USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Amherst > History of the town of Amherst, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire (first known as Narraganset township number three, and subsequently as Souhegan West) > Part 13
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saw-mill, 20 x 76 feet, well timbered, and built in a firm, substantial manner.
The machinery was driven by a 50 horse power engine, having a balance-wheel 16 feet in diameter, with a face of two feet.
In the Cabinet we have the following description of the steam mill buildings and machinery :
6 May, 1847. " Amherst steam mill is now in full operation, so far as sawing and grinding is concerned. The saw-mill commenced operations 2d February, and the grist-mill 1 May.
The grist-mill is provided with 3 run of French burr stones, 43 feet in diameter ; 2 superfine bolts, 18 feet long, 40 inches in diameter; a cob cracker ; and a smut-mill.
A clapboard and a shingle mill are nearly completed, and will be in operation in a few days.
Engine house, 36 x 32; saw-mill, 20x 76; grist-mill, 32 x 34 ; machine shop, 40x 100; 3 stones ; engine, 50 horse-power, cylinder, 16 inches in diameter ; balance-wheel, 16 feet, 2 feet face ; 2 boilers, 25 feet long, 42 inches in diameter ; 2 return flues, 15 inches in diam- eter ; main belt, 2 feet wide, 110 feet long, connecting balance-wheel with a pulley 65 inches in diameter, on a shaft 26 feet long, which carries the grist and saw mills. Another shaft driven from this shaft, designed to carry the machinery in the machine shop, is 120 feet long, running the whole width of the saw-mill and the whole length of the machine shop."
The undertaking proved an unprofitable one, the ex- pense of operating the establishment being greater than its income justified. The buildings were burned 25 March, 1849.
The second term of the Teachers' Institute of Hills- borough county commenced at the court house 1 Novem- ber, 1847. William Russell, of Medford, William H. Wells, of Andover, and Lowell Mason, of Boston, were among the teachers. Sixty male and one hundred and three female teachers were enrolled, and the session was an interesting and profitable one. Among those who attended a portion of the time was the veteran teacher, Miss Ann Orr, of Bedford.
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The organization of the Hillsborough County Agricultural Society was completed at a meeting held at Hardy's tavern, 8 February, 1848. Dr. Peter P. Woodbury was chosen president ; Edward D. Boylston, treasurer ; and David Stewart, a member of the executive committee.
This society held a fair at Amherst 1 and 2 October, 1851, which was considered one of the most successful ever held in the county. The Manchester American, speaking of it, said-
" It was truly a good time, and one exceedingly encouraging to the friends of agricultural progress. Too much credit cannot well be given to the citizens of Amherst for the way in which their local arrange- ments were conducted. Every provision for the accommodation of the society was ample. The police was excellent, and every thing was arranged upon a system that left little to wish for."
The Nashua Telegraph said " Amherst folks did first- rate."
The society held several fairs subsequently, at various places, but finally disbanded.
In 1849, Ezra Holt, of this town, raised from 175 square rods of ground 134 bushels ears of corn, of the ten rowed variety, 31 bushels of beets and round turnips, 7} cart loads of pumpkins, 8 bushels potatoes, and 1 bushel white beans.
THE FIRE PRECINCT,
As established by the selectmen 21 June, 1850, is as follows :
Commencing at the court house it extends on the road to Daniel Campbell's, 359 rods ;
On the New Boston road, 411 rods ;
On the Old Turnpike road, 455 rods ;
On the road leading by the new burying-ground, 228 rods ;
On the road leading by the Timothy Patch place, 351 rods ;
11
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On the Milford road, 314 rods ;
On the old Milford road, 306 rods ;
On the old Boston road, 260 rods ; On the road to Thornton's Ferry, 502 rods ;
On the Brown road, east, 396 rods ;
On the Pond parish road, 432 rods ;
On the Bedford road, 365 rods ; On the Dodge road, 524 rods ;
With the outlines running from one to another of these points.
8 July, 1850. A meeting of citizens residing within the limits of the above precinct was held, at which the neces- sary officers were elected.
The town, at a meeting held 27 April, 1853, voted to repair the fire engine and provide suitable hose for the same, and constituted the board of selectmen a committee to carry the vote into effect.
At the meeting held March, 1856, they
" Voted, that the town will raise a sum not exceeding $500, when an equal sum shall have been subscribed by the citizens, for the purchase of a fire engine, and chose John F. Whiting, James L. Hardy, and Charles Richardson, a committee to examine and procure an engine."
SUPPORT OF PAUPERS.
At a meeting held 8 October, 1850, seven votes were east in favor of the county farm system, and forty-five against it. Sixty-one votes were given in favor of selling the county farm at Goffstown, and fourteen against it.
The State tax this year was $352.80; the county tax, $612.76.
79 votes were given in favor of the passage of the " Homestead Exemption " law, and 20 against it, at a town meeting held in March, 1851.
" Bloomer " dresses made their appearance in the spring
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of 1851. Mr. Boylston notices the appearance of two at church in " blue, bright, and Hardy."
A raid was made upon the liquors in the Nutt tavern 11 August, 1851, by a party of young men who destroyed them.
A large number of citizens were appointed special police- men to preserve order and suppress the sale of ardent spirits at the fair of the Hillsborough County Agricultural society, 22 September, 1851.
The Nutt tavern having been opened as a temperance house, about one hundred and fifty friends of temperance made the proprietor a visit and partook of a supper, 6 February, 1852. Aaron Lawrence, Esq., presided. Music was fur- nished by Messrs. Carlton & Hamlet. Addresses were made by the President, Rev. Messrs. Davis and Burroughs, Perley Dodge, Esq., Dr. F. P. Fitch, and Samuel Campbell, Esq., of Mont Vernon. The festivities were brought to a close at ten o'clock by singing " Old Hundred," the whole company standing.
26 votes were given in favor of the passage of " an act for the suppression of drinking houses and tippling shops, and 99 against it, at a meeting held 26 November, 1852.
8 March, 1853, the town instructed the selectmen not to license the sale of ardent spirits, except for mechanical and medicinal purposes, and they were directed to appoint a committee of five persons to prosecute all violations of the liquor law. On the 27th of April following, Richard Boyl- ston, Francis Wright, Elbridge Hardy, and David Fiske, 2d, were appointed as the committee.
There was a great scarcity of silver change in the spring and summer of 1853, not enough being in circulation for ordinary business transactions. The want was soon sup- plied by the coinage of silver pieces of lighter weight than formerly, pieces of the new emission being distinguished from the older ones by figures of arrow heads on either side of the date. After this the old-fashioned four pence-half
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pennies, ninepences, shillings, pistareens, quarters, halves, and milled dollars, of Spanish and Mexican coinage, dis- appeared from circulation, many of them being badly worn and mutilated, fit only to be melted and re-coined.
25 August, 1853, a beautiful comet was visible in the north-west, a few degrees above the horizon.
The inventory of the estate of Hon. Charles G. Atherton returned to the probate office in December, 1853, amounted to $162.000, the largest estate ever left in the county at that time.
In March, 1854, William J. Weston, Peter Carlton, Joseph Mace, and Benjamin B. Whiting, were appointed to make a new appraisal of real estate for purposes of taxation.
113 persons were enrolled by the selectmen in April of this year as liable to do' military duty.
Twenty-nine males and eleven females were confined in the jail 12 October, 1854. A thriving establishment truly !
The winters of 1855-56 and 1856-57 were very severe. For a period of forty-five days, extending from 25 Decem- ber, 1855, to 9 February, 1856, the weather was at no time warm enough to melt the snow from the roofs of buildings, even in sheltered situations.
The cold term the next winter extended from 20 Decem- ber, 1856, to 27 January, 1857, during the whole of which time the snow remained unmelted on the roofs of buildings.
The 23d day of January, 1857, was probably the coldest experienced in New England for a century. A brisk north- west wind prevailed through the day, and the thermometer at no time in the day rose to zero. In the morning and evening it was about 25 degrees below zero; in some places 35.
Hay caps, for protecting hay and grain from storms, came into pretty general use in 1856.
The culture of sorgho for sugar and molasses was com- menced by some about this time, but it was soon abandoned.
A mass meeting of the friends of Fremont and Dayton
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was held on the plain, 25 September, 1856. It was probably the largest political gathering that ever assembled in town. Delegations were present from Manchester, Nashua, Milford, New Boston, Brookline, Lyndeborough, Merrimack, and other towns. A procession was formed, under the direction of Capt. Daniel Hartshorn, as marshal, which marched to the place of meeting. Charles H. Camp- bell, Esq., acted as president of the day, and speeches were made by Mason W. Tappan, Daniel Clark, and others. Campaign songs were sung, and general enthusiasm pre- vailed.
Two hundred guns were fired by the Democrats of this town, 21 November, 1856, in honor of the election of Mr. Buchanan.
The old " Read store," long a noted place of business on the plain, was taken down in May of this year.
16 August, 1858. The first message by the ocean tele- graph to England was transmitted to-day. On the receipt of the news the bells in town were rung, and in the evening many houses on the plain were illuminated.
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
At the annual meeting 8 March, 1859, the town
" Resolved that the town of Amherst will at some suitable day in January, in the year of our Lord 1860, celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of the town, and that the selectmen, with such others as they may add, be a committee to make such arrangements and appropriations as they may think proper and suit- able for the occasion."
4 October, 1859. The new engine company appeared for the first time in their new uniform-red jackets, blue collars, front belts, and caps. A beautiful banner was presented to them by Miss H. J. Nutt, in behalf of the ladies of the town.
There was frost in every month of this year. On the night of 6 June there was a severe one in most of the
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Northern and North-western states. At Portsmonth, it is said, enough to form a ball the size of a hen's egg was collected from a surface a yard square.
The selectmen, Perley Dodge, Barnabas B. David, Edward D. Boylston, Charles H. Campbell, and David Stewart, were appointed a committee to make arrangements for the observance of the one hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of the town, 18 January, 1760.
On account of the inclement season at which the anni- versary occurred, it was judged best to defer its celebration until a more favorable season of the year. Accordingly the 30th day of May, 1860 was selected for the purpose. and an invitation was extended to the towns of Milford and Mont Vernon, formerly parts of Amherst, to unite with the parent town in the observances of the day. The invita- tion was accepted by the town of Milford at the annual meeting held 10 March, 1860, but declined by the town of Mont Vernon.
The centennial of the first town meeting, 20 February, 1760, was celebrated by the citizens of the town, who assembled in large numbers in the town-hall under the Congregational church, on the evening of the 20th of February, 1860. Charles H. Campbell, Esq., presided, and prayer was offered by Rev. J. G. Davis. Music of ye ancient times was performed by a choir clad in appropriate costume. The ancient fire-place, of ample dimensions, with ye settle for ye younge folks near by was re-produced, and the ample supply of bean porridge, furnished by ye " blacke cowe," in attendance, together with other substantial refreshments popular in the days of the fathers and moth- ers, were partaken of. Old documents were read, and the Todd family appeared, doing marvelous things in the way of cobbling, spinning wool, flax, etc. At the close an invita- tion was extended to all present to attend the next centen- nial celebration, the assurance being given that the latch string would be left out for all on that occasion !
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30 May, 1860, the centennial of the incorporation of the town was commemorated. A procession was formed at 10 o'clock, near the court-house, under the direction of Capt. Daniel Hartshorn, in the following order :
Marshal, Manchester Cornet Band, Lawrence Engine Company, Committee of Arrangements, Chaplain and Orator, Invited Guests,
Selectmen of Amherst, Milford, and Mont Vernon, Citizens of Amherst, Milford, and Mont Vernon.
On the arrival of the procession at the stand on the common, after order had been restored, prayer was offered by the chaplain. The town charter was read by William A. Mack, Esq. This was followed by music from the band, and an address by Hon. Horace Greeley, of New York, a native of the town. At the conclusion of the address the procession was reformed and marched to the town-hall, where a dinner was partaken of.
After the close of the performances in the hall, the com- pany returned to the stand on the common, where speeches, sentiments, etc., were in order.
A severe storm of wind, rain, and snow occurred 7 Febru- ary, 1861. The morning of that day was mild and rainy. Toward noon the wind rose, and at night increased to a gale. The next morning was one of the coldest ever expe- rienced here, the thermometer standing at -36°, a change of 66° in twenty-four hours.
The State tax paid by the town this year was $339.50; county tax, $648.55.
In June a magnificent comet made its appearance in the northwest, and remained visible several weeks.
7 June the town Union flag on the common was hung at
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HISTORY OF AMHERST.
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half mast, and the bell tolled during the hour appointed for the funeral of Hon. Stephen A. Douglas.
25 June leave was granted by the selectmen to such persons as might subscribe for the same, to build a reservoir on the common, the control of which should be under the direction of those who contributed to its building.
The Fifth regiment N. H. Vols. was composed of one company from each of the counties in the State. The com- pany from Hillsborough County was commanded by Capt. Charles E. Hapgood, of Amherst, and went into camp 25 September, 1861.
11 March, 1862, the town voted that the next inventory of taxable property in town should be sworn to by the owners of same.
4 July, 1862. Independence day was celebrated by the sunday-schools and citizens of the town generally. A pro- cession was formed on the common, which marched to the Atherton grove, where the eatables and drinkables provided for the occasion were disposed of, after which addresses were made, and songs were sung by the children. Another " good time" was had at the town-hall in the evening, where songs were sung, tableaux presented, etc.
12 August, 1862. Voted on an act providing for remov- ing the trial terms of the courts and the county offices of the county of Hillsborough from the town of Amherst. In favor of the act, 1; against it, 269.
28 March, 1863. Voted that the selectmen be author- ized to audit and settle the account for expenses incurred in defeating the bill attempted to be passed at the last session of the legislature, for removing the courts and county records from this town.
State tax paid by the town this year, $1,309.50; county tax, $756.64.
15 February, 1864. The town Union flag having been destroyed, the young ladies of the place held a fair to raise the means of purchasing another, which being accom-
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plished, the flag was this afternoon presented to the Repub- lican club, to be used as a Union flag and for. no other purpose. After the presentation of the flag by Miss H. J. Nutt and its reception by John F. Whiting, it was raised to its place. Speeches were made by E. D. Boylston, J. G. Davis, W. B. Clark, and E. B. Richardson. A sentiment from Dr. F. P. Fitch, president of the bachelor's club, com- plimenting the ladies for their gift, was received with cheers. The club and the citizens then united in singing " The Star Spangled Banner." Three cheers were given for the speakers, and three times three for the flag, at the close of which the town-clock, as if entering into the spirit of the occasion, struck the hour of three, which was fol- lowed by three cheers for the loyal town-clock.
In the evening the party assembled at the residence of E. D. Boylston, where, after partaking of a bountiful repast prepared by the club, toasts and sentiments were in order.
8 March, 1864. The selectmen were directed to provide a suitable place for keeping the fire engine and apparatus, for which they were authorized to expend a sum of money not exceeding $300.
State tax, 1864, $2,425.00 ; county tax, $756.64.
State tax, 1865, $3,892.50 ; county tax, $927.52.
A great rain storm occurred on the sixth and seventh days of March, 1864, which caused quite a freshet in the Souhegan and its tributaries. In this storm the Chickering bridge was so badly washed that it fell in, and had to be rebuilt.
" SOLID" MEN AND WOMEN IN AMHERST, 1866.
Incomes as sworn to by internal revenue tax-payers.
Aaron Lawrence,
$6,600 Perley Dodge, $1,845
Mary Boylston, 2,481 Rufus Converse, 1,697
Harrison Eaton, 2,200 George W. Moore, 1,363
Charles H. Campbell, 2,188 George W. Fletcher, 1,221
Charles Converse, 2,106 Josialı G. Davis, 1,210
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Francis P. Fitch,
1,122
Samuel Ober, 1,066
George A. Ramsdell,
1,099
Hollis E. Abbot, 1,007
J. O. Pulsifer,
1,076 Daniel S. Perkins, 1,000
The Amherst Hotel company, incorporated in June, 1866, was organized 31 December, 1866, by the choice of Charles Richardson, Jotham Hartshorn, Harrison Eaton, John F. Whiting, and William A. Mack, directors, and George F. Stevens, clerk.
22 December, 1866, the town voted-49 to 24-to sub- scribe $4,000 to the stock for building the hotel, agreeably to the provisions of an act approved 6 July, 1866, on condi- tion that an equal amount of stock be subscribed and paid for by individuals.
The hotel was formally opened to the public 29 April, 1869, by Mr. D. E. Chamberlin, the lessee, who took pos- session the 9th day of March preceding. About 300 ladies and gentlemen were present from this and the neighboring towns, who passed a very pleasant evening. Musie was furnished by the Hollis Cornet band, and the company was entertained with songs by Miss Helen A. Russell.
The hotel stood on the south side of the common, on the site of the old " Stewart" house, which had been removed to another locality.
The main building was 70 x 36 feet, three stories high ; adjoining it, running south, was an ell, 60 x 30 feet, also three stories in height. Two piazzas extended the entire length of the main building in front. The whole expense of the building, at the time of the opening, had been $20,000.
The house was kept for some years by Mr. Chamberlin. After he left, it was kept one year under the charge of Harrison Eaton, Esq., one of the board of directors of the company, when it was sold to Marshall Davis. By him it was sold to Thomas Saunders, who afterward sold it to C. A. Shaw, of Boston.
It was burnt on the morning of 25 January, 1876.
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Sunday, 15 July, 1866, the sum of one hundred dollars was contributed in the Congregational church for the relief of the sufferers from the recent fire in Portland, Maine.
At the annual meeting in March, 1867, the town voted on the question of abolishing pauper settlements in towns. In favor, 1; against, 197.
The old " Stewart" house, which was saved from the fire of 2 December, 1863, by which the surrounding build- ings were burnt, was moved in September, 1867, to the site of the Nntt tavern, west of the turnpike, the old tavern buildings there having been burnt 1 July, 1865.
23 June, 1867. John Doyle, of New Boston, was killed at Wilton in a melee with Thomas Broderick, a resident on " the Acre," in Amherst. Doyle formerly lived in Amherst, and served in the 10th N. H. Vols. in the civil war. In October following Broderick was sentenced to one year's imprisonment.
Francis Wright raised an ear of corn this year on which were 1,264 kernels.
Decoration day was observed in this town for the first time, 29 May, 1868.
No greater rain fall has been experienced in Amherst for a century than that which took place on the third and fourth days of October, 1869. Between seven and eight inches of water fell in the course of forty-eight hours, and, at the close of the storm, most of the roads were so badly washed as to be impassable. A vast amount of property, consisting of dams, bridges, mills, etc., was swept away.
REPAIRING THE COURT HOUSE.
At a meeting held 3 November, 1868, the selectmen were appointed a committee to confer with the county commis- sioners relative to the acceptance of the court house, keep- ing it in repair and in a fit condition to accommodate the courts, on condition of receiving the rents that might be received from its use.
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9 August, 1870. Edward S. Cutter, Edwin R. Burtt, and Thomas M. Harvell, were chosen a committee to examine the title of the town to the court house and ascertain the amount of money necessary to be expended to put the house in a suitable condition for the accommodation of the courts, town meetings, etc.
6 September, 1870. This committee made a verbal report in regard to the title, and recommended the enlarge- ment of the court room to the full size of the building, raising the walls of the ells to the same height as those of the main building, erecting a stairway in the north ell, and putting the roof of the house in complete repair, the whole of which they estimated could be done for twelve hundred dollars.
The report was accepted and adopted, and Perley Dodge, Edwin R. Burtt, and Harrison Eaton, were appointed a committee, with full powers to make the proposed altera- tions and improvements.
A survey for a railroad having been made between Danforth's corner and King's mills, in New Boston, a dis- tance of 11g miles, and the route being found feasible, the town, at a meeting held 2 January, 1869, voted to give the road the right of way across the town farm, the use of the ledge on the farm, and gravel for building the road. It was also voted-180 to 66-to take stock in the road to the amount of five per cent. of the valuation of the town.
22 January, 1869. The town of Mont Vernon, after once refusing to aid in the construction of the road, voted, at a meeting held this day,-109 to 48,-to take stock in the road to the amount of five per cent. of its valuation last spring.
Post O. W. Lull, Grand Army of the Republic, decorated the graves of their fallen comrades at Milford and Amherst, 10 June, 1869. After decorating the graves of the sol- diers in Milford, the Post, at 1 o'clock P. M., proceeded to Amherst, where they were met and escorted by Lawrence
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engine company, Capt. Gilbert Small. An oration was de- livered from the band stand on the common by Col. Carroll D. Wright, of Boston, and brief addresses were made by Bainbridge Wadleigh, Esq., and Lieut. Humphrey Ramsdell, of Milford, the performances being interspersed with sing- ing by the members of the Amherst High school. At the conclusion of the services the company was entertained at the court house by the ladies of the town.
12 March, 1872, the selectmen were instructed to provide a room in the court house to be used as a "lock up," in which to imprison offenders against the police regulations of the town.
At this meeting the seleetmen were instructed to build an engine house, at an expense not exceeding $900. And it was voted to exempt from taxation, for a term of ten years, the capital and buildings of manufacturers who may hereafter locate in this town, whose annual sales from the products of their business shall exceed $5,000.
8 May, 1873, the town voted to lease the granite ledge on the pauper farm for a term of years not exceeding five, and the selectmen were authorized to give the lease.
At a meeting held 30 October, 1875, the town voted to defend an action brought against them by Henry M. Fair- field to its final termination.
4 JULY, 1876. NATIONAL CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY.
The day was observed in Amherst by the ringing of bells and the firing of guns at sunrise and again at sunset. The day was cloudless, and the landscape clothed with the rich- est verdure, and all classes seemed intent on rejoicing.
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