USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Keene > History of the town of Keene, from 1732, when the township was granted by Massachusetts, to 1874, when it became a city > Part 39
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The Twentieth regiment mustered in Keene again in 1847, but only the uniformed companies, the infantry com- panies of the line having disbanded. The "Keene Lights" were commanded by Capt. S. A. Gerould, Jr.
Among the deaths in 1847 were those of Capt. Aaron Hall, aged sixty-two; Aaron Wilson, eighty-eight; and Michael Metcalf, eighty-six. Mr. Metcalf was born in the fort in Keene, and after the age of seven lived on the "Metcalf farm," in Ash Swamp, where Mr. Henry O. Spaulding now lives. He built the brick house on that place, and the one east of it for his son. He lived to see seven generations of his family.
The committee appointed in 1847 on the question of building a town hall reported verbally at the annual meet- ing in 1848, and a building committee consisting of Levi. Chamberlain, Samuel Dinsmoor, Nathan Bassett, Samuel Wood, Thomas H. Leverett, Joshua Wyman and George Tilden was chosen by the town, with authority to pur- chase a site and "erect thereon a building with suitable accommodations for town purposes," and "to hire money in behalf of the town, to pay the expenses thereof," and the main part of the present edifice1 was built that sea- son. Charles Edward Parker of Boston, a native of Keene, son of Elijah, was the architect, and Lanmon Nims was the contractor.
The selectmen were directed to take 1,500 copies of Mr. Hale's new edition of the Annals of Keene, at a reasonable price to be agreed upon.
On the 16th of May, 1848, the Cheshire railroad was opened to Keene. The morning train brought Mayor Quincy of Boston, Mayor Warren of Charlestown, S. M. Felton, Alvah Crocker and many other distinguished men, with the Suffolk brass band. The day was fine, people along the route joined the train, and when it reached Keene,
1 Additions have since been made, and the inside has been completely remod- elled.
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at half past one o'clock, it consisted of twelve long passen- ger cars decorated with flags and evergreen, besides three platform cars with seats, containing, in all, about 1,200 people. As it came in sight, two miles distant, and rolled into the station, the bells were rung, cannon fired, and a crowd of five thousand people shouted its greeting. A pro- cession formed and marched to the town hall, where a short meeting of the corporation was held, then reformed and re- turned to the station, where tables were set on the plat- form for fifteen hundred persons. Speeches were made, songs were sung, and the Suffolk band gave some of its fine music. The event was highly successful and gratifying. Hon. Levi Chamberlain was chairman of the committee of arrangements and Hon. Thomas M. Edwards, president of the road, presided over the exercises, and gave a reception in the evening. Mr. Lucian Tilton was chief engineer and the first superintendent, and the road was pronounced to be of superior character. The massive and graceful arch over the Branch at South Keene-a single span ninety feet ·broad and sixty feet high, designed by Mr. Tilton and built under his direction-is one of the finest of the kind in the country and worth travelling a long distance to see. Keene took about $300,000 of the stock of the road, be- sides $50,000 in the Fitchburg, and many thousands in other roads. On the first of July two regular trains a day, each way, were put on, leaving both Boston and Keene at 7 a. m. and 2 p. m., and arriving at 11 a. m. and 6 p. m. On the first day of January, 1849, the cars ran through to Bellows Falls, and soon afterwards the road was opened to that point for regular traffic.
The wives of Dr. Amos Twitchell and Gen. James Wil- son died in 1848, and very tender and appropriate obitu- ary notices of each were published.
On the 28th of February, 1849, the new town hall, which had been finished during the winter, was dedicated with a grand citizens' ball, under the general management of a committee of twenty-five, headed by the building com- mittee. About five hundred persons attended; and for many years afterwards the "Citizens' Annual Ball" at the town hall was an important and enjoyable function.
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SAMUEL DINSMOOR, JR.
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The annual town meeting of 1849 was held in the new hall. The building committee reported that the lot pur- chased of Sumner Wheeler, executor of the estate of Gen. Justus Perry, cost $1,750; and the building-60x80, 20 feet posts-$13,829.08; total, $15,579.08. At that elec- tion Samuel Dinsmoor was chosen governor and Gen. James Wilson was reelected to congress. Levi Chamber- lain was the Whig candidate for governor that year and the next, but that party was in the minority in New Hampshire.
Selden F. White was appointed postmaster to succeed William L. Foster, and the postoffice was removed to his store in Wilders' building. In July, Mrs. Anne E. (Jarvis), wife of Gov. Dinsmoor, died, and a very touching and affectionate obituary of her was published.
For nearly twenty years previous to 1847, public inter- est in agricultural fairs had languished. A society had been in existence, called at one time the Cheshire County Association for the Promotion of Agriculture and the Me- chanic Arts, which held a very creditable "cattle show " in Keene in 1843, and paid out a large sum in premiums; but the exhibitions were not kept up. In 1847, there was a revival of interest, the Cheshire County Agricultural Society was formed and a fine exhibition was given here in October, followed by a similar one the next year. Hon. Salma Hale was president, and the leading men and women gave it their support. In 1849 it gave a remark- ably fine exhibition. Sixty pairs of oxen were entered for premiums, and more than 100 pairs were on exhibition. There was a profusion of fruit and produce of all kinds, fancy articles and manufactures. Among those who took premiums were Dr. Amos Twitchell, Mrs. A. A. Livermore, Mrs. George Tilden, Mrs. Sarah Sturtevant and Miss Pamela M. Prentiss. The next year the display was con- sidered fully equal to that of Worcester county, Mass., one of the best in the country; and for several years a high standard was maintained.
The project of building the Ashuelot railroad was started as early as 1845-6, and was vigorously pushed by John H. Fuller and others. It was surveyed in 1847, a
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charter obtained in 1848, and after many difficulties had been overcome, and much delay in raising funds, the road was built in 1850. It was leased to the Connecticut River railroad, and trains began to run in 1851. John H. Fuller was president of the corporation.
At the close of the decade ending 1850 and the begin- ning of the second half of the nineteenth century, "Keene Street" had become a thriving village of about 1,500 inhabitants-the whole number in the town about 3,400 - with direct lines of railroad to Boston and New York, and its position as the most important town in Cheshire county firmly established. Its growth was slow, but con- stant and healthful. Its men of business were almost invariably successful and many of its farmers acquired wealth. True, the staunch old firm of A. &. T. Hall, which for forty years had been the trusted merchants and bankers of many customers, through the expansion and complica- tions of their business and insecure investments, had been compelled to close, but that was an extreme case. The store was bought by Henry Pond, refitted, and for many years afterwards was occupied by Charles Bridgman, an enterprising grocer who had begun business here in 1845, with Alfred Hebard, in the Lamson store, and later had taken the "Railroad Store," where Gurnsey's block now stands. James B. Elliot & Co. had succeeded B. F. Adams & Co. in the hardware store in Elliot's building, still leav- ing the corner room for John Bixby's drug store. In 1843, Joshua D. Colony withdrew from the firm of Keyes & Col- ony, and established that of J. D. & T. Colony on the east side of the Square, and E. & F. H. Keyes, afterwards E. C. & F. H. Keyes, continued on the corner of West street until 1851. The Colonys-later, J. D. Colony & Co., including Timothy and Henry Colony- also carried on the manufacture of window glass, and were the last to utilize the old north factory. In 1851, George H. Richards bought the Lamson store and removed his jewelry business to the corner room, next to Roxbury street. The main part of that store, upon the retirement of Mr. Lamson in 1841, had been occupied by his partners, Denny & Briggs, afterwards by Bridgman & Hebard, then by Hebard &
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Tilden (Geo. W.), and later by Tilden & Colony (J. D. C.). Lucius H. & Joseph W. Briggs, afterwards Briggs & Kimball, succeeded Sumner Wheeler in the Justus Perry store, but the glass bottle business on Marlboro street had been sold and removed to Stoddard. J. & R. Shelly occupied the store next north of the Briggses, but in 1851 they took the one on the "cheap corner" (Keyes & Colony's). Selden F. White and Hager & Whitcomb, suc- ceeded by D. W. Buckminster & Co., were in Wilders' building; and Buffum & Parker, for a long term of years, were on the west side of the Square, in the present Whit- comb store. Kidder & Winchester, afterwards E. W. Win- chester (who married a daughter of Abijah Kingsbury), succeeded Abijah Wilder in the cabinet and furniture busi- ness, and they and the Briggses were each doing a large business. Wm. A. Norwood, afterwards Norwood & Weeks, succeeded Norwood & Hubbard, tinsmiths, on the west side of Court street, where Barker's block now stands; and a little later J. C. & T. New followed John P. Barber & Co. in the tin and stove business in the old brick store where the Sentinel building now stands. Joseph and Ephraim Foster-afterwards Fosters & Felt-were manufacturing parlor organs and melodeons on the west side of Court street; Jason and William French, who came from Brattleboro, were making sleighs and carriages on Church street, on the site now occupied by the Jones build- ing; and Marvin T. Tottingham had a shop over them for sign and ornamental painting. Chester Allen was tak- ing daguerreotypes in Gerould's block and continued that business there for many years.
Drs. Geo. B. Twitchell and A. S. Carpenter had come to town. Dr. Twitchell occupied the house on Washington street, now Mrs. Sarah D. Wheeler's, and Dr. Carpenter's office was in Briggs' building below the old Unitarian church. Dr. Thomas B. Kittredge came from Claremont soon afterwards, bought the stone house on Washington street, corner of Taylor, and spent the remainder of his life there-an excellent physician and a highly respected citizen. William P. Wheeler, C. C. Webster, Edward Far- rar and Farnum F. Lane had joined the corps of attor- neys in town.
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A large social book club, an important organization for literary culture, was in existence at this time. It was started in 1847 by Rev. A. A. Livermore, and contained, besides choice books, all the leading periodicals of the day, English and American.
On the 2d of October, 1850, was held the last of the old-time military musters in Keene. It was a muster of all the "independent" uniformed companies of the Fifth brigade. Those that were particularly noticed for their fine appearance were the Keene, Westmoreland and Win- chester light infantry companies, the Fitzwilliam artillery, the Jaffrey rifles and the Richmond grenadiers. D. W. Buckminster commanded the Keene Light Infantry. But the day was stormy and the pouring rain added to the funereal aspect of the occasion.
The census of 1850 gave Keene a population of 3,392 -3,381 white and 11 colored. The total population of the United States was 19,387,671.
The Cheshire Provident Institution for Savings reported the amount of deposits on hand to be, after seventeen years of existence, $391,290.09.
The twelve highest taxpayers were Josiah Colony, John Elliot, Charles S. Faulkner, Charles Lamson, Chesh- ire Provident Institution for Savings, Thomas M. Edwards, Aaron Appleton, William Dinsmoor, Calvin Page, Cheshire railroad, Charles G. Adams and John Towns.
The Sons of Temperance, the Washingtonians and other temperance organizations, and the citizens generally, cele- brated the 4th of July, 1851. Hon. Jared Perkins presided and Rev. A. L. Stone of Boston was the orator. It was to have been an outdoor affair, but rain fell, and it was held in the town hall.
The New Hampshire Union railroad was incorporated in 1851, to run from Keene to Concord via Hillsboro Bridge. The first meeting of the grantees was held at the Cheshire House. Samuel Dinsmoor and Josiah Colony were chosen directors for Keene; Samuel Dinsmoor, president, Wm. L. Foster, clerk. But the probable amount of busi- ness did not warrant the cost, and the enterprise was abandoned.
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Ever since its first settlement the citizens of Keene have taken a deep interest in the beauty and reputation of their town, and have endeavored to ornament and improve it wherever there was opportunity. The agitation for enlarging and beautifying the common in 1820 and previ- ous to that date, has already been referred to, and the improvements made in 1828 have been described. When those radical changes had been completed the common was left a broad, open square, which, although in handsome form for the center of the village, was described in 18401 as a "sandy waste." One of the methods adopted for the improvement of the appearance of the town was the forma- tion of the Forest Tree Society, and at a legal meeting in November, 1844, the town passed a vote permitting that society "to fence in and ornament a small central portion of the Common of such size and shape as the Selectmen shall deem compatible" with the convenience of the public highway. For many years that society was active and energetic and did much towards ornamenting our streets with trees. At its annual meeting in September of that year (1844), it reported having planted in the spring 141 trees, ninety-nine of which were then alive. But there was bitter opposition to the project of planting trees to "con- ceal the signs" of the traders or in any way obstructing the free use of that public common-the parade ground of the military, and the rendezvous and market place of the farmers and others, with their teams-and threats were made that such trees would be very quickly uprooted and removed if they were planted there. So the planting of the trees was delayed; but the wordy controversy continued until the spring of 1851, when the Forest Tree Society, the more active members of which were George A. Wheelock, Dr. F. S. Stratton, George H. Richards, Francis S. Fiske, Selden F. White and a few others, ploughed up a small circle, about fifty feet in diameter, in the center of the Square, planted a few trees, which they brought from the "Statia" farm, and enclosed the area with a fence. The oak tree grew from an acorn planted by Eliphalet Hale, a
1 Until within a few years of that time a large guide board had stood at the south side of the common pointing the way and giving the distances in miles to Boston, Walpole, Montpelier and many other places.
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retired merchant of Boston who was boarding here at that time. Twice since 1851 the area of the park has been enlarged and other trees added, and in 1860 gravelled walks were laid, radiating from the center as at present.
In compliance with a vote of the town at the annual meeting in 1852, the selectmen procured a fireproof safe for keeping the town records.
At South Keene important improvements were made. In 1830 to 1833, George Page had a small shop-with a lathe operated by foot and later by horse power-on the site of the present Washington school grounds, where, with the financial aid of Thomas M. Edwards, he secured a patent and made mortising machines, under the firm name of T. M. Edwards & Co. About 1834, they were joined by J. A. Fay and Edward Joslin. In 1837, to get the benefit of water power, they bought one-half of the hoe making shop of Aaron Davis and removed to South Keene. They enlarged the shop; Messrs. Edwards, Davis and Page sold out; and the firm became J. A. Fay & Co. They made planing and mortising machines, and all kinds of wood-working machinery-the first ever made in America. In 1847, to meet the large demand for their machines, they established branch factories at Norwich, Conn., and Cin- cinnati, O .; and this year (1852) built the factory at South Keene. The branches soon became large establish- ments, that at Cincinnati being the largest of the kind in the world, with a capital of $1,500,000, and the whole establishment bears the corporate name of the J. A. Fay & Egan Co. In 1862, all the manufacturing was trans- ferred to Norwich and Cincinnati, and the factory at South Keene was closed. Mr. Fay died in 1854, and Mr. Joslin in 1901.
Upon retiring from the above enterprise, Aaron Davis, with his sons, established the iron foundry on Davis street, near Ashuelot river. Mr. Davis died in 1857, and was suc- ceeded in the business by his son, Alfred S., and he by Moses Ellis, who rebuilt the foundry and enlarged and improved the business.
At the national election in November, 1852, the town "Voted That the Selectmen in conjunction with the board
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of Fire Engineers, be authorized to purchase a suitable number and proper uniforms to be kept by said Town, for the use of each member of the several Fire Engine com- panies of said Town."
The Ashuelot Fire Insurance Company (mutual) was organized in February, 1853, with Thomas M. Edwards, Benj. F. Adams, William Dinsmoor, Sumner Wheeler and Francis S. Fiske incorporators. It did a successful business in this and adjoining counties for nearly half a century.
In 1848-9, two young men-one a Mr. Towns-began operations in a small building on our present Mechanic street, where the main shops now stand, with a twelve horse-power engine. Soon afterwards Mr. Lanmon Nims came from Sullivan and bought them out, took in Nelson N. Sawyer and Sawyer Porter as partners-afterwards Daniel Buss, the firm becoming Nims & Buss-enlarged the plant and manufactured sash, doors and blinds. Mr. Cyrus Woodward succeeded Mr. Nims, and for a few years the firm was Buss & Woodward. In 1856, the build- ings were destroyed by fire, causing a loss of $1,500 to $2,000. The property then passed into the hands of S. D. Osborne and S. W. Hale, and the shops were rebuilt for the manufacture of chairs, Messrs. Lanmon Nims and Samuel B. Crossfield (Nims & Crossfield) hiring power and continuing the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds. The Keene Steam Power Co. was organized in February, 1853, for the purpose of improving this property, but the neces- sary capital was not raised and the project was abandoned for that time.
Joshua D. Colony was appointed postmaster to suc- ceed Selden F. White, and removed the office to the east side of the Square, where it remained twelve years.
The centennial anniversary of the organization of the town under the New Hampshire charter was celebrated on the 26th of May, 1853, in compliance with a vote of the town at the annual meeting in March, when $500 were appropriated for that purpose.1 A large tent had been pitched on a green plat near the Square, but the rain poured in torrents and the exercises were held in the town
1 $356.40 were afterwards appropriated to meet a deficit.
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hall. Hon. Thomas M. Edwards was president of the day ; Hon. Levi Chamberlain was chief marshal; and Samuel Dinsmoor, Salma Hale, Charles G. Adams, John Elliot, John Wood, Josiah Colony, Elijah Parker, Timothy Hall, John Prentiss, John H. Fuller, Charles Lamson, Samuel Wood, Thomas F. Ames, George Tilden, Abel Blake, Enos Hol- brook, Luther Nurse, B. F. Adams, William Lamson, Cal- vin Chapman, Sumner Wheeler, J. D. Colony, Thomas H. Leverett, Michael Metcalf, Daniel Watson, Samuel Towns, Noah R. Cooke, James Buffum, Kendall Crossfield, Josiah Sawyer, Geo. K. Wright, J. W. Briggs, Albert Godfrey, Harvey A. Bill, Charles S. Faulkner, Abijah Wilder, Elipha- let Briggs, Wm. P. Wheeler, John H. Elliot, F. A. Faulk- ner, F. F. Lane, Virgil M. Kimball, Geo. B. Twitchell, Wm. S. Briggs, Geo. A. Wheelock, James B. Elliot, Leonard Bisco, Isaac Sturtevant, Joshua Wyman, Robert Wilson, S. A. Gerould, Jr., Edward Farrar, J. W. Prentiss, S. F. White, F. S. Fiske, and others, served as vice presidents, members of committees, secretaries, marshals, etc. A large number of natives who had left town, and other former residents, returned to assist at this celebration.
The program of exercises was as follows:
1. Prayer by Rev. Z. S. Barstow, D. D.
2. Ode, written for the occasion by Rev. Gilbert Rob- bins of the Baptist church, and sung by a large choir under the direction of Wm. S. Hutchins.
3. Oration by Hon. Joel Parker, professor of law in Harvard university, late chief justice of New Hampshire.
4. Anthem by the choir.
5. Concluding prayer by Rev. Gilbert Robbins.
The rain having ceased, a procession was formed, headed by the Boston Brigade band, P. S. Gilmore, leader, and marched down Main street, to the Eli Metcalf lot, the site now occupied by Mrs. Ball's residence, where a colla- tion under a tent was provided by Mr. John Wright of Boston, with seats for 2,000 persons; and although many were kept away by the storm, 1,700 to 1,800 were pres- ent. Grace was said by Rev. Wm. O. White, and at the close, thanks were offered by Rev. Mr. Quimby. The fol- lowing toasts were announced by the president-as pre- pared by a committee :
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1. "Our Centennial Celebration- with all its reveren- tial and pleasant memories." Dr. Watts's version of the 78th psalm was sung to the tune of St. Martins by the whole assembly, led by the choir and accompanied by the band.
2. "Sir Benjamin Keene-We pay the debt for his name by 'keeping his memory green.'" The band played "Over the Waters to Charley."
3. "The First Settlers and Early Inhabitants of Keene - May their foresight, their energy, their sacrifices, be held in grateful remembrance by those who reap where they sowed." Singing, "Auld Lang Syne." Response by Mr. John Prentiss.
4. "The Ladies of Keene-The first census showed their superiority in numbers, and our whole history bears testimony to the influence of their virtues and graces." The band, "Believe me if all those endearing young charms." Response by Dea. Samuel Greele, of Boston. The president of the day gave: "The memory of Miss Catherine Fiske."
5. "The Ashuelot-That bright stream which gave the first Indian and poetical name to our town." Band, "The Meeting of the Waters." Response by Gideon F. Thayer of Boston:
6. "The Sons of Keene who have left us-The reports that come back to us prove that they have done us honor abroad." Band, "Oft in the Stilly Night." Responses by George S. Hale of Boston and Horatio G. Parker, then of Greenfield, Mass.
7. "The House of Nathan Blake-The first house erected in the township; and the Meeting House of 1753, built of slabs, with earthen floor." Band, "I remember the house where I was born." Responded to by Rev. Geo. G. Ingersoll, D. D., of Keene, with a witty original poem upon local matters in which were the lines:
"The Keene that was, dream of an earlier year, Its very name was music to my ear,
Like some sweet, far off, visionary scene, My very name for Fairy-Land was 'Keene.' "
8. "The 'worthy Jacob Bacon,' the first Minister of Upper Ashuelot, and his worthy successors, the Ministers of Keene." Singing, "Ye Christian Heralds," Zenner. Re- sponse by Rev. Dr. Barstow, and Rev. David Oliphant, a former minister of Keene.
9. "Old Captain Wyman and the 'Thirty Volunteers' who marched, at twelve hours' warning, against the 'Reg- ulars.' " Band, "Yankee Doodle."
10. "The first annual school tax of six pounds-the last of two thousand dollars." "The Schoolmaster."
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11. "The first 'Town Resolve' against 'drinking and tippling,' with the forfeit of 'two shillings for the use of the poor.'"' "Rogues' March."
12. "Hon. Daniel Newcomb; and the Bar of Keene in his day, and their worthy successors." "Fine Old English Gentleman."
13. "The Adopted Citizens of Keene-Let their num- bers increase; we shall always be glad to give them room and welcome."
In addition to the above, the following volunteer toasts were responded to:
1. "The Traders of Keene forty years ago, and the Merchants of Boston today." Response by Isaac Parker, of Boston, formerly a trader in Keene.
2. "The Author of the Annals of Keene-He has secured for himself an honorable place in the annals of any future historian of the town." Response by Hon. Salma Hale.
3. "New Hampshire and Massachusetts, Keene and Boston-May they ever continue to pursue with one heart and one purpose whatever is patriotic, or elevated, or philosophic for the amelioration of man." Response by G. F. Thayer.
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