USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Northfield > History of Northfield, New Hampshire 1780-1905: In Two Parts with Many Biographical Sketches and. > Part 3
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The road from Zion's Hill to the Grange Fair grounds was asked for in a petition, dated August 5, 1895. The petition was granted and the road built the same year. The land damage was only $266.
The Sanborn turnpike, across the Glidden meadow, was for some years a private way. A company, consisting of Rufus Boynton, Olwin Dow, George F. Weeks and A. B. Wyatt, had the matter in charge.
The road from Bay Street to Jeremiah Tilton's mill was ordered in 1830 and later took the name of Granite Street.
BRIDGES.
The first bridge over the Winnepesaukee was a little farther to the east than the present structure by the Optical Works. It was built in 1763. Three hundred pounds, old tender, were voted towards its construction.
It must have been used for teams or horseback riders, as Nathaniel Burley, on his way from Canterbury to his new home in Sanbornton, took his family over it with horse and cows.
Mrs. Burley, says Mr. Runnells, rode on horseback with her two youngest children behind her. In front was a bag con- taining one and a half bushels of meal. Slung over the horse's
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HISTORY OF NORTHFIELD.
back, saddle-fashion, was a strawbed tick, in which was the barnyard poultry. Holes had been cut in it for breathing places, out of which on either side their heads protruded.
The father, with two older boys, followed on foot, driving two cows.
This was in 1767. A better bridge was built in 1784, Canter- bury assisting. This was carried away by an ice freshet on Feb- ruary 12, 1824, together with dams and mills.
It must have been replaced at once, as it was the only public means of crossing the river. The records say nothing of it. It was the scene of a frightful accident in . 1839. Mr. Runnells says: " A six-horse stage had just left the tavern opposite. When the horses were well on the bridge it fell without a moment's warning. The horses became detached and went with it into the water. Passengers riding on the top were thrown into the stream and floated down to the dam. None of them lost their lives, but only one of the horses was rescued."
It was at once rebuilt and, with occasional repairs, remained until the present iron structure replaced it.
When the new road from Kendegeda Brook to Tilton, across land of Capt. Isaac Glines and Col. Asa P. Cate, was opened in 1857, a suspension wooden bridge was put across the river, close by the railroad bridge.
Not many years later it parted in the middle from the weight of accumulated snow and ice and went down the stream. An- other wooden one, with a pier in the middle, took its place, and this was taken away to make room for the present iron structure.
These fine iron bridges, which now span the river, were con- tracted for in November, 1881, at a cost of nearly $6,000. They were completed in April, 1882, the entire cost being $5,500, of which Hon. C. E. Tilton contributed $500 and was the pro- moter of the enterprise. The lower one cost $1,000 less than the upper one.
The plate upon the elevated crosspiece over the entrance to the Northfield end of the upper bridge bears this inscription :
Erected 1881 Pat Apr. 16 1878 Corrogated Metal Co. Builders East Berlin Conn. James N. Forrest, Jason Foss, Gawn E. Gorrell, Selectmen of Northfield.
Hill's Block.
Oldest House.
1864. Whittier's Store.
Barnshaw's Mill.
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HISTORICAL.
HOLMES BRIDGE.
There was also a wooden structure spanning the river farther down stream by the old Holmes Mill, now Tilton Mills.
Mr. Joseph Dearborn says that the bridge was built by sub- scription. "My father," said he, "furnished lumber and labor. Mr. Philip Clough's farm extended south as far as the Colony road and east to Colonel Cate's, including all the old Seminary land and other land bordering on the river. His house stood near the old sawmill and was moved when the railroad ran di- rectly underneath it. This farm was bought by Mr. Holmes and he needed the dwelling for a boarding house. He laid out a 3-rod road across the land where Park Street now runs and extended it to the Colony road, purchasing a narrow strip of Col. Simeon Cate for $100 to complete it."
The road from his house, later owned by Hon. A. H. Tilton, on the Franklin road, down to this bridge, over it and on down past the present fair grounds, was on his own land and was never a public highway, although he made a strenuous effort to make it the main traveled route to Canterbury by cutting straight to the Hannaford crossing, where the railroad runs.
The court, on his petition, sent out a committee, there being no county commissioners then. This committee refused to do it, as the town had lately extensively repaired the other road past the brick church.
The Holmes bridge was not a durable structure. It became unsafe for want of repairs and was used only for pedestrians for some time. One end became loose and fell into the river and the other was pulled down.
JEREMIAH TILTON'S BRIDGE.
There was a bridge by the upper dam, with the north entrance east of the present box shop, and the south by Dea. Andrew Gilman's brickyard. This must have been the one spoken of by Mr. Runnells, but located lower down the river and which he says was not a substantial one, according to the boy's story of its teetering as he drove across it in 1822. It may have been a private affair and was used by the town while rebuilding the one destroyed by ice. It was damaged in some way and, perhaps, destroyed, as the records show a lawsuit by Mr. Tilton for dam-
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HISTORY OF NORTHFIELD.
ages in 1825. It was voted a year or two later "that the select- men pay him as much as they think best for use of his bridge."
THE "LOER" BRIDGE.
The range road passing the Leighton farm originally ran straight to the river, over which was a bridge, which disappeared long ago and was never rebuilt. One committee of the town voted not to accept it and another one was chosen. I can give no further history, although a good story concerning it is told else- where. The road then was changed and access to Sanbornton obtained at the Sanborn bridge.
THE CROSS BRIDGE.
The Allard bridge, later called the Cross bridge, was a short one, with wooden piers, until the Winnepiseogee Paper Company, through Warren F. Daniell, agent, desired to flow their surround- ing flats by raising the dam near it and an agreement was made with the town through their selectmen to allow them to raise it four feet higher, to make the middle pier of stone and to grade and raise the approaches. They were also to raise the Colony bridge and rebuild the abutments, maintaining both bridges for- ever from damage by water caused by raising the Cross dam.
From time to time the little structures spanning our moun- tain brooks, so susceptible to spring freshets or a drenching storm, have yielded to a desire to "join the brimming river," but Northfield has been, with the exception of the flood of 1869, singu- larly free from expense attendant on replacing bridges.
CHAPTER II. ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
The early settlers of the town were not all godly men and women, but they were descendants of the Puritans and soon set themselves to erect churches and establish schools.
-
At a town meeting, held the 6th of March, 1783, among other things, it was voted to "Build a house thurty By thirty-six for the good of the Paarish to be Built Between william williams and Sconduggody Brook Capt Blanchard Lieut Gliddon and Reuben witcher a Committee to Par Cix A Place to Build sd house.
"Voted
"Esq Gilman should have the Cear of Building sd House "Voted
"To Raise Seventy Dolows toward Building sd hous"
On the 2d of February, 1783, it had been voted, "To act upon the warrent in finding Bords, Shingil, Plank & Nails to finish of the meeting hous.
"Voted
"To Bid of the Boords five hundred at a bid and to be deliv- ered at the meeting-hous by the 5th of March next"
Five citizens agreed to furnish five hundred boards at 9s. 6d. each.
Nine others were to furnish 520 foot boards at prices varying from 9s. 6d. to 13s. 6d. Ten also agreed to furnish "1000 shingil" at 8s. Board nails were bid off at 6s. 6d. per thousand and "Shingil Nails" at 2s. 6d. and "Window froimes" at 2s. 6d. "1 window fraim furnished by Lieut Liford of twenty four Squaires."
John McDaniel was to receive said lumber.
The records show nothing further until April 7, 1786, when Lieutenant Glidden was chosen a "Committee to enclose ye meet- ing hous and to floor and underpin ye soim"
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HISTORY OF NORTHFIELD.
Then came delay. March 5, 1891, it was voted to "take sum Method to build a town house or meeting house." A committee was chosen for that purpose and consisted of "the former three to which Wm Forrieest Mr. Thomas Cross Lieut John Cochran Esq Mathews and N. G. Sanborn" were added.
They reported March 29 as follows :
"1stly for to build a house of a midling size
"2ndly That the timber, bords, Shingles & Nails be Vendued off in small quantityes
"Shuch men as shall bid off the Same on the Spot where : there house is to be built, the timber is to be on the Spot by June 1792
"317 The house is to be fraimed and Raised by the first of September of the same year 1792
"417 The house to be all boorded and floored and Shingled in the said month of Sept."
June 7, 1791, the town voted to set the house at "the Cruch of the Roads where it Crosses the main Road about Eighty Rods below Esq Gilmans as the Road goes from Gilmanton to Salis- bury"
In March, 1792, it was voted to raise no money to build a meeting-house.
March 7, 1793, it was voted to build a meeting-house and Colonel Greeley, Esquire Harper and Captain McCrillis, all non- residents, were chosen to pitch upon a "small place where it should stand," and a new committee was appointed, only one of the old board, Captain Blanchard, being retained.
March 28, 1793, the locating committee reported as follows:
"We have carefully examined the situation of sd Parish and find the most convenient spot to be on Esq Charles Gliddens land near his gate a Little North of Capt Stephens Haines Dwelling House in sd ground we have set two stakes for the front of sd house or as near as is convenient."
The report was signed by Samuel Greeley, David McCrillis and William Harper.
The matter of location being settled, the work went steadily on. All the first-class workmen were from out of town.
The nails were forged out by hand on the spot by a professional who came with forge and material. Grandfather Knowles turned
.
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ECCLESIASTICAL.
the balusters and the corner stone was probably laid without ceremony. But the raising was a great event. It had been an- nounced for the second week in September and great prepara- tions had been made for a grand picnic dinner. Elder Crockett of Sanbornton was invited to make a prayer and to give a re- ligious tone to the occasion. The large granite blocks for the underpinning had been put in place and the sills were laid.
Thus the ceremonies began ! Master Builder William Durgin stood on the southeast corner with a bottle of New England rum in his hand. Filling a glass, he passed it to the good minister, after spilling some on the ground, and then to the dignitaries present. Tradition does not say at what stage of the proceedings the long and fervent prayer was offered, but it does say all drank their fill. It is safe to say that none of the workmen drank to excess, as it required strong arms and clear heads to swing the massive timbers to their place, and not the slightest accident marred the day's festivities. When the evening shadows fell the struc- ture was ready for the roof. The dense forest, east of the house, from whence the large beams and rafters had been taken, fur- nished an ideal place for the bountiful repast. An ox cart, filled with white and brown loaves, furnished by the good women of Bay Hill, had appeared in due time and, being driven to its place in the shade, required the strong arm of Capt. David Ilills, supplemented by his limber ox-goad, to protect it from the hungry, fun-loving boys, who, no sooner routed from a rear at- tack, appeared in front, and so on in rapid alternation, while his good wife on horseback, with babe in arms, brought the kettle strapped behind, in which Mother Knowles was to prepare the fish and potato, which was to be the main dish of the feast.
There were baked beans, of course, and various other dishes, familiar to our ancestors, all ready at the stated time.
The morrow showed greater enthusiasm and larger numbers. The roof timbers were easily lifted to their places amid cheers and jokes from the lookers-on, and when the ridgepole was in place one nimble lad stood on his head upon it with his feet in the air. He had previously distinguished himself by being the first child born in the new town. Another bountiful feast was served in the grove and the barrel of New England rum, in the store building opposite, was again generously patronized. The
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HISTORY OF NORTHFIELD.
- afternoon was given up to sports of various kinds. Nimble-footed boys ran races up the hill and men with sacks of potatoes on their backs vied with each other in speed. They wrestled; climbed trees; lifted weights; and carried each other on their backs. Baseball, lawn tennis or golf had never been heard of, yet there was no lack of sport. Night came all too soon and all departed to their homes; the master builder and his trained work- men rejoicing in a mechanical success; the religious men and , women happy in being able to assist in establishing the preaching of the gospel in their newly-chosen home; and the girls and boys sure they had had the one great time of their lives.
A special meeting was called at the meeting-house on Decem- ber 2, 1793, to provide for finishing it. It was voted that the lime and finish material, except the glass, be struck off to the lowest bidder and that the work should be completed by the first day of October, 1794.
The vote to paint it is not recorded until March 9, 1800.
There was probably no dedication, as the raising had exhausted all the sentiment, and, besides, the house was to serve a double purpose. Several special, as well as the annual town meeting, had been held in it before its completion.
It did not follow the lines of modern architecture, with tower, gables, cornices and pillared entrances. It was plain, as you see it now in its severe outline and almost repulsive angularity, but it was after the then prevailing style and, if not a thing of beauty, was a joy for a long series of years.
The selling of the pews began to be agitated in 1820 and eventually they were all owned by individuals. One sold at auction on April 8, 1807, was struck off to Enoch Rogers at $30.50.
All denominations worshiped in it, as the town directed at the annual meeting, and for several years a certain sum of money was raised to hire preachers and a suitable person was chosen to expend it. In fact, in 1797, it was voted that "The selectmen supply the pulpit the ensuing year" and £30 was raised.
Let us in imagination look in upon this little company of wor- shipers of the long ago.
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ROCLESTASTICAL.
SUNDAYS OF THE LONG AGO AT THE OLD MEETING-HOUSE.
Let us go back to 1820. It is a bright Sunday morning in June. Breakfast and family worship are over. The cows are milked and driven to pasture led by old Brindle with her noisy bell. Cream-colored Jerseys and spotted Herefords were not then known. The chores are all done and everything made snug and safe, though the doors are guiltless of either bolts or bars, for the ubiquitous tramp has not yet begun his travels. We hastily don our home-woven garments and briskly take our departure on foot, while father, mother and the younger ones of our little flock are getting ready to follow on horseback. We are barefooted, of course (at least at the start), and soon fall in with others bound for the same shrine, until the highways and byways, leading north, south, east and west, are alive with coming worshipers. From out mysterious bundles come now carefully-kept morocco shoes and calfskin boots, which are has- tily put on by the wayside, and many a treasured silk dress is hastily donned at some neighbor's house nearby. There is no sweet-toned bell to ring out its call to worship or greet us as we arrive, and the solemn-faced minister must set his own pace as he passes slowly to his wonted place in the pulpit, beneath the large sounding-board. This was the only glimpse we had of the busy world and social life, and the greetings were cordial and honest. Up to the horse block, close by the door, they come. The sire, from his finely upholstered saddle, springs hastily down, thus displaying a saddle cloth that has grown beautiful under the skillful fingers of her, who now sits stately on the pillion with babe in arms, perhaps, and a rosy-cheeked lad or lassie clinging to her from behind. She slips proudly down, shakes out her rumpled dress, puts the children in shape, while the horse is led away to its hitching post. The older boys and girls have now arrived and all prepare for a dignified entrance. Did they care how they looked in these old times? Where else did the styles have a chance to display themselves? Who will criticize Mrs. So and So if she whispers into her neighbor's ear what her last web was colored with or how many yards of frocking she had woven the past week ? Next comes the latest bride and groom on their horses and elegant saddles, which formed a part of their marriage dower. How gallantly he helps her to alight, 3
:
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HISTORY OF NORTHFIELD.
and, clad in their dainty bridal garments, they march pom- pously in. She is greeted with smiles and nods as he leads her to her first sitting in the family pew. And still they come- old Revolutionary uniforms, cocked hats, long waistcoats, knee breeches, silver shoe buckles and all. Mother's calash is rather large, but she thus shows she is well to do and can afford it, and, besides, there is every style of headgear that can be seen in a modern crowd. The square pews, like so many sheep pens, are filled and the doors shut and fastened, and only the heads of the taller ones are visible above the heavy grills around the top. There are no cushions on the narrow plank seats that turn back on their hinges as the family rises, as they are bound to do during the long, long prayers, and let fall with most unseemly clatter when came the ever-welcome amen.
The heavy plank seats in front of the double doors were used by the communicants when the Lord's Supper was spread. They were quite like modern pews, save that they were longer, and in front sat the deacon in charge of that day's service, overhung by the swell front of the high pulpit above. But, listen, the minister rises and announces the opening hymn in this wise : "Let us sing to the praise of God from Watts' and Select Hymns No. 120, long meter," which he does not read. Good Deacon Abbott now rises from his hiding place, ready to perform his stated duty. The chorister has already selected the tune and let us hope the choir has rehearsed it faithfully. The tuning fork is produced and the leader, biting it, rolls his eyes toward Heaven, sounds out his do, mi, sol, do, then turning to his choir, who lean towards him, he gives the keynote, which they sound out clear and loud. Now the lines are read by the deacon and sung by the choir until the usual number of verses are accomplished.
They were not all simple tunes, for many a choice anthem was sung as a voluntary, in which the deacon had no part. The singers were expected to do duty on other occasions, and many a sad funeral was made doubly dolorous by the misguided taste that could offer such comfort as came from the old hymn :
"Hark, from the tombs a doleful sound My ears attend the cry, Ye living men, come view the ground Where you must shortly lie."
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ECCLESIASTICAL.
Then follows the long appeal to Heaven for all ranks and conditions of men, and especially for some stricken family, who have sent in a written request for the prayers of the church and congregation that their recent bereavement might be sancti- fied to their spiritual good.
The elaborate sermon, in accordance with the prevailing cus- tom, is doctrinal and elaborates the accepted creed of the church. The minister spreads out his generous manuscript, announces his text, and gives the almost numberless divisions and subdi- visions that cluster in and around the theme. Each in turn is elaborated and proved and our well-nigh exhausted spirits are at last relieved by the trite announcement, "In view of this subject I remark first." These were often carried to eighthly, ninthly, lastly and finally. This was good old orthodox style, when sermons must be long to be in good form. But we do not go home even now. There is no Sunday School as yet and we sit in the shade behind the house and eat apples and the ginger- bread our mother so carefully provided, while the men gather about the grounds in groups, talk over the coming elections or discuss the weighty matters of national politics. The pastor is again seen wending his way to the pulpit and so again we enter. The service is an exact counterpart of the morning, save that the sermon is a practical one. Just before the benediction a clatter of hoofs is heard. The rider hastily dismounts and ap- pears at the open door. It is the "crier," perhaps the town clerk, who enters hastily and, with a loud voice, announces that marriage is intended between and -, giving the full names. This "publishment" must be given in three differ- ent public places and so the rider is off again ere we recover our breath. Sometimes he prefaced the announcement with "Hear ye!" and gave the added order, "If any one knows any reason why this marriage should not take place, let him speak now or ever after keep silence."
But we must not forget the tithingman. He, of course, is present with his "rod," not unlike a modern fish pole in size and length, tapering to the end. His duty it is to preserve order, expel offenders and, passing from place to place in the front row of the gallery, reach down to the sleepers below and tap them on the head. The giggling girls and whispering boys are
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HISTORY OF NORTHFIELD.
his especial charges, and those whose "eyes looked love to eyes that spoke again," and other misdirected eyes that peeped through Grandfather Knowles' balusters to some responsive ones in the nearest inclosure instead of looking straight to the min- ister, as they were in duty bound.
But we must not forget our colored friends for whom the house had special privileges in shape of a narrow seat at the top of the flight of stairs leading to the gallery. Sampson and Pompey could occupy the allotted space in the east wing and Phyllis and Dinah the west. Let us hope the doors were always left open so the service could reach them, or that otherwise they were allowed to go within the sacred enclosure.
But the end came at last, as the tired preacher closed his book and said, with uplifted hand, "Peace be with you all. Amen."
The hungry and impatient horses, that have stamped and neighed for the last hour, now receive their burdens and gallop swiftly toward "pastures green."
Sunday night is Lovers' Night! The Isaacs and Rebeccas linger a little behind. "Home tonight?" he whispers in a voice he thinks no one hears. She answers with a nod and a blush, and then they go their several ways, each and all satisfied that the day has been kept, if not in accord with the third com- mandment, at least according to customary usage.
After the Congregationalists went to worship at the academy, this house was abandoned, except for business purposes and an occasional school exhibition.
The first anniversary exercises of the Seminary were held here and were attended by a great concourse. When the town bought the brick church for its business meetings, it fell into decay and was owned by several private individuals in turn, until purchased of Joseph Hill by Hon. C. E. Tilton and re- moved to the fair grounds, at great expense and trouble, by George L. Theobald of Concord. It was put in good repair and used as an exhibition hall. It seems most fitting that North- field's Old Home Day exercises should be held in it.
FREEWILL BAPTIST CHURCH.
This sketch begins very properly with the biography of Elder Winthrop Young, since Northfield and Canterbury were one when this sect was first established and very soon spread to the
.
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ECCLESIASTICAL.
utmost western limits of the town on the Merrimack River intervale.
He was born in Barrington in 1753. When about 22 years old he married the sister of Micajah Otis. Mr. Young's name appears with the latter's among the nine petitioners from the Strafford Church to New Durham for help, after the Shaker delusion in 1782, which wrecked whole churches.
In 1787 he removed to Canterbury, where he was chosen cap- tain of the militia, and his tall, fine figure and courteous man- ners won him esteem and renown.
In 1793 Rev. Benjamin Randall visited the town and baptized a number, and Mr. Young became deeply interested and zealous.
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