USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Nashua > Nashua's 75 year's of progress 1853-1928 > Part 2
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
From earliest time the church has played an important part in the history of the United States. The first settlers of New England came to this country impelled by religious motives. From the very beginnings the churches have grown along with the city until today Nashua has many fine church buildings and many strong parishes.
In early days the laws were framed on the basis that church and state were inseperable. They did not recognize any precedent to the contrary. In the charter of Dunstable. October 1673, it was required. "that the town should build a meeting house and procure an able and orthodox minister within three years." Two hundred and fifty years ago there was great unanimity of religious opinion in the scattered colonies of the New England coast. They were essentially Puritan and there is no doubt that the provision in the charter for ministerial support was in accordance with the views of nearly if not all of the early settlers of Dunstable.
At a public meeting in 1674 it was voted that "the meeting house that is to be erected shall stand between Salmon Brook and the house of Lieutenant Wheeler, as near as may be for the convenience of the farmers." In the following October the house, built of logs, was commenced. but the breaking out of King Phillip's War the next year deferred its completion until 1678. At the town meeting in 1677 it was voted. "that as soon as may be, a minister be settled in the town of Dunstable, the time and man being left to the selectmen, his pay to be in money, or if in other pay to add a third more. The sum shall be fifty pounds each year."
Rev. Thomas Weld. a native of Roxbury, Mass. and a graduate of Harvard, was the man selected and consequently the first minister of Dunstable. When he began to preach is not recorded but April 7. 1680 at a town meeting it was voted that he continue his ministry. He died June 9. 1702 and until the settlement of Rev. Nathaniel Prentice in 1720 there were temporary supplies. Rev. Mr. Prentice died February 15. 1737 after serving for 17 years. About two years later Rev. Josiah Swan was settled as pastor.
In 1741 the state line was established and was a source of controversy by making a majority of the congregation citizens of another province. A still greater dissension was caused by the
21
preaching of George Whitfield who came over to the New England colonies and aroused the people by presenting with rare eloquence more practical and less doctrinal views of religion.
Mr. Swan resigned in 1746 and Rev. Samuel Bird was settled in 1747 as the fourth pastor. There was strong opposition to his settlement as he was an ardent follower of Whitefield. The result of the controversy was two churches and two meeting houses. After some 16 years the two churches united and erected a new meeting house, the fourth. Rev. Joseph Kidder was installed as pastor and was town minister for nineteen years. In 1796 his connection with the town ceased but he maintained his interest until his death in 1818, although he ceased to preach in 1814. When the fifth church was built, known as the Old South, he had the satisfaction of being the first occupant of the "desk." Rev. E. P. Sperry was installed as colleague and succeeded Rev. Mr. Kidder. In 1819 with the passage of the "toleration act" by the Legislature, church and state ceased to have any connection in New Hampshire.
In the meantime Nashua village had grown rapidly in numbers and in 1825 the Nashua Manufacturing Company erected a meeting house on the site of the Pilgrim Congregational Church. Rev. Handel G. Nott was installed as pastor in 1826. When he publicly announced that he could no longer administer the or- dinance of baptism to infants, a division resulted. A slight majority resented the action of the society in securing Mr. Knott's services as "Supply" for the pulpit. They withdrew and held worship in the Greeley building, being recognized as the First Congregational Church.
Previous to this other churches had been started. In 1818 we find the organization of the First Universalist society and in 1819 the First Baptist Society in Dunstable, N. H. (now Nashua) was formed. In 1826 the First Unitarian Society organized and from that time on with the growth of the city and the growth of religious tolerance other churches and societies were organized.
Seventy-five years ago, Nashua was a city of native American population, with the foreign population at the time of about four hundred of a total population of 11.000. This Roman Catholic population was then composed almost wholly without exception of Irishmen. In November 1855, Rev. John O'Donnell came to take spiritual oversight of this small company and worship was commenced in a small hall. Meanwhile a great influx of Irish
22
people was taking place and work of building a church edifice was pushed with such energy that the Church of Immaculate Conception was consecrated in 1857. The church was only a few years old when the influx of French Canadian population began. It soon became apparent that another church was needed and in 1871 a new parish was organized among the Canadians. Rev. Father Girard was sent here as pastor in this new field of labor and St. Aloysius congregation was started June 23, 1871. The old Episcopal Church at the junction of Temple and Pearl Streets was rented until November 1872, when the basement of the new church was so that it could be used for church services. The present fine edifice was dedicated June 8, 1873. The population continued to increase and in 1885 St. Francis Xavier church came into existence.
With the coming of other nationalities came the establishment of new churches and with the growth of the French speaking parish it became necessary to establish a third parish, Infant Jesus on Crown Hill.
Soon after the settlement of a number of persons from Greece there was organized a Greek church and similarly came the establishment of Lithuanian and Polish parishes.
During this time other church societies added new church edifices and the growth of churches in Nashua has continued until the present day, the latest addition being the recent purchase of the Stark homestead at the junction of Concord and Manchester street for the First Church of Christ, Scientist.
First Congregational Church, established, 1685. Rev. Earl F. Nauss. Church opposite Soldier's Monument, Concord Street.
Universalist Church, established, 1818. Rev. Weston Attwood Cate. Church corner Main and Pearl Streets.
First Baptist Church, established 1819. Rev. Denton J. Neily. Church corner Main and Franklin Streets.
Unitarian Church, established 1826. Rev. Otto Lyding. Church, Canal and Lowell Streets.
Main Street Methodist Church, established 1833. Rev. Frank Wade Smith. Church, Main Street.
23
Pilgrim Church. (Congregational) established as Olive Street Church 1835. Pearl Street Church 1846. United in 1879. Church Temple and Court Streets.
St. Patrick's Church, established as Church of Immaculate Conception 1855. Rev. Matthew Creamer, P. R. Church. Spring Street.
Church of Good Shepherd (Episcopal) established 1870. Main Street. Rev. Wm. Porter Niles.
St. Aloysius, established 1871. Rev. J. J. Richard. Church, West Hollis Street.
St. Francis Xavier, established 1885. Rev. F. G. Deshaies. Church, Chandler Street.
Crown Hill Baptist. established 1890. Rev. Glenn K. Marquay. Church, Allds Street.
Arlington Street Methodist, established 1894. Rev. Ralph M. Hays. Church, Arlington Street.
First Church of Christ, Scientists. Odd Fellows Hall. New Church to be junction of Concord and Manchester Streets.
Church of Evangelism. organized 1900. Rev. Soterios Angelides. Church on Ash Street.
Infant Jesus Church. Rev. Isidore Janelle. Church, Allds Street.
St. Casimir. Rev. Paul P. Daninuas (Died June 11,1928) Church, Temple Street.
St. Stanislaus. Church. Franklin Street.
Christian Advent. Rev. G. W. Coolbroth. Church, Spring Street.
Salvation Army. Building on Temple Street.
Church of St. Nicholas, organized 1924. Rev. C. Vrettas. Church Palm Street.
Beth Abraham Synagogue. Cross and Lock Street. Church erected 1901. Rabbi, M. Faber.
24
4 جنيه.
Some Nach In ....... ٠٠ ٦].٦,٠١٠
Dlato hy Haimhand
NASHUA SCHOOLS 1853 TO 1928
Within a year of the union of Nashua and Nashville the schools of the newly formed city were systematically graded and a course of study was adopted for the primary, the intermediate and the two high schools. The first of these high schools was established at Mount Pleasant in May 1849 in a new building with accommodations for eighty pupils in the High School, seventy-two in the intermediate, and eighty in the primary.
Apparently the citizens of Nashua were not to be outdone by their rivals in Nashville for in 1851 they organized their High School on West Pearl Street in what was called the "Old Brick." One who attended this school reported that the "Old Brick" was erected in 1828 to accommodate the children of the operatives of the Nashua Manufacturing Company which had put the first mill into service two years before. In 1853 this south-side High School ,what there was of it, was moved to the building, just completed, which is now the front portion of the Colonial Theatre.
The Superintending School Committee in the first City-of- Nashua report make the following statement, "The High School department, the crowning grade in our whole educational system, and vitally essential to the prosperity of all the subordinate grades, has been brought into existence during the past year.
"Let it stand forever. Let all appropriate facilities for the increase of its usefulness be afforded with the increase of years, until gray haired men and matronly women, in many states, and in other lands, shall remember, with gratitude, the youthful days which they spent within its walls, and the first incentives which they then received to high intellectual and moral cultivation, by cherishing which. in subsequent life, they have learned to live most effectually for the glory of their country, and for the good of their fellow men '
After quoting the above rather high sounding wish, let us note that the wages of the women teachers per month, exclusive of board, in all the city schools from lowest to highest, were from $6.00 to $12.00 with the exception of one woman who received $15.00 a month for a part of the year, 1854.
The two high schools were separate until 1869 when the Mount Pleasant building was burned and as the school report states, "Hereafter the high school will be composed of the first
26
-
-
A few of Nashua's Public Schools.
Photo by Marchand
class of scholars selected from the entire city." The next school report says that there were ninety pupils and three teachers in the High School and that six pupils were graduated from the first class of the united schools
The first Superintendent of the city schools began his term of service in April, 1870, and his first report gives a good idea of the schools at that time. He estimated that there were, at least, seven hundred and fifty Nashua children between the ages of five and fifteen not attending school anywhere. He stated that the number of different pupils enrolled in all the schools was about 1975. Two truant officers were appointed the next year and a vigorous campaign was waged to get the children into school.
The first Parochial school in Nashua was started by Father Millette in 1883. The second was opened two years later in the old Indian Head House and removed after six years to the present location on Spring Street Father Lessard established a school in 1886 in the St. Francis Xavier parish, and another was commenced in the Holy Infant Jesus parish in 1909. The number of pupils in Nashua private schools in November 1927 was 2735, and at the same time there were 4357 in the Nashua Public Day Schools, six hundred and sixteen being in the two-year Junior High School and nine hundred and twenty-seven in the four-year Senior High School. There was an additional number in the evening schools of five hundred and forty-nine pupils.
The Temple Street building was put into service March 6, 1905. The Schoolhouse on Quincy Street was erected in 1915 The new High School building was dedicated on November 21, 1919, the James B Crowley School was first used by classes December 3, 1924, and the Mount Pleasant building was dedicated May 7, 1925. These five buildings cost over a million dollars and the city maintains schools at the present time in thirteen other city-owned buildings, of different sizes and ages, worth perhaps another quarter of a million dollars. The annual cost of the schools for the last few years has been about $375,000.00 The total number of school employees today is two hundred and ten. The pay of women teachers has gone from a minimum of $6.00 a month and board, to a present maximum of more than $2000.00 a year.
One of the greatest increases in the school department has come in the High School. In 1870 the enrollment at the High School is recorded as 117, twenty years later it is given as 116, in
28
another twenty years it had become 347, and in a little less than twenty years more, i. e., for the year ending in June 1928 it had grown to 940 with a graduating class of 152. The number of different teachers doing all their teaching in the High School is thirty-seven and six others work a part of the time there. The headmaster is Walter S Nesmith, who has served in this school for twenty-one years either as teacher or head of the school. The present Assistant Superintendent of Schools is Earle T. Tracey and the Superintendent is Charles H. Noyes.
A special instructor in drawing was engaged in 1884. The first public kindergarten in Nashua was established in 1893, the first work in commercial subjects in the High School was done in 1905, Manual training and sewing were introduced in 1910, cooking in 1913, Medical inspection in 1913, and the serving of lunches by the domestic science department in 1914. The Junior High School was organized in 1916, the dental clinic was opened in 1917. Americanization classes were started in the mills in 1919 and the enrollment in the evening schools was nearly 1000 The New Hampshire program of studies was adopted by the Nashua School Board in 1921. This program of studies outlines work for six years between the kindergarten and the Junior High School. The first teacher coach was employed in 1923, and the first pension to a Nashua teacher was granted in the same year. The present salary schedule went into effect January 1, 1925 and the school year for all grades was made thirty-eight weeks.
It is evident that more and more is constantly being included in an education. About one-fourth of the whole population are in school. School business is a big business, much bigger than it was when Nashua became a city seventy-five years ago.
29
-
Fire Chief, James E. Smith.
NASHUA FIRE DEPARTMENT
It is a far cry, from the days of the old Tom Gill, and the handtubs of yesterday to the present modern motorized fire apparatus of today, but due to the farsightedness and efforts of the Fire Commissioners, Nashua has a fire department that is second to none in the country. The present fire commissioners, Charles H. Austin, Eugene W. Duncklee and Herbert C. Lintott always working for the best interests of the city have brought the present department to its high level of efficiency.
Like other city departments it has been through many radical changes has always maintained a good name for efficiency and has been officered and manned by the best citizens. Since 1891 the department has been "out of politics" and under the direction of a commission.
The city has never suffered any wide spread conflagration, although a number of serious fires have been recorded in the history of the city.
The passing of the fire horses, took away much that was picturesque in the department, but motorization has made for efficiency and the city today enjoys the greatest fire protection in its history.
The department is housed in four modern firehouses, Central Fire Station. Amherst Street, Lake Street and Arlington Street, the latter a new building of the very latest type only recently completed.
Since the granting of the city charter in 1853 the Chiefs of the fire department have included; 1853. Josephus Baldwin, the first mayor ; 1855-1857. Franklin Munroe: 1857. 1858 and 1870. 1871. Isaac Eaton : 1868-1869. Edgar B. Burke; 1872,1878. 1879, Benjamin Fletcher Jr ..: 1873 to 1876. Quincy A. Woodward ; 1876, 1877. 1880 to 1884. Frank A. Barney; 1884, 1891. Charles H. Whitney : 1891 to 1902. George O. Osborne; 1903-1918. Charles H. Whitney ; 1918 to present James E. Smith.
The fire fighting equipment all of the very latest type includes 14 pieces of motor apparatus. Central Fire Station houses the Chief's car. Combination 1. Aerial Ladder 1. Engine 4 and Booster engine and Hose 4. At the Amherst street station there are Engine 1, Chemical and Hose 1. Ladder 1 : Lake street, Engine 2,
31
Central Fire Station
C
--
The "Old Tom Gill " handtub
----
---
Booster engine and Hose 2 and Ladder 2; Arlington street, Engine 3, Booster Engine and Hose 3 and Ladder 3.
The City ambulance also comes under the direction of the fire department and is housed at Central Fire Station.
PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT James E. Smith, Chief
Albert C. Melendy, Deputy Chief
W. E. Whitney, Captain Combination No. 1
C. H. Tafe, Captain Aerial Ladder No. 1 D. H. Downey, Captain Engine No. 4 R. E. Hallisey, Captain Engine No. 2
S. P. Smalley. Engineer Engine No. 4 N. L. Tessier, Engineer Engine No. 3
E. W. Franklin, Engineer Engine No. 1
J. W. Degnan
D. E. Cantara
Frank Rancourt
R. H. Duplisse
G. H. Atwood
H. L. Duprey
R. A. Aldrich
J. R. Phippard
G. S. Hidden
F. Mansur
A. C. Taggart
W. H. Mellen
P. V. Jauron
P. Betters
H. Dubois
H. A .. Walton
C. L. York
J. G. Coffey
P. A. Lintott
C. E. Carron
E. J. O'Leary
H. E. Cutter
A. J. Molloy
J. H. Varney
Fred Laforme
R. Downey
L. R. Pike
L. Soucy
J. W. Jones
G. S. Lewis
WV. E. Curtis
34
1885703
BRIDGES OF NASHUA
Bridges have played an important part in the healthy growth of the City of Nashua and from earliest times the question of maintaining suitable bridges across the streams has been a problem that has always been met in man fashion by residents of this city
This year will see the completion of a new bridge across the Nashua river at Canal Street and it is only two years since the new Main street bridge, spanning the Nashua river was completed. Both of these projects are of too recent date, to be included in an historical description of the city but in passing it is well to dwell briefly on the facts leading to their construction.
The Main street bridge was destroyed by fire the night of December 11, 1924, in what was probably one of the most spectacular fires witnessed by residents of Nashua. During the heighth of the fire, that cold December night, the entire business section of the city was threatened, but fireman fought valiantly and effectively to prevent the spread of flames. The ruins had hardly cooled when a temporary bridge was erected. Shortly afterwards the Mayor, Board of Aldermen and Board of Public Works were busy and plans for a new bridge were soon under way. After much delay, during which time contractors met with many difficulties, the bridge was finally completed, a bridge that has made history and is known from coast to coast as "the widest bridge for its length in the world."
The Canal street bridge is now under construction and plans call for completion by early fall. Damaged by the floods and high waters of November 1927. it was found necessary to close the bridge to traffic. Engineers declared the old structure unsafe for traffic, as in earlier years controversy arose over the project of building a new structure, to replace the bridge damaged by the flood. The growth of the city and the problem of taking care of automobile traffic however demanded a new bridge. After much lengthly discussion and much delay Mayor William F. Sullivan, the Board of Alderman and Board of Public Works approved plans for a new bridge and the contract was let. The old bridge was removed but a few short weeks ago and construction of the new bridge is well under way.
35
New Main Street Bridge.
Bridging the Nashua river at Main street, since early times, has cost the city money, time, and trouble. With the completion of the new permanent bridge, it will probably be some years to come before the present bridge will have to be replaced.
Several bridges have been built over the Nashua river at Main street since the days when the early settlers of Dunstable used to ford the undamned stream and on this anniversary it might not be amiss to sketch a short history of Nashua's bridges over the river at Main Street.
When the first bridge over the Nashua river was built, is a matter of conjecture. The first record that can be found, is an order, issued September 29, 1746, a little over 200 years ago, to Thomas Lund, surveyor of highways, from the Board of Select- men, instructing him to, if need be, repair, "the plank of the Nashuay River bridge, which is an addition to your district."
The order issued at that time read as follows :
Province of New Hampshire: To Thomas Lund, one of the Surveyors of Highways for the Town of Dunstable.
"You are required in his Majesty's .Name to repair the plank of Nashuay river bridge or to get new if needed be, which bridge is an addition to your District which was assigned to you the 1 day of July last and for assistance to take all that you then need. Order to take and fail not.
Dunstable. September ye 29. 1746.
JONATHAN LOVEWELL, THOMAS HARWOOD.
Selectmen."
Records show that the first bridge was a toll bridge for in 1750 Captain John Sheppard received 50 pounds for a quit claim to his right to the bridge and timbers, receiving for himself the iron hangings of the gates.
It was voted at that time by the town to spend 150 pounds to repair the bridge. From that day to this. passage across the Nashua river has been, despite great expense to the town, a public thoroughfare That bridge was carried away by a freshet in 1753 and was rebuilt at "great expense." It was repaired again in 1759 and in 1764 it was proposed to "build a bridge over the Nashua
37
river at the most suitable place, a little above where the present bridge stands." It is interesting to note that the money for the building of the bridge was raised by public subscriptions, as the town felt the bridge had already been too great an expense to the town. The money was raised and the bridge built, a double arch stone affair, but the following spring it was carried away by high water. The town paid half the cost of the erection of the next bridge.
BILLIARDS.
Horrible Parade at South End of Old Main Street Bridge
The bridge erected at that time lasted until the year 1783 at which time it was rebuilt by the town. It still continued to be a bone of contention for again in 1792, it was voted to rebuild it on "the former site and in such manner as a committee of seven, appointed to build it should decide." The only stipulation at that time was that no one of the citizens should be allowed to work out his taxes upon it. Eighty pounds were voted from the town treasury to build the bridge. This eighty pounds, for the bridge, built in 1793. was considered a large amount at that time. The
38
present bridge across the river, costing in the neighborhood of $200,000 would have built some 500 bridges back in 1793.
In 1804 there was another big spring freshet and once more the bridge went out and the town was again cut in two by the river. The residents were not long without a structure however, for another bridge was built.
It was not until another 20 years, that the Main Street bridge again came into prominence. At that time the Nashua Manufacturing Company, which had been incorporated in 1823, received a charter to build a dam and canal through to the Merrimack river in order that boats might be brought to the city proper. The pond thus caused, made it necessary to raise the bridge a suitable distance above the level of the water. Two stone piers, the material for which was given by the Nashua Manufacturing Company, were erected and in 1826 the bridge was completed.
It was a large wooden, framed affair and the top frame was. : + . so low that it was frequently necessary for wagons to be partly unloaded before they could be drawn under. There were two narrow driveways and walks for foot passengers.
Ten years later the bridge was declared to have outlived its usefulness and a new one, two feet higher and 25 feet wider was built. A stone pier was built in the middle of the river and the supporting trusses were placed beneath the flooring. It was finished at a cost of $7,413.78 and remained unaltered, except for occasional repairs until the administration of Mayor Otterson in 1870, when under the direction of Samuel P. Wilson, it was furher widened and thoroughly repaired. The cost at that time was $14,840.87.
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.