USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Claremont > History of the town of Claremont, New Hampshire, for a period of one hundred and thirty years from 1764 to 1894 > Part 13
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HISTORY OF CLAREMONT.
passwords, and none but members were admitted to its meetings.
The meetings were held at different places until June, 1855, when a large and commodious hall in the second story, west end, of O. J. Brown's wooden block, was leased and formally dedi- cated as Fraternity Hall, by which name it was ever after known as long as the building stood. In August, 1855, the Fraternity. adopted the voluntary corporation act in the statutes, applicable to religious and other societies, and became a corporation.
From a small beginning this society grew to be an institution of considerable influence and importance in the town, numbering among its active members many of the leading citizens. The members became accustomed to speaking in public, and preparing and reading essays upon the current topics of the day. Correct habits and good morals were inculcated, and the beneficial influ- ence of this society was long felt in the community. The last record was of a meeting on April 30, 1864, after which by reason, probably, of the enlistment in the army of many members, and the all absorbing subject of the War of the Rebellion, after an existence of sixteen years this organization became extinct.
Other debating and literary societies -the most of them public - were organized at different times, at West Claremont and in the village, but generally had but a brief existence, and were of no considerable importance.
FISKE FREE LIBRARY.
In 1873, Samuel P. Fiske, a native citizen of Claremont, founded a free library in the following manner :
DEED OF SAMUEL P. FISKE TO THE TOWN OF CLAREMONT.
Know all men by these presents, That I, Samuel P. Fiske, of Claremont in the County of Sullivan and State of New Hampshire, do hereby give, grant, and convey unto the town of Claremont, in said county, in trust forever, Two Thousand volumes of Books, named and described in a Catalogue or Schedule, hereafter to be made, to constitute, with such other books as may hereafter be added by the donor, a library for the benefit of all the inhabitants of said town, and the members of Stevens High School in said Claremont, and to be known as Fiske Free Library.
FISKE FREE LIBRARY.
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HISTORY OF CLAREMONT.
This gift is made on condition that the said town of Claremont shall accept the same; shall furnish a suitable building, room, or rooms in which to keep the same, and the same shall be kept in the upper hall or room of Stevens High School, until a more suitable place shall be provided therefor ; shall at all times keep the same well insured against loss from fire; shall keep said books in a good state of repair, and shall replace with books of equivalent value any that may be worn out, lost, or otherwise destroyed. And the Committee of Stevens High School shall have the custody, control, and management of said Library ; purchase, arrange, and catalogue the books, appoint a Librarian, and make all needful rules and regulations for the management of said Library and the use of the books, all at the expense of the Town of Claremont; and the said Town shall in like manner keep and care for and replace losses in all ad- ditions to or enlargements of said Library by said donor.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this seventh day of August, A. D. 1873.
SAMUEL P. FISKE. [L. s.]
(Witness) IRA COLBY, JR. W. H. H. ALLEN.
The above deed was read at a town meeting, held Agust 15, 1873, when the following resolution was passed :
Resolved by the town of Claremont, That we cordially accept the munificent gift of Two Thousand volumes of valuable books from Samuel P. Fiske, Esq., upon the conditions and terms of his deed of trust to said town of Claremont, dated August 7, 1873, hereby pledging to the donor that such conditions shall be faithfully complied with, on the part of the town, for the use and perpetu- ation of the Fiske Free Library.
The following resolution was offered by Prentis Dow, and passed :
Resolved, That the Selectmen of the town of Claremont are directed to pay the bills of Stevens High School Committee for the insurance of the books do- nated by S. P. Fiske, Esq., and for any expense incurred in providing a suitable location for the same, not exceeding in all the sum of one hundred dollars per annum.
The location of the library in the upper story of the Stevens High School building, away from the center of business, was found to be inconvenient for readers, and, as a consequence, was unsat- isfactory to Mr. Fiske. Early in January, 1877, Mr. Fiske invited gentlemen supposed to be most interested in the library to meet
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HISTORY OF CLAREMONT.
him for consultation as to the best means for making it more accessible to readers, and accomplish more fully the donor's wishes.
A committee, consisting of John S. Walker, Otis F. R. Waite, and Charles A. Piddock, was appointed to recommend a plan at a subsequent meeting, who made a report recommending the purchase of the Bailey building, at the junction of Main and Sullivan streets, for four thousand five hundred dollars, and that . the second story be fitted up for the library at an expense not exceeding one thousand dollars; the money for the purpose to be borrowed from the Tappan school fund at six per cent interest. The committee stated that the building was then rented for four hundred and ninety dollars; that, after taking what would be required for the library, the remaining part of the building would rent for more than enough to pay the interest on the debt in- curred. After some discussion the meeting voted to recommend to the town at its next annual meeting to purchase the Bailey building for four thousand five hundred dollars, and fit up, alter, and repair it at an expense not exceeding two thousand five hun- dred dollars.
At the annual town meeting in March, 1877, it was
Voted, that a board of five Trustees be chosen by the Town, and be author- ized to purchase in behalf of the Town the Bailey Building, so called; to fit up such portion of the second story as may be necessary for the accommodation of the Fiske Free Library. Such purchase not to exceed Forty-five Hundred Dollars, and such alterations not to exceed the sum of twenty-five Hundred Dollars. And that the said Trustees be authorized to draw from the Tappan Fund for the requisite sum to carry out this order, and pay therefor from the rents of said building interest at the rate of six per cent per annum. And that said Board of Trustees, and their successors hereafter, have the custody of the Fiske Free Library, instead of the High School Committee. Or that said Board be further authorized, if in their judgment they think proper, to purchase and fit up some other building, not to exceed the sum heretofore named for said purpose.
At the same meeting Daniel W. Johnson, Otis F. R. Waite, Alfred T. Batchelder, Osmon B. Way, and Algernon Willis were elected and qualified as trustees of the Fiske Free Library.
The trustees at once took a deed in the name of the town of the Bailey building, paying therefor four thousand five hundred dollars.
SAMUEL P. FISKE.
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HISTORY OF CLAREMONT.
Before anything had been done by them toward altering and fit- ting up the building for the library, a special town meeting was held on the 28th of April, 1877, at which the following resolution was passed :
Resolved, That the Town Treasurer and Selectmen be authorized and instructed to give the note or notes of the Town, at six per cent interest, to the Trus- tees of the Tappan Fund, for the sum appropriated at the last annual Town- Meeting for the purposes relating to the Fiske Free Library, not exceeding in all the sum of Five Thousand Dollars.
The trustees did not call for the five hundred dollars author- ized to be expended for alterations, etc., and made no essential changes in the building, and the library remained in the high school building. At the annual town meeting in March, 1878, the trustees reported :
Received and will be due for rents of Library building, April 1, 1878 . $420.00 Interest on $4,500, one year $270.00
Paid water rent and repairs
12.74
282.74
Leaving a balance over interest, water rent, and repairs of $137.26
At this meeting the town, on the recommendation of the trustees, re-enacted its vote of 1887, and appropriated two thousand five hundred dollars to alter and repair the library building. The trustees procured plans and specifications, and let the contract to do the work to Messrs. Hira R. Beckwith and Levi R. Chase, of Claremont. The work was very satisfactorily done by them for a little more than two thousand three hundred dollars. The balance of the two thousand five hundred dollars was expended in furnish- ing the library rooms.
Early in September, 1878, the books were moved from the high school building to the new rooms, about six hundred new books added, and all were arranged and catalogued. At a meeting of the trustees on the sixteenth, Miss Abbie Field was chosen librarian, and has served faithfully in that capacity ever since. Messrs. Batchelder and Willis removed from town, and their places were filled by the election of Messrs. H. W. Parker and Ira Colby.
150
HISTORY OF CLAREMONT.
Mr. Fiske made a will, giving to the town of Claremont nine thousand dollars, five thousand dollars to be expended in books as they should be needed, and as he pleased, should he live to expend that sum; the balance, if any, at his death, to go into the hands of the trustees, to be expended by them for the same purpose, and the other four thousand dollars to be a fund to be invested by the trustees, the interest of which was to be used for the purchase of books. His wife, Miranda S. Fiske, in her will added one thou- sand dollars to this fund, making it five thousand dollars. Mr. Fiske died February 8, 1879, and Mrs. Fiske deceased May 27, 1882. At the death of Mr. Fiske there was found by a detailed account left by him, to be unexpended for books $1,194.68.
Books have been added to the library from time to time by Mr. Fiske while he lived and since his death by the trustees, so that the whole number in 1893 was more than seven thousand volumes - many of which are works of reference, some of them quite ex- pensive and valuable - affording advantages for obtaining infor- mation realized only by such as are fortunate enough to enjoy them, while there is a fair proportion of standard histories, biogra- phies, and travels. The demand has been largely for light reading and fiction. To meet this demand great care has been exercised to select books only of a wholesome and improving character, by the best authors. From ten to twelve hundred books are con- stantly in circulation, the whole number of patrons of the library being about three thousand.
It will be seen by the terms of the bequest of Mr. Fiske that the income of the permanent fund left by him and his wife must be used to increase the library, as the town has to pay all expenses, for room, librarian, incidentals, keep the books in repair, and re- place any worn out or destroyed with others of equal value. Thus in a few years Claremont will have a collection of considerable magnitude.
CLAREMONT BOOK CLUB.
About 1865 twenty or thirty persons formed a club under this name, which was continued until after the Fiske Free Library was
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HISTORY OF CLAREMONT.
established in its present rooms. Each member paid five dollars as an admission fee, and such annual assessments as the club voted. Others, not members, had the privilege of reading the books by paying three dollars per year in quarterly payments. All the money thus obtained, after paying expenses, which were very small, was expended for books until six or seven hundred volumes had been collected. It was managed by a committee of its mem- bers and supplied a present want. When there was no further need for this club the books were distributed among its members by auction and its affairs wound up.
The several churches in town have each a Sunday school library, composed of books suited to the capacity of the young, but supply a need in their way and help to form a habit and create a taste for good reading.
In town are many private libraries, some of them quite large and valuable.
George L. Balcom has more than four thousand volumes of val- uable, and many of them rare, old and new books, the accumula- tion of years of patient research. His collection of American his- tories, and especially those of New Hampshire, is one of the most complete of any in the state.
Bela Chapin has between one and two thousand volumes of standard works of history, science, poetry, and literature, selected with much care.
Robert K. Dow has a collection of rare books, largely devoted to science and art.
C. B. Spofford has about two thousand bound volumes and three thousand pamphlets, consisting of historical and genealogical works, principally relating to New Hampshire, a large collection of Masonic and other secret society publications, and said to be one of the largest pharmaceutical collections in the state.
Dr. C. W. Tolles has a large and very complete collection of medical and surgical works and a good miscellaneous library.
Dr. O. B. Way has a large and valuable collection of medical works, and quite an extensive miscellaneous library.
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HISTORY OF CLAREMONT.
Dr. F. C. Wilkinson has a large and valuable collection of works devoted to veterinary science.
Otis F. R. Waite has between two and three thousand volumes of books of reference, history, biography, agriculture, poetry, and fiction.
J. S. Walker has a miscellaneous collection of about one thou- sand volumes. He has also some copies of paintings by the old masters, ordered when he was in Europe.
F. H. Brown has a considerable collection of classical books and works of fiction.
H. W. Parker, Ira Colby, E. D. Baker, and Herman Holt, each have extensive law and miscellaneous collections of books.
John L. Farwell has about one thousand volumes, many of them rare and expensive. Among them is an edition of Audubon's "Birds of America." He also has some copies of paintings by the old masters.
NEW HAMPSHIRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
The annual field day of this society was observed by a visit to Claremont, on the twenty-ninth of September, 1891, and to Charlestown on the following day. On arrival at Claremont the members were met at the railroad station by George L. Balcom, a member of the society, and one of the committee of arrange- ments, whose guests they were while in town. Of those from out of town were John J. Bell, of Exeter, president of the society ; Isaac K. Gage and daughter and Mrs. C. H. Sanders, of Penacook; John Kimball, Hon. Sylvester Dana, Rev. C. L. Tappan and Mrs. Tappan, Edson C. Eastman and Mrs. Eastman, Joseph B. Walker, J. E. Pecker, P. B. Cogswell, Woodbridge Odlin, and John C. Ordway of Concord, and George Olcott of Charlestown. They were escorted to rooms of the Tremont club in Union block, where had assembled about forty of the prominent ladies and gentlemen of the town, who extended to the visitors a cordial and hearty wel- come. It was a notable company and a notable event for Claremont.
A sumptuous banquet had been prepared by caterer C. M. Leete, in Grand Army rooms, in the same building, to which the party
HARRY C. FAY.
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HISTORY OF CLAREMONT.
was invited. The " National Eagle" had an account of this gather- ing, from which the following is an extract :
After the banquet the meeting was rapped to order by President Bell, and Major Otis F. R. Waite, who had been requested to do so, read a paper relating to the early history of Claremont. It was replete with incidents of historical events connected with Claremont's early days. We publish it in full and doubt not it will be read with pleasure.
Joseph B. Walker offered resolutions, which were unanimonsly adopted, of thanks to Tremont club and Major Jarvis Post of the Grand Army for the use of their rooms; to George L. Balcom for his generous hospitality; and to Major Waite for his interesting address, and requesting a copy for publication in the Transactions of the Historical Society.
The visitors were driven in carriages about the village, to West Claremont, and thence to Claremont Junction, whence they took cars for Charlestown.
NEWSPAPERS.
THE CLAREMONT SPECTATOR
was the first newspaper published in town. Cyrus Barton was its publisher and editor. The first number was issued August 29, 1823, and the last September 3, 1824. It was in a building "just south of the Brick Church, formerly occupied by Caleb Ellis as a law office," which was on the ground where the Episcopal rectory now is. Mr. Barton removed his paper and printing office to New- port, where he established the "New Hampshire Spectator." In 1833 a newspaper called the " Argus" was started here, and edited by Edmund Burke. In 1834 it was removed to Newport and united with the " Spectator," the new paper taking the name of the " Argus and Spectator," which it has ever since borne, Mr. Burke becoming editor.
INDEPENDENT ADVOCATE.
This was the title of a newspaper published here in 1833, by J. Nye, for a short time, " in the room over the postoffice." How long its publication was continued, or why it was discontinued, is not known.
11
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HISTORY OF CLAREMONT.
THE IMPARTIALIST.
A paper with this title, devoted to the interests of the Universalist denomination, published by W. A. R. Nye and edited by W. S. Balch and T. F. King, and at different times by others, from 1832 to 1835, was issued every Saturday. It was finally merged in the " Watchman and Christian Repository," published at Woodstock, Vt.
From about 1847 to 1849 Solon Silsby published a paper devoted to musical science, entitled " The Philharmonic Journal." It was finally sold to a New York firm and merged in some other publi- cation.
THE NATIONAL EAGLE.
This paper was established in October, 1834, under the direc- tion of a committee appointed at a Whig Sullivan county con- vention the year before. The first number was issued by John H. Warland, editor, and Samuel L. Chase, printer. In 1836 the establishment was purchased by John H. Warland and Joseph Weber. In 1842 Mr. Weber bought Mr. Warland's interest, and became sole proprietor and editor, and continued the publication of the paper until October, 1846, when Charles Young and John S. Walker bought the establishment, Mr. Walker taking charge of the editorial department. In 1849 Mr. Walker sold his interest to John H. Brewster, and the paper was published by Young & Brewster until April, 1854, when Otis F. R. Waite bought the establishment, and continued the business until 1860, when he sold out to John S. Walker. Mr. Walker sold to Simon Ide, whose successors have been Arthur Chase, Thomas J. Lasier, Hiram P. Grandy, and H. C. Fay. The present publishers and editors are Messrs. Fay, Thompson & Fay.
THE NORTHERN ADVOCATE.
This paper was started in Claremont in June, 1849, by Joseph Weber, as a Free Soil paper, who continued its publication until November, 1881, when by reason of advancing age, he sold the
JOSEPH WEBER.
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HISTORY OF CLAREMONT.
establishment to the present editor and proprietor, R. E. Mussey, who changed the title of the paper and called it "The Claremont Advocate."
THE COMPENDIUM.
The publication of a literary paper with this title was com- menced in May, 1870, by S. H. Story, and printed one year as a weekly. The publication was then discontinued until January, 1872, when it was resumed and published fortnightly until Jan- uary, 1875. It was then changed to a monthly and called "The Narrative," under which arrangement it has since been continued by Mr. Story.
CHAPTER XII.
FARMING INTERESTS.
As an agricultural town Claremont has but few equals in New Hampshire, and her farmers are among the most intelligent and independent of her citizens. Those settled on Connecticut river were the earliest to engage in tilling the soil - this section being the best adapted to that industry - while the inhabitants of other parts of the state were employed in lumbering, fishing, and other pursuits, to the exclusion of agriculture. Our farmers have gen- erally been readers upon the subject, and as a consequence have adopted the best methods, and used the best implements known for carrying on the business to which their lives have been de- voted. Industry, intelligence, temperance, and economy have had their reward in healthy bodies, thrift, comfort, and independence.
With a few exceptions the farms have not been large - varying in size from one hundred to two hundred acres-but they are almost all of them well tilled, productive, having upon them well kept, commodious, and substantial buildings, and good fences. Many of our farmers have manifested an interest in town, county, and state agricultural societies from the early days, been active in promoting their organization, and constant in encouraging and supporting them. Cheshire county - Sullivan then forming a part of it-was the second in the state to organize an agricultural society, Rockingham being the first; but Cheshire put forth the first premium list, and held the first fair, or show of stock and other productions of the farm.
In 1817 the Cheshire Agricultural Society, which had been pre- viously formed, appeared before the legislature as petitioner for
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HISTORY OF CLAREMONT.
the bounty and aid of the state, and the subject was referred to a committee who reported, recommending that "the sum of one hundred dollars be appropriated to the use of the Cheshire Ag- ricultural Society for the purpose of enabling said society to grant premiums for the best productions, either of stock, grain, or such articles as may be thought advisable, and that said society be re- quested to include the subject of domestic manufactures with the objects of their association." In accordance with this recommen- dation a resolution was passed granting one hundred dollars each to the agricultural societies of Rockingham and Cheshire counties.
The first meeting of the Cheshire Agricultural Society was held at Claremont on the first Wednesday of October, 1817, at which the following officers were chosen : Mr. Roswell Hunt, of Charles- town, president; Col. Joseph Alden, of Claremont, vice-president; Major Ezra Jones, of Claremont, treasurer ; Isaac Hubbard, Esq., of Claremont, secretary. An executive committee was chosen, consisting of nine persons, of whom Josiah Stevens, of Claremont, was one.
At this meeting a premium list was agreed upon. This docu- ment was the first of the kind ever issued in New Hampshire. Two hundred and twenty-eight dollars were offered, divided as follows :
For the best pair of working oxen, not over eight years old $25
For the next best do. .
15
For the best bull, not less than two years old
15
For the next best do. . 10
For the best milch cow, not over eight years old .
15
For the next best do. . 10
For the best pair of steers, three years old
20
For the best do., two years old
15
Best yearlings, not less than four in number 20
For the best boar, not over two years old 10
For the next best do.
5
Best pigs, not over eight months old, nor less than four in number
12
Best merino ewes, not over four years old, nor less than five in number
15
Next best do.
10
Best ewes of common sheep
10
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HISTORY OF CLAREMONT.
FAMILY MANUFACTURES.
Best piece dressed woolen cloth, not less than ten yards $15
Best piece of linen cloth, not less than ten yards 10
Best piece of flannel made from wool, not less than twenty yards 10
Best cheese 5
Best flax, from one acre
20
Best wheat, on old ground, per acre, reference to be had to the quality .
15
Among the rules at the close is an offer of "ten per cent, in addition to the above, to be paid to any member of the society who may present any stock raised and owned by himself, enti- tled to a premium, or any of the manufactures or produce." The exhibition was notified to take place at the next annual meeting, to be holden at Charlestown, on the first Wednesday of October, 1818, at 10 o'clock A. M.
In 1819 this society held a cattle show and fair in Claremont. The day was fine, the exhibition in every department large and excellent, and the crowd of people one of the greatest ever seen in town. A procession was formed and marched from the north to the south side of the river, headed by Joel Goss and David Buck- man, dressed in farmer's frocks and wide brimmed straw hats, sowing oats on the way. Vegetables, fruits, domestic manufac- tures, and fancy articles were shown in the building on Broad street, afterward occupied by Glidden & Dean as a store, and now Dr. Cyrus E. Baker's dwelling-house.
This society continued in existence until the county of Cheshire was divided, and the fifteen towns in the northern part of it were set off and made the county of Sullivan in 1827.
SULLIVAN COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
This society was organized in February, 1848. The following autumn an exhibition or fair was held in Claremont, and proved a great success in every respect. Among the Claremont men who were prominent and active members of this society were Isaac Hubbard, first president; John S. Walker, president in
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