History of Lancaster, New Hampshire, Part 18

Author: Somers, A. N. (Amos Newton)
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Concord, N.H., Rumford press
Number of Pages: 753

USA > New Hampshire > Coos County > Lancaster > History of Lancaster, New Hampshire > Part 18

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The spirit of improvement that secured the concrete sidewalks in 1868 and 1869, called for the lighting of the streets during the latter year. By private enterprise a number of kerosene lamps were placed on the streets, which was a decided improvement in helping people to pick their way along on dark nights. These private lights were in use for more than a decade before the town took the matter in hand to properly light the streets at the public expense. There often seemed other need of lighting the streets than the mere com-

fort it afforded. In 1872 the rumor gained credence in the village that an organized gang of thieves from New York city were planning to visit the village and operate here. This called the citizens out, in a meeting held at the counting-room of R. P. Kent, to take steps to have the streets properly lighted and patrolled for a term of six months from November of that year. This was taken, however, as more of a scare, and nothing was done in either direction more than to make the people a little more vigilant in the matter of looking after their own property and rights. The street lights were kept trimmed and burning with a little more than ordinary care; but the thieves did not come.

The village had grown, meanwhile, to the formidable number of 1,100 souls, with enough more in the rural districts to swell the en- tire population of the town to 2,248 in 1870. There were then, by

152

HISTORY OF LANCASTER.

actual count, 240 houses in the village. This showed an increase of 206 over the 34 cheap houses, only eight of which had ever been painted, in 1825. Everything else had increased in about the same ratio of importance during that period of forty-five years. The vol- ume of commercial business had greatly increased during that event- ful period ; and agriculture and manufactures had enjoyed an equal degree of prosperity. The manufactures of the town had become very considerable, though we have no means of getting at their value for lack of statistics upon which we may rely. In regard to the agri- cultural interests and products of the town we are more fortunate in having the following reliable return, made in connection with the as- sessment for the year 1875. The books of the town show that for the year from April 1, 1874, to April 1, 1875, an agricultural prod- uct to the value of $409,265 was secured by the enterprise of the town, as shown by the following table of items :

Agricultural statistics of the town of Lancaster from April 1, 1874, to April I, 1875 :

Hay

10,962 tons,

$131,544

Straw

416 tons,

2,496

Potatoes

62,435 bushels,

24,974

Other roots

1,050

315

Corn, shelled

2,12I

Wheat

1,953

2,929

Oats

21,415

12,849

Rye

Indian wheat

1,097

548

Peas and beans

388

4 6

776

Fruit

1,650

660

Small fruit

2,500 quarts,

250

Butter .

57,764 pounds,

17,334

Cheese .

4,010

668

Pork

67,780

6,778

Eggs

5,365 dozen,

1,073

Poultry

4,693 pounds,

782

Maple sugar

27,400

2,740

Wood cut

11, 108 cords,

27,770

Lumber

2,237 M,

11,185

Horses, April 1, 1875

572,

48,286

Cattle,

1,580,

57,288

Sheep,

2,012,

8,132

Help hired

608 months,

15,200

Mutton and lambs

5,30I

Beef

26,990

Total

$409,265

Dogs, April 1, 1875

Valuation

$1,060,684

Number of polls

654

153

LANCASTER FROM 1850 TO THE PRESENT TIME.

Here was an income of about $340 per capita in the actual prod- ucts of the farms in that year. The wages of the farm laborers averaged twenty-three dollars and thirty-five cents. The homes of the people were comfortable ; and plenty, cheer, and hope abounded on every hand. The aggregated wealth of the town, as shown by the assessment, was much above the million dollar mark. At that time there were no wealthy men in town. This wealth was much more evenly distributed then than it now is, so it can readily be imagined that the prosperous and comfortable people of the town were many; and if there were any persons who knew what want was they were extremely few, and the generosity of the town was exer- cised in their behalf. No town could be more mindful in the relief of distress and the help of the unfortunate than Lancaster has always been.

In 1878 the village was visited by two calamities by which much valuable property was lost. On the evening of April 9, 1878, a fire was discovered in some hay and rubbish in a barn, in the rear of Rowell & Allen's store on Main street, where Eagle block now stands. The flames soon communicated with the store, and then from one to another building until fifteen business places and several residences were consumed, together with most of their contents. But little of the goods and household effects was saved. There was a loss of over $50,000 worth of property, with little more than half enough insurance to cover it. The buildings were poor wooden structures of but little value, which were the smallest items in the loss. There were many heavy stocks of goods lost upon which the insurance was light. On account of the inflammable character of the buildings and their contents, the fire got beyond control of the fire companies which were on the scene soon after the alarm was given ; but with the inadequate supply of water and the meager apparatus at their command they were helpless in the presence of so formidable a fire. Fortunately A. J. Marshall, whose place of busi- ness was where L. F. Moore's store now stands, on Middle street, had a force pump which he trained on the fire and stopped it in that direction. About one half of the business portion of the village was consumed. The fire swept everything away from Dr. Stickney's house where Benton's block now is and the river on Main, and on the north side of Middle street. So intensely hot was the fire, which raged all night, that buildings on the west side of Main street were charred from the sidewalk to the ridges of the roofs. They were saved only with the utmost exertion of almost the entire popu- lation. The women turned out and helped to save what goods could be carried to a safe distance from the flames, and also to carry refreshments to the men who were heroically striving to save the vil- lage from complete ruin.

I54

HISTORY OF LANCASTER.

The following were the chief losses sustained by the conflagration :

Kent & Griswold, dry goods, loss on stock, $4,000, insured in the Hartford for $3,500. H. Whitcomb & Co., harness and saddlery, loss about $600, insured in the Home for $500. Kent, Cobleigh & Co., tin shop, loss $10,000, insured in Hanover & Ætna, for $3,500. Chas. E. Rowell, M. D., loss $1,000, insured in North America, for $500. E. T. Wilson, photographer, loss $500, insured in Shawmut, for $300. W. G. Baker, groceries, loss, $2,500, insured in Hartford, for $1,500. Mrs. Eliza R. Spaulding, building, loss $3,000, insured in Shoe & Leather and Fanueil Hall, for $2,400. Jacob Benton, Nutter block, loss $3,000; no insurance. Express company, slight loss. O. H. Kimball, dentist, loss about $300; no insurance. Coos Republican Association, printing office, loss $3,500; no insurance. Oliver Nutter, household furniture, $1,500; no insurance. Charles W. Garland, spring bed manufacturer, loss $200; no insurance. Rowell & Allen, dry goods and groceries, on stock and building, $7,000, insured in Ætna and Home, for $4,000. Coös Lodge, No. 35, and Waumbek Encampment, No. 24, I. O. O. F., loss about $1,000; no insurance. Frank Smith & Co., flour and grain, loss on stock and building, $6,000, insured in North America and New Hampshire for $2,300; Jas. S. Smith, building, loss $1,000; no insurance. A. Cowing, barber, loss $100; no insu- rance. D. W. Smith, groceries, loss on stock and building, about $8,000, insured in Springfield and Shoe & Leather, for $3,500. Wm. Clough, building, loss $350, insured in Springfield for $250. Hosea Gray, meat market and provisions, loss $2,000; no insurance. Geo. K. Stocker, fish and oyster market, loss $250; no insurance. Mrs. Stickney, dwelling house, loss about $1,700, insured in the Home for $1,000. Slight damages to Emmons S. Smith, Dr. D. L. Jones, A. D. Benway, Mrs. N. Sparks, C. E. Allen & Co., J. A. Smith & Co., Geo. W. Lane, Fred C. Colby, A. J. Marshall, Lizzie C. Thomas, post-office, telegraph office, town clerk's office, Mrs. Bowman, Ladd & Fletcher, Benton & Hutchins, Dexter Chase, W. & H. Heywood, J. G. Crawford, Thos. S. Underwood, Ray, Drew & Jordan, Guernsey & Howe, John P. Hodge and several others.

Steps were at once taken to rebuild the most important business places, and in a short time the burnt structures were replaced by better business blocks than any the village had ever known; and in time the fire was looked upon rather as a blessing than a ca- lamity, as it made better buildings both possible and necessary. It also impressed upon the minds of the people the need of better facil- ities for protection against fire. The cause of this fire was some- what obscure, though credited to three tramps who had been seen in that vicinity only a short time before its discovery, and who were not seen afterward.

PART OF MAIN STREET, 1872.

WLVERY STABLE

SOUTH MAIN STREET PRIOR TO 1878.

I55

LANCASTER FROM 1850 TO THE PRESENT TIME.

Again in the fall of that year another, and in some respects more disastrous, fire visited the village. This time, on the morning of September 28th, a fire was discovered in the third story of the ell part of the Lancaster House. The fire companies were promptly on the scene of the conflagration; but owing to the location of the fire and the rapidity with which it spread after communicating with a tarred roof they could do nothing to stay its ravages. The heat was so intense that it drove the firemen to such a distance that they could accomplish nothing with their feeble apparatus and the slender streams of water at their command. The loss on the building and its contents was estimated at $30,000, with $25,000 insurance. This hotel had been recognized by the people as one of the most important enterprises of the village and now that the proprietors did not see fit to rebuild it, they realized that the fire was one of the greatest calamities that had visited the village at any time in its his- tory. There was not another hotel of any importance in the village ; and it seemed a necessity to the accommodation of transients doing business here that there should be a first-class hotel.

The matter of rebuilding the hotel ran along for three years before anything of a practical character was done to accomplish that desired end. On the evening of February 16th, 1881, a public meeting of the citizens was held at Eagle hall to take some steps to secure the rebuilding of the hotel. As one result of that meeting a company was organized to build a good hotel on the site of the one that was burnt in 1878. This company was known as the Lancaster Hotel Company. The chief personality connected with it was the late John Lindsey, a somewhat noted hotel-keeper.

At a town meeting held March 27, 1881, it was " Voted that the selectmen buy the land of the old Lancaster House site of Ray & Benton for $2,000, and hold the title to the same, and rent it to the Lancaster Hotel Company for $1 per annum, when they shall have completed a hotel to the value of $10,000 on the premises; and if said company at any time make a tender of $2,000 the selectmen shall quitclaim the property to said company." (See Town Records.)

It was not until May, 1882, however, that the work on the new hotel was begun. On the 8th of May, 1882, John Lindsey began work on the present Lancaster House building; and by November 28th had it completed. On the evening of that date it was lighted for the first time by gas generated on the premises. On the evening of November 29th the house entertained the first guests, consisting of six traveling men. This house was then, and has remained since, a first-class hotel. Mr. Lindsey, in company with his sons, continued to conduct the house until his death in 1890. His son, Ned A. Lind- sey, deceased, and his son-in-law, Lauren A. Whipp, conducting it to this time.

156

HISTORY OF LANCASTER.

During the period between the burning and the rebuilding of the Lancaster House much discussion had been indulged in with respect to the possibility of making Lancaster a summer resort, with ade- quate hotel accommodations. This induced Mr. William H. Smith in 1883 to build a hotel on the crest of Mount Prospect, south of the village, which commands one of the finest views that can be found anywhere within miles. The atmosphere on the mountain is charming; and a good spring of pure water offered a supply equal to all demands upon it. A road had been built up the mountain in 1859. A good carriage road was built up the north side of the mountain in the fall of 1882 by Mr. Smith who for several seasons was landlord. The house became a financial loss to its owner. It has since fallen into ruins through the combined agency of decay and the vandalism of the men and boys, mostly the latter, who visit it. It is to be regretted that so splendid an opportunity for conduct- ing a summer house should have been abused and given up.

In 1882, the people became much interested in the matter of a better water supply. Until that year every family had to provide its own water from the capricious and uncertain sources of springs or wells. In the earliest times the well had its old-fashioned " sweep," consisting of a long pole mounted in the crotch of a post, and to the longer end of which another pole was made fast to carry a bucket down into the water, while the other end of the sweep was weighted with stones to serve as the force that would lift the filled bucket from the well. Such primitive contrivances were seen on nearly all premises until quite late toward the middle of the present century, when pumps began to come into use. The first pumps were metal ones, and very expensive, so that they were little used. The people could not afford them; but Yankee genius was never without resources, and they imitated the metal pump with wood. A log was bored through the centre and properly connected with a wooden cylinder in which the valves were located, and let down into the well. A wooden rod was connected with the lever and valve, and as good results were obtained as if a high-priced metal pump had been used; and the wooden one did not cost more than a very small fraction of what the metal one would have, and generally out- lasted it, too.

At a still later date, about 1850, the hydraulic ram was the pop- ular device for conveying water as it possessed the power of lifting it over hills and other obstructions in the course where it was wanted to be conveyed. One Perry W. Pollard, a tinsmith in the employ of R. P. Kent, astonished the natives in 1854, by fitting a lead pipe into a well on the Gotham farm, and by the now well-known princi- ple of the syphon, lifting water out of the well and conveying it to a lower level. One can well imagine the open-mouthed wonder with

157

LANCASTER FROM 1850 TO THE PRESENT TIME.

which the simpler ones viewed the young mechanic from Providence, R. I. No doubt some thought him in possession of supernatural powers; but they learned from him a useful lesson in regard to the principles and powers of the syphon. Water from the various springs against the hillsides was conveyed into the houses in the village below by means of wooden pipes, which consisted of logs bored through with an auger properly fitted for the purpose. These so-called " pump-logs " have continued in use to the present time, though most of them have given place to lead or iron pipes. The best, and most durable, pump-logs were made of tamarack from six to eight inches in diameter and fifteen feet long. Balsam fir was used to some extent, but was not so durable as the tamarack. There were many persons engaged in the business of boring and laying pump-logs; but Shadrach P. Hartford, brother of Stephen Hartford of East Lancaster, was forty years ago regarded as the past master in the art of making and laying pump-logs. Some of his work still remains to this day in good repair and is doing daily service in conveying water.

For many years the village had no other source of water supply than wells and these pump-logs from springs on the hills. The south side of the village was supplied from springs opening into the bank where Prospect street now is, and from a large one on Holton Hill. The noted cold spring on the Whitefield road, south of the stone-crusher, furnished a large supply of the best of water, and this is still connected with the Lancaster House. When the Lancas- ter House was built in 1858, it took all its supply from this spring.

What was known as the Pleasant Spring Aqueduct Company took water from a large spring on the south side of the east road, a little east of where the Maine Central round house now stands. This line covered and supplied Middle street and Main as far north as the J. A. Smith residence near the corner of Bunker Hill street.

Another famous spring was the Everett spring located in the Everett pasture on the north slope of Bunker Hill, which fifty years ago was a cleared pasture but is now grown up to a second growth of pines. This spring afforded a fine stream of the best water in town. Judge Everett brought the water to his house-the old Cross place-on the corner of High and Main streets. Later a portion of this stream was deeded to Elizabeth Everett, his sister-in-law, by Ephraim Cross and carried to the house which since its removal is now owned by the Forshees on Summer street, but which then stood where the Van Dyke house now stands. Still another portion of that stream was sold to Isaac B. Gorham who lived where Charles Howe now does on Main street; and at a still later date, 1840, Richard P. Kent, who had just built the homestead where Col. E. R. Kent now lives, bought another share of this spring. In 1848,

158

HISTORY OF LANCASTER.

George Bellows, then living where Cyrus D. Allen now does on Main street, bought for a company the remainder of that stream and conveyed it to his house, and a number of others on that street. The volume of water began to shrink soon after that time, and as the stream was much divided no small trouble resulted to families who depended upon it for their water.

This led to Frederick Fisk, and later, Charles E. Allen, putting down a system of modern tubing and later iron pipes, with a view to collecting water from a number of springs on several hillsides and carrying it through the village under one system and manage- ment. This was a great improvement over the old way of every family looking after its own pump-logs. This system was inadequate to the demand upon it. It was not of sufficient volume to furnish water for street sprinkling, nor did it meet the requirements of the village in case of fires. There was an urgent demand for a better system ; and in 1891, a private company undertook to bring water from the Garland brook beyond Matthew Smith's, some six miles distant from the village. This company built the present hydrant system, one of the best systems to be found in all New England. The water is as pure as can be found, coming as it does from the large forest section of the town of Kilkenny. The water is taken out of Great brook, and carried directly to the service pipes, with a reservoir on the side of Mount Pleasant in which is a sufficient storage for all emergencies-180 feet above Main street.

The company made a contract with the fire precinct to turn over the system within a given time if the precinct (village) wished to purchase it upon the payment of the cost of construction and 10 per cent. additional. In 1894 the village fire precinct purchased the plant. A committee consisting of Col. H. O. Kent, J. I. Williams, and Henry Heywood was appointed to make an award, and adjust the price, which they did, allowing for the plant the sum of $74,000, which was raised by the sale of bonds which was authorized by special act of the legislature at the session of 1895. The precinct then organized a water commission under the management of which the system has given entire satisfaction to all using the water. The water is pure and delicious-is a profitable and excellent invest- ment and has checked every fire-so that no conflagration has since ensued.

Again in 1882, the question of lighting the streets came up for discussion ; and finally the matter was carried before the November town-meeting, at which time the following vote was passed : " Voted,' That the town light the village streets with suitable lights, to be pro- cured and kept as the judgment and discretion of the selectmen may direct, and the said selectmen are authorized to draw money from the town treasury therefor " (Town Records). The judgment of the

159

LANCASTER FROM 1850 TO THE PRESENT TIME.

selectmen was that twelve kerosene oil-lamps were sufficient, and they provided that number and arranged for the proper care of them. This did not satisfy many of the villagers. They thought that twelve public, and thirteen private, lights were not sufficient to light a village containing a population of 1500, covering an area of about two square miles. The discussion that followed the plac- ing of these lights on the streets resulted in the organization of a company in 1889, for lighting the streets with electric lights. The Electric Light company put in a plant, using the incandescent lamps, by means of which the streets have been well lighted. The power is furnished by Frank Smith & Company at their mills. Two dyna- mos are used for the two circuits-street and indoor circuits. There are maintained 108 lights on the streets; and many offices, stores, and residences are using the company's lights. The plant has been a very satisfactory one, rendering a good service, and at a moderate cost to both town and citizens, the estimated cost of lighting the streets for 1897 being $1,224 for 108 lights. Few concerns have rendered the community better service than the Lancaster Electric company. Certain important improvements are contemplated by the company which will very much enhance its efficiency to the public service.

At the March town-meeting in 1889, the sons of the late Richard P. Kent made the offer to the town of a fountain to be located in front of his late residence on Main street as a fitting memorial to their parents, who had been identified with the business and social interests of the town and community since 1825. The offer of this fountain was made on the condition that the town maintain it in the future in accordance with the designs of the donors as affording drinking water to man and beast as well as serving as an ornament to the village streets when the, then contemplated, system of water works should be completed. The town accepted the offer, and the fountain was finished by the time of the completion of the water works, and put in use on the first of December, 1892. This foun- tain is a fine piece of workmanship in design and execution, and an ornament to the village, keeping fresh the memory of one who helped develop the industries of the town, upon which its pres- ent prosperity rests, and serving thirsty men and animals with one of the noblest services man can render his fellows, the offering of the "cup of cold water."

The structure is of granite. A large and convenient water-box with two streams of water, is provided. An ornate arch surmounts the water-box supporting a bronze Victory. On the face toward the street, is this inscription :

160

HISTORY OF LANCASTER.

" IN MEMORIAM. RICHARD PEABODY KENT, EMILY MANN KENT."

On the face toward the sidewalk ;

" To the Town. From HENRY O. KENT, EDWARD R. KENT, CHARLES N. KENT."

On the keystone of the arch ;

" 1892."

At the same time that this fountain was building another one was designed and given the town by Mrs. Louisa Dow Benton, widow of the late Jacob Benton, in memory of her husband who died from the effects of an accident in the fall of 1892. Mr. Benton had long been a resident of the town. He had attained prominence as a law- yer, business man and politician.

This memorial fountain is a neat and tasteful structure standing on the corner of Main and Mechanic streets, directly in front of the doorway of the present Town Hall building. It is of red granite, and contains a water-trough for animals, a separate stream for drink- ing purposes for man, and a trough for dogs and lesser animals, which latter arrangement is a very thoughtful and humane one. By this arrangement a grateful service is rendered the smaller animals of the community, which often spares them much inconvenience and suffering from thirst. Man is a selfish animal; he will not live without these animals about him, and yet he so often, for the lack of thoughtfulness, makes either inadequate or no provisions for their comfort.

This fountain is inscribed with the following memorial :

" In memory of Jacob Benton as a gift to the town this fountain was erected by his wife Louisa D. Benton, on the day of his death September 29, 1892."

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History of Lancaster, New Hampshire, Part 18

Author: Somers, A. N. (Amos Newton) Publication date: 1899 Publisher: Concord, N.H., Rumford press Number of Pages: 753

Author: Somers, A. N. (Amos Newton)
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Concord, N.H., Rumford press
Number of Pages: 753