12th of May, 1858, and occupied at that time, when the first superintendent, Brooks Shattuck, was appointed. He was succeeded, on the 20th of April, 1866, by Isaac H. Jones. Upon his departure Edward Ingham was elected, the 17th of May, 1870. The present superintendent, John C. Ray, was appointed on the 2d of July, 1874. The institution is now known as the State Industrial School, and is under the management of a board of seven trustees, by whom the superintendent is chosen, and who are appointed by the Governor and Council. A fire, on the 20th of December, 1865, nearly destroyed the building, and the children were temporarily kept in the buildings known as the "Stark house" and "Gamble house," which had stood near by since the early settlement of the town. During their residence in it the "Stark house" was set on fire and consumed. As soon as possible after the fire the old school build- ing was repaired and the inmates returned to it. The institution is in annual receipt of interest from the legacies of James McKeen Wilkins, of Manchester, and Moody Kent, of Pembroke, which amount to eight thousand and three thousand dollars respectively ; also the income from Miss Louise Penhallow's bequest of one thousand dollars, to be expended for a library.

THE MANCHESTER CITY LIBRARY 1 was established in September, 1854, under the terms of a contract between the Manchester Athenaeum and the city of Manchester, whereby the library of the Athenaeum was transferred to the city, to be the foundation of a free public library.

The Manchester Athenaeum was established in Feb- ruary, 1844, mainly through the efforts of Hon. Samuel D. Bell, Hon. Daniel Clark, Hon. Herman Foster, . Hon. Moody Currier, David Gillit, Esq., John A. Burnham, Esq., William A. Burke, Esq., and others, with the design of founding a library, reading-room and museum. In accordance with the liberal policy pursued by the manufacturing corporations towards the public institutions in the city, the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company presented to the AAthenaeum the sum of one thousand dollars, and the Stark Mills and the Manchester Print-Works the sum of five hundred dollars each, for the purchase of books for it- library. Donations and loans of books were also made to the library by many of the members of the association, and accessions were made by purchase from time to time from the money derived from mem- bership and the annual tax. For the following ten years the library of the Atheneum continued to in- crease in size and value till, in 1854, it numbered nearly three thousand volumes.

In 1854 the subject of the establishment of a free public library having been brought to the attention of the City Council by the mayor, Hon. Frederick Smyth, in his inaugural address, a committee was ap- pointed to confer with the managers of the Athenaeum in relation to the transfer of the library of the Athen- teum to the city for that purpose. The matter was favorably considered by the managers of the Athen- æum, and a proposition made by them to transfer gratuitously to the city their library and other prop- erty, to form the basis of a public library. This propo- sition was accepted by the city, and authority for the purpose having been obtained from the Legislature, the transfer of the library was made to the city in accordance with a contract, dated September 6, 1854, executed by the Athenaeum and the city, and the City Library established on a permanent basis.

The contract provides that the city shall annually appropriate and pay to the trustees of the library a. sum not less than one thousand dollars, to be expended in the purchase of books and periodicals, and shall, by suitable appropriations, provide for the expense of maintaining the library. The control and manage- ment of the affairs of the library is vested in a board of nine trustees, of whom the mayor of the city and president of the Common Council are members ex officiis. One trustee is elected annually, by joint ballot of the board of trustees and of the aldermen of the city, for the term of seven years.

Thus established, the library progressed successfully until February 5, 1856, when, by the burning of Pat- ten's Block, in which the library was located, the whole library, with the exception of about six hundred volumes,-the greater part of which were odd vol- umes,-was destroyed. Immediate measures were taken by the trustees to reorganize the library and replace the books destroyed, and it was reopened to. the publie July 22, 1856, in rooms obtained in Mer- chants' Exchange, but subsequently was again located in Patten's Block, when it was rebuilt in 1857. In 1871 the city erected a brick building for the use of the library, upon a lot on Franklin Street, which was given to the city for this purpose by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company, the cost of which was about. thirty thousand dollars. In 1881 the increase of the library requiring larger accommodation, an addition was made to the library building, at a cost of nine thousand dollars. The addition nearly doubled the capacity of the library building and provided for the regular increase of the library for many years. At the date of the last report of the trustees, December 31, 1884, there were in the library about twenty-eight thousand volumes, including pamphlets, of which there are about nineteen hundred. Connected with the library is a reading-room, which is supplied with sixty-seven periodicals and newspapers, and the library and reading-room are both open to the public eight hours each day and evening, except Sundays, through- out the year.

1 By Hon. Nathan P. Hunt.

MANCHESTER.

The late Oliver Dean, who was prominently con- nected with the manufacturing interests of the city, bequeathed to the library a legacy of five thousand dollars, the income of which is expended by the trustees in the purchase of scientific, mechanical and technical works, and designated as the "Dean Fund Purchase."

In 1872 the Hon. Gardner Brewer, of Boston, Mass., presented to the library a collection of six hundred and eighty-three volumes of the Tauchnitz edition, uniformly and handsomely bound, which is known as the "Brewer Donation." In 1876 Hon. Moody Currier presented the library with Bohn's Standard, Classical, Illustrated, Ecclesiastical, Scien- tific and Antiquarian Libraries, and Harper's Select Family Library. To these he subsequently added a number of valuable works on ecclesiastical history, and a collection of Greek, Latin and foreign authors in the original text. The number of volumes in this collection now amounts to cleven hundred and forty- seven volumes, which are known as the "Currier Dona- tion."

Under the will of Mary E. Elliot, late of this city, the sum of two thousand dollars was bequeathed to the city of Manchester, to be securely invested, and the annual income thereof to be spent in the purchase of medical books and periodicals. This amount became available in the early part of the year 1885, and the income when sufficient will be devoted to the class of books indicated, which will be placed in alcoves by themselves and designated as the "Elliot Fund Purchase." A large number of other citizens have also, from time to time, generously aided in the increase and usefulness of the library by donations of valuable books and files of newspapers.

The volumes in the library are well selected as to use and value, and the whole collection contains a fair representation of every department of English literature, as well as the sciences and arts. In the selection of books for the increase of the library it has always been the policy of the trustees, while pro- viding a reasonable number of books of a more tem- porary character as the demand from the patrons of the library for the same seemed to require, to expend by far the larger part of the amount appropriated by the City Council in the purchase of works of perma- nent valuc. This course, pursued for so many years, has made the library one of the most valuable in the State. The library is particularly valuable in the number of volumes relating to local history and in its files of newspapers, many of which, if destroyed, could not be replaced.

The first Board of Trustees consisted of Samuel D. Bell, Daniel Clark, Ezekiel A. Straw, Samuel N. Bell, William C. Clarke, David Gillis and William P. Newell. In 1862 David Gillis removed from the city and was succeeded by Samuel Webber. Mr. Webber served as trustee till September, 1864, when he resigned, he also having removed from the city.

The vacancy thus occasioned was filled by the elec- tion of Phinchas Adams, who continued in office till 1876, when he was succeeded by Moody Currier. Upon the death of Samuel D. Bell in 1868, Water- man Smith was chosen to fill the unexpired term, and was succeeded in 1873 by Nathan P. Hunt. Upon the death of William C. Clarke in 1872, Isaac W. Smith was elected a member of the board. Sam- ucl N. Bell resigned in September, 1879, and Lucian B. Clough was elected to fill the vacancy. Ezekiel A. Straw died in 1882 and was succeeded by Thomas L. Livermore. The present board therefore consists of Daniel Clark, William P. Newell, Nathan P. Hunt, Lucian B. Clough, Thomas L. Livermore, Moody Currier and Isaac W. Smith, and the mayor and president of the common council. The first treasurer of the trustees was Samuel N. Bell, who held the office till he resigned in September, 1879, when he was succeeded by Nathan P. Hunt. William C. Clarke was clerk of the board from its organization till his death in April, 1872. Isaac W. Smith was chosen to fill the vacancy in January, 1873. Mr. Smith served as clerk till January, 1876, when he resigned and Nathan P. Hunt was elected in his place. At the organization of the library Francis B. Eaton was chosen librarian and served in that ca- pacity till September 30, 1863, when he resigned and Marshall P. Hall was elected to succeed him. Mr. Hall served till June, 1865, when he also resigned and Benjamin F. Stanton was appointed to fill the position. The latter resigned in April, 1866, when Charles H. Marshall was elected. Mr. Marshall held the office till July 1, 1877, when Mrs. Lizzie B. Davis was elected, and resigning July 1, 1878, was suc- ceeded by Mrs. M. J. Buncher, the present incum- bent.

CHAPTER V.

MANCHESTER-(Continued).

The Amoskeag National Bank-The Manchester National Bank-The Merchants' National Bank-The First National Bank-Second National Bank-The Manchester Savings-Bank-Merrimack River Savings- Bank-Guaranty Savings-Bank-The Amoskeag Savings-Bank-The People's Savings-Bank. The Manufacturing Interests: The Amos- keag Manufacturing Company-Stark Mills-Manchester Mills -- Langdon Mills-Amory Manufacturing Company-Namaske Mills- Deary Mills-P. C. Cheney Paper Company-Amoskeag Paper-Mill- Manchester Locomotive-Works-Manchester Gas-Light Company- Forsaith Manufacturing Company-Other Manufactures.

The Amoskeag National Bank .- The Amoskeag Bank was incorporated June 24, 1848, and commenced business, in October of the same year, with a capital of $100,000. This was increased, August 5, 1850, to $150,000, and, August 7, 1854, to $200,000.

The first board of directors were elected October 2, 1848, as follows: Richard II. Ayer, Samuel D. Bell, Mace Moulton, Stephen D. Green, John S. Kidder, Stephen Manahan and Edson Hill. Richard H. Ayer

HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

was chosen president and Moody Currier cashier. February 14, 1853, Walter French succeeded Mr. Ayer as president and officiated until his death, which occurred in a railway accident, at Norwalk, Conn., the same year. May 9, 1853, John S. Kidder was chosen president and officiated until the bank was discontinued.

The first and only cashier was Moody Currier.

The Amoskeag National Bank was organized No- vember 1, 1864, with a capital of $100,000, which was increased, June 12, 1865, to $200,000. board of directors was as follows: Moody Currier, John S. Kidder, Stephen D. Green, Edson Hill, Henry Putney, Adam Chandler, Daniel Clark, Dar- win J. Daniels and Horace Johnson. Moody Cur- rier was chosen president and G. Byron Chandler cashier, both of whom still hold their respective offices.

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History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Part 16

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis Number of Pages: 1168

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1168