USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > New London > Mirror to America : a history of New London, New Hampshire, 1900-1950 > Part 28
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62
103. Home and Beauty Shop of Elizabeth Nichols. Built by Ezekiel Sargent on corner of his property reserved when he sold the big house (No. 102). Ezekiel sired fourteen chil- dren but by the time he moved to this smaller dwelling, the older ones were grown and probably had homes of their own. Andrew Jackson, "Captain Jack" of Civil War fame, was the youngest child and born in the old house in 1833; so this presumably was built about 1835. A fine example of Type B with many old charcteristics. Fine proportion though smaller than other early Type B homes. Three fireplaces, with brick oven in SE room. Split stone arch in cellar. Sash, nine over six. Although of the old type, house has some features which mark it as of the later period: the front door with side lights and a most charming and unusual feature, a spiral staircase ascending from the left of the small entry in front of the big chimney, with a pillar at the right.
104. Tracy Memorial Building. Built probaby as Type C in 1823 by Jonathan Everett, "saddler and harness maker."
326
A HISTORY OF NEW LONDON
From 1834-1848, home and law office of Walter P. Flanders. In 1854, place came into possession of the Morgan family and remained the Morgan Homestead for seventy years. The main house with a large ell served as home for two families for extended periods. First home of New London Hospital 1918- 1923.
Reconstructed in 1926 through the generosity of Mrs. James J. Tracy as town library and community center. The plans for the adaptation of this old home for its new service were drawn by Sidney T. Strickland, Boston architect, and executed by Wilbur C. Knowlton, New London contractor, and a corps of skilled local carpenters. Motifs found in the old house were copied for various details in the present structure. In particular, a five spot design found under the old window sills was used as a special detail throughout the building and for the decoration of the beautiful tables in the reading room downstairs and the room above. Excellent re- production of old entrance door. Much of the detail wood work was done in a shop in Clinton, Mass. The exposed tim- bers in the auditorium came from the old Perley barn from Perleytown (Springfield, near Morgan Pond). Most of the windows are old, some having been taken from the Gay Home- stead at Low Plain (No. 75). Examination of some of these panes in the Children's Room on the second floor reveal the old imperfections which are so much appreciated by antiquar- ians.
105. Seth A. Lamson. Built as Type D. in 1855 by George W. Everett as a home for his father-in law, Alexander T. Lane.
106. Esther C. Whittemore. A board used as a part of the door casing in a second floor room reveals the exact age of this house. In fine, old type penmanship we read: "This house was built in the year of our Lord 1828 by Marcus Sargent of New London, N. H.". The date coincides with the ordination of Rev. Oren Tracy as second minister of the Baptist Church. Inasmuch as Job Seamans was given a lot for his home by the Town, it was necessary to provide a new home for the second
327
NEW HAMPSHIRE, 1900-1950
and succeeding pastors. This house was built on the "Parson- age Lot", so called. Probably built as Type C.
107. Clement T. Lovering. First known owner, Baruch C. Clement, who probably moved here 1825-1835. Unusual form of Type D. Had central hallway and two big chimneys, one in each side of the house; brick oven in rear of chimney on SE side. Old stairway, five-panel doors and hardware. Re- sembles Wistar (No. 91) and Adams (No. 108) houses.
108. Myron R. Adams. Built by Jonathan Everett, proba- bly about 1836. Type D, resembling Wistar (No. 91) and Lovering (No. 107) homes. Large fireplace with hearthstone in SE front room; probably brick oven in rear of this chimney. Two families occupied house at one period. The ell appears to be much older than main house. It may have been an original "cabin," inasmuch as one section of an outside wall reveal rounded logs with bark still on; twelve inch hand hewn, timbers as sills in ell.
109. Mrs. Forest Loverin. Type A, probably. Owned and occupied about 1836 by Jonathan Everett while he built Adams (No. 108) house across the road. Farm included both sides of road at that time. The ell has a few very old features visible which would appear to date this part of house earlier than 1836: two very old paneled doors, one leading to cellar; stone support in cellar.
110. Marie E. Barrett. Built by Marcus E. Sargent about 1829. This was part of the old Sargent farm. Marcus' father, Stephen, lived in a "small red house" across the road until 1856. This house was Type A; old mantel in NE room with interesting design repeated in window and door frames; old doors and Norfolk latch; brick oven in customary location; large arch in cellar. Ell appears very old. Picture of house in original form in last century.
111. Dr. William P. Clough, Sr. Built by Aaron Leland Sargent about 1827. Type A. Faced the SE. Stone chimney base.
112. Henry J. Homan. Type D. Built by Moses Adams, Jr. probably about 1840. Appears to have had same floor plan as
328
A HISTORY OF NEW LONDON
Wistar (No. 91), Lovering (No. 107) and Adams (No. 108) homes. Exterior has variation in gable overhanging front porch. More like Stimson (No. 99) and Messer-Swift (No. 66) houses in exterior detail. A few examples of old hardware.
113. Fremont Annis. Built as Type A in 1818 by Moses Adams, Jr.
114. Messer Homestead. Built before 1800, probably by James B. Colby, brother of Joseph. Type A until 1899 when second story was built in an old chimney, fireplaces, oven and arch removed.
115. John G. Holteen. Built by Levi Everett in 1800. Ell appears to be older than main house. Both Type A. Extreme- ly old batten door with hand wrought hardware leads from kitchen, in ell, to shed and barn. Tapering corner posts.
116. Charles S. Messer. Part of the house was built by Milton Everett before 1820. In 1821, his brother, Dexter, en- larged it, living here and in the Holteen house (No. 115), next door. For twenty-five years, a sign hung over the door of the little shop (between the two houses) reading "Dexter Everett, Harness Maker and Saddler". In the late 1800's, the roof of main house was elevated, and second floor rooms were built in; fireplaces and oven removed at that time. Narrow back stairway is one of few remaining old features.
117. Walter S. Bucklin "Yellow House". Built by Ebene- zer Sargent probably 1808-1810. Ebenezer was the father of ten children; the house which is unusually broad in the gables provided space for large rooms necessary for such a family. Type B changed to C in 1890. Old details removed at that time. It is said that there were frescoes on the walls of an up- stairs bedroom done by one of Sargent family.
118. Walter S. Bucklin. Built by Sylvanus Sargent, son of Ebenezer (No. 117) probably about 1830. This is the only brick house in town; the bricks were made of clay dug on the farm and fired in Ebenezer's brick yard located on the site of the present Bucklin farmhouse. Type A. Roof raised in rear for added space. Interior authentic and beautifully restored. Present dining room on SE end of main house was original
329
NEW HAMPSHIRE, 1900-1950
kitchen. Paneled wall, surrounding fireplace and brick oven at right, and wainscoting are finished in natural pine. Detail of concentric squares repeated throughout the NW room. Original glass in most of windows.
119. Mrs. Walter S. Bucklin. Theophilus Cram was pio- neer on this farm about 1805. Purchased by Joseph Putney, tanner, in 1821; remained in Putney family for over a hundred years. Referred to as "Upper Putney Place." Type A. Owned by George Putney in 1898 but occupied by brother, Charles.
120. Mrs. Walter S. Bucklin. Henry W. Putney, son of Joseph (No. 119) purchased this farm of Anthony Colby in 1850. Builder and first owner unknown. Old bricks in chimney are dated 1800. Original chimney base, ten to twelve feet square. Kitchen fireplace with oven and mantel, sixty-eight inches long, was in room at back of chimney. Unusual archi- tectural design, transitional; semi-Cape Cod, front entrance at extreme end of front of house, leading into space in front of chimney, with stairs ascending from the left to floor above. Two rooms deep with beams extending the width of the house. Original glass in small six over six windows. A granite mount- ing stone remains in front of house; old barn across the road which led over Bunker Hill to Pleasant St. Last Putney owner, Charles, but occupied for many years by brother, George. Referred to as "Lower Putney Place". At present writing, the house is being rebuilt.
121. Cricenti home. Type A. James Brocklebank was the pioneer on this farm and it was in a small house or cabin "belonging to him that Elder Job Seamans and his family spent the first weeks of their life in N. L." Edward Ide lived on this location 1808-1818; John Clement 1818-1821; Samuel J. Philbrick settled here in 1834 and the Philbrick family re- mained owners through the first decade of this century. It is uncertain if any part of the original house on this site remains in the present building. Probably Samuel Philbrick built the house in its present form. It appears to have been occupied by two families at one period. Only real old
330
A HISTORY OF NEW LONDON
detail is a unique and beautiful five-panel door with old hard- ware in NW room.
122. "Glengae". Built as Type A by Benjamin W. Gay, probably 1840-1850. Enlarged and improved by Benjamin and son, Baxter.
123. Frederick R. O'Neil. Built by Hezekiah Adams in 1830. Fine proportions of Type C. Beautiful exterior with fine entrance door. Twelve over twelve sash. "A tavern in old days."
124. Jules J. Pellerin . Built by Asa Ray about 1839. Type A. Had old paneling in living room and kitchen fireplace with oven. Old doors and hardware, fashioned by Mr. Ray in his blacksmith shop on the premises. He also had a shoe shop here.
125. Mrs. Walter S. Bucklin. The "Meadow House," though not of New London origin merits recognition as an outstanding example of early New Hampshire craftsmanship. The frame of the house, built in 1788, came from Alexandria, N. H. It is a one and one-half story building, a variant from our typical Cape Cod design. It is of plank construction, a common form of early dwelling in this region. The plank are tongue and groove, joined together with wooden pegs. In- terior walls are of feathered sheathing.
The windows, with nine over six sash, containing old glass, have folding shutters within. All rooms have fireplaces of old type surrounded by extensive paneling. All interior woodwork has a natural pine finish. The old kitchen fire- place is of the "bee hive" type, extending into the adjoining room where the details of this unique construction may be seen. From the central hallway, a straight run of stairs ascends. A charming carved detail decorates the end of each step.
This is a composite house, made up of details from two or more old New Hampshire homes, skillfully and beautifully fashioned into a house of distinction. Rebuilt in N.L. in 1924, Architect, Sidney T. Strickland of Boston; contractor, Will Hayes of New London; fireplace reconstruction by Shirley S. Call of N. Sutton.
APPENDIX THREE
Some Notes on the Weather in New London
Part A
The following notes, covering thirty-two years of the half century under review were kept by Mrs. Fred W. Knowlton of New London, and kindly loaned by her to the writer of this history:
1917: - A late spring - cattle were in the barn until May 18
1918: - Cattle went out on April 30.
1919: - Cattle went out on May 5 - during first week in November had 18 inches of snow in one day
1921: - Very early spring - ice out of lakes by end of March - frogs peeping and no frost in the ground on March 28.
1923: - Normal spring - very dry, late summer - cattle out until Nov. 20 - plowing the field on December 14
1924: - Normal spring - winter came early.
1925: - Normal summer - high wind and 10 inches of snow in October.
1926: - Sleighs on the road April 20 - field all green and cattle out on May 8 - Bad thunder showers in April.
1928: - Ice went out last of April - birds came early. 1929: - Normal year until December 16 - then came terrible ice storm when trees, and light and telephone poles were down all over Town.
1931: - April 7 snow storm brought 10 inches - April 16 frogs out - April 21 it was 78 degrees in the
331
332
A HISTORY OF NEW LONDON
shade with snow drifts around - no frost in the ground.
1933: - In February mercury dropped 44 degrees in twelve hours - April 13 had a snow storm with 25 inches of "blue snow."
1934: - Spring came early - April 12 hard rain, and roads washed out badly.
1936: - In March the snow was gray with dust from Texas - May 16 had a hard freeze with ther- mometer at 21 - a white frost - no fruit this year
1938: - Early spring - September 21 hurricane struck early evening with hard rain - Nov. 11, picked wild flowers and some in gardens in full bloom - November 25 had 14 inches of snow. 1940: - June 22 had a white frost - August 25 had a white frost - October 21 had snow - Nov. 27 snow plows were out - December 1 12 inches of snow - Dec. 20 and 24 had two earthquakes early in the morning - December 30 a thunder shower.
1941: - Early spring - April 20 it was 80 degrees in the shade - April 23 ground froze - April 28 cattle out - May 2 a light snow - clear and warm all November.
1942: - Normal year until December 30 - then came rain, wind, and ice - trees broken down -light and telephone poles down.
1943: - Very wet year, some grass not cut at all.
1944: - Normal spring and summer - October 7 shower and hail that cut the apples on the trees - Nov. 6 three inches of snow.
1945: - Ice out of lake on April 1 - cattle out April 20 - May 10 began to snow - On May 11 there
333
NEW HAMPSHIRE, 1900-1950
were 15 inches of snow on the ground with the fruit trees in full bloom - a hard year for crops. 1946: - Early spring - April snow and thunder storms - October and November, clear, warm and beautiful.
1947: - February had a crust that carried the team in the fields - March 8 crows and woodchuck out - All October very warm with no rain.
1948: - Very cold and lots of snow in January and February - late spring - no planting done until June - warm fall - hard rain on December 30 - frost coming out of ground on December 31.
1949: - Warm January - January 22 first snow of any amount - hot, dry summer - very warm again in December.
Part B
The following information, covering the years since the U. S. Weather Bureau sub-station was established at Colby Junior College in 1946, were kindly furnished the writer of this history by Mr. F. Eldred Hodge, observer.
334
SUMMARY OF METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS COLBY JUNIOR COLLEGE 1946 - 1950
Temperature
Jan.
Feb. Mar. April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Yearly
*Normal Mean Monthly Temperature 16.4
18.4
25.2
37.2
51.7 60.5
65.3
63.7
57.9
46.9
33.8
22.7
41.6
Highest Monthly Maximum
63
56
78
75
81
86
93
92
84
86
65
59
93
1950
1946
1946
1949
1949
1947
1949
1949
1947
1947
1948
1949
1949
Lowest Monthly Minimum
-14
-19
-13
16
31
39
50
45
29
24
5
4
-19
1946
1948
1950
1950
1950
1948
1947
1947
1947
1948
1949
1948
1948
1949
1948 1948
Precipitation
*Normal Monthly Precipitation
3.39" 2.84" 3.00" 2.78" 3.25" 3.87" 4.05" 4.00" 3.63" 3.04" 3.24" 3.59" 40.59
*Normal Monthly Snowfall
19.2" 19.0" 12.9"
6.7" 0.1" 0
0
0
0
0.1"
6.0" 12.2" 73.6
Greatest Monthly Snowfall
25""
27"
33"
7.5" 0
0
0
0
0
0
3"
16"
33"
1948
1948
1947
1947
1946
1947
Wind Velocity
** Greatest Monthly Wind Velocity
39
45
49
39
40
18
25
19
25
37
34
44
49
1950
1950
1947
1947
1950
1948
1948
1949
1948
1947
1948
1947
1947
Frost Dates
Date of Latest Spring Frost
Date of Earliest Fall Frost
May 15, 1947 September 23, 1947
*Based on 41/2 years of records and a comparison with those of other stations (to June 22, 1950). ** Highest Mile
A HISTORY OF NEW LONDON
APPENDIX FOUR
The Dates for the Break-up of the Ice on Lake Sunapee, 1900-1950
1900 - April 30
1926 - May 4
1901 - April 24
1927 - April 20
1902 - April 12
1928 - April 30
1903 - April 5
1929 - April 14
1904 - May 1
1930 - April 17
1905 - April 25
1931 - April 16
1906 - April 29
1932 - April 26
1907 - May 1
1933 - April 30
1908 - April 26
1934 - April 24
1909 - April 22
1935 - April 25
1910 - April 6
1936 - April 14
1911 - May 2
1937 - May 2
1912 - April 26
1938 - April 18
1913 - April 17
1939 - May 7
1914 - May 1
1940 - May 7
1915 - April 20
1941 - April 18
1916 - May 1
1942 - April 19
1917 - May 7
1943 - May 3
1918 - April 26
1944 - May 1
1919 - April 14
1945 - April 1
1920 - April 29
1946 - March 29
1921 - March 29
1947 - April 27
1922 - April 6
1948 - April 9
1923 - April 27
1949 - April 10
1924 - April 19
1950 - April 26
1925 - April 26
335
336
A HISTORY OF NEW LONDON
Earliest date for ice breakup over the fifty years was March 29.
Latest date for the ice breakup over the past fifty years was May 7.
First planting of fish in Lake Sunapee: landlocked salmon in 1867; bass in 1868; smelt in 1870; chinook salmon in 1904.
APPENDIX FIVE
The Grand Trunk Railway Project of 1912 and New London,
One of the great railway builders in the history of the Western Hemisphere was Charles Melville Hays. Although born in Rock Island, Illinois, on May 16, 1856, Hays spent most of his adult life as a railroad executive in the Dominion of Canada. He became General Manager of the Grand Trunk Railway in 1896. In 1901 he accepted the presidency of the Southern Pacific Railway in his native land, but by 1902 he was back in Canada again as Second Vice President and General Manager of the Grand Trunk. Seven years later he became President of this famous Canadian enterprise.
Charles Melville Hays had one consuming ambition, viz., to make his Grand Trunk Railway a truly transcontinental transportation system, paralleling the Canadian Pacific Rail- way all the way from Atlantic to the Pacific. By 1906 he had pushed a western extension of the present company, which he christened the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, to the newly- built port of Prince Rupert in British Columbia. His line crossed the backbone of the continental divide by the Yellow- head Pass at an elevation lower and by a gradient easier than that of any other railroad in North America. Prince Rupert was barely eighty miles from Ketchikan, Alaska, a lead- ing port of entry for that vast domain; and was actually closer to the great harbors of the Orient than any American city or even Vancouver, B. C. The Grand Trunk envisioned an in- tercontinental tide of commerce and passenger travel flowing along the new line.
Having thus reached the Pacific, Hays now turned his mind to the problem of a satisfactory extension from Montreal to the Atlantic seaboard in southeastern New England. Through corporate connections with the Vermont Central
337
338
A HISTORY OF NEW LONDON
he would be able to reach White River Junction, Vermont. From there, however, he would have to build a new line. On April 12, 1910, therefore, he arranged to have the "Southern New England Railway Company" incorporated in Rhode Island. On August 3, 1911 the same company was incorporated under the laws of Massachusetts. And on February 13, 1912 the Grand Trunk organized a provisional company in New Hampshire, to be known as the "Southern New England Railroad Corporation of New Hampshire." (Information from W. S. Thompson, Director of Public Relations of the Canadian National Railways in a letter to the writer, March 27, 1950; and from an abstract of the articles of incorporation in the Concord, N. H. Evening Monitor, February 13, 1912.)
The New Hampshire company was to have a capital stock of $1,000,000. It was the first steam railroad to apply for permission to traverse the Granite State since 1883; its petition was, of course, vigorously opposed by the Boston and Maine. According to the terms of the articles of incorpora- tion, the New Hampshire Towns to be crossed by the pro- posed extension of the Grand Trunk southward from the Vermont line might include Lebanon, Enfield, Grafton, Gran- tham, Springfield, Croydon, Sunapee, New London, Sutton, Bradford, Warner, and others south to Nashua. The list of incorporators was headed by Charles Melville Hays himself; the Grand Trunk Railroad subscribed for 9,877 of the 10,000 authorized shares of stock, offered at $100 each.
Prominent among the New Hampshire men who were listed among the incorporators was Clarence E. Clough of Lebanon. Although himself a brother-in-law to Charles E. Shepard of New London, Mr. Clough was not able to convince his kinsman of the desirability of the proposed new railroad through New London. As the contemporary files of the Franklin Journal-Transcript reveal, there was considerable local interest in the project, and the advance survey parties in 1911-1912 were warmly greeted by some individuals in the vicinity. But all those who drew their livelihood from the horse naturally opposed the new scheme.
339
NEW HAMPSHIRE, 1900-1950
Actually, the whole enterprise was destined for oblivion. On April 15, 1912, Charles Melville Hays, en route home from a vacation in Europe, perished in the sinking of the S. S. TITANIC. With the great promoter's death at the early age of fifty-six, the grand design terminated. Hays' successors had neither the interest nor the imagination to continue the ex- tension of the Grand Trunk through New England, and were content to abandon any efforts that had thus far been started. The three corporations formed in 1910-1912 were liquidated; survey and construction work that had been done was written off as loss; and the whole proposal became something for the history books only.
So New London, which for a time had seemed likely to become a way station on an enormous railroad system running from Long Island Sound to British Columbia, resumed its historic status as an inland Town. With the rapid rise of the automobile and the coming of modern highways, the Iron Horse was never to come to Town.
(A reader curious to learn more about the many rami- fications of Hays' imperial dream will find much of interest in the leading article in Railroad Magazine, May, 1950, pp. 16- 37.)
APPENDIX SIX
Relations of the N. H. Highway Department to New London,
tate ot New Hampshire Highway Department Concord
March 23, 1950
Mr. J. Duane Squires
Department of Social Studies
Colby Junior College
New London, New Hampshire
Dear Sir:
Commissioner Merrill has handed me your letter of March 6, 1950 regarding the history of highways in New London and the following information is forwarded.
1. Primary State System Secondary State System
11.21 miles
8.00 miles
2. Primary Soo Nipi Park Trunkline Route 103A designated as trunkline 1925.
Sunapee Lake Trunkline Route 11 designated 1917.
Construction of Primary roads has progressed continuously since the passage in 1905 by legislation known as the State Aid Law.
In 1926 there were no State Highways in New London on the secondary system. The following list shows the secondary mileage in New London from 1927 to 1949.
1927
.568 Miles 1935
5.714 Miles
1928
.568
1936
6.134
1929
1.212
1937
6.349
1930
1.946
1938
6.349
1931
2.466
1939
6.349
1932
3.034
1940
7.88
1933
4.225
1941
8.00
1934
4.964
1949
8.00
3. All of this state maintained road in New London is hard surfaced.
Hard surfacing of Route 11 (Sunapee Lake Trunkline) started in 1922 when 1,600 feet of Bituminous Macadam was put down through the village (Main Street) and has con- tinued up to 1935 when all state mileage was completed.
340
341
NEW HAMPSHIRE, 1900-1950
4. Information relative to cost of original construction of both primary and secondary systems would entail an enormous amount of work to secure. The cost, plus the funds expended for maintenance may be obtained from State Highway Annual Reports. This data however does not reveal specific locations.
5. No records are available which list the several foremen who were employed in the construction and maintenance of these roads. In many instances this work was supervised by town road agents and/or selectmen. The present State Highway Patrolman who has charge of maintenance in New London is Kenneth Rich.
Very truly yours, Signed: David L. Fosburgh, Asst. Planning & Economics Engineer
DLF:mmc
1
APPENDIX SEVEN
Family Records, 1900-1950 by Nancy Lord Daniels
Preface
Who were the people who lived in New London during the past half-century? Were they of native stock or were they attracted to New London? Did they stay or move on to other towns and cities? Are there descendants of these people? What influence have they had on New London and other communities?
The Family Records which follow are intended to pre- sent extensive data in a concise form about those adults who lived in New London for five or more years in the period 1900 to 1950. These are not genealogical records per se, but the reader will be able to gather some genealogical informa- tion from them.
In the fall of 1946 the Historical Committee established five years legal residence as the basis for determining those individuals whose complete biographies should be included in the Family Record Section. This made the selection of most of the biographees a simple matter: if a person's name appeared on the resident tax list five or more times from 1900 to 1950, he was declared "eligible." However, not al- ways was the eligibility of certain persons clearly indicated in the tax records. The names of veterans, of persons over 70, and of women before the gaining of suffrage in 1920 might not be listed at all. Research into A History of the Town of New London, N. H., 1779-1899, the accumulated vital statis- tics of New London since 1888, and the recollections of older residents revealed the names of persons in this latter situa-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.