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 29
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348
HISTORY OF CLAREMONT.
On November 22, 1864, the organization was changed to the Claremont National Bank, under the laws of the United States. George N. Farwell, president; John L. Farwell, cashier; directors, George N. Farwell, Thomas Sanford, Nathaniel Tolles, Aurelius Dickinson, Lewis Perry, Jotham G. Allds, Charles H. Eastman. Present capital, one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. In Octo- ber, 1881, provision was made for a vice-president, and John L. Farwell was elected to that position, and his son, George N. Far- well, 2d, was elected cashier. George N. Farwell, senior, died February 24, 1887, and on March 15 his son, John L. Farwell, was elected president. The officers for 1893 were : John L. Farwell, president; George N. Farwell, cashier; Chester Pike, of Cornish, John L. Farwell, Francis Locke, George N. Farwell, Stephen F. Rossiter, J. Duncan Upham, directors.
THE PEOPLE'S NATIONAL BANK.
This bank was organized and commenced business September 1, 1892, with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars. F. P. Maynard, president; George H. Stowell, vice-president; George A. Tenney, cashier ; directors, F. P. Maynard, George H. Stowell, H. W. Parker, W. H. H. Allen, O. B. Way, I. D. Hall, E. J. Tenney, P. A. Johnson, and C. A. Forbush. This bank is located in Union block.
SULLIVAN SAVINGS INSTITUTION
Was chartered by the New Hampshire legislature in 1838, organ- ized in 1847, and commenced business in 1848. President, Am- brose Cossit; treasurer, George N. Farwell. After the institution was organized and well started in business, Mr. Farwell resigned and Samuel C. Bailey was elected treasurer in his place. January 7, 1852, Mr. Cossit resigned the presidency, and Timothy Eastman was elected president, and George N. Farwell again chosen treas- urer. On January 2, 1856, John L. Farwell was elected treasurer. In January, 1859, Albro Blodgett was elected president, in place of Timothy Eastman, deceased. In January, 1861, Mr. Blodgett resigned and was succeeded by Jonas Livingston. Mr. Livingston
349
HISTORY OF CLAREMONT.
having removed from town, Mr. Blodgett was re-elected president, which position he held until his death, and was succeeded by Daniel W. Johnson, in January, 1870, who held the office until January, 1893, when he resigned, and John L. Farwell was elected presi- dent. In February, 1874, John L. Farwell resigned the treasurer- ship, and Albert Rossiter was elected in his place, which he held until December, 1882, when he resigned, and John L. Far- well was again elected. At the annual meeting in January, 1893, the deposits were $1,732,812.75; guaranty fund, $85,000; surplus, $21,492.82.
The Claremont Bank and Sullivan Savings Institution were located on Broad street, in the building now the residence of Geo. L. Balcom, until 1855, except that while Samuel C. Bailey was treasurer the Sullivan Savings Institution was in Bailey's block, now the Fiske Free Library building. In 1855 these two banks were removed to the north end of George N. Farwell's block. In 1876 the two cor- porations united in erecting the bank building, at the south of Mr. Farwell's block, and when it was completed removed to it.
RAILROADS.
SULLIVAN COUNTY RAILROAD.
This railroad runs from Bellows Falls, Vt., through Charlestown, Claremont, and Cornish, N. H., to Windsor, Vt., a distance of twenty-six miles. It was chartered by the New Hampshire legisla- ture July 10, 1846, and opened for business February 5, 1849. It connects at Bellows Falls with the Cheshire railroad for Boston, via Keene and Fitchburg; the Valley railroad for New York, via Springfield and Hartford; the Rutland for Montreal and the West; at Claremont Junction with the Concord and Claremont rail- road for Concord and Boston, and at Windsor with the Central Vermont railroad for St. Albans, Montreal, and the West. The cost of this road was represented by five hundred thousand dollars in stock and eight hundred and fifty-four thousand seven hundred and ninety-six dollars and ninety-three cents in debts secured by
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HISTORY OF CLAREMONT.
mortgage bonds. After having been in operation two years it was surrendered to trustees for the benefit of creditors, and in 1863 was leased to the Central Vermont. In 1866, the corporation being hopelessly bankrupt, the property was sold for five hundred thou- sand dollars to the bondholders, who formed a new corporation, changing the name from Sullivan railroad to Sullivan County rail- road, and the road was re-leased for two years to the Central Ver- mont for twenty-five thousand dollars per year. Of the stock of this corporation the Northern railroad was the principal owner. In 1880 the Vermont Valley corporation purchased the stock, and it became a part of the Connecticut river system. In 1893 this road was leased to the Boston and Maine railroad.
CONCORD AND CLAREMONT RAILROAD.
This road extends from Claremont Junction, where it connects with the Sullivan County railroad, through Newport and Bradford to Concord, fifty-six miles, where it connects with the Concord rail- road for Boston, and with the Northern and Boston, Concord and Montreal railroads. At Contoocook it connects with the Monad- nock, Peterborough and Hillsborough railroad for Winchendon, Mass., via Hillsborough and Peterborough. This road was built from Concord to Bradford, twenty-seven miles, in 1850. In 1871 and 1872 it was built from Bradford to Claremont Junction, twen- ty-nine miles, and opened for business over the entire line, in Octo- ber, 1872. That part of this road from Bradford to Claremont was built under the name of the Sugar River railroad, aided by gratuities from towns on its lines. Claremont contributed one hundred thousand dollars. In 1873 the Sugar River was consoli- dated with what was called the Merrimack and Connecticut Rivers railroad, under the name of the Concord and Claremont railroad.
WINDSOR AND FOREST LINE RAILROAD.
At the session of the New Hampshire legislature, in 1870, a charter was granted for a railroad from Windsor, Vt., to Green- field, N. H., there to connect with the Nashua and Wilton railroad.
SULLIVAN RAILROAD HIGH BRIDGE.
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HISTORY OF CLAREMONT.
Soon a company was organized by the grantees, and a route has been surveyed through Cornish, Claremont, Unity, Acworth, Lempster, Washington, Marlow, Stoddard, and Hancock, to Greenfield, and pronounced feasible. The distance from Claremont to Boston over this route is from twenty-six to thirty miles shorter than by way of Concord, or Keene and Fitchburg, an advantage which may secure the building of this road in the future.
CLAREMONT AND WHITE RIVER JUNCTION RAILROAD.
In 1872 the New Hampshire legislature granted a charter for a railroad from Claremont to White River Junction; the grantees organized a company, and a route was surveyed from Claremont village through Cornish, Plainfield, and Lebanon to White River Junction, Vt. It was found that a road could be built over the route surveyed at very moderate cost, and it has been thought that the many advantages to be gained by it would ensure its con- struction.
BLACK RIVER RAILROAD.
Charters for a railroad from Cavendish, Vt., through Springfield village to Claremont Junction, there to connect with the Concord and Claremont and Sullivan County railroads, have been granted by the Vermont and New Hampshire legislatures; a company has been organized, surveys and estimates of the expense of building the road made.
CHAPTER XXVI.
TOWN HALL - COTTAGE HOSPITAL - HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES.
TOWN-HALL.
This is truly an historic building. In 1783 Ichabod Hitchcock, the only master carpenter in town for several years, hewed the timber, which was packed up for nearly two years; then it was framed, raised, boarded, and rough floors laid, under the supervis- ion of Mr. Hitchcock, in which condition it was used for the Con- gregational meeting-house, for a time. It stood on the highway leading from the village to Claremont Junction, near W. H. H. Moody's horse training park. The building was taken down, its timbers and boards removed to the village, and in 1790 put to- gether again in its present location, by Mr. Hitchcock. The inside was subsequently finished with large square pews and hinged seats and a high pulpit, which was reached by a flight of narrow stairs, with a sounding-board over it, according to the general fash- ion of that period. In 1808 the steeple, or tower, and the octa- gon portion on the south side, were added. A bell was placed in the tower in 1810, and in December, 1827, a clock, made by Thomas Woolson, an ingenious mechanic of the town, was put in the tower, and has remained there, marking the hours and minutes into which the day is divided, with commendable accuracy, to the present time.
Upon the top of the steeple was a gilded wooden ball, ten or twelve inches in diameter. On this ball Linus Stevens, a carpen- ter's apprentice, sixteen years old, mounted and stood upon his head, with his feet in the air. At the age of seventy-six years
TOWN HOUSE IN 1850.
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HISTORY OF CLAREMONT.
he was present at the rededication of the town hall, in January, 1868.
The land on which this building stands, and the park south of it, was given to the town by Josiah Stevens, father of Deacon Josiah, Alvah, Godfrey, and Col. Paran Stevens.
This building was occupied by the Congregational society as a place of religious worship, and for town-meetings, until 1835, when that society had completed its new meeting-house on Pleasant street. Since that time it has been used only as a town-hall.
From 1835 for thirty-two years, but little was done to improve the inside of the building, except to replace the square pews with rude board settees and the high pulpit with a small platform or stage; and nothing to the outside more than to keep it covered and give it a coat of paint occasionally. In April, 1867, pursuant to a vote of the town, passed at the annual meeting in the preced- ing March, under the direction of the board of selectmen, consist- ing of Francis Locke, Arnold Briggs, and Henry C. Cowles, and with Benj. P. Gilman as architect and superintendent of the work, the building was completely remodeled and repaired, inside and out, at an expense of something more than ten thousand dollars, making it a very handsome and commodious town hall, of suffi- cient capacity for the needs of the town at that time, though the population had quite outgrown it in 1894.
Early in January, 1868, the work having been completed, a meeting of citizens was held and a committee to arrange for ap- propriate exercises for the rededication of the building was chosen. On the evening of January 15 the hall was packed with citizens of Claremont and vicinity interested in the event. Otis F. R. Waite, chairman of the committee of arrangements, in a short address, welcomed the people to their reconstructed and elegantly finished and furnished town hall. Amongst other things, he said, "We have suffered so long and so much from the inconveniences and discomforts of the old building as to make the changes and repairs made upon it in the last few months stand out like 'a good deed in a naughty world.'" He then announced the following as the
354
HISTORY OF CLAREMONT.
officers for the occasion : President, Charles H. Eastman ; vice- presidents, Samuel P. Fiske, Charles M. Bingham, Geo. N. Far- well, Daniel W. Barney, Hosea P. Shedd, Samuel G. Jarvis, Wil- liam Ellis, Winthrop Sargeant, David Dodge, Charles F. Long, Francis Whitcomb, Alonzo Thomas, Freeman S. Chellis, Ruel Bowman, Benj. P. Walker, Samuel H. Andrews, Amos Hitchcock, Lyman Barnes, Horace Dean, Nathaniel Tolles, Edward L. God- dard, Arnold Briggs, Fred. A. Henry, and Solon C. Grannis ; sec- retaries, Otis F. R. Waite and Arthur Chase.
The president being introduced delivered an appropriate address, commending the improvements upon the building and the skill and faithfulness of those engaged in making them. Prayer was offered by the Rev. E. W. Clark, pastor of the Congregational church, followed by the performance by a select choir and orches- tra under the leadership of A. P. Wyman, of the anthem " Mighty Jehovah."
John S. Walker was introduced as the principal speaker of the evening, and made a very interesting address, giving a history of the town-hall building, its various locations and changes since 1783, followed with short speeches by Samuel G. Jarvis, Ezra J. Glidden, of Unity, and some others, and the adoption of resolu- tions of thanks to the superintendent and artisans, who had acted well their respective parts in the execution of the work upon the building being dedicated.
These exercises were followed by a genaral ball, in which about eighty couples of old, middle aged, and young participated. The ladies appeared in elegant and tasteful toilets, and the gentlemen in becoming evening dress. The music was furnished by a fine orches- tra, and it was a gay and brilliant affair, successful in all its parts, and will be long remembered by those who took active part in, or witnessed it.
Since 1868 no material changes have been made in the external or internal appearance of this building. It is a landmark, beloved for its age, venerable architecture, and many pleasant associations with former and present generations, but for which it would prob-
COTTAGE HOSPITAL.
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HISTORY OF CLAREMONT.
ably long since have been replaced by a more commodious and modern structure.
COTTAGE HOSPITAL.
In 1866, the Ladies' Union Aid Society, composed of women be- longing to the several religious societies in town, and others, was organized. The object of this organization was to extend help to the feeble and poor, according to their needs. In 1892 the Clare- mont Building Association donated to this society a small building which had been used for a post-office; it was moved to a vacant spot a few rods east of the town-hall and fitted up for meetings and storage for donations of clothing, etc.
In December, 1891, this society voted to take up hospital work, and in February, 1892, thirteen members signed articles of agree- ment and organized as a voluntary corporation, the object being " the establishment and maintenance of a hospital; the care of the aged and children ; caring for the poor; educating the young, and lending a helping hand to all." In March, 1892, a committee to select a site for a hospital was chosen, consisting of Drs. C. W. Tolles and O. B. Way, H. W. Parker, Mrs. H. C. Fitch, Mrs. C. U. Dunning, Mrs. S. N. Bennett, Mrs. Samuel Baum, and Misses Fan- nie B. Jones and C. Isabelle Dutton. This committee settled upon a part of what was for many years the Keyes farm, about a mile north of the town hall, between Hanover and Elm streets, owned by R. B. Lull, with a cottage house, stables, and sheds thereon, which could be bought for thirty-five hundred dollars. Means were taken to raise this amount by subscriptions, which was accomplished early in November, in sums varying in amount from twenty-five cents to two hundred and forty dollars. Ten gentlemen subscribed one hundred dollars each. Other sums were obtained by a picnic upon the hospital grounds and in other ways. At the annual town meeting in March, 1893, by virtue of an enabling act of the New Hampshire legislature, it was voted to exempt from taxation the real estate owned by this society, so long as it shall be used for hospital purposes.
This society has a relief fund, which has been kept distinct
356
HISTORY OF CLAREMONT.
from the hospital fund. The officers for 1893 were Mrs. Edwin Vaughan, president; Mrs. H. A. Dickinson and Mrs. H. C. Fitch, vice-presidents; Mrs. Samuel Baum, secretary; Miss C. Isabelle Dutton, treasurer; Mrs. Herbert Bailey and nineteen other ladies, executive committee; advisory board of gentlemen, John L. Farwell, George L. Balcom, O. B. Way, John T. Em- erson, and P. P. Coburn ; auditor, Burt Chellis.
Repairs and alterations on the house, adapting it for a hospi- tal for the sick, capable of accommodating ten or twelve pa- tients, having been completed, it was dedicated with appropriate exercises and named the Cottage Hospital, on July 13, 1893, soon after which it was opened for the reception of patients. The Episcopal, Congregational, Baptist, Methodist, Universalist, and Catholic churches, each donated a hospital bed, while citi- zens and others interested gave liberally of money, furniture, provisions, etc.
HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES.
The first road through Claremont was a horse road or bridle- path from Lebanon to Charlestown, laid out in 1762, by marked trees and other signs to guide the traveler through the wilder- ness. Lebanon was the first town on Connecticut river above Charlestown to be settled. The settlers had to go to Charles- town to get their grain ground, until a mill was built nearer to them. Hence the necessity for this horse road.
At an adjournment of the first town meeting held in Clare- mont, on the twenty-ninth day of March, 1768, Benjamin Brooks and Benjamin Sumner were chosen a committee to lay out a road to Newport.
At the annual town meeting in 1772, it was "Voted to raise thirty-five Pounds Lawful Money toward the amendment of the Highways."
At the annual town meeting in 1780, it was "Voted that each man shall work two days on highways and bridges."
LOWER VILLAGE AND BRIDGE.
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HISTORY OF CLAREMONT.
ASHLEY FERRY.
In 1784, Oliver Ashley was granted a charter for a ferry across Connecticut river, from the south part of Claremont to Weathersfield Bow, Vt., and a ferry has been maintained there since then.
LOTTERY BRIDGE.
In 1785 there was necessity for a bridge over Sugar river, on the road up and down Connecticut river, and the following were the means taken to obtain it:
To the Hon'ble the Gen'l Court of the State of New Hampshire Humbly Sheweth -
That Your Petitioners Who Were appointed a Committee by a Number of the Inhabitants of the town of Claremont, assembled on the first day of November 1783 for the Purpose of Laying a plan for building a bridge Over Sugar River, to Accomadate the Main Country Road; Subscriptions Were Open'd in the Town aforesaid And the Generous Donations Came in to the Am't of Sixty Pounds Chiefly by Yr Petitioners (Except a few Indi- viduals on the Great road who Expected to be Accomadated by Said Bridge) Which Money Was Carefully Laid Out by yr Petitioners in procuring timber Which is Now on the Spot. And in the Meantime When Said Work Was Carried on Subscription papers Were forwarded to the Principal Gent'm in Each Town From Walpole to Haverhill, begging their assistance in So Pub- lic & Important A Matter. We had Many kind Ans'rs from these Gent'm We Addressed, And Wrote to, but When a return of the Subscriptions Were Come in found the Whole Am't to be but about one pound ten Shill's -
That your Petitioners have Since in Public Town Meeting in said Clare- mont Urged the Assistance of the town but to No purpose; therefore y'r Petitioners beg leave to Represent that there is Sixty pounds Worth of tim- ber on the Spot, and the Cost of Building Said bridge Will be According to the Judgm't of the best Artificers two Hundred pounds - therefore y'r Pe- titioners beg y'r Hon'rs to Grant a Lottery that Shall Neat free of the Need- full Expense two Hundred pounds, to be appropriated to the use afores'd And Appoint-Such Directors as y'r Wisdom Shall think fitt And y'r Petition- ers as in duty bound Will pray -
Fran's Beatty John Cook Josiah Rich
San'd Kingsbury
John Spencer
Elihu Stevens
T. Sterne
Asa Jones
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HISTORY OF CLAREMONT.
The foregoing is a verbatim copy of a petition found in Vol. XI, page 379, Town Papers of New Hampshire, and the editor adds what is inclosed in brackets :
[An act was passed June 23, 1785, authorizing them to set up a lottery, and thereby raise three hundred pounds for the aforesaid purpose. Samuel Ashley, Jr., Sanford Kingsbury, and Francis Beatty were appointed managers .- ED.]
At the annual meeting in 1786, the town " Voted to raise 100£ to be laid out on Highways," and "to give three shillings per day for a man & eighteen pence per day for a yoke of oxen and six pence per day for cart and six pence per day for a plow."
TURNPIKE.
At a special town meeting, November 18, 1799, voted “ To encourage a Turnpike through Claremont, Unity, and Amherst."
According to Farmer & Moore's New Hampshire Gazetteer published in 1823, the Second New Hampshire Turnpike was incorporated by the legislature December 26, 1799, "from Clare- mont, Unity, Lempster, Washington, corner of Windsor, Hills- borough and Antrim, Deering, Francistown, corner of Lynde- borough and New Boston, Mont Vernon, Amherst - distance 50 miles - cost $80,000." Fifty-three turnpikes were chartered by the legislature prior to 1823. The Second New Hampshire Turnpike, with toll-gates, was continued until near 1840. In 1838 the legislature passed an act authorizing the selectmen and the courts to take the franchise and other rights of corpo- rations for public highways, in the same manner as they took the land of individuals, soon after which this turnpike was dis- continued, a free highway having been laid over it.
On October 5, 1804, the town "Voted to build a Bridge over Sugar river by Col. Tyler's Mills the next summer." The building of this bridge was bid off at vendue, Josiah Rich be- ing the lowest bidder, for six hundred dollars.
At the annual town meeting in 1824, it was " Voted that the selectmen be authorized to lay out a Road from the Turnpike
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UPPER DAM, AND GREEN MOUNTAIN.
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HISTORY OF CLAREMONT.
west of Bill Barnes's & build a Bridge across Sugar River, near E. & A. Tyler's Mills; provided the expense to the town shall not exceed Three Hundred Dollars." The Messrs. Tyler were interested in this project and agreed to bear a portion of the expense of building the bridge.
In 1825 the town " Voted that the selectmen be authorized to lay out a road from Jesse Campbell's up redwater brook by Albin Andrews's saw mill to Cornish line, if they shall think it expedient."
In May, 1829, it was "Voted that the town will build a bridge across Sugar River, near Doct. Leonard Jarvis's Factory," and raised eight hundred dollars for that purpose.
At a town meeting, April 16, 1831, it was "Voted that Isaac Hubbard, Ambrose Cossit and Bartlett Clement be a commit- tee to make contracts in behalf of the town of Claremont for making those portions of the road laid out by the Court's Com- mittee in August last, commencing on the Turnpike near Mr. Josiah Rich's and ending at the Common; and commencing at the road near Mr. Albro Blodgett's and ending at Newport line; and that said Committee be authorized and requested, in behalf of the town of Claremont, to proceed immediately to make contracts by auction or otherwise, for the making of such part of said road as they may deem expedient, in such divisions or sections as they shall think proper; and that the selectmen be instructed to pay or make legal tender to the owners of land through which said road passes, the several sums assessed them as damages." The town also voted to raise the sum of one thousand dollars to be applied toward the expense of making this road.
In 1837 a corporation built a bridge over Connecticut river, between Claremont and Weathersfield, Vt., and it was opened to public travel as a toll-bridge in December of that year. It took the place of a ferry.
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HISTORY OF CLAREMONT.
In the last few years three iron bridges over Sugar river - two in the village and Lottery bridge-have taken the place of wooden structures.
In the summer of 1890, Pleasant street, from Tremont square to the Concord and Claremont railroad station, was macadamized - thus converting a very muddy street in wet, and dusty one in dry seasons, into an excellent drive-way at all times,-at an expense of about ten thousand dollars.
CHAPTER XXVII.
DEATH OF PRESIDENTS HARRISON, LINCOLN, AND GRANT.
William Henry Harrison was inaugurated president of the United States, March 4, 1841, and died of pleurisy fever on the fourth of April following-just one month after his induction into the highest office in the gift of the American people. On the thirteenth of that month, John Tyler, who had succeeded to the presidency, issued a proclamation recommending that Friday, the fourteenth of May, be observed by the people through- out the country as a day of fasting and prayer on account of the death of President Harrison. In response to this proclama- tion, the people of Claremont met and took steps for suitable exercises on the day named. The following officers were chosen : Committee of arrangements, John H. Warland, Thomas J. Harris, Uriel Dean, A. Watkins, Joseph Weber, J. S. Spaulding, Wil- liam Rossiter, Edward L. Goddard, B. D. Howe, Charles Jones, Theron Metcalf, James P. Brewer, and H. R. Nye; marshal, Silas L. Bingham; aids, Joseph Weber, Philemon Tolles, Ed- ward L. Goddard, and James P. Brewer.
In the "Eagle" of May 21 appeared a full account of the ex- ercises, from which the following is extracted : " At ten o'clock in the forenoon the citizens of all classes and denominations, ladies, teachers and pupils of the different schools, assembled near the Baptist meeting-house, and formed in procession under the direc- tion of the marshal, escorted by the Fusilier and Rifle companies, in uniform, under the command of Captains Watkins and Goss, proceeded through the different streets, and marched to the sol- emn music of the Claremont band to the town house. The pro-
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