USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > Sanbornton > History of Sanbornton, New Hampshire, Vol. I - Annals > Part 26
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219
MILLS AND MILL SITES.
third acres of land, to Widow Sarah IIuse, October, 1832. Must have been built many years before. Burned abont 1800.
The Philbrick Mill (saw and shingle) was on the Winnipiseogce (Tilton), near division line of Lots 77 and 78, Second Division, south of the Bay road, at raviue and graveyard. The railroad XXXII. - The Philbrick Mill,
now crosses the old mill-yard; otherwise grown up to Tilton. alders, but with remains of the old raceway still visible, between the railroad and river. There is still some fall at this point, - first swift water above the upper dam, Tilton Village. This mill was bought and removed by the Water Power Company, on commuen- cing their operations, in 1846.
A carding and clothing mill, built and occupied by Capt. Jesse Sanborn (probably between 1816 and 1820) stood at Union Bridge,
XXXIII. - The twelve or fifteen rods below the original mills, No. VI.,
Jerne Rauborn as now shown by marks of the old canal, opposite the
clothing mill. yellow house of late owned by Mr. Gile. It is thus evi- dent that the milling interests of East Tilton were formerly more extensive than at present, since the burning of the excelsior factory.
Ephraim Green had built and carried on his cloth-dressing and card- ing mill just below the Chapel mills, for some years previously to 1820, though not till that year did he receive a deed for the privilege (east side of Salmon Brook) from Nathaniel Piper. He bought that ou the west side of Cole Weeks. The mill was subsequently owned by XXXIV. - The Nathaniel Sanborn, and sold by him to William Chase, iu Circen-Chase 1845, whose son, Charles C. Chase, of Franklin Falls, still clutbing mill. owns the " power " (1874-80), the machinery having all been moved to Lawrence, Mass., several years ago. A shingle mill was also built upon this site, and afterwards a shop for chair stuff, etc., by Hollis K. Thompson ; the ruined frame of which (from a fire) was of late standing, though in part gone to decay.
The lowest dam on the Winnipiseogee was built between this town and Northfield, in 1818, just above the original Federal Bridge. The Sanbornton part (north side of river) was first improved by Dearborn Sanborn for a shingle mill, who sold his interest and seven acres of XXXV. - Earli. land to the Peabody Brothers (Kendall O. and James L.), est paper mill at in 1827, for $700. These gentlemen erected, that year, Franklin Fulls. the first paper mill, a " spacious two-story structure," on the site of the present extensive works of the Winnipiseogee Paper Company. This first mill employed four men and fifteen girls, the latter at fifty cents per week, including board. In January, 1835, Jeremiah F. Daniell became a member of the firm (purchasing one third), and a second mill was built, with machines and steam dryer, drawn with two six-horse teams from Windham, Conn. But on April
220)
HISTORY OF SANBORNTON.
27, 1837, both mills were consumed by fire. at a loss of $25,000, with insurance for only $8,000 ; with which, however, by leave of their end- itors, the enterprising firm ( Peabody & Daniell, Col. James L. Peabody lewing retired ) had a new mill " in full operation by the 29th of Veto- ber ensuing." The days of the company were dark till 1812, whirn, with brighter prospects, they resolved on another mill. Nathan S.C. Morrison, " who had unbounded faith in them, put the lumber on the ground and took their note, dne in one year, and the mill was raised May 3." From this time, for eight years, their annual profits were $7,000 or $8,000. Mr. K. O. Peabody died in 1855, and Mr. Daniell associated his son Warren F. in the firm, who became sole owner in 1862, and " conducted the business with conspicuous success," till he
Prescul opera- finally sold to the Winnipiscogee Paper Company in 1871 ;
Gotts of the which company, however, he soon afterwards re-entered Wiunipiacogcu
Paper Compa- as a leading manager. Other members of the company ny, mill No. :. were William A. Russell, of Lawrence, Mass., and the firm of Bulkley, Dunton & Co., New York.
This will, to which alone a Sanbornton history can lay any claim, is No. 2 of the company's establishments, No. 1 being on the other side of the river. A part of its houses were destroyed by fire and explosion, July 7, 1872, at a loss of $50,000, fully insured ; but the main building, containing the two first-class Fourdrinier machines, providentially escaped. Present product of this mill amounts (1880) to fifty tous per week, or an annual value (at. eight cents per pound) of $116,000. The buildings, tive in munber, erected 1878, are valued at $200.000. From eighty to one hundred hands are employed by this mill ( No. 2) ; one hundred and sixty-seven in all the mills of the company, with a weekly pay-roll of $1.500.
At about the same time with the last (or 1818), the original dam of the Aiken Mills at Franklin Falls ( first below the upper bridge) was built by Boston John Clark, three or four rods above the
XXXVI. - The
Nikon Mills ut present dam, at a cost of 8300. flere was Daniel M. Franklin Falls. Robinson's small machine shop, on the site of Mr. Her- rick Aiken's second, and the late Frank Aiken's, now Walter Aiken's finishing room. Messrs. Trussell & Morey afterwards built a yarn factory on the site of the present hosiery mill of Mr. Walter Aiken, which latter was erected in 1809 ; valued at $50,000, with an animal product of $150,000 to $200,000. In this and his machine shop one hundred and fifty hands are employed.
The present machine shop of Mr. AAiken was rebuilt on the site of the former wooden machine shop of his father in just one month after being burnt, October, 1805. The first brick was laid Nov. 1 ; the last mail driven on the slate roofing Nov. 30, - the shafting and pulleys
Marcin Ramiel
221
MILLS AND MILL SITES.
being set up as each story was completed, - so that immediately the whole establishment was set in operation. The building is one hun- dred feet long by thirty-eight wide, and four stories high. Quickest build. ing time ou This is claimed as the " quickest time" on a building of record. the kind ever realized in New Hampshire ; and that. too, without working Sundays ! The new brick building below the last was erected by W. Aiken for a serew factory in 1875, and rented to the Russell & Erwin Manufacturing Company, of New Britain, Con., in 1879. The two last-named buildings are estimated in value at $75, 000 ; and the whole yearly product cannot be less than $300,000.
Nathaniel Hohnes erected a mill, forty by fifty feet, for the manu- facture of cotton yarn and twine, in 1828, at the lowest of the four water privileges which are giving to Tilton Village its
XXXVII. - The Hubnes- Tilton eminent prosperity. In 1859, Col. A. H. Tilton put two Mills iu Tillon. sets of woollen machinery into this mill, and started ou cassimeres. The mill property, embracing seventy-five aeres, and extending one third of a mile down the river, controls an immense water power, with twelve feet fall at the mill, fifteen feet fall forty-four rods farther down, and twenty-three feet fall forty-four rods below the last. The original factory was much enlarged by Mr. Tilton (doubled in 1863), and gave employment (1872) to between fifty and sixty hands, with a net value of products in "Tiltou tweeds" of about $160.000 per annum. There were thirty-two looms and 1,700 spin- dles in the main building, besides the dry house, picker house, sorting, dye, finishing, and waste houses as separate buiklings ; also nine dwell- ings, including Mr. Tilton's, - the original Holmes mansion. The business is still carried on by Mrs. Tilton and Selwin B. Peabody (1×51) ; now employing seventy-five hands, with a pay-roll of $1,500 per month, and a mouthly product in tweeds and meltons of 30,000 yards. The looms are now all of the broad pattern. - twenty-four in umber, - ten new ones having been introduced in 1881. The present designation of this establishment is the " Tilton Mills."
The so-called " Upper Dam," at Franklin Falls, was built about 1852 for a large hosiery mill, two stories high, of stone, which was erected the same year, and operated by the Franklin Mills
XXXVIII. -
Tin l'pier Mall- ni Frauk. Company, also by the Nesmith Brothers (George W. and
liu Falls. John N., of Lowell, Mass.), associated with K. O. Pca- body. The boarding-houses - two less in number that at present - were built the next season. This mill was only run three or four years, and then burned. Its site is now occupied by one of the pulp mills of the Winnipiseogve Paper Company, which was first built in 1868 for the grinding of poplar-wood, and was built over in 1879. It employs about twenty hands.
292
HISTORY OF SANBORNTON.
The same company are now throwing another dam across the river (1881), near the site of the earliest bridge in this part of the town. (See Chap XVIII. p. 197, note. ) This may hereafter arrogate the title of " Upper Dam." It is supposed to be for still another pulp mill of the paper company, - the third upon Sauboruton soil.
We supplement this extended account of the mills of Saubornton by brief notices of the minor mill privileges that have been used at varions times in different parts of the town.
George C. Ward improved the small Cate Brook (so called) that flows out of Lot No. 28, First Division (west of the present road to XXXIX .- XLII. West Franklin), building one dam, and when that was aller water washed away, by the encouragement of his kind neigh- privileges. bors, another. Ilere he had a hat-pressing mill, and afterwards a lathing saw-mill for about two years.
While in this part of the old town, we might mention the wheel- wright shop of Abram L. Morrison, ou the river road in Franklin, Lot No. 28, First Division, the privilege being first improved by him in 1876, on Wadsworth Brook, near the old Andrew Thompson place. The dam is east of the highway, and cost, with shop, machinery, etc., about $600.
Passing still farther up our western valley, we may notice a thresh- ing mill, now standing in decay, just north of Mr. Folsom Morrill's, once run by a small stream which there empties into the Pemigewasset.
Finally, returning to the other side of the town, we have the bark mill for the tannery of Mr. True Philbrick, which many years ago was driven by the waters of Barker Brook, near the present residence of Lewis R. IInnkins, Lot No. 79, First Division. The old dam is still visible from the road.
Allusions may be added, to other and miscellaneous water-power and manufacturing interests, as follows : -
Ebeneber Dustin once had a dam on Salmon Brook, above Site I., and about fifty rods below the present P. Batehelder's, which cost some $300, for the purpose of " driving out his logs."
A steam saw-mill was in operation a few years near southwest corner of Lot No. 16, Second Division (Stuart Hoit place), as per county map of 1859.
Capt. Elisha Smith had also a clock factory in front of and near to road from the present Second Baptist vestry (Bay road), northeast
Other manu- corner Lot 18, Second Division. In connection with these
facturing in- might be named the extensive hat shops, book bindery, and
tereslo. printing office of Sanbornton Square, and the manufactur- ing operations of Gridley and others which gave its appropriate name to the Tin Corner. (See Villages, etc., Chap. XX.)
-
223
MILLS AND MILL SITES.
The manufacture of eye-glasses was commenced at Tilton by the Lord Brothers in 1879, with a new and thoroughly constructed build-
ing for their steam factory and store, thirty-two feet frout,
Eye-glass fac- eighty feet long, having two stories with a basement, and tory, Tiltou. costing nearly $10,000. They employ from thirty to thirty- five workmen, producing, on an average, ten gross of the common glasses per day, and an annual value of about $20,000.
The establishment of Mr. Hollis K. Thompson, as a furnishing undertaker and manufacturer of collins, caskets, etc., with a present stock in trade of about $6,000, is claimed as one of the oldest and largest of the kind in New Hampshire. IIe began (in
II. K. Thomp- sou, undertaker. connection with the furniture business till 1855) at his residence, in this town, below the Chapel, in 1842, where his wareroom is still kept, though with branch warerooms in Tilton and New Ilampton, and headquarters recently transferred to Franklin Falls. (See Vol. II., p. 787 [108].) Mr. Thompson has furnished from one hundred to one hundred and eighty funerals annually, since 1855, at prices varying from $6 to $175.
The statement in Merrill's " New Hampshire Gazetteer," 1817, may now be accepted as an item of history : -
Quotation from "Sanbornton has eleven grain mills, thirteen saw-mills, three Merrill's "N.M. clothing mills, two carding machines, one nail factory, an oil-will, Gazetteer." a distillery, and six trading stores.".
A glance at the foregoing catalogue makes it evident that the whole number of grain (grist) and saw mills must have been somewhat greater at that time (1817). The distillery was Lovejoy's, at the Square, whose, also, were most of the stores. The number of grist-mills now (1881) in active operation- within the limits of the old town is only tive, and of saw-mills tive ; three of the former and two of the latter being on the Winnipiseogee, the others on Salmon Brook. All the other mills named in the above statement have long since disappeared.
* The Weekly Visitor of Oct. 23, 1824, enlarges this enumeration to " fifteen saw- mills, fourteen grist-mills, six carding machines, an oil-mill, five clothing mills, one circular saw clapboard machine, and twelve stores."
CHAPTER XX.
VILLAGES AND PLACES OF BUSINESS IN SANBORNTON.
" Vix scio que fueritu; vix Roma Roma recordor." - HILDLBERT (BISHOP OF LE MAUR), A. D. 1057.
So great are the changes in several of the villages of our town, some having passed from a state of former business activity to utter dead- ness, and almost to non-existence at present, and others having changed in precisely the opposite direction ; so little resemblance, moreover, can there now be traced between these places as they were and are to-day, on account either of growth or decadence, that the words of the ancient bishop just quoted would be quite applicable in their case : " 1 scarcely know what I may have been ; I, Rome, scarcely remember Rome." In confirmation of this, we will first give a view of the busi- uess places of
I. - SANBORNTON SQUARE, AT VARIOUS TIMES,
Commencing at its npper extremity : -
1. The original Colby house, just north of the late Emerson Giles place, was one of the earliest tavern stands in town.
2. The Leavitt place, as of late known, was built by Capt. Benja- min Colby, for his sou Benjamin, who went into trade there, in 1891 or 1802.
3. Near this, and probably at the house itself (" one half a mile north of the meeting-house," according to advertisement in the Weekly Visitor, October, 1824), Simon Rowe "carried on the
An advertise- tailoring business," having " correspondents in Boston and iment in 1521. Philadelphia, with the newest fashions furnished, especially from the latter city."
4. Near the present William Payne's was the early blacksmith shop of Asa Currier, which was also occupied by his son, Asa, Jr., as late as 18-11.
5. A store on the hill nearly opposite the cemetery, where the house of 11. P. Wilson now stands, was kept by Thomas Taylor in 1800. Afterwards occupied by Joseph Perley. Burned about 1828.
SANBORNTON SQUARE, PRON THE SOUTH. (Taylor Elin.)
COLBY-I.EAVrrr IlotsE.
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VILLAGES AND PLACES OF BUSINESS.
6. Below, and opposite the old meeting-house, "Joshua Bangs kept the first ( ?) tavern that was opened in town, as early as 1792," probably succeeding James Sanborn, the original owner of the place.
in town.
llere, also, one Bangs, of the same family, was a tailor. First tavern On the same site followed the store of Simon Lane, for many years, the building of which was afterwards moved down both hills and made into the present dwelling-house of Jonathan M. Taylor, Esq. In this same building David Ellsworth had his " tailoring shop," in 1824, " opposite the meeting-house," with " new- est fashions, etc., from Philadelphia and Boston."
7. Joseph Conner occupied the site of the " old store " (late Chase Jaques's dwelling-house) with a one-story building, kept
The Conner
buildings. as a store, about the years 1790-92 ; soon after taken and enlarged to its present dimensions by the Kimball Brothers, who also had an extensive potash establishment near the present (Dr.) Carr house.
8. Mr. Connor also owned and carried on, in connection with his store, a blacksmith's shop in the corner of what is now the Bodwell (late Boutwell) field ; the Square proper then extending, on the other side, unfenced, to the Esq. Sauborn (now Thomas M. Jaques) house.
9. A small building, in the rear of the last [8], was occupied as a timnan's shop, while the original homestead of
10. Daniel Sauborn, Esq., was used both by himself and his son, Dr. Benaiah Sanborn, as a tavern or public house.
11. Under the hill, the small house now owned by Miss Mary Clough, was tirst built for a hatter's shop, was next a jeweller's shop, then a timman's, and finally the milliner's shop of Miss Esther San- born.
12. A cooper's shop was very early carried on by one Mr. Clark, near the present residence of Mrs. Blaisdell, or between that and the late Dr. James B. Abbott house, like the more recent joiner's shop of John M. Blaisdell.
13. The distillery of George C. Ward, Sen. (1790), was on the site of the new barn of Jona. M. Taylor, Esq. (1879), the water for the same being taken from the excellent well above, which now supplies, by aqueduets, the houses of Mr. Taylor and Rev. M. T. Runnels.
14. The original blacksmithi's shop of Mr. Taylor was built by Joshua Lane, Jr., about 1811 ; also the present house of Samuel W. Morrison, - same afterwards occupied by his wife's second husband, Jolm Mace.
15. A. printing office, where probably the Weekly Visitor was started, stood a little north of the present barn of Daniel Jacobs 15
226
HISTORY OF SANBORNTON.
(the old tavern barn formerly extending farther back) ; while south of the said barn was -
16. The hatter's shop of John Little, John E. Badger, and others
Hat shop and for several years, sneceeded by a two-story building, erected for the same business (ou what is now the north-
printing office long ago din. west corner of the Ruumnels lot), by Woodman & Lane, appearing.
about the year 1828. Only the hay scales stood between this and the tavern barn, back of the present piump. This latter building was some forty feet by twenty-tive feet (frout). The so- called .. knapped hats " were made extensively at first, by which the building was paid for. Mr. Woodman left for Gihnanton Iron Works in 1833. Lane continued the busines still 1837-38, and was succeeded by Benjamin Whiteher. The law office of Benjamin Boardman, Esq., and the shoemaker's shop of Jolm Hill were also in this building. It was afterwards a tenement house.
17. On the other side of the street, opposite [15], was the dwelling, us also the harness and saddler's shop of Jeremiah G. Sanborn ( where now Samnel P. Calef, 1881), "receiving from Boston an elegant and extensive assortiment of saddlery and harness ware, plated and com- mon bits, plated stirrups, and English winkers ; also a few bear-skins - for sale, violin strings, and clarionet reeds " (advertisement in Gazette, August, 1825).
18. The tavern stand, now occupied as a private house by Mr. Jacobs, was kept by Chase Jaques in 1826 ; previously by two or three others ; and finally by J. Hilliard Lane. It was the largest and latest continued of the hotels at the Square.
19. On the site of M. T. Runnels's present house was the " great store" of Andrew Lovejoy, Esq., built by George C. Ward, Son.
The Ward- (1791-92 ?), who also erected the three-story house below
Lovejoy storu and [13], as above ; what are now the three distinct lots building. being then in one. The sheds of this store extended over the later garden plot to [16]. Mr. Ward kept his store at first, a short time, in the house of Major Chase ( Esq. Nathan) Taylor ; afterwards at Rev. Mr. Woodman's, probably (at one or both places), under the style of Ward & Cushing, 1789. He did not long continue in trade at his new store ; but was succeeded in 1796 by Andrew Lovejoy, who greatly cularged the business. drawing an extensive retail trade from all the neighboring towns, and even a wholesale trade from the mer- chants of Northern New Hampshire and Vermont. He was followed, after 1815, by Thomas Gihnore, Capt. Jonathan Moore (ou leaving the Bridge), Charles Lane, Bartlett Hill, Mr. Veazie, and Rev. James Thompson. By Capt. Moore, what had been the dry-goods or English department was changed into a dwelling-house ; and what had been
227
VILLAGES AND PLACES OF BUSINESS.
the West India or grocery department was retained for a store. The whole building was burned Feb. 6, 1855, and was replaced by the pres- ent cottage house, about two years afterwards, by Mrs. Thompson.
20. A slaughter-house stood in the rear of these buildings, in the days of Mr. Lovejoy,
21. Who also owned a large distillery below, on the opposite side of the street ; and
22. A potash building, still farther down, in the edge of the pres- eut. Taylor pasture. Mr. Lovejoy, in all these departments of busi- ness, gave constant employment to about thirty men, keeping teams all the time upon the road, in both directions.
23. The house of the late Charles R. Heath, opposite [19], was built early in this century, and the L part afterwards added by Charles IIntchins for George Blanchard's saddlery. Matthew Perkins, Esq., having bought the building of Mr. Hutchins, there practised law after 1817.
24. A large building, south of the last, had been previously built, and its upper story was dedicated as "Union Hall" (Masonic), Aug. 11,
Union Ilall and 1815. The lower story was occupied at first by a company book-printing for a store ; also by Charles Hutchins, William Greene, and catablisbieut.
Charles Lane (1824), as traders. Subsequently the whole building was devoted to the large printing and book-binding establish- ment of Charles Laue and others (see Books and Papers in Sanborn- ton). The building was vacated and finally burned, fully grown and thrifty apple-trees now flourishing ou its site !
25. The "yellow building," south of the last, and adjoining [21], was first a hatter's shop, carried on by Mr. Little ; then the saddler's shop of Mr. Blanchard (before going to [23]), and finally a dwelling- house till its removal.
26. Opposite the last, at the foot of the street, stood the Chase Tay- lor house, the upper story of which was afterwards added and tastefully equipped for the studio of the late Mr. Walter Ingalls, as a portrait painter ; more recently the offices of Drs. A. W. and E. Abbott.
27. Finally, as completing the business places of the Square, we have the hatting establishment of John Lord, who succeeded Mr. Kim- ball on the place now owned by Warren D. Pike .*
It thus appears that upon the three hills or elevated plateaus of the Square village, where now the ouly place of business is a single blacksmith's shop, there have been in former generations, within the distance of one and a half miles, from north to south, no less than
* To the above should be added [es], the blacksmith's shop of Daniel Gale, which once stood a little east of the late homestead of Noah Eastman, Esq.
228
HISTORY OF SANBORNTON.
four different situations where hotels or public houses have been kept,
Summary of at least six places where trading stores have been main-
bustina placca tained, and some of them quite extensive ; four sites of
ut the square. blacksmith shops, including the one now occupied ; four of hat shops, three of saddler and harness shops, two of printing estab- lisluments, together with a proportionable amount of other branches of business which were common in those times, and could be carried on withont the aid of water power.
Among the dwelling-houses at the Square, the two earliest, as already noted, were Esq. Daniel Sanborn's, and Mr. Kelley's, near the light and " ledge," which has since borne his name. The Taylor house, the: main part of which still remains as when the first town meeting of Sanboruton was held in it, was erected in 1768.
The " great house " built by Mr. Ward (see under [19]) happened to be a three-story house - the only one in the place - on this wise :
Some of its Mr. Ward and William Harper, Esq., on the hill, had
dwelling-houses. agreed to build " honses just alike "; but in the process of construction it was discovered that Harper was put- ting some extra finishi on his, like the mouldings over the doors, and Ward, to retaliate, added another story to his house ! It was bought by Col. A. II. Tilton, more than twenty years ago, and converted into tenement or " corporation " houses, at the Bridge.
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