USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Gilsum > History of the town of Gilsum, New Hampshire, from 1752 to 1879 > Part 8
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November ye 14th 1764
Then Laid out by the Proprietors Committee a Certain Highway on the East Side the Mountain Beginning at the South Line of the Town of Gilsum a Little South of the Dweling house of Benajah Taylor in the third Range Leading North West wardly by trees marked with four Noches and Leading to & by the llouse of Josiah Kilburn in the Second Range thence Northwardly by trees Marked till it falls in the Dividint Line of the Second & third Ranges and then to be one Moyety on the one Side and the other Moyety on the other Side Sd Line till it Coms to the North Side of the Sixty acre Lotts Said Highway is Laid four Rods Wide and to be and Remain an oppen & Publick Highway
Test WOOLSTON BROCKWAY ? Propr JONATHAN SMITH Comtte
This is the old road running up the hollow east of Elijah Gunn's, passing a little west of the old Adams' place. The " Sixty acre Lotts " referred to, are evidently the Lots numbered three in the several Ranges. (See map.) This was part of the old County Road, and no record is found of its discontinuance. In the earliest town record of 1789, it is called the " Main rode in Gilsum."
After this we have no record till March, 1789, when the town -
Voted that the Select Men Shal lay out A rod from James McCurdy's land to the Main rode in gilsum in the Moste proper place.
This is the road from the Austin place in Surry by the old Hurd place. No record is found of its being thrown up. At the same meeting, it was " Voted to flingup arode that runs Acrost Samuel Whitney land " This was probably from C. B. Hayward's, north through the old orchard, to Joseph M. Chapin's. The remainder of the same road "from Justus Chapin's hows to Alsted Line " was thrown up in 1794.
In August 1789, roads were laid out " Begining Near timothy Dartes South Line " and ending at " the Corner of the rode Between Zadok Hurd's and Ebenezer dartes." This last point is near the Brick School House, and the road went from the Hendee place over the top of the hill
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GILSUM.
sonth of Dennis Keefe's. At the same time changes were made in the road ncar David Bliss's " turning westerdly into David Blisses parster Between to white rocks." Location now unknown. In 1790-1-2, changes were made in the road from " Eb" Darts to Jnº Ellises," being from the Hendce place to Darins Porter's.
About this time, there was considerable excitement over the question whether the road from the " Mills to Surry Line " should go " Along by the House of John marks Formerly Bult By Daniel peck " or " Along by the River." Several contradictory votes are recorded, but the river road finally prevailed.
In 1790, the town " voted to fling up the Road that goes from Israel Lovclands House to Sullivan Line," but two years after it was voted to open the sanc road. This is the old Sullivan road from the Dea. Mark place by the Greenwood house.
In 1803, " Voted to allow Willim Mark to put up two Gates Convenient for A man to open and Shet on horse Back on the Road that Goes from wm Marks to Sullivan."
In 1818, this road was discontinued.
In 1791, the road from Justus Hurd's to the County Road was straightened by the Selectmen.
The road from Chas. W. Rawson's to Geo. W. Newman's and over the hill to the Ballard place was laid out in 1792, three rods wide. From the top of the hill south of Mrs. Cram's, it was laid on the lot line to James Ballard's house, but as shown on the map, it was not built entirely on that line. In 1798, it was changed between John Dart's and James Ballard's to where the road now runs by Solomon Maek's.
In 1804, "Voted to trow up the road from the bars that goes in to Mr J. Clarks lot . .. to where David Bills old log house used to stand." .
This is that part of the road from the top of the hill south of Mrs. Cram's to the garden in front of George W. Newman's. In 1825, that part from Chas. W. Rawson's to the old David Bill house was discontinued " on condition that there is good gates for people to pass and repass thro'." In 1877, an article for the discontinuance of this road from Geo. W. Newman's to Chas. W. Rawson's was dismissed.
Sept. 26, 1791, "Laid out a Highway Beginning at the Southeast Corner of the School hows a few Rods East of Jonathan Bliss Jun' Running East South East tell it Coms to Samuel Whitney Barn."
This is the road from Geo. C. Hubbard's to C. B. Hayward's.
In September, 1793, a road was " Excepted " from Samuel Corey's to the " Curveline." This was probably the same that was laid out the preceding January, from " Joshua Cores North line . to M' Jonathan Ramonts Lot . . . and from thenice an Easterly point to the town line." This is the old road from Sullivan to " Leominster Corner." By votes passed in 1842 and 1845, that part of it beyond where George Batcs now lives to the Raymond place was discontinued.
In 1794, " Voted to fling up the Rode thrue Sam Bill And John mark Land to the old meeting hous Spot."
This is probably the road marked on the map with a dotted line extending from Daniel W. Bill's by the old John Mark place to the Meeting House spot numbered 51.
In October, 1794, the road was laid out from James Ballard's by the Maynard place, " to the South line of lot No : 14 : in the Eighth range." Four years later, this road was completed to Marlow line, " about 80 rods from Mr Downing's house, on a Dry Ridg Calculated for a Road."
The road between the Stone Bridge and the Village was at first only a " bridle path " cut through and used by Silvanus Hayward and his brother-in-law, Capt. Solomon Mack. They were laughed at for fools when they said it would be the most traveled road in town, a proph-
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ecy which they lived to see fulfilled. It was laid out two rods wide, " to be a bridle or pent road during the pleasure of the Town." The town voted to make it "an open road," March 10, 1795.
The old road from the Pickering place. by the Stephen Foster place to the top of the hill where the old road goes by the Hosmer place to George C. Hubbard's, was laid out three rods wide, in January 1796. In 1830, that part of it west of the Foster place was discontinued " by there being good gates provided on said road."
In 1796, the road from the John Hammond place to Oscar J. Wilson's was laid out three rods wide. In 1874, it was discontinued " to the foot of Meadow hill," on account of the road having been opened the year before, from near T. T. Clark's to that point.
A road was laid out in 1796, "from the road that leads from John Marks to the Meeting house beginning . . . twelve or fourteen rods North of Sd marks house at the North End of a Little Swamp yn runs north 52 Dr west 112 Rods to the mouth of the road that Leads from Mr Hammonds to Lt Rights.
This road evidently ran directly front the road north of the old Mark place to the road south of Edouard Loiselle's. It was laid three rods wide, but was probably never worked much. The road running north from the Stephen Foster place to the Samuel Isham place was opened in 1797, three rods wide.
The same year, a road three rods wide was laid out " from Sily Hayward to Josh Coreys." This is the road from the village by Israel Loveland's and the Benjamin Thompson place, and was opened three rods wide to the Corey place. The eastern part was never worked much.
In 1798, a road was laid "from the South w. Corner of Jot Clarks house on the Line Between John Darts & Obed Darts to the South Side of Sd Lots Down to the bridge a Crost ashawillet River between Silvn . Haywards & Israel Loveland."
As frequently happened, it will be seen by the map that the road as actually traveled was considerably east of the recorded survey. When the road was laid out from the village by John Hammond's in 1804, it was called in exchange for this road.
In 1803, " Voted to make a road from Surry line to Sullivan line to meet a road from Boston through Peter- borough to Sullivan and to Gilsom . . provided the above mentiond town Made A road to meet Our Sd road."
Probably the other towns failed to do their part, as no further account of this road appears in the records.
The road from Mason Guillow's by Alvin White's to Sullivan line was laid out in 1806, three rods wide.
The road from the Village by John Hammond's, was laid out three rods wide, in 1804. It began about two rods east of Silvanus Hayward's house, that is very near the ell part of George B. Rawson's present house. It ran up the brook near where the houses now stand on the east side of the street, crossing the brook and continuing up the hill, very nearly as at present. There is no record of the change in the street except at the north end. This was altered in 1814, so as to run west of the house built by Lemuel Bingham, where N. O. Hayward's house now stands.
About 1804, (date not given) a road was laid out " beginning ten rod East of the Corner of the road where the schoolhoose usto stand between Sam1 Whitneys and Jont Blisses on the South Side of the road that leads to Sd whitneys . to the South line of David bills lot on his East line to the Southeast Corner of Sd lot."
The School House referred to stood a few rods east of Geo. C. Hubbard's, and the road ran down the hollow through " Kansas " to the lot corner in the Street near K. D. Webster's. This road was never built, though it is very evident it was laid where the road towards Alstead ouglit to be. Efforts have since been made to open a road on this line, but without success.
In 1806, a road was laid " from Capt. Fullers Mill to the Meeting House." It was probably traveled some on horseback, but never built.
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GILSUM.
The road from near Chilion Mack's to the Converse place, was laid out three rods wide, in 1807, and there is no record of its discontinuance.
In 1808, the road was laid out three rods wide, as it now runs from Darius Porter's to Wm. Kingsbury's. Before this, it went over the hill by Daniel Wright's.
About 1810, a road was laid out three rods wide " from the School House in the north dis- triet to Samuel Whitney's cider-house," that is from the road south of Mrs. Cram's to C. B. Hayward's sugar-house. At the same time, a road three rods wide was opened " from Justus Chapin's land to the road . . . thro' Mr Websters land : " This is the road from Joseph M. Chapin's to Kendall Nichols's.
The original County Road from Alstead to Keene went a little west of Joseph M. Chapin's by George C. Hubbard's, the old Hosmer place, Charles W. Rawson's, and down the hill to the " great bridge." It also went directly over the hill from near the widow Gates's through Mason Guillow's pasture, following the present road by Edouard Loiselle's, passing close to Daniel W. Bill's house, turning to the right near the ledge south of George S. Mansfield's, by the old Adams place down the hollow to Elijah Gunn's.
About 1806, a turnpike was started from Newport to Keene. This town, as usual, opposed it as long as possible. It was, however, laid out by " the Newport Turnpike corporation," and, in June 1811, the Selectmen laid out the road three rods wide from " Alstead south line to the north line of Keene." This was rather a straightening of the old road, than really building a new one. It is the road as now traveled from above Kendall Nichols's to below Elijah Gunn's.
Abont the same time, the road was amended to its present location from the old Wilcox place . by tlie minister lot and the Mark place to meet the new County Road. This road was also three rods wide.
In 1812, that part of the old road from near the Adams place to the ledge south of George S. Mansfield's, was discontinued.
In 1815, a road was laid " in exchange for the old road from John Grimes's to the road tliat comes from Samuel Cory's, to be as wide as old road."
In 1817, a road was laid two rods wide " from the foot of the hill as you come from Zenas Bingham's . ... to the road that leads from Stephen White's to Jonathan Peases .... in exchange for the old road which comes out south of Aaron Days." Aaron Day then lived where Mason Guillow now does, and the road south of his house was discontinued the next year. The road then opencd, was the north part of the old road from Henry Bingham's and came out near Harriet Swinton's. After the new road was built in 1839, the whole of this road was thrown up.
In 1823, the road was laid out from Timothy Dart's house to Alstead line, two rods wide, where the road now is.
In 1830, it was " voted to discontinue the road north of Stephen Days." This road went through about where John J. Isham's barnyard is, and came out near the mill at the bridge.
The next year, a road was " laid out beginning 5 rods East of the bridge over the brook East of Calvin Mack's . ... to near the West end of Calvin May's house . ... to be made free of any expense to the town." This has sometimes been used as a winter road, but was never built.
In 1833, a road was opened from James Hudson's " to the old road ; one rod and ten links north of John Nash's . ... to be two rods and one half wide."
In June of the same year, the road from Enos Cross's to the Polley Bridge was laid out two and a half rods wide.
That part of the old County Road from Geo. C. Hubbard's by the Hosmer place " to the Road leading from Calvin Mack's to Aaron Day's mills," was discontinued by vote of the town in
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1834. Several efforts were afterwards made to re-open it, but failed. The same year, " Voted to alter the Road near John Nash's so that it be opened through south of his buildings to the old road near John Guillow's." It seems probable, however, that this change was not carried out. It was also " Voted to lay out a Road from Nathan Ellis Jr to the Village Should the Select- men deem it necessary." The next year, the same road was voted without condition. But it was never built.
March 7, 1835, the Selectmen " widened and straightened " the Main street in the Village as follows : -
Beginning twenty three feet and two inches west from the north west corner of the house now owned by Jerome B. Aldrich thence south 11 deg west 33 rods & 113 feet thence south 15 deg 30 min west 20 rods to the south end of factory village street, the above described line to be the middle of the highway and the same highway to be three & half rods wide.
The starting point of this survey is marked by an iron pin.
In 1837, the road from the County Road to the Hurd place was discontinued. But in 1839, it was opened " from Luna Foster's to Charles Grant's farm." In 1865, it was again discon- tinued " subject to bars and gates."
In 1838, " Voted to discontinue the road leading from John Livermore's to Calvin Randall's by the said Randall's keeping good Gates." This was the road from George H. Carpenter's across the old ford to Bradley Stone's.
About the year 1833, the plan began to be talked up of a new County Road from Newport to Keene. Col. Jeliiel Day, who, with his brother Daniel, had recently opened a store and a hotel in the " Factory Village," was the most active leader in favor of the road through Gilsum. The majority of the town, as thirty years before, were bitterly opposed to the road, and fought it off as long as possible, Capt. David Bill being their agent in the matter. But they were at last compelled to yield, and in 1838, John Horton, Allen Butler and Asa Cole were chosen to super- intend the building of the new road. John Horton having left town, Solomon Mack was chosen in his place. The road from Marlow to Kecne was opened four rods wide, in the Fall of 1839.
In 1838, a short road was laid at the southwest corner of the town to connect Sullivan with the new County Road. This is part of the road that comes out near the old Bridge placc below Keene line. The same year, the road from near Chilion Mack's to the Loveland Bridge was laid out two rods wide.
In 1840, the road " from Nathaniel Heaton's Barn on the plain, to the road leading from Cutler Knights' to Polly Blood's " was discontinued.
In 1842, the street between L. W. F. Mark's and Herbert Adams's new house was laid out two rods wide, to extend three rods east of the center of bridge across thic brook. The town refusing to appropriate money, it was not opened till 1844. In 1861, that part east of the west bank of the brook was discontinued.
In 1846, on petition of F. W. Day and others, a road was laid out from the east side of the County Road in front of Day's store to Aaron Day's barn. This seems to have been open for use long before, but it was desired to have a more accurate record. It was laid three rods wide.
In 1850, the street between L. W. F. Mark's and the Mecting House, was laid out two rods wide. It begins " at the S. W. corner of land belonging to the Congregational Society " and runs a little south of east fifty and a half rods.
A road was laid out, about this time, by the County Commissioners, up the brook from near David A. Roundy's to Alstead line. The town refused to build it, and in 1851 voted its discon- tinuance.
4
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GILSUM.
On account of trouble from freshets, and especially river icc, the road " between George H. Nash's Mill and James P. Nash's " was amended in 1853.
In 1859, the road " from the late Capt. Benjamin Wares Farm " to the road from " Elisha S. Fish's to William Mark's " was made " Subject to Gates and Barrs."
The same year, a road one rod wide, subject to gates, was laid out from Jotham Bates's to the house of Benjamin F. Jefts, " to be made by the petitioners and to remain a highway so long as said petitioners shall keep the same in repair and no longer."
Brake Hill Street running from Sullivan strect to the old Sullivan line was laid out in 1873, two rods wide.
In 1875, the town voted that a road is needed from Wm. A. Wilder's to Kcene road, and appointed a Committee to attend to the matter. The County Commissioners being called, refused to lay out such a road. But another petition in 1879 was successful, and the road is to be opened in 1880.
In 1876, the town
Voted to remove the Gates & Bars on the highway leading from Milton Stearns to Chas E Eveleth House & the Selectmen are to attend to the matter & Settle Damage on the Same.
The Seleetmen accordingly laid out said road, but at the next Town Meeting in 1877, an article to raise money for the same was dismissed.
The same year, a road three rods wide was laid out by the Selectmen, to extend from " Burnt House Hill " to the road near the Centennial Cemetery, but the town refused to build it, and, in 1878, voted its diseontinuance. The Commissioners being called, reported in favor of the road, and the Court ordered it built. The job was bid off by C. B. Hayward and E. D. Banks for $245. With some volunteer help from interested eitizens, they completed it in thic Fall of 1879.
In 1878, a road two rods wide was opened from the road leading to James L. Bates's to the river road south of Simeon Mason's.
In 1879, the road from George Wright's running southeast to the river road was discontinued.
BRIDGES.
Both the Ashuelot river and the many mountain brooks that flow into it, become so violent in the Spring freshcts, that Gilsum has almost necded a " pontifex," like ancient Rome. In early times, for horseback travel, bridges were of comparatively small importance, and " fordways" were generally dcemed sufficient. A bridge called " the great bridge " was built by Capt. Elisha Mack and his brothers, where the Stone Bridge now stands, in 1778 or 1779. In 1795, it is mentioned as " the Bridge that crosses the Ashawylot river in Gilsum," from which it appears to have been the only river bridge at that time. This bridge was so far above the water that it was not easily disturbed by freshets, but owing to spray from the dam just above, the timbers rotted so soon as to put the town to frequent expense for repairs. In 1798, a Committee ap- pointed by the town "to vew the Grate Bridg," reported that " a timber 14 inches Square be put under the Middle of Sª Bridge and threc brases Each Side to Extend to the Roks Each Side the River." The following is the receipt for the work : -
Recd of the Town of Gilsum Ten Dollars in full for what I have Don to the grate Bridg by Baxters Mills in Sd Gilsum to this Date
Gilsum Feb. 20th 1799
ZADOK HURD
In September 1801, it was " voted to Give Robt. L. Hurd two Dollars and fifty Cents to put the brace under the Great brige by Baxters mills." In August 1804, a Committee was ap- pointed to examine both bridges, and at an adjourned meeting in September, it was voted to repair " according to the Committees Report," which report is not given. These repairs were
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ROADS AND BRIDGES.
set up at " vandue " to the lowest bidder, and " the Bridge by Griswolds mills" was bid off by David Blish at sixteen dollars. In August 1806, "Esq Blish " was instructed by the town to " repair the Bridge by Griswolds Mills." The next March, it was voted to repair again " by putting a cap piece under the Bridge and three Braces on cach side," and the job was struck off to Jonathan Pease for four dollars. In 1810, a Committee examined the Bridge and reported it needed repairs, - and one dollar was voted to Elisha Bond for the timber for that purpose. The labor was to be done by the surveyors, out of the " highway money," excepting the northwest district. In August of the same year, it was voted to build a bridge " by Pease's mills."
To be built like the old bridge only to be raised eighteen inches higher five string pieces 15 inches by 13- to be built with good sound hemlock timber the plank to be 23 inches thick. Struck off to William Baxter at $75,
In 1815, " Voted that Jonathan Pease new plank the bridge by his mills." Expense not recorded. In 1819, twenty dollars was raised " to repair the bridges across the Ashuelot river." The next year, $10 was raised for the same purpose, and in.1821, twenty dollars. In 1824, a new bridge was built, -" struck off to Belding Dort at $130.00." In 1832, Aaron Day, Am- herst Hayward, and Jehiel Day, were chosen "to examine the Bridge near Aaron Days & near I B Lovelands and see what is necessary to be done." This Committee reported " in favour of building a stone arch bridge," but the town " voted to build a wooden bridge like the old one." It was to be completed by the first of July 1833, " with planke 3in thick," and was struck off to Joseph Clark for $117. In 1843, a new bridge was built by Calvin C. Bingham - finished Sept. 7th. In 1851, the Selectmen were instructed to " examine the Bridge near A. D. Townes Mill, and make such repairs as may be considered necessary." A similar vote was passed the next year, and $125 raised for the purpose. In 1860, the Selectmen were instructed
to contract for the building of a Stone Arch Bridge over the Ashuelot River near Andrew D. Townes Mill if in their opinion the same shall be for the interest of the Town.
A contract was made with one Otis Smith, and a bridge built at a cost of about $975. Owing to faulty construction, the contractor not understanding his business, the arch fell in, after a few montlıs' use. In July 1862, it was voted that the Selectmen " build a Stone Arch Bridge near the place of the old one . in the best possible manner," and William L. Kingsbury was appointed " Agent to superintend the building of the Bridge and furnish the necessaries for that purpose." In 1863, the Sclectmen were instructed to borrow money and finish the Stone Bridge. The expense as near as can be now gathered from the Town Reports was $5,211.97. To this add the expense of the first Bridge, and we have $6,185.19, the whole cost. The County afterwards paid $500, so that the town has now invested in the Stone Bridge not less than $5,685.
The bridge known for so many years as " Loveland Bridge," was probably first built about 1797, when the road was laid out from Silvanus Hayward's to Joshua Corey's. The first record of its repair is in 1804, - bid off by Turner White for 23 dollars. In 1807, it was voted to " rebuild," and the job was struck off to Thomas Redding for eighty-six dollars. The next year, lie was discharged from the contract, and the Selectmen were instructed to " do what is necessary to be done." In 1812, repairs on the " Loveland Bridge " were struck off to John Dart for four dollars. In 1814, " the planking" of this Bridge for three years was struck off to Stephen White for fourteen dollars. There is added to the vote evidence of the peculiar dan_ ger that has always attended this Bridge, viz .: -
If the said bridge should be carried off within the said three years, . .. the Town shall procure as many feet of new plank . . .. as shall have been put on the old bridge by the said White.
In 1822, a new bridge was built, the old one having been probably carried off by a freshet. It was voted to build the bridge ten inches higher than the Committee reported, and " that those
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GILSUM.
who build the stone butments . . . shall risk them to stand one year." The west "butment was strnek off to belding Dart at forty four dollars," -" the east butment to Orlando Maek at fifty dollars," - and " the wood work to Berzeleel L. Mack at thirty five dollars." This bridge has been rebuilt and repaired several times since, but the records make no mention of it. The expenses have probably been " lumped " with highway repairs. It was destroyed by a freshet in 1842, and perhaps at other times. In 1862 it was broken down by Burnap's team. He received $50 damage from the town, and the bridge was rebuilt by N. O. Hayward for $80.
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