USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Manchester > History of Manchester, formerly Derryfield, in New-Hampshire : including that of ancient Amoskeag, or the middle Merrimack Valley, together with the address, poem, and other proceedings of the centennial celebration of the incorporation of Derryfield at Manchester, October 22, 1851 > Part 74
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SMYTH'S BLOCK-is a fine building, 144 feet in length by 100 feet in depth, and four stories in height. It is upon Elm, between Spring and Water streets. The first story is of cast iron in front, and above, the walls are of brick, stuccoed.so as to imitate white marble. The imitation is perfect, and the building makes a splendid appearance. It was built by Messrs. William Patten, Frederick Smyth, and Daniel W. Fling, and is now owned by Messrs. F. Smyth, and Wm. Richardson .- The first floor is used for stores ; a fine Hall, the Merrimack River Bank rooms, with offices are upon the second floor ; and the remainder of the block is fitted up into halls and offices.
SMYTH'S BLO
BANK
ANK
BANK
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BLOCKS.
PATTEN'S BLOCK .- This a splendid block, 92 feet in front on Elm street by 100 feet in depth on Stark street. It occu- pies the same ground as Patten's Building, which was burned in February 1856. It is of brick finished with mastic, and three stories in height. The lower story is occupied for stores, and by the Manchester Bank. The second story is occupied for offices, while the Halls in the third story are occupied by the Amoskeag Veterans. This block was built and is owned by Messrs. William and Samuel Patten.
PLUMER'S BUILDING .- This is a substantial and elegant build- ing on Elm street nearly opposite Patten's Block. It is finish- ed in altogether the most costly and elaborate style of any building in the city. It is 100 feet in length by 25 feet in width and four stories in height. The first story in front is of granite while the remain- 8 PLUMER'S BLOCK ing part of the front is of press brick and marble ; the corners, heavy cor- nice, window caps and sills being of fine white marble. It was built and is owned by Mr. John Plumer, Jr. The first OFF floor is occupied as a store by John Plumer, Jr., JOHN PLUMER JR Y GO 5CV & Co., while the remain- der is used for offices, &c. ESTINGS There formerly stood upon this site a wooden block. This was purchased in 1846 by Mr. Plumer, and being too small for his business, it was removed to make way for the present one, which is an ornament to our city.
TEMPLE BLOCK .- This is upon Hanover street. It is three stories in height, 100 feet in length, by 100 feet in depth. It is of brick, the first story of the front of cast iron, the remain- der of press brick-the window caps and sills being of gran- ite. The first floor is used for stores, the second for offices,
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THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
and the third contains a splendid Hall, occupied by the Masons and Odd Fellows. This building makes a fine appearance, and equals, if it does not surpass any other in the city for its good taste and substantial finish. It was built and is owned by Messrs. I. C. Flanders, E. W. Harrington, Thos. P. Pierce, W. A. Putney, and J. J. Straw.
STARK BLOCK .- This is a fine brick block of three stories, with cast iron front to the lower story. It is 144 feet on Elm street, and extends from Water street to Mechanic street, hav- ing wings on each of the latter streets 100 feet in length. It was built by the Messrs. Appleton of Boston. The first floor is for offices and the rest of the building for tenements.
CENTRAL BLOCK .- This is next below the Stark Block, be- tween Mechanic and Stark streets. It is a brick block three stories in height, the lower story of granite, 192 feet in length, with wings on Mechanic and Stark streets 100 feet in length. The first floor is for stores and the rest of the building is for offices.
RIDDLE'S BLOCK .- This block is at the corner of Elm and Hanover streets. It is of brick, three stories in height, 25 feet in width by 100 feet in length on Hanover street The first floor is occupied for stores, the second for offices, and the third for printing offices. It was built by Mr. Ira Ballou, but is now owned by Isaac Riddle, Esq.
UNION BUILDING .- This was the first brick block built upon Elm street. It is three stories in height-the first story of granite and the remainder of brick. It extends from Market street to Ferren's Block-131 feet, and is 100 feet upon Mar- ket street. The first floor is for stores and the remainder for offices, &c., the Amoskeag Bank and Cheney & Co's Express office being in the wing upon Market street.
MERRIMACK BLOCK .- This Block extends from Methodist Court 202 feet to Merrimack street. It is three stories in length with a wing upon Merrimack street 100 feet in length. The first story is of granite and the remainder is of brick .- The first floor is occupied for stores and the remainder for of- fices and tenements.
GRANITE BLOCK .- This is a large block on the east side of Elm street, next north of the Manchester House. It is three stories in height, 75 feet in length by 60 feet in depth, the front being of granite. The first floor is occupied for stores, the second for offices, and the third contains a commodious hall. The building was built and is owned by Col. Greenleaf Clark of Atkinson.
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BRIDGES.
MUSEUM .- This building is at the corner of Pleasant and Elm streets, being 100 feet upon Elm street and 100 feet upon Pleasant street. It is three stories in height, the first floor be- ing used for stores, the second for offices, the third for a muse- um hall and offices, and the attic for dramatic performances.
BRIDGES.
COHAS .- The first bridge built in town of any note was built across the Cohas on the road leading from Manchester Centre to Londonderry, by Messrs. Michael and William Mc- Clintock. They built it at their own expense. This was about 1738 as appears from the following vote in the Records of Lon- donderry.
" Nov. 27, 1738. Voted and agreed that Michael McClinto and William McClinto shall have twenty shillings per year payed to them by the inhabitants of Londonderry for the space of ten years, providing that they the sd McClintos do keep up two good, sufficient Bridges near Great Cohasset upon the highway or Road to Amoscege for the space of ten years, commencing their time from this present year 1738."
Other bridges were built across the Cohas at later periods, but by whom does not appear.
BRIDGES OVER THE MERRIMACK .- The first bridge over the Merrimack in this town was built in 1792, as is named on page 521 of this work. A Boston paper of October 1792 thus speaks of it.
" AMOSKEAG BRIDGE-In the State of New Hampshire, was begun the 3d of August last, at which time the timber was growing, and the rocks dispersed in the river. On the 29th of September following, which makes 57 days inclu- sively, the bridge was passable for travellers, and is now completed.
" DIMENSION .- 556 feet in length, is supported by five piers and an abut- ment on each side-the piers are 60 feet in length and 30 in width -- the outside made of hewn timber, and filled with stones."
This bridge was kept in repair for some years, but at length it was suffered to go to decay, and became impassable for teams about 1812, or '15 People on foot continued to cross it after that time ; but in a few years it became completely impassable. In November 1824, another company was started to build a bridge at the foot of Amoskeag Falls to replace the old bridge. The stock was divided into one hundred shares.
The subscription paper bore date November 20, 1824, and the company was incorporated December, 1824, by the name of the Proprietors of Amoskeag Bridge. It was the intention of the proprietors of the new bridge to purchase the shares in the old corporation ; but so little attention had been paid to it, that
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THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
no one in this region knew who the proprietors were. It was supposed to be owned in Portsmouth, and an Agent was sent there to make inquiries and purchase the stock. James McK- Wilkins Esq., was Agent, but he succeeded in finding only eight shares, and those in the hands of Nathaniel Adams, Esq .- for which the Agent paid $8, as appears from the records. It does not appear that any others were purchased. Col. Wm. P. Rid- dle contracted to build the bridge for the sum of $3,600, to be completed by the middle of November, 1825. Col. Riddle completed the bridge according to contract and it was accepted by the directors November 25, 1825. It was built upon a stone abutment on the east side of the river and seven wooden piers, and was twenty feet in width. The bridge needed little repairs till 1837, when, January 23d, at a meeting of the Pro- prietors, the Directors were ordered to repair the same. This they did at an expense of some $1500.
The Amoskeag Manufacturing Company having commenced their improvements on the east side of the Merrimack, com- menced negotiations for purchasing the bridge, and April 29, 1837, a Committee was chosen by the Proprietors of the bridge to confer with that Company upon the subject. The result was a sale of the bridge, the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company buying the stock of the holders. Accordingly, at a special meeting of the Proprietors, held April 4, 1838, the old officers resigned and new ones were chosen in their places-viz.
Robert Read, President.
Robert Read,
Wm. Amory, Directors. Thos. C. Lowell, S Willard Sayles, Treasurer. Wm. G. Means, Clerk.
It was then voted to abolish the toll on foot- passengers. In 184S two piers were taken from the west end of the bridge by a freshet. It was repaired and remained till 1851, when it was carried completely away by a freshet. It has not been re- built.
GRANITE BRIDGE .- Granite Bridge was built at the head of Merrill's Falls, in 1840. The act of incorporation was granted June, 1839. The stock was divided into one hundred shares.
The act of incorporation provided that when the stockholders should have received in dividends from tolls, the cost of the bridge and interest upon the same at six per cent, it should be- come free. The bridge was completed in September 1840, and
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BRIDGES.
Granite street, extending from Elm street to the bridge, and from the bridge west to the river road in Bedford, was built by the corporation at the same time, for the accommodation of travel to and from the bridge, the use of the land for the same being given by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company as long as tolls were taken for passing the bridge, the repairing and fencing the same being at the expense of the proprietors of the bridge, during its use by them. The experiment was a successful one and proved that the bridge was of great public advantage. An abstract from the report of the Directors to the Legislature, made June 19, 1843, will show the situation of the corporation at that time.
" And first, we consider the original cost of our Bridge, Toll House, and Road, as the amount of our capital stock, which amount was ascertained and reported to the Leg slature in June 1841, and was $10,281.08. Nine thousand dollars of which had been discharged by assessments upon the shares of the stockholders, and the residue from the money received for tolls. We have paid out since the bridge was completed for repairs and other incidental ex- penses, the sum of $1393.60, which being added to the original cost of the bridge, &c., shows a total outlay of $11674.58, exclusive of interest.
" The whole amount of money paid out to the stockholders in dividends up to this time has been $2600.00, to which add the balance of original cost of the bridge, &c., which balance was paid out of money received for toll $1248.88 and it shows our total receipts to have been $3848.88, and that a balance is now outstanding against the bridge and in favor of the stockholders of $7825.80 besides the interest upon the assessments."
In 1847 the public became impressed with the belief that the bridge should be free according to the conditions of its charter, and measures were taken to bring about this result .- Petitions were presented to the Mayor and Aldermen of Man- chester and the Selectmen of Bedford, praying that Granite street should be laid out over the bridge-and be made a pub- lic highway. A hearing was had upon the petition before the Mayor and Aldermen of Manchester on the 18th of December, 1847, and before the Selectmen of Bedford about the same time. The result of the hearings was, that the highway was laid out, and the bridge became free. upon the payment of the sum of $400 to the stockholders. Thus free, the bridge be- came the property of Manchester and Bedford and to be sup- ported by them. During the ice freshet of 1851 the ice be- came obstructed in the eddy above the N. H. Central Railroad bridge, and the water rising some feet, the bridge was lifted from its piers and carried off. In the summer of 1851, another bridge was built at the expense of the two towns. Asis often the case with partners, they could not agree what kind of a bridge to erect-and Bedford built the west part in lattice work, while Manchester built the east half after another plan. It is
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THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
believed that the abutments and piers were built of the same kind of stone ! The bridge was built in a substantial manner, upon stone piers laid in the most approved style under the di- rection of Major Hiram Brown. The bridge is 450 feet in length and 25 feet in width-with two drive-ways for teams, and two walks for people on foot, and is not covered. Its whole cost was about $18,000.
AMOSKEAG FALLS BRIDGE .- In 1839, a charter was granted for a bridge by the name of the Amoskeag Falls Bridge to be built across the Merrimack at the head of Amoskeag Falls .- The stock was divided into one hundred shares. The act of incorporation provided that the bridge should become free after the dividends from the tolls should amount to the cost of the same, and interest thereon at ten per cent. The bridge was completed in 1842. It was built after Town's patent. It was an uncovered bridge, 450 feet in length, and 25 feet in width, built upon abutments and four piers of stone. In 1852 it was made a free bridge after a hearing before the Road Commis- sioners, the public highway being laid out across it and $3000 being awarded to the proprietors to be paid by Manchester and Goffstown. In March, 1853, this bridge was carried away by a freshet. It was re-built in 1854 by the City of Manchester. It is a covered bridge upon abutments and five piers of stone. It is 450 feet in length by 25 in width, and cost $20,000.
" BRIDGES OVER THE PISCATAQUOG. At a town meeting, held June 11, 1759, " Voted, Robert Walker, Hugh Riddle, and John Moor, be a committee to build a Bridge across Piscataquog river," which was built near where the bridge now stands.
" Jan. 22, 1770. Maj. John Goffe was employed by the town to build the second bridge over Piscataquog river. It was raised July 16, 1770, and they finished laying the plank, Dec. 12. 1770. It was built near the former. While raising the bridge, six men were thrown off, of whom Mr. Holmes, Mr. Dugal, and Joseph Moor, were seriously injured, the latter so much so, that he died in thirty hours. This was carried off by a freshet in 1784.
" Nov., 1785. " Voted, John Patten, Adam Dickey, Joseph Patten, Lieut. John Orr, Ens. John Riddle, be a committee to repair or re- build the Piscata- quog Bridge, and build it near the same height as the present one, or as they may see proper."
"Nov. 1795. Chose a committee consisting of Benj. Barron, Lieut. John Riddle, Lieut. John Pa ten, John Orr, Esq., and Mr. James Darrah, to build a new bridge. This committee was to sell the work to the lowest bidder, and the construction was to conform to a plan exhibited ; the bridge to be finished by June 1, 1796. It does not appear from the minutes of the meeting who built the bridge ; but at a meeting held March 23, 1796, John Orr. Mr. Joseph Patten, and Maj. Stephen Dole, were a committee appointed to inspect the timber and workmanship of the re-building of Piscataquog Bridge. They re- ported to the town at the next meeting after the bridge was finished, Aug. 29, 1796 ; and the town accepted the report of the committee, which recommend- ed to allow David Riddle $20.00 for extra work and timber on said bridge, from which it seems that David Riddle must have been the builder in 1796.
" March 26, 1812. Isaac Riddle, Samuel Chandler, and William Moor, were
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FERRIES.
appointed a committee to build Piscataquog Bridge, the north abutment to be of split stone, (the south abutment being built of stone the year before,) with a middle pier built of wood, with good and substantial railing, stringers and plank. Wm. Ridd'e, Esq., was the builder of this bridge, which was com- pleted in the summer of 1813 or'14.
Oct. 17, 1828. A committee was chosen, consisting of Capt. Wm. Patten, Col. Wm. P. Riddle, and Jonas B. Bowman, Esq., to re-build Pi-cataquog Bridge. This committee were authorized to draw mon y not exceeding $300, if necessary. Builder, John P. Houston, in 1829.
" Oct. 4, 1842. A committee was chosen consisting of Fred. G. Stark, Jas. Walker, and Wm. P. Riddle, to reconstruct and rebuild Piscataquog Bridge. This is the bridge now in use, the abutments on both sides the river were wid- ened, a lattice, similar to the Granite bridge, made, and the whole finished as a bridge ought to be in such a thoroughfare of travel. It was completed in 1843.'
FERRIES.
The earliest ferry upon the river in this region, was establish- ed by the town of Londonderry for the purpose of accommo- dating their townsmen in prosecuting the fishery at Amoskeag Falls. This was in 1731 [See page 169]. Subsequently fer- ries were established at several places upon the river, where the public convenience demanded, such as
HADLEY'S .- This was established somewhere about 1735- by Mr. Benjamin Hadley. It was located below where was afterward the Amoskeag or McGregor bridge. The landing on the east side of the river was just south of the Elm, near the north end of No. 5 Amoskeag New Mills, while that on the west side was a few rods below the Amoskvag bridge, and is still to be seen. After Mr. Hadley's death it passed into the hands of Mr. Thomas Hall, and has since been known as " Hall's Ferry." It was discontinued when the Amoskeag bridge was built, in 1792.
MARTIN'S .- This was a Ferry established in early times by Mr. Samuel Martin. Hence its name. It was near where Mr. Peter Mitchel now lives and probably was of little account.
GOFFE'S .- This was at Goffe's Falls, was a noted ferry, and is still in existence. It was established by the noted Col. John Goffe, probably soon after his settlement at the mouth of the Cohas in 1774. It was chartered by royal authority, Novem- ber 7, 1766. The charter upon parchment is still in the hands of Col. I. W. Moor, a great -grandson of Col. Goffe. The fer- ry is located between the mouth of the Cohas and Goffe's Falls.
* See History of Bedford.
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THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
MERRILL'S .- This ferry was at the foot of Merrill's Falls and just below Granite bridge. It was established as early as 1750 by Mr. Abraham Merrill and hence its name, as also the name of the Falls. This ferry was discontinued soon after the rebuilding of the Amoskeag bridge, in 1825.
CANAL.S.
The Amoskeag Canal has been fully described in a previous chapter. After this passed into the hands of the proprietors of the Middlesex Canal, it became an object with them to make it as profitable as possible. The most effectual way was to render the river navigable betwixt the Middlesex and the Amos- keag Canals-and as far above the latter as was practicable .- Accordingly various acts of incorporation were obtained to ef- fect this purpose. Of these, that known as the " Union Canal" was mainly in Manchester. This comprised some miles of the Merrimack river below the Amoskeag lower locks. This sec- tion was rendered navigable by building dams and locks at Merrill's Falls ; near the Granite Bridge ; Griffin's Falls nearly opposite Mr. Peter Mitchell's ; Short Falls opposite Walker's Mill, Goffe's Falls a short distance above the junction of the Cohas with the Merrimack; Cohas Falls near the mouth of Little Cohas ; and Moor's Falls in Litchfield.
To give the reader a complete description of a system of works of such vast importance to this section of the country, the report of the Directors of the Middlesex Canal, made to that corporation in 1816, is here inserted. The report was as follows :
"The Committee of Directors, pursuant to the intentions of the Board, hav- ing visited and examined the canals in New Hampshire, at the falls of Merri- mack river, in which the proprietors of the Middlesex Canal are interested, report, That having proceeded to Concord, they embarked there on the river at the Landing Place, of the Merrimack Boating Company, and at a distance of two miles below, entered the channels, formed in Turkey Falls to admit the passage of boats. This fall they understood, was naturally impassable, and its improvement came within the plan of the Bow Canal. Accordingly, the dam which raises the river to fill that canal, backs the water over these falls; and although they are still swift, are not difficult of ascent. The length of these channels, formed by removing rocks, is about a half a mile.
The entrance to Bow canal, is nearly a mile lower down the river on the westerly side. It consists of strong stone abutments, raised fourteen feet, and twelve feet thick, to support the guard-gates, and defend the canal in high freshets. Near them begins the dam which is thrown across the river at the head of the Falls. It measures four hundred and fifty feet in length, and from seven to twelve feet high; formed of very large timber and plank, and loaded with stone, and strongly bolted to the ledges on which it is founded. From the guard-gates, for five hundred and sixty feet, the canal is dug principally in stone, and partly in gravel, thirty feet wide, and eight feet deep. It is then
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CANALS.
carried by a wall and embankment, twelve feet high, for three hundred and sixty feet across a cove of the river ; it then enters a small hill or ledge of rock, through which it is carried for three hundred and twenty feet, sixteen feet deep, and twelve feet wide; thencu the canal was dug in gravelly ground, two hundred feet to the Locks. The descent into the river below the Falls, which are twenty-seven feet perpendicular measurement, is effected by three Locks, which are supported by walls of split stone, which average seven feet in thickness, twelve feet high, and measure, both sides of the Locks together, five hundred and twenty feet in length. The lower Lock being sunk four feet below the lowest water-mark, a channel was made from thence to the channel of the river. The who'e is about one third of a mile.
Your Committee give these ou lines of this and the works to be subsequent- ly mentioned. that the Board may have some data to compare with the expense of them.
The property of the canal consists of the ground it occupies, and four acres of good land contiguous, and a house thereon, for the residence of the Lock Tender.
By the Act of Incorporation, this prorietary is divided into two hundred shares. The whole expenditure thereon, including the channels of Turkey Falls, has amounted to near $20,000.
Bow Canal went into opera ion for rafts in 1812, and to the 31st of May, 1813, received $290,51 : the year ending 31st May, 1814, received $497,01; the year ending 31st May, 1815, received $868,78. The present year beside the toll on rafts, it will have the advantage of the ascending business by the boats since the 1st July last.
The management of this Canal is in the same hands, and similar to the Mid- dlesex, as far as local circumstances will allow. The current expenses will be the const nt wages of one man, and occasionally of two others, and moderate pay to the officers of the Corporation.
From Bow Canal to Hooskett, six miles, the river is unobstructed and gentle, its width is generally about two hundred yards.
At the bead of Hooksett Falls, stands a small Island which gives its name to the place. To this Island a Dam is thrown to a ledge of rocks, which stands ninety feet from the western shore. This space is occupied with a high and thick wall, which supports the guard-gates, and defends the work from high freshets.
The Canal consists of two spacious basins, between the main Dam, which forms one side, and the shore the other; and of two Locks supported by strong stone walls. The fall is seventeen fe-t perpendicular measurement. The Corporation purchased the Mill privileges at this place, and eight acres of land. Considerable work had been done, which was made subservient to their object. This proprietary is divided into one hundred shares, and has cost fifteen thousand dollars. The toll received on rafts in the year ending the 31st May, 1814, was $336,78 ; and to 31st May, 1815, $451,47. The present year will have additionally the benefit of the ascending trade. The Canal and the Mills, and the roads which meer here, are inducing a rapid settlement of this vicini- ty, and the general business increases.
From Hooksett Canal to Amoskeag, a distance of eight miles, the river is unobstructed, wide and gent'e.
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