USA > New Hampshire > Coos County > Stratford > History of the town of Stratford, New Hampshire, 1773-1925 > Part 20
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HISTORY OF STRATFORD
three years. Since then there have been here: Charles D. Waterhouse, Hiram Berry, Henry Adams, James Twohey, James Marshall, J. W. Hughes, A. E. Duff, F. Gibson, E. Jeffires, A. Verville, James E. Mason, 1909.
The business done at this station has increased rapidly. The first year there were five hundred passengers purchasing tickets, and about $9,000 worth of freight. In 1886 there were 8,721 passengers, the freight amounting to $81,267.35, and the earn- ings of the road at this point $9,460. The money handled at this station during the first year did not exceed $4,000, while in 1886 it reached about $70,000. In 1923 tickets sold, 10,004, money for tickets, $20,729. Freight in 1919, approximately $22,000; in 1923, $120,000.
Lancaster, after its disappointment as to the route of the Grand Trunk Railway, made efforts to obtain railroad privileges in an- other direction, and the White Mountain Railroad was chartered in 1848. This was an extension 'of the Boston, Concord and Montreal Railroad from Woodsville to Lancaster, and was opened to Littleton in August, 1853; to Lancaster in November, 1870; to Groveton in August, 1872; to Fabyan's in July, 1874; to the base of the White Mountains, July 6, 1876. After passing through several hands it was leased to the Boston and Maine Railroad in 1887.
Maine Central Railroad
The Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad incorporated 1869, from Portland to Lunenburg, where it made connections with St. Johnsbury and Lake Champlain Railroad, and was surveyed by John F. Anderson, chief engineer of the Portland and Ogdens- burg Railroad Company. This road was one of the greatest engineering feats of New England, as it comes from the valley of the Saco through the famous White Mountain Notch. Grade of Notch, 116 feet to the mile. Trains first ran through to Fabyan's from Portland, August 7, 1875; Fabyan's to Lunenburg via Wing Road and Scott's, December 22, 1875; Fabyan's to Scott's by Whitefield, October 7, 1889. This road was leased by the Maine Central Railroad, September 1, 1888. Trains began to run from Quebec Junction to North Stratford, February, 1891. Sta- tion agent at North Stratford, C. J. Flaherty.
The iron bridges across the Connecticut near Lancaster and in Stratford were built by the Boston Bridge Works.
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Upper Coös
During all the years from the settlement of the town to the year 1887 there was no railroad to Colebrook, the nearest point on the railroad being North Stratford, thirteen miles away. In the legislature of 1883 a charter for a railroad was obtained from Stratford to Pittsburg, and in April and May, 1887, a subscription for a narrow gauge railroad was raised, stock to the amount of $45,000 being taken. The corpora- tion was organized with J. H. Dudley, president; Albert Barker, clerk; and Sherburn R. Merrill, treasurer; and about $11,000 had been paid in to the stock subscription, when Frank Jones, Charles A. Sinclair and George Van Dyke of- fered to build a standard gauge road through Colebrook and Stewartstown if the people would raise a gratuity of $25,000. This was quickly done, the old board of directors (J. H. Dudley, L. G. Piper, George Van Dyke, F. B. Crawford, W. E. Drew) resigned, and a new board, consisting of Frank Jones of Portsmouth, J. B. Cooke of Salem, Mass., G. W. Armstrong of Boston, I. W. Drew of Lancaster, Enoch Sweatt of Woonsocket, R. I., Charles A. Sinclair of Ports- mouth, and George Van Dyke were chosen. Van Dyke was elected president, Cooke, treasurer, and Sweatt, general manager. It was voted that the general stock do not exceed $350,000. Work was commenced at once and the road was formally opened from North Stratford to Colebrook, No- vember 29, 1887. ("Coös County History," p. 137.)
The Upper Coös was leased by the Maine Central, May I, 1890, and the latter built an extension from Quebec Junction to North Stratford. The distance from Quebec Junction to Canada line is fifty-five miles, and from North Stratford to the line, twenty-two miles. The lease was for nine hundred and ninety- nine years, and the annual sum paid is $35,500.
At Canada line this road connects with Hereford Railway, which extends from the line to Lime Ridge, a distance of fifty- three miles. This railway is also leased to the Maine Central for nine hundred and ninety years, from May 1, 1890, with an annual rentage of $64,500.
The Maine Central first had its offices in the basement of the Knights of Honor Block. About 1895 it erected a station on or near the site of the old Bedel building.
James Twohey, for several years station agent at North Stratford for the Grand Trunk Railroad, was the first superin- tendent of the Upper Coös (Maine Central) Railroad, and he met with a fatal accident May 19, 1890, at Cone Brook in Columbia,
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where a spring freshet had undermined the trestle. Twohey was riding on the engine, and went down with it; his body was found under the engine two days later. Mr. Twohey was a man much interested in all the activities of the town, courteous and efficient in his dealings with the public, and his tragic death cast a deep gloom over the community.
Mr. Twohey was succeeded by H. W. Waldron. Owing to the failure of the railroad company to make terms for the location of the central offices here, they were moved later to Lancaster.
The Maine Central Station was closed two and one-half years during the World War, for reasons of economy, the business of the two railroads being carried on in the Grand Trunk Station.
The ticket agents, as far as we can learn, have been as follows: C. J. Flaherty, 1891; Harry Bishop, 1892; C. J. Flaherty, Harry Payne, 1898; J. T. Belanger, X. C. Guimont, 1902.
Through the courtesy of Mr. Guimont we have obtained the following figures of the business done in the North Stratford Station for the year 1923. Loaded cars received, 161 ; forwarded, 164. Tickets sold, 8,109; money for tickets, $15,000.
James E. Mason, in the employ of the Grand Trunk Railway for thirty years, has been in the charge of the large and ever increasing business of this station for the last sixteen years. From the humble beginnings of the Atlantic and St. Lawrence, seventy- five years ago, it passed into the Grand Trunk system, and in 1924 became a part of one of the most prominent railroads in the country, the Canadian National.
After the building of the Upper Coös (now merged into the Maine Central), the Grand Trunk Railway (now Canadian National Railways) Station began to assume a degree of im- portance owing to the increased interchange of cars between both companies, which has steadily grown up to the present time to such an extent that it is considered one of the most important interchange points between the boundary line and Portland, Maine.
The business has also greatly enlarged since the advent of the New Hampshire Stave and Heading Company, both in the shipping of freight and the passenger service.
A fast freight daily service is maintained, which picks up its heaviest tonnage from North Stratford, and is recognized as the fastest freight movement in New England.
MINERAL BOW BRUNSWICK SPRINGS
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North Stratford is to be congratulated in having as citizens such men as represent these two important railroads here, who are not only efficient in railroad service, but interested in the growth and development of the town. Mr. Mason has been judge of the Municipal Court for several years, and was instru- mental in gaining the cooperation of the Railway Company with the town of Stratford in the laying out and maintenance of the park and fountain. The total cost has been estimated at $2,000, of which the company contributed a goodly share.
We are indebted to the courtesy of Mr. Mason for many items of information in this article.
Mr. Guimont represents an even longer, courteous and efficient service, at the other station. Twenty-three years he has been in the charge of the Maine Central business at this point, except during a short period in the World War when he was transferred to another station.
BRUNSWICK SPRINGS
A history of Stratford would hardly be complete without some mention of these remarkable springs.
They are situated about two miles south of the village of North Stratford, in the town of Brunswick, Vt., on a high bluff that rises almost perpendicularly one hundred feet above the Connecticut River, which flows directly below it. The springs are sixty-five feet above the river, and are six in number.
In a basin not over fifteen feet in diameter, in circular form, these six springs send out six distinctly separate waters. They are: iron, calcium, magnesia, white sulphur, bromide, and arsenic.
According to State Geologist, Dr. H. A. Cutting, one spring contains 851/3 grains of mineral to the gallon. A qualitative analysis gives potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, magne- sium carbonate, ferrous oxide, sulphuric acid, and chlorine acid, being highly charged with alkaline salts.
The source of these springs is unknown. Where the veins of mineral lie, so diverse in their nature, through which these waters flow, bringing their differing elements to join their healing forces, as it were, in so limited a compass, is one of Nature's mys- teries.
Visitors to European spas report that the waters of Brunswick Springs are unequalled by any overseas. They are very volatile and effervescent, and of a delicious and refreshing coolness.
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Through the summer season they are daily visited by people bringing cans and jugs to be filled for the benefit of some ailing ones at home.
The water has cured cases of lifeless limbs, salt rheum, con- sumption, scrofula, swelled neck, loss of vitality, rheumatism, cutaneous diseases, as well as kidney difficulties, and dyspepsia.
The first white man to visit these springs was probably a British soldier, who was taken captive in 1748 by the Indians and brought to their home on Lake Magog. He had been wounded in one of his arms, and it had withered, so that he had lost the use of it. He was brought by the medicine man and a small company of the Indians. They encamped on the shore of a beautiful lake ad- joining the springs-and his arm was healed.
In 1762, when Mr. Baker conducted his survey of Woodbury, now Stratford, he speaks of these springs, and calls the intervale just opposite, "Mineral Bow." E. W. Judd, in his survey in 1788, deals at some length with them.
Very early in the history of the settlement people were brought for many miles to their healing waters. A single spout carried the water; and, the bank being so steep, it made a good fall for spraying or pouring. Cases of scrofula were permanently cured. Booths of green boughs afforded the shelter. Formerly the mode was to take a child, stripped of his clothing, and hold him under the spout-a rather harsh method, but effective.
In 800 David Hyde built a house on his farm (now known as the Willard farm), and accommodated visitors. Later on Mr. Marshall (on the Flanders farm), Mr. Thomas Giles French, on the Vermont side; and on the New Hampshire side, Elisha Bald- win, Mr. Hartshorn(?), and Mr. Smith(?), built or enlarged their houses for this purpose. The Baldwin family, at the old farm- house, which is nearly opposite the springs, kept a summer resort for visitors to these springs, and probably did more to develop their usefulness than any other family until more recent years.
Following is a synopsis of the development of these springs up to 1860:
1748-First white man to receive help from the water.
1762-Civil Engineer Baker finds them, and calls attention to them. A rude trough conducts the water. Baker calls the intervale opposite, "Mineral Bow."
1788-E. W. Judd's survey of Stratford makes much of the springs.
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HISTORY OF STRATFORD
1790-Invalids are brought to Major French's, and receive cure. 1800-David Hyde begins to accommodate visitors to the springs. 1808-Huldah Alger, from Eaton, P. Q., boards at Mr. Nichols',
and receives cure for withered arm from use of the water. Later she marries Elisha Baldwin.
1810-Thomas G. French makes a more modern spout to conduct the water.
1815-David Hyde enlarges his house for visitors.
1820-Twelve farmhouses are enlarged for visitors.
1832-John Schoff built a house over the springs.
1845-62-Baldwin Homestead open to summer guests, largely Portland people, many of whom came for the use of the water.
The first hotel at the springs was built by Charles Bailey, about 1860. A. J. Congdon was one of the first landlords. It passed through various hands, with more or less patronage, until the late '70's, when it was purchased by Dr. D. O. Rowell, under whose skillful management it became a very popular summer resort, and the house was filled for the entire season with guests, who came not only to use the waters, but to enjoy a quiet retreat in one of Nature's loveliest spots.
The location is ideal, comprising a fine river view, a beautiful little lake which has been appropriately named "Silver Lake," set amid the surrounding hills, and dotted with water lilies in their season, and reflecting the beauty of the trees about it; the whole affording a charming and restful seclusion.
People from Philadelphia, New York, and all points of New England, and the eastern provinces of Canada, came year after year to this popular house. Some of the country's most noted men and women have spent restful days in this quiet spot.
In 1894 the house was purchased by Henry Smith, enlarged, and operated for a few years, when it was burned. The place stood vacant for several years, and was then purchased by Dr. Rowell, who removed the débris of the fire, and built a small cottage on the highest point of the bluff, which he named "Pine Crest Lodge." This was open during the summer months, and was well filled, additions to the house being built from time to time.
Upon Dr. Rowell's death the property was sold to John C. Hutchins, and the lodge has been run at infrequent intervals by different individuals. The most noticeable improvement on the property has been the cement work recently put in, affording a safe and agreeable access to the springs.
CHAPTER XVII
STRATFORD'S POST OFFICES
A very interesting chapter in Stratford's history is that of her post offices. When we consider the late date in which postal service was introduced into older settlements, we need not expect that it would appear at a very early date in Stratford. Benjamin Franklin's famous tour that he made in the inspection of post offices did not extend as far as the Upper Coös.
A study of the old family letters would show that they were usually sent by the hand of some friend; and the news of the arrival or the setting out of a friend on a journey set many an old quill pen in motion. When we examine these old letters, written, with still unfaded ink, on paper of such coarse texture, and folded and sealed with so much precision (for envelopes did not come into use until long after Stratford had seen fifty years of settlement), we do not wonder that letter writing was a formidable task, not lightly to be undertaken.
Writing paper was a very precious possession. Promissory notes were given, and business transactions recorded, on scraps of paper a few inches square. A modern business letter, with its half-dozen lines in the middle of a sheet of elegant linen, would make our forefathers gasp at such extravagant waste.
Benjamin Strong was Stratford's first official mail carrier of whom we have any record. He was here as early as 1784, and as postmaster was in office in 1810, so that his term of service lies somewhere between those dates. Lancaster had a postmaster as early as 1803, and the mail was carried to and from Haverhill at that time on hoseback once a week. It is probable that Stratford had the same service. We know that Benjamin Strong was mounted, and furthermore that he was equipped with a horn to be blown to warn the citizens of his approach. It was also customary to signal the arrival of a letter for parties on the other side of the river by hanging a white cloth in the window of the house that served as a post office.
The first post office was at the Sidney French place, then occu- pied by Joseph Daniels, and Jared W. Daniels was appointed postmaster in 1810, October Ist. J. W. Daniels was a surgeon in the War of 1812, and it is probable that the postal business was
24I
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HISTORY OF STRATFORD
carried on by his father, in whose house the office was. The place was later sold to Abijah French, and Mr. Daniels moved to Strat- ford Hollow, Dr. Daniels settling in Salina, N. Y., and David Platt became postmaster. Mr. Platt served from May 29, 1815, to February 24, 1831. In the home of his grandson, Charles D. Platt, stands the old desk that served as a post office during that term of years. Mail in those days came twice a week from Boston, and was three days on the way.
In 1825 mail was brought weekly from Lancaster to Colebrook in a one-horse wagon. Then came the stagecoach. From an article written by James S. Brackett for the Lancaster Gazette, we quote:
Fifty years ago the mail was brought from Haverhill in a barouche drawn by two horses. The barouche was suc- ceeded by the more pretentious and elegant stagecoach drawn by four horses, and the "Jehu" who handled the "ribbons" and with mighty flourish and crack of whip reined in the fiery steeds at the post-office door, and with pride and pomp whirled his panting, foaming team around to the hotel, where, with politeness and dignity, he handed down the pas- sengers, was the envy of all the boys, who stood agape and witnessed the wonderful feat. .
Those were days of simplicity in the country towns, and the arrival and departure of the mails three times in each week were occasions of moment. Some anxious hearts were in waiting to hear from absent friends, or the news from dis- tant places, but there was no rush to the delivery as now; the postmaster took with care the letters and papers from the mail bag, and called the name of each person who had the fortune to receive a letter or package, and if the person were present it was handed out to him; if not, the package was put into a drawer, or laid upon a shelf or table to await the time it should be called for. After a while it was found convenient to have letter "pigeon-holes" constructed and arranged alphabetically that time might be saved in looking over the accumulation, as a paper or letter might be required. Post- age was not prepaid as nowadays, but the postmaster charged the amount due on a package to the receiver, if he was known and able to pay his debts, and once a quarter presented his bill. If the receiver was a stranger or an impecunious in- dividual, the postage was required before delivery.
These were some of the rates of postage that prevailed : In 1839, postage 371/2 cents. In 1836, postage to Hanover was 10 cents, and that rate continued until 1847. 1834, postage to Indiana was
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25 cents. That was a rate that appeared on many letters from distant points. 1850, rate to Boston was 5 cents. 1837, to points in Maine, 121/2 cents. Postmasters had postage free. In 1845 Congress reduced postage to 5, 10, 15, and 20 cents. In 1852 it was again reduced to 3 cents for one-half ounce (or fraction thereof), and 5 cents if not prepaid. In 1882 postage was reduced to 2 cents. Postal cards were introduced in 1873. Postage was not required to be prepaid until 1851, when stamps were intro- duced. The postal money order system came into use in 1860. As late as 1850 a careful record had to be kept of every letter received and delivered, the person to whom addressed, the place, etc. Letters came with the amount of postage due stamped upon them, which was supposed to be paid by the recipient. The story is told of a husband, disliked by his wife's relatives, and who had taken her away to a distant state, who continued to send back letters to her home, which, when paid for and opened, were found to be but a blank.
We can give the names of a few of the newspapers which passed through the old post offices: Dartmouth Gazette; New Hampshire Patriot and State Gazette, published in Concord; Intelligencer, published in Haverhill; and the Coös County Democrat, published in Lancaster by James Rix. These were all published prior to 1840, the Dartmouth Gazette as early as 1803.
The following is a list of postmasters and their terms of service at Stratford Hollow :
Jared W. Daniels, October 1, 1810 David Platt, May 29, 1815 Samuel W. Porter, February 24, 1831 Elisha A. Barlow, May 7, 1832 Joseph Johnson, May 8, 1848 Jonathan Rolfe, March 18, 1852
Hiram Lucas, November 5, 1852 James H. Mahurin, October 27, 1854 Benjamin B. Ockington, July 23, 1861 Edward B. Merriam, December 21, 1874 Charles Mahurin, May 8, 1876 Loyal B. Blodgett, July 13, 1877 Fred L. Kenney, November 26, 1889 William R. Brown, September 16, 1893 Fred J. Taylor, October 5, 1897
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Fred L. Kenney, appointed June 23, 1905 Edward C. Connary, appointed July 13, 1914 Everett C. Brown, appointed October 5, 1916 Harold F. Mason, appointed July 1, 1924
On December 26, 1892, the post office at Stratford Hollow was burned with all its contents. The building stood nearly opposite the church, and was occupied by Fred L. Kenney, the postmaster. Mr. Kenney was first selectman, and the town books in his posses- sion were also burned. The fire broke out at midnight, and was not discovered until the building was nearly consumed.
The growing business developments in the northern part of the town created a demand for a post office there, and on May 25, 1852, a post office was established in the Baldwin Homestead, with William L. Baldwin as postmaster. The next year, 1853, the office was transferred to the village, and located in the store of Bedel and Holmes, with Albe Holmes as postmaster. On account of the confusion of names between North Stratford and and North Strafford, N. H., the name of the former post office was changed to Coös, N. H., on April 18, 1854. The postmasters since that time have been :
Edwin Loomis, appointed March 28, 1857
Albe Holmes, appointed August 27, 1858
Joseph H. Danforth, appointed June 28, 1861
John C. Pattee, appointed December 22, 1885
Charles P. Schoff, appointed January -, 1900 (died Sept. 8, 1905) Harriette H. Hinman, appointed September -, 1905 (now serv- ing)
Upon Mr. Danforth's appointment the office was removed to his store, where it remained until the fire of 1894, when it was placed in the store of John C. Hutchins during the interval of rebuilding. Its next move was to the Stevens store on Bridge Street. After the death of Mr. Schoff, Miss Hinman took it to the Hinman Block in 1905, where it has since been. The rapidly increasing business of the office demanded enlarged quarters, and in January, 1921, Miss Hinman installed a fine equipment in enlarged and commodious quarters, such as is rarely found out- side of cities or large towns.
The little post office that was paying $100 in 1861, and about $800 in 1886, in the year ending June 30, 1924, reported: Money
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HISTORY OF STRATFORD
orders, $86,070.74; postal business, $5,134.60. The post office in North Strafford, N. H., having gone out of existence, the name "Coös" was changed to "North Stratford" in 1916. In April, 1905, came the rural free delivery, with two routes: Route No. I taking in the towns of Columbia to Columbia Bridge, and parts of Lemington and Bloomfield. Don W. Stevens has been the carrier on this route since it was installed. Hugh H. Johnson was the first carrier on Route No. 2, which comprises all of Stratford south of this office, to Stratford Hollow, and East Stratford, with a part of Maidstone and Brunswick, Vt. Mr. Johnson was suc- ceeded by Frank Dalbec, and he by Robert S. Marshall in 1916.
It is a far cry from the mounted mail carrier with his weekly mail one hundred years ago to 1925, with its nine daily mails brought to North Stratford by the two railroads; and sometimes as her people watch the airplanes sailing over her highest peaks, carrying, in four hours, mails from Long Island Sound to nearly the farthest northern limits of New Hampshire, they wonder what future years have in store for them in postal service.
PHYSICIANS OF NORTH STRATFORD Dr. Frank Blanchard Dr. Moses Whitcomb Dr. Guy W. Johnson Dr. Frank Evans Dr. Carpenter
CHAPTER XVIII
STRATFORD'S PHYSICIANS
Though many people run for the doctor at every trivial ailment there has ever been a call for those versed in the laws of our physical nature and the use of medicine. Accident as well as cases of sickness will ever make a demand for persons trained in the healing art. Though Stratford for many years had no settled doctor, there were those from abroad whose services were called into use. These were days of horseback and saddle bag, and thus equipped, with saddle bag well filled with drugs, roots, herbs and pills to kill or make well, the doctor was a familiar sight.
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