USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Rye > History of the town of Rye, New Hampshire, from its discovery and settlement to December 31, 1903 > Part 13
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3.00
Richard G. Caswell,
8.00
Reuben Marden,
3.00
Nathaniel Berry,
2.00
Joseph Rand,
1.00
Samuel Berry,
4.00
Stephen Rand, 1.00
William Randall,
4.00
Ira Brown, 1
2.00
Amos S. Jenness,
8.00
Cotton W. Drake,
1.00
Amos S. Garland,
10.00
Amos S. Parsons,
3.00
Jonathan Brown, Jr.,
5.00
John Foye,
2.00
Lyman Seavey,
15.00
Jonathan M. Locke,
2.00
Sally Garland,
2.00
Wid Elizabeth Randall,
.50
Jonathan T. Walker,
10.00
Job Locke,
15.00
John T. Rand,
12.00
Polly Brown, 10.00
Stephen Marden,
15.00
Benjm Jenness, 15 00
Sam1 Jenness, 36.00
William H. Porter,
Michael Dalton,
15.00
Charles H. Porter,
Mary Jenness,
10.00
Samuel Walker,
10.00
Stephen Rand, 10.00
Luba Morrison,
3.00
Jonathan Jenness,
10.00
Huntington Porter,
15.00
1.00
170
IIISTORY OF RYE.
Mary Locke,
$1.50
Eliphalet Sleeper,
$4.00
Florinda Rand,
2.00
Wid Abigail Locke, 10.00
Elizabeth M. Marden,
1.50
William Trefethen, 3.00
Asa Locke,
3.00
Mark R. Webster.
5 00
Simon Locke,
3.00
Reuben Shapley,
3.00
Charles Green,
5.00
Isaac L. Ham,
3.00
Sarah Porter,
5.00
Samuel Marden, Jr.,
10.00
Samuel Parsons,
15.00
John A. Trefethen,
4.00
Jedediah Rand,
5.00
Samuel Shapley.
3.00
John Y. Remick,
10.00
Abraham Matthews,
3.00
to be paid 3 years,
Martha Foye,
2.00
Richard Webster,
5.00
Mary Jenness,
2.00
James Marden,
25.00
Thomas Rand, Jr.,
12.00
Amos S. Parsons,
30.00
Richard H. Waldron,
5.00
Stephen Green,
30.00
Reuben P. Jenness,
5.00
Joseph Jenness,
35.00
Jacob Holmes,
1.00
James Dow, Jr.,
24.00
John Garland,
5.00
Cotton W. Drake,
24.00
William S. Garland,
1.00
John Drake,
24.00
Joseph Seavey,
3.00
Joses Philbrick,
24.00
Rebecca Marden,
.75
Polly Goss,
5.00
Jeremy Webster,
3.00
Simon Brown,
30.00
Sally Goss,
.75
John Brown,
10 00
Patience Langdon,
3.00
Jonathan Brown,
25.00
Isaac Waldron,
20.00
Elvin Locke,
3.00
Daniel Lang,
2.00
Thomas Goss,
4.50
Joseph L. Locke,
10.00
Samuel J. Locke,
15.00
John A. Trefethen,
1.00
Most of the above subscriptions were paid within the time stipulated.
The above subscribers appointed a committee, consisting of John W. Parsons, Joseph Rand, John Foye, Jonathan Philbrick, Benjamin Jenness, Richard Foss, Thomas Rand, Jr., Samuel J. Locke, Ira Brown, Samuel Jenness, Jr., Samuel Walker, and Cot- ton W. Drake to purchase a parsonage for the Third Religious society in Rye.
The Committee who were appointed by the subscribers for a Parsonage to the 3d Religious Society in Rye give notice that they have purchased the House and five acres of land belonging to Amos Garland deceased and request the subscribers to meet at the Meeting House Wednesday evening next at seven o'clk to pay their Subscriptions and transact any business that may come before them. Rye April 14 1833.
Thomas Rand jr Secretary.
171
ECCLESIASTICAL.
A deed was executed by Thomas Garland Berry, of Ports- mouth, to the committee, April 12, 1833, of the five acres of land with the buildings thereon, being the same land which William Garland of Portsmouth conveyed to his brother Amos, October 4, 1804, and the parsonage house was probably built in the latter year. In 1834 a new barn was built on the parsonage land, most of the lumber being given by the members of the society. It was framed by Jonathan T. Walker.
FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH BUILT AT RYE CENTER.
It seems the Congregational Society were still in debt for their parsonage, for in 1837 the following appears :
We the subscribers engage and agree to pay to the Wardens of the third religious Society in Rye the sums set against our Names severally When- ever the total Amount subscribed shall be four hundred dollars, to complete the payments of the Parsonage Property .- Said subscriptions to be made and expended in conformity to the preamble for the subscription for the Pur- chase of a Parsonage. Rye, Feby 6, 1837.
172
HISTORY OF RYE.
Reuben Marden,
$5.00
John Philbrick,
$2.50
Stephen Rand,
2.00
Richard H. Waldron, 2.00
Samuel J. Locke,
8.70
Samuel Shapley,
1.00
Richard Foss,
12.50
Samuel Marden, jr.,
6.00
Thomas J. Parsons,
7.50
John Foye,
20.00
Cotton W. Drake,
7.00
Joseph Seavey,
3.00
Bezaleel Smith,
10.00
Jeremiah Webster,
1.00
Thomas Rand,
5.00
Daniel Rand,
1.00
John T. Rand.
2.00
Simon Brown, jr.,
1.00
John A. Trefethen,
1.00
Thomas Goss,
5.00
Ira Brown,
2.00
Mary Jenness,
2.00
Jonathan Locke,
3.00
John Y. Remick,
5.00
Abigail Locke,
1.00
Joseph Locke 4th,
.50
Elizabeth Goss,
.20
Jona D. Locke,
.50
Joseph Jenness,
16.00
Lemuel Locke,
.50
Reuben P. Jenness,
5.00
Wm. B. Jenness,
1.00
Ivory Brown,
1.00
Thomas J. Parsons,
5.00
Michael Dalton,
3.00
John Drake,
5.00
Jonathan Batchelder,
.12
John W. Parsons,
8.00
James Dow, jr.,
8.00
Bezaleel Smith for Piscata-
20.00
Trundy Rand,
4.00
qua Conference,
Simon Brown,
9.84
John W. Parsons,
5.00
Sarah Philbrick,
1.00
John Foye,
3.00
Amos S. Garland,
3.00
Richard Foss,
3.00
Charles Green,
3.00
Langdon Brown,
3.00
Ira Brown,
4.50
John T. Rand,
3.00
Samuel Marden,
1.00
Joseph Rand,
10.00
Amos S. Parsons,
5.00
Jonathan Jenness,
2.00
John T. Rand,
1.00
Jonathan D. Dow,
1.00
Reul Garland,
2.00
Joseph Philbrick, jr.,
3.00
Asa Locke,
1.00
Jonathan Philbrick, jr.,
3.00
Joseph L. Seavey,
1.00
Daniel Philbrick,
1.00
Jonathan Verrill,
1.00
Jonathan Locke,
1.00
Amos S. Parsons,
13.50
Joseph Jenness,
4.00
Mary Brown,
3.00
Mary Jenness, 1.00
Daniel Marden,
1.50
Joseph Brown, jr.,
1.00
Nathaniel G. Foye,
6.00
Simon Jenness,
2.00
Samuel Walker,
9.00
Charles Green,
1.00
Jedidiah Rand,
3.00
Reuben P. Jenness,
1.00
Thomas G. Berry,
10.00
Woodbury Seavey,
1.00
James Marden,
15.00
Samuel Walker,
2.00
Reuben Marden,
2.00
James Marden,
3.00
Cotton W. Drake,
5.00
Samuel Marden, jr.,
2.00
Jedidiah Rand,
2.00
Samuel Verrill,
1.00
173
ECCLESIASTICAL.
Jonathan T. Walker,
$1.00
Mark R. Webster,
$1.00
Stephen Rand,
1.00
Thomas Rand,
5.00
Jonathan Philbrick,
2.00
Samuel Odiorne, jr.,
5.00
Simon Brown,
2.00
John Brown,
2.00
Thomas G. Berry,
5.00
Sam1 Jenness, jr.,
1.00
The following acknowledgment shows that it was a number of years before the committee were in a position to deed the property to the Third Religious or Congregational society.
State of New Hampshire
Rockingham ss-March 25, 1840. Then personally appeared the above named John W. Parsons, Jonathan Philbrick, Cotton W. Drake, Ira Brown, Richard Foss, Joseph Rand, Samuel Walker, Samuel J. Locke, John Foye, Samuel Jenness, Jr., Thomas Rand and Benjamin Jenness-and acknowl- edged the foregoing instrument to be their Voluntary act and deed.
Before me, Thomas J. Parsons Justice of the Peace.
Signed Sealed
in presence of us
Reuben P. Jenness
Bezaleel Smith
Thomas J. Parsons j
TIIE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Methodism was introduced here about 1835, the friends of the society holding protracted meetings at their respective houses. A religious society, known as the First Methodist Episcopal Society in Rye, was formed March 16, 1839, and the meeting house was raised June 1, and dedicated October 9, the same year.
Rev. Mr. Cushing was the first pastor and Rev. James T. Adams occupied the pulpit in 1840-'42. Succeeding pastors have been :
Rev. Henry Drew, 1843.
Rev. Abram Palmer, 1844.
Rev. Mr. Blodgit, 1845. Rev. D. W. Barber, 1846.
Rev. John W. Adams, 1857-'58.
Rev. Mr. Allen, 1847 .
Rev. N. M. Bailey, 1859- 60.
Rev. Mr. Walingford, 1848.
Rev. Mr. Chase, 1861-62.
Rev. Mr. Blodgit, 1849.
Rev. Mr. Heath, 1850-51.
Rev. J. F. Adams, 1852.
Rev. David Mackends, 1853.
Rev. John F. Adams, 1854.
Rev. Elihu Legro, 1855-'56.
Rev. W. H. Stewart, 1863.
Rev. W. T. Rogers, 1864-65. Rev. Abram Folsom, 1867-68.
174
HISTORY OF RYE.
The society was without a pastor for several years and finally in 1873 decided to sell their meeting house to the town for a town hall.
BAPTIST AND CHRISTIAN CHURCHES.
The Freewill Baptist first met for worship in private houses. A small meeting house was erected near Nathan Knowles', at the junction of Central and Grove roads, about 1817, and on May 1, 1820, Daniel Goss, Nathan Knowles, Ephraim Philbrick, and others formed a new religious society to be known as " The First Baptist Society in Rye." The little meeting house was standing at Knowles' corner as late as 1830, when the society voted "To let the meeting house stand longer if the lower end brethren will not join to move it," but it was soon moved to the Center, near the site of the present Christian church and was used as a place of worship until 1839. It was then found to be too small, cold, and inconvenient, and the society pro- ceeded to erect a more commodious house for worship near the old spot. The new meeting house was raised July 16, and dedicated October 30, 1839.
In May, 1835, James Perkins, Joseph Philbrick, and others formed " The First Christian Society in Rye." Ephraim Phil- brick, Carr Leavitt, and twenty-eight others joined the society in 1839. Their church building was destroyed by fire from an overheated furnace, on Sunday morning, February 19, 1888, and was a total loss, there being no insurance. The society with characteristic energy proceeded at once to erect a new house of worship, the work being prosecuted so vigorously that the building was ready for occupancy the following summer and was dedicated in August.
In 1897 the society purchased a plot of land nearly opposite their church and erected a handsome parsonage thereon.
The following ministers have preached at various times :
Elders Ebenezer Leavitt, Ephraim Philbrick, and Pottle, 1827. Elder Philbrick, 1839.
Elder Clark Simonds, 1866.
Rev. Alva H. Morrill, 1872.
Rev. S. B. Bowditch, 1876.
Elder Thomas F. Barry, 1840.
Rev. Ira S. Jones, 1878.
Elder Abner Hall, 1842.
Rev. Lewis Phillips, 1883.
175
ECCLESIASTICAL.
Elder William H. Nason, 1843.
Elder Mosher, 1845.
Elder William H. Ireland, 1850.
Elder Joel Wilson, 1855.
Elders Rowell, Pain, Cole, Hall, and Dixon, 1857-'64.
Rev. L. Walter Phillips, 1885.
Rev. J. E. Everingham, 1889.
Rev. H. J. Rhodes, 1893.
Rev. J. A. Beebe, 1895.
Rev. Joseph Lambert [the present pastor], 1899.
EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The Episcopal church by the sea was built in 1876, largely by the summer residents, and the bell was hung in 1877.
THE SECOND ADVENT CHURCH.
The advent meeting house on the south road was dedicated May 23, 1872.
الور
CHRISTIAN CHURCHI.
XII.
Industrial and Miscellaneous.
RYE HARBOR.
It is said that the harbor was formerly between Little Neck and the eastern end of the stones, that a trunk was put in and an outlet or harbor dug out, about 1756, from the deep hole, as it used to be called, but the present harbor was not dug out and completed until 1792. Before this harbor was opened the thatch pond and marsh was an alder swamp.
In May, 1792, the town voted a committee to dig out Rye harbor between Ragged Neck and Little Neck, and appointed a committee of seven " to dig out where they think it proper." " At a legal meeting chose Samuel Jenness, Moderator to hear report of Committee chosen to view the harbor betwixt Little Neck and Ragged Neck. At said meeting chose Nathan Goss, Simon Jenness, Capt. Joseph Jenness, John Garland, John Web- ster, Reuben Philbrick, and Jeremiah Berry, a committee to dig out a harbor, where they think proper. The following are the subscriptions or work to complete the harbor."
Dated April 9, 1792.
Nathan Goss, 15 days and 10 Gals. Rum. Joseph Philbrick, 2 days.
Richard Webster, 2 days. Samuel Saunders, 2 days. William Tucker, 2 days.
Daniel Seavey, 1 day. Thomas Rand, I day.
John Foss, 2 days.
Amos S. Parsons, I day.
Elijah Saunders, 2 days.
Ebenezer Seavey, 1 day.
George Saunders, 2 days.
Robert Saunders, 4 days.
Jonathan Hobbs, 2 days. Jeremiah Berry, 3 days. Joseph Rand, jr., 2 days.
William Foss, I day. Ebenezer Foss, I day.
Samuel Libby, 7 days. William Marden, 6 days. Robert Saunders, 2 days.
John Webster, 6 days. Levi Goss, 6 days. Nath1 Rand, 4 days.
Edward Hall, 2 days.
177
INDUSTRIAL AND MISCELLANEOUS.
Jeremiah Berry & Oxen, 3 days. Jonathan Hobbs, 3 days.
William Marden & Oxen, 2 days. Jonathan Locke, jr., I day.
John Foss, 2 days.
Jonathan B. Waldron, 4 days.
Solomon Marden, 2 days.
Ebenezer Foss, I day.
Jonathan Locke, 3 days.
Wm Marden, 2 days
Wm Marden & Oxen, 6 days.
Jeremiah Berry & Oxen, 4 days. Josiah Webster, I day.
Jonathan Hobbs, 4 days. Jonathan Locke, jr., 2 days. Jeremiah Berry, 3 days. Jonathan Hobbs, 4 days. Thomas Rand, I day. Joses Philbrick, 2 days. Daniel Seavey, I day.
Benjm Marden & Oxen, 2 days. John Foss, I day.
WHARF AT SANDY BEACH.
December 17, 1763, an act was passed appointing Francis Jenness, Ozem Dowrst, Joseph Brown, Jenness Marden, and Jeremiah Locke as a committee to construct a wharf to prevent the tide from destroying Sandy Beach. No record of the ac- tion taken by the committee, il they took any, or whether the wharf was to be built at the expense of the province or the town, or at the joint expense of both, has been found.
VESSELS OWNED IN RYE.
After Rye harbor was dug out numerous small boats were engaged in the fisheries, and later on schooners of thirty and forty tons did a considerable fishing business during the sum- mer season and during the fall and winter freighted potatoes, hay, apples, and other produce to market, and many of the citi- zens at that date availed themselves of this mode of conveyance to make their first trip to Boston. Fish houses were erected at Ragged Neck and also at Little Neck. All the fish were caught with hand lines, and after being salted and dried were shipped to various markets.
Among the fleet of vessels were the following :
Schooner Rye, 1756, Captain Richard Foss. Schooner Register, 1839, Captain Richard R. Locke. Schooner Sarah, 1839, Captain William Verrill. Schooner Tabithia, 1840, Captain Jesse Philbrick. Schooner Fly, 1840, Captain Dearborn Locke. Schooner Two Brothers, Captain Ivory Brown. Schooner Echo, Captain Daniel Lord.
13
178
HISTORY OF RYE.
Schooner Globe, Captain Gardiner T. Locke.
Schooner Otis, Captain William Goss.
Schooners Four Brothers, Tyro, Eagle, and John Brooks (the last cost- ing $650). and others.
VESSELS WRECKED.
Many vessels have been wrecked on our coast. In 1764 a schooner and a brig came ashore.
In 1768 a schooner commanded by Captain Grindiff came ashore and was a total wreck.
In 1778 a prize vessel was captured and cast away at Wallis Sands ; fourteen persons were drowned and buried on the Wallis farm.
On October 9th, 1804, two vessels ran ashore, one on Jenness Ledge and one near where Albion Philbrick resided.
In 1819 the schooner Sarah went ashore on Jenness Ledge.
March 5, 1834, the ship Emerald was ashore at "Little Cove."
The ship Margaret Scott, loaded with salt, was driven ashore at Little Boar's Head in 1833.
In 1836 the schooner Acton ran ashore at Jenness Beach.
In 1841 a brig ran ashore on Jenness Ledge and a vessel near Odiorne's Point.
On November 30, 1842, a vessel ran ashore at Wallis Sands, and five persons were lost. The following year the United States ship Saratoga was dismasted off Wallis Sands, the masts being cut away to avoid going on the rocks.
In 1845, during a severe snowstorm, the schooner William Wallace and Elizabeth ran ashore on Wallis Sands.
During a severe blow December 31, 1849, two vessels were ashore at Rye Beach and two at Little River.
December 23, 1850, schooner Rachael and Nancy ran ashore at Little Neck.
During the great gale, April 8, 1851, the schooner Boutwycll came ashore at Ragged Neck and the British Crown on Jen- ness Ledge.
In 1872 the schooner Express ran ashore with lumber near Jenness Ledge, also a schooner at Wallis Sands.
179
INDUSTRIAL AND MISCELLANEOUS.
September 12, 1882, a schooner with lime burned and sank near Wallis Sands, also two schooners ashore on the rocks at the eastward of Wallis Sands.
ELECTRIC RAILWAY.
Rye is off the line of the steam railroad between Boston and Portsmouth-the former Eastern railroad, now a part of the Eastern division of the great Boston & Maine system-and the inhabitants of the town have always depended and the summer hotels and summer visitors now depend upon the stations of that railroad in North Hampton, Greenland, and Portsmouth for their railroad facilities, the large stage-coaches of the hotels being regular attendants at one or the other of those stations at train time throughout the season of summer visitation to the beaches. There is nothing in prospect that will ever bring a steam road any nearer the town than the Boston & Maine is now. Rye will always be off to one side of any line of steanı communication, and it may be doubted if a railway of any kind would ever have run its cars within the borders of the town but for the marvelous advance in the application of elec- tricity as a motive power for the cars of street railways.
A petition for the location of tracks, etc., by the Boston & Maine's intermediary, the Portsmouth and Dover railroad, was presented, being as follows :
To the Selectmen of Rye.
The directors of the Portsmouth and Dover railroad, a corporation duly established under the laws of this state and having its principal office at Portsmouth in said county, respectfully represent that the supreme court of this state, upon the petition of said railroad and proper proceedings had thereon, has determined that the public good requires that an extension and branches and additions to its steam railroad, to be operated by electricity, be built in certain streets and highways of said town and upon and over the routes and public streets and highways in said town, described as follows, viz. :
Beginning in Sagamore road in said Rye, at the line between said Rye and the city of Portsmouth, there connecting with an extension of said railroad and running southerly over and on said Sagamore road to a point nearly op- posite the dwelling house of O. L. Foye, where the Wallis Sands road runs
180
HISTORY OF RYE.
into said Sagamore road, there connecting with an extension of said railroad, all in said Rye.
Beginning in Sagamore road in said Rye at a point nearly opposite the dwelling house of O. L. Foye where the Wallis Sands road runs into the Sagamore road, there connecting with an extension of said railroad, and run- ning southwesterly and westerly over and in said Sagamore road and the road leading to Rye Center, also by the house owned by William Small, by the dwelling house of Supply F. Trefethen and the dwelling house of C. H. Lear to Rye Center, to a point near the Congregational meeting house, where the road runs from the last named road to the Farragut House, all in said Rye.
Beginning in said Sagamore road in said Rye at the point nearly opposite the dwelling house of O. L. Foye above mentioned, there connecting with an extension of said railroad and running southwesterly and westerly over and in said Sagamore road and the road leading to Rye Center by said Small's house and by said dwelling house of Supply F. Trefethen, to Lang's Corner so called, near the dwelling house of Joseph Langdon Seavey, thence turn- ing and running easterly and southeasterly over and in the road leading from Lang's Corner to the Wallis Sands life saving station, by said Seavey's dwelling house and over four corners, so called, to the Beach road, which runs along the beach or ocean from a point near said life saving station ; thence running southerly and westerly over and in said Beach road, over the bridge at Concord point, so called, and along the road in front of the Ocean Wave hotel to Foss beach or Sandy beach road, thence westerly and south- erly over and in said last named road and connecting road to Rye Center, at a point near the Congregational meeting house, where the road runs from the last named road to the Farragut house, all in said Rye.
That the said railroad is to be built with single or double track as may be found necessary, with suitable side tracks, spurs and turnouts, to be of stand- ard gauge throughout, to wit, of the distance between the rails of four feet eight and one-half inches; and that it will be necessary to stretch wires for carrying electric power along the streets and highways where said railroad is located and to erect poles and other structures to support said wires.
And said Portsmouth and Dover railroad has filed a copy of its petition aforesaid, and of the decision the Court thereon, in the office of the secre- tary of this state ; Wherefore, Your petitioners pray you will locate the tracks, side tracks, spurs, and turnouts of said railroad and the necessary poles and other structures thereof on and over said public streets and highways upon the line of said routes.
Upon the petition a hearing was held at the town hall on Jan. 31, 1899, and after listening to the statements and argu- ments of all who desired to be heard, the selectmen voted to
181
INDUSTRIAL AND MISCELLANEOUS.
grant the prayer of the petition, both for the main line, from its junction with the tracks at the Portsmouth boundary on Sag- amore road to Rye Center, and the Wallis Sand loop from Lang's Corner; and they also specified on which side of the highway the tracks should be laid, sometimes on one side and sometimes on the other, on both main line and loop. But it was not the intention of the railroad management to make a terminal of Rye Center, and later another petition was filed with the selectmen asking for the location of tracks and poles for an extension over a route described as follows :
Beginning at Rye Center in the town of Rye at a point near the Con- gregational meeting house, where the road leading to the Farragut house runs from the road leading from Rye Center to Portsmouth, there connect- ing with an extension of said railroad ; thence running over and in said road leading to the Farragut house, easterly, southerly, westerly, and in whatever direction said road runs, by the store of E. C. Jenness, the dwelling house of Abraham Perkins, the Sea View house and the dwelling house of E. B. Philbrick, to a point a short distance easterly from said dwelling house of E. B. Philbrick, where the road leading southerly and southeasterly to the fish houses, so called, runs into said Farragut house road ; thence running over, in and along said road leading to the fish houses to the road leading along the ocean to Little Boar's Head ; thence running over, in and along said road leading to Little Boar's Head southerly and southwesterly in said town of Rye to the line of the town of North Hampton. Then followed details and specifications as in the previous petition.
On this later petition several hearings were held at the town hall, at the conclusion of which the selectmen granted the request, locating the tracks on the easterly side of the highway from the meeting house to opposite the house of the late N. Gilbert Jenness, and on the westerly side the remainder of the distance to the fish houses and the North Hampton line. Among the conditions imposed by the selectmen were that the railway should build and maintain its parts of all culverts and bridges over which its tracks should be laid ; . that in case of dispute over the grade of any highway or portion thereof, the selectmen for the time being should have the right to determine the grade, and that any change of grade ordered by the select- men should be made by the railway and at its expense ; and
182
HISTORY OF RYE.
that no trees should be cut down or trimmed by the railway except by permission of the selectmen and under their direc- tion. The railway extends through the town very nearly its entire length from north to south, the route as granted and built upon being in the following named roads: From the Portsmouth line on Sagamore road, through Sagamore, Wallis and Washington roads to the Center; and from the Center through Central, Causeway, and Farragut roads to the North Hampton line. The Wallis Sands loop still awaits construction.
On the first of April, 1899, a gang of railway construction laborers commenced digging up the ground near the Center, another gang starting at the other end, on Sagamore road at the Portsmouth line. On the 24th of August the first car was run over the line to Lang's corner, the junction of Sagamore and Wallis roads; on the 3Ist the run was extended to Rand's corner, the junction of Washington and Portsmouth roads; and on the 3d of September the first car to the Center arrived oppo- site the Congregational church. Work on the second section, from the Center to the North Hampton line, was commenced at the foot of Meetinghouse Hill on the 17th of April, 1900, and on June 28th cars were running over it and making connection with the cars of the Hampton Beach line; and on July 14th cars began running to North Hampton depot over a branch.
The railway, as was promised should be the case, was built in the best possible manner; rails heavier than are ordinarily used on electric railways were put in, and when the line was finished the Boston & Maine's civil engineers, under whose supervision the line was built, said that as far as anything giv- ing away was concerned it would be perfectly safe to run the railroad's heaviest locomotive over it. The highways along which the tracks run were, as a whole, actually improved by the intrusion of the railway. The training field or common at the Center, in front of the meeting house, was graded, several feet being taken off near where the tracks run, and an evenly progressive ascent to the meeting house made; around the turn, on Central road, the highway was widened several feet and the grade cut down, the result being decidedly beneficial. In
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