USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Nashua > Nashua's 75 year's of progress 1853-1928 > Part 3
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A street car track was placed over the bridge in 1886, and nine years later, in 1895, when horse cars were replaced by the trolleys, the bridge was still further widened and the western side- walk rebuilt.
Save and excepting minor repairs, the bridge continued to function until during the administration of Mayor William H. Barry, the question of its replacement again came to the front. After a thorough examination, the underpinning was found to be in a satisfactory state of preservation and capable of withstanding cement sidewalks and a much heavier road-bed. Iron railings were substituted for the old wooden rails. The bridge continued to do duty, although somewhat "shakey" when large pieces of
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machinery, heavy tractors or heavily loaded trucks passed over it. At various times the alleged weakness of the structure came into prominence, particularly at one time when several large elephants from a circus could not be prevailed upon to cross the structure. However, the old bridge continued to function until the disastrous fire of four years ago, when the bridge was destroyed.
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IDA LEWIS
The "Ida Lewis," a side-wheel steamer operated on the Nashua river,
The succession of Main street bridges over the Nashua river has been a constant record of street elevation until the adminis- tration of Mayor Otterson in 1870. At that time the bridge and its approaches were raised approximately four feet, and thus with the lowering of the hilltop at the junction of Main. Concord, Amherst and Lock streets, passed into history the long hill in Nashua, famed from the early days of stream fording, as the most difficult for stage coaches to climb between Boston and Concord.
"The widest bridge for its length in the country" is now com- pleted and has been open to traffic for some time and in all probabil- ity it will be some years to come before there will be another bridge across the Nashua river at Main street.
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MAYORS OF NASHUA
1. Josephus Baldwin, 1853-1854
2. Freeman S. Rogers, 1855-1856
3. Thomas W. Gillis, 1857
4. Albin Beard, 1858-1859
5. Aaron W. Sawyer, 1860
6. George Bowers, 1861 and 1868
7. Hiram T. Morrill, 1862-1863
8. Edward Spalding. 1864
9. Virgil C. Gilman, 1865
10. Gilman Scripture. 1866-1867
11. Jotham D. Otterson, 1869-1870
12 Dana Sargent, 1871
13. Seth D. Chandler, 1872
14. Frank A. Mckean, 1873-1874
15. George H. Whitney. 1875
16. Charles Williams, 1876-1877
17. William H. Cook, 1878
18. Benjamin Holman, 1879-1880
19. Benjamin Fletcher, Jr., 1881-1882
20 Alfred M. Norton, 1883-1884
21. John A. Spalding, 1885
22. James H. Tolles. 1886-1888
Charles H. Burke, 1889-1890
23. 24. William H. Beasom, 1891-1892
25. William Hall, 1893
26. Thomas Sands, 1894
27. Joseph W. Howard, 1895-1896
28. Jason E. Tolles, 1897-1900
29. Milton A. Taylor, 1901-1902
30. Jeremiah J. Doyle, 1903-1904 31 Andros B. Jones. 1905-1906
32. Albert Shedd. 1907-1910
33. William H. Barry. 1911-1914
34. James B. Crowley, 1915-1917
35. Henri A. Burque. 1920-1923
36. Eaton D. Sargent 1924-1927
37. William F. Sullivan 1928.
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* ** * *
Police Chief, Irving F. Goodwin.
NASHUA POLICE DEPARTMENT
The lives and safety of any community are dependant to a large degree on its police department. That Nashua has one of the finest departments of any city of its size in the country is a well recognized fact and the Nashua police department is one that is a credit to the city.
The police department is under the direction of a police commission of three, appointed by the Governor and confirmed by his council, which removes it to a large degree from the control of local political influences and helps make it an independent force.
The present commissioners are : Horace E. Osgood, chairman, John W. Coffey, clerk and Arthur DeMontigny. The commission does not take an active part in policing the city but it has complete control of the finances of the department and has large powers in determining the number and rank of officers, the personel and compensation of officers, their promotion and the general policy of police work.
The history of the department may well start with the or- ganization of the first uniformed force in 1881. This first group of uniformed men, ten in number, with City Marshall James H. Hunt, who died in 1923, carried the entire burden of proper policing of the city. From that day to the present the department has steadily grown in strength and efficiency. But one of the men on the force when it was organized is now alive. Cyrus Bailey.
The oldest man on the present force in point of service is Deputy Chief George H. Campbell, who joined as a patrolman January 1, 1891 ; was promoted to sergeant January 2, 1892 ; made captain. July 6. 1893 and deputy chief February 1, 1905. For a short time he was in command of the department as acting city marshall. Deputy Campbell had the honor at the semi-centenial celebration of the city in 1903. of leading the big parade and he will play a prominent part in the celebration again this year.
The title of the commanding officer is now Chief of Police and as at present organized the force includes Irving F. Goodwin, who succeeded the last City Marshall Daniel Healey. April 1. 1916. Chief Goodwin came to Nashua from Milford and previously had experience in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
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Deputy Campbell is second in command and the other superior officers are Capt. Clarence E. Holt; Sergeants, Charles A. Desmarais, Benjamin Murray and Fabian Mayo. There are two inspectors, Chief Inspector Edward McCarthy and Herbert Mears.
The personel of the force as a whole is well balanced and its morale and discipline are good and there is little of the pulling and hauling that sometimes weakens the efficiency of an organized body of men.
Nashua presents many problems to the police department but all are handled in a fine manner that is a credit to the depart- ment. One of the biggest problems confronting the department is the question of traffic. It has been estimated, based on hourly counts of passing vehicles, that from May to November over 1,000,000 motor vehicles pass through Nashua Handling of this congested and continuous line of traffic presents a difficult problem.
The further fact that over 50 per cent of the population is either foreign born, or American born of foreign parentage and that Nashua is a manufacturing community presents other, problems that are successfully handled by the department.
While the character of the police work has somewhat changed with the passing years, the amount of police work has increased rather than diminished, this largely due to the traffic problem. Nashua has been indeed fortunate in the matter of crime and all law offenders have been promptly dealt with.
The equipment of the department includes an up to date patrol wagon of the latest design which can in an emergency be used as an ambulance, a touring car, several smaller cars and two motorcycles.
The list of marshalls, (chiefs of the department) follows : 1853 to 1855, Ignatius Bagley ; 1855 and part of 1856, Isaac Eaton ; 1856. William White; 1857 to 1867, with the exception of 1861, when Samuel Tuck held office, and again in 1875, Thomas G. Banks; 1868 to 1871, Charles M. Robinson; 1871 and again in 1874. Elbridge P. Brown ; 1872, 1873, Salma H. Murdough : 1876 to 1880, with the exception of seven months in 1878 when Timothy B. Crowley was marshall, William O. Clough; 1880 to 1884 and in 1885 and 1886, James H. Hunt; 1884 and 1887 to 1891, Willard C. Tolles ; 1891 to 1904, Alvin S. Eaton; 1905 to 1912, Wallace
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W. Wheeler; 1913 Deputy Chief George A. Campbell, acting City Marshall, 8 months ; 1913 to 1916. Daniel F. Healey ; 1916 to present. Irving F. Goodwin.
The present personal of the department includes :
Irving F. Goodwin, Chief George H. Campbell, Deputy Chief Clarence H. Holt, Captain Edward C. McCarthy, Inspector
Charles F. Desmarais, Sergeant Benjamin Murray, Sergeant Fabian Mayo, Sergeant
PATROLMEN
William Anagnost
George Lawrence
Peter Betters
B. Mclaughlin
Fred E. Brown
Robert Meunier
Mendoza Caron
Herbert Mears
Peter Caron Francis Cave
T. Mclaughlin John Miller
John Clark
Walter Rich
Raymond L. Cross
Edgar Record
Charles Delorey
James Roche
Albert Downey
James Sherlock
Victor Erickson
Cecil Tibbetts
Hector Gaudette
Fred Tirrell
Arthur Higgins
Albert Tyler
J. Frank Jefts Wm. T. Lefavor
J. Alden Webster Patrick J. Winn
Catherine Betters, Police Matron Olivine A. Goyette, Stenographer (Court)
SPECIALS
Tilden Barnard Homer Betters Henry Dufour
Joseph Guerette Edward Hartwell Richard Holt
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T
St. Joseph's Hospital
Nashua is indeed fortunate in having two fine hospitals, both of which are rated in Class A by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of the United States. Memorial hospital and St. Joseph's hospital are institutions ranking very high with excellent equipment and facilities.
Memorial Hospital.
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Soldiers' Monument, Abbott Square.
G. A. R. VETERANS
The roll of the John G. Foster Post G. A. R. includes the names of 19 surving veterans of the Civil War.
The surving members of the Post includes the following :
James R. Ashton
Calvin S. Bailey
William J. M. Blackmun
James A. Cobb
Charles B. Dubois
Calvin W. Greenwood
Edward P. Graham
James H. Hall
John N. Hannon
George F. Horne
Andros B. Jones
John Kenney
Edward Lambert
Edwin S. Lincoln
Isaac W. Pierce
William H. Sanborn
Charles H. Smith
Charles H. White
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BOARD OF ALDERMAN: Left to right, front row, Dick Whittle, Harvey J. Deschenes, George D. Spaulding, Henri A. Lagasse, Walter E. Grant, Doria R. Laliberte, F. E. A. Collins. Rear Row: Arthur J. Bilodeau, Edwin F. Nolan, Theophile Rousseau, Eugene I. Dubois, Arthur A. Pelletier. Inset: Auguste U. Burque, Charles H. Barker. S. W. Bastow
Nashua Country Club
NASHUA COUNTRY CLUB
For those in quest of a restful holiday or vacation in surroundings of surpassing beauty, the Nashua Country Club offers attractions unsurpassed by no other pleasure resort in New England.
Set in a beautiful park of many rolling acres, bordering on the picturesque and historic Merrimack river, the club finds itself admirably favored by nature. Here one will find excellent out- door sports available. The golf course is "sporty" and well-kept, under the supervision of a well-known professional, John MacAndrew. It is an 18-hole course and has been arranged so as to meet the requirements of a championship course. and it is here that the New England championship will be decided on July 24 and 28 of this year.
The Sixth Tee, Showing Green, Nashua Country Club.
The clubhouse is located just off the Daniel Webster highway, two miles south of Nashua. and is a first-class building. Its cuisine is of the highest order and contributes nothing but the very best foods to the tables. The house has a number of sleeping rooms with baths and a grill room overlooking the eighteenth fairway. The club maintains a professional golf shop and a staff of caddies.
The house is open all the year and many are the clubs and organizations that hold their big social affairs in the clubhouse, which has become known from Maine to California as a mecca for lovers of golf. tennis, dancing and elaborate social functions.
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BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
Frank A. McMaster, Mayor William F. Sullivan, Arthur R. Dubuc, Street Commissioner, William E. Tolles, George A. Belanger, Frank E. Lewis, City Engineer, Fred L. Clark.
CITY OFFICIALS
City Messenger, Napoleon Laplante, City Clerk, Arthur L. Cyr, City Treasurer, Samuel Dearborn, City Solicitor, Alvin J. Lucier, City Phy- sician, Dr. Romeo L. Paradis.
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POLICE COMMISSIONERS
Horace E. Osgood, Arthur DeMontigny, John W. Coffey.
FIRE COMMISSIONERS Herbert C. Lintott, Charles H. Austin, Eugene W. Duncklec.
James E. Melendy. Deputy Fire Chief.
George H. Campbell Deputy Chief of Police.
Board of Health D :. Oswald S. Maynard, Dr. Alfred Daudelin, Ernest Levesque.
In the ruggedness of Nashua's skyline there is written a story that sounds like a fairy tale. Tall stacks, great cotton mills, paper manufacturing plants, wood working establishments. a serried range of industry stretching along the river bank and about the city. Wide buildings, narrow buildings, tall buildings, low buildings, each denoting a different phase of manufacturing, making the skyline of Nashua's industrial capital.
Here is diversification! No single industry, no narrow aim, no money and labor monopoly keeps the business of Nashua in a constant state of perilous uncertainty. Here you'll find industry in the fullest state.
Nashua boasts of some of the largest mills and factories in the country. The products of Nashua mills and shops go far beyond the city's borders. Blankets. refrigerators, ice cream, freezers, machinery and other products are known and used the world over.
That Nashua should have become a manufacturing center of so great importance is not the result of chance. The location was chosen over 100 years ago because of natural advantages. From Nashua go out many railroad lines and highways. The Nashua river furnishes much hydro electric power. Thus the industrial preminence of Nashua was inevitable. The first small mills erected years ago have been the forerunner of a steady, consistent development almost without equal in New England.
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الشفة
Nashua Mills of Nashua Mfg. Co., the largest blanket mill in the world Covering 45 acres of floor space.
NASHUA MANUFACTURING COMPANY
A City's welfare and progress depends upon the success of its chief industries.
One hundred and five years ago the General Court of the State of New Hampshire granted a charter to the Nashua Manufacturing Company. Other smaller industries began to locate in Nashua shortly after this Company's incorporation. Nashua has grown from a hamlet to the second city of the state and today the name of "Nashua" is known in every quarter of the globe through the products manufactured by the Nashua Manufacturing Company.
The pioneer spirit was strong in those who incorporated the Nashua Manufacturing Company. No one was experienced in cotton mill operation in America. The summer of 1825 found the town buzzing with industry. Buildings for the new Company were under construction, many houses were being erected to accomodate those who were flocking to Nashua hoping for employ- ment in the new mill. Early in 1826 actual production had begun and the Company's pride and influence in civic affairs began to expand. Through their influence and cooperation the first church in Nashua was erected also the first school-house. A Savings Bank was opened. The first fire department was organized and between Nashua and what is now Jackson Mills, a telephone system was installed. The first telegraph connection in Nashua was between the Nashua Manufacturing Company's plant and their Boston Office. They were also interested in promoting a gas company and a water system.
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When the city of Nashua was incorporated seventy-five years ago, the Nashua Manufacturing Company had passed the exper- imental stage and was firmly established. It had weathered all money panics, business depressions and today is still reaching out for a greater volume of business. It is rated as the largest manufacturer of blankets in the world and is noted the world over for its Indian Head Cloth and other fabrics. The Nashua Mills and the Jackson Mills of Nashua also the Indian Head Mills of Alabama located at Cordova, Alabama and the Suffolk Mills of Lowell, Mass., comprise the Nashua Manufacturing Company.
The products consist of : "Nashua Blankets," plain, plaid, staple cotton and part wool
Indian Head Cloth in fast colors, Dress Prints and White Sheeting. The sheeting is made in the following widths: 18, 27, 32, 36, 44, 54, 63 and 72 inches.
All Indian Head products are guaranteed fast colors.
In addition to their nationally advertised goods, this Company manufactures a line of cotton suitings for export also cotton domets and flannels both white and colored and an exceptionally fine grade of cotton suede, bathrobe cloth, automobile cloth, diaper and casket cloth.
Frederic Amory of Boston has been treasurer since 1878. Amory, Browne & Co. of Boston, New York, Chicago and San Francisco are the selling agents. Walter Whipple is agent of Nashua Mills succeeding Roscoe S. Milliken in 1923. William H. Cadwell has been agent of what is now Jackson Mills since 1891.
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Jackson Mills of Nashua Mfg. Co., devoted exclusively to the manufacture of Indian Head Cloth, covering 18 acres of floor space.
GREGG & SON
Gregg & Son, millwork manufacturers, possess a distinguish- ed place in the woodworking industry. In this industry this firm is probably the oldest in continuous family ownership of any firm found in the United States today.
The present firm of Gregg & Son was established in 1870. However previous to this date the founder, David Gregg, owned and operated a small door, sash and blind factory in Goffstown, N. H. under the name of D. Gregg & Co
In 1870 David Gregg bought land in Nashua and in 1871 with his son, David A. Gregg and W. W. Hoyt, built the main building of the present establishment, operating under the name of Gregg, Hoyt & Co. A year later Mr. Hoyt retired and the business was carried on by David Gregg and David A. Gregg under the firm name of Gregg & Son.
David Gregg died Jan. 1, 1880 and at that time his son-in-law, George S. Neville, became a partner until his death in 1883.
William A. Gregg in 1882 joined the partnership with his father, continuing until his death, December 28, 1918.
Although remaining only a few years, a son-in-law, Oren S. Hussey, and Louis G. Neville a nephew of David A. Gregg, en- tered the firm in 1894.
The second son of David A. Gregg, Harry A. Gregg, entered the business in 1903, and for the past ten years has been the active head of the firm and since the recent death of his father has be- come the sole proprietor.
To David A. Gregg who was connected with this firm for over half a century and actively engaged for thirty-five years, is due the unusual success which Gregg & Son has enjoyed in the millwork industry.
The founder, David Gregg, was the fourth generation of the descendants of Capt. James Gregg of Londonderry, who probably had the first saw-mill in New Hampshire in 1719.
From this Capt James Gregg have descended the Gregg fami- ly ; each generation were saw-mill owners until David Gregg es- tablished his door, sash, and blind factory. Consequently from generation to generation the Gregg interests in millwork have in- creased so that today Nashua has the distinction of possessing the largest millwork plant in New England if not on the entire Atlan- tic coast.
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Gregg & Son
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H'N VAIHSVN-NOS
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J. F. MCELWAIN COMPANY
OFFICERS OF THE J. F. MCELWAIN COMPANY
J. Franklin McElwain, President.
Seward M. Paterson, Vice-President.
Francis P. Murphy, Vice-President. Arthur E. Swan, Treasurer and Secretary. Clifford P. Warren, Clerk.
DIRECTORS
Seward M. Paterson Arthur E. Swan
J. Franklin McElwain Francis P. Murphy
Frank Melville Jr.
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J. F. McElwain Company.
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Starting in 1923 with 350 employees and a capitalization of $245,000 00, J. F. McElwain Company, manufacturers of Shoes, in five years has become one of New Hampshire's leading indus- tries. Today in New Hampshire it employs 2,200 people; its payroll amounts to approximately $3,000,000. annually and it pro- duces and sells more than 5,500,000 pair of shoes each year.
The rise and growth of this organization is a remarkable achievement. It is a striking page in the romance of New England industrial life at a time when New England industrial supremacy has been definitely challenged. When this company was organized New England industry was almost at a standstill. The Leather, Shoe and Textile industries were so badly affected in the period following the War that it became the custom to speak of our mills going South and our factories West as if it were the inevitable result of an unalterable economic law.
This is not the place to discuss the labor management of J. F. McElwain Company, but it is well enough to state that not since the company organized five years ago has there been the slightest labor difficulty. Each year a new factory unit has been added to the company, and several hundred more hands employed, but the policy of· treating men like human beings has been followed throughout and it has proved to be unquestionably successful. Good wages, good hours, good working conditions, all have con- tributed to lowering production costs-paradoxical as it may seem.
Accordingly, it may not be too much to say that this young and highly successful New Hampshire industry, is a tribute to American inventive genius.
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YEARLY PAY ROLL AND PAIRS PRODUCED
Pairs Produced
Sales
Pay Roll
1923
559,274
$ 1.760.034
$ 382.373.28
1924
1,495,029
4,255,190
933.210.78
1925
2,252.983
6.134.342
1.395.821.91
1926
3.219.016
8.491.657
1.991.082.25
1927
3.954.259
10.464,749
2.378.784.00
(5 yrs. total)
11,480.561
$31,105.972
$7,081,272.22
NASHUA
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
June 1923
342
1924
418
1925
744
1926
914
1927
9440
1928
1300
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NASHUA GUMMED & COATED PAPER COMPANY
In 1904 the Nashua Gummed & Coated Paper Company was formed to take over the coating business of the Nashua Card and Glazed Paper Company. This business though carried on under various names and in several locations in Nashua has been operat- ing continuously since 1849; and since 1890 in the present Frank- lin Street plant.
The pioneer organization devoted itself principally to the manufacture of cardboard and playing cards. In 1861 the bus- iness was conducted in the plant of the Watch Company which had recently moved to Waltham. In this plant the first machine for flint glazing was operated, and the first power coating machine. A little later the first flint machines for finishing the paper in rolls were introduced from Germany. About the same time the first friction calender was installed.
At the time the present company took over the business, the manufacture of flint glazed papers had become unprofitable be- cause of German competition and the cardboard business had for the most part moved West. The principal product then became friction glazed papers. These were supplemented by the manu- facture of gummed papers. In this line the new company was the first to manufacture sealing tape, which is in such general use to- day.
In 1908 the present company began the manufacture of waxed paper. It was the first to make bread wrappers which are now used by nearly all bakers in the country. From 1910 to 1924 the waxed papers were produced in the Brackett Shoe Factory but were consolidated in 1924 with the company's other local manu- facturing activities into its Franklin Street plant.
The business of the Nashua Gummed & Coated Paper Com- pany has expanded greatly in the past twenty-four years so that today it is recognized leader in the manufacture of waxed paper and gummed and coated specialties. Its Franklin Street plant has had several additions since it was taken over in 1904. In 1917 the company established a branch plant in Middletown, Ohio and a subsidiary company, the Canadian Nashua Paper Company at Peterboro, Ontario in 1920. In 1924 the Nashua Package Sealing Company devoted to the distribution of package sealing machines and tape was added to its business family. to be followed in 1926
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by the Canadian Sealright Company for the manufacture of paper cans and milk bottle caps, and in 1927 by the addition of the Nashua Youngblood Company for the manufacture of paper spe- cialties for laundries. Despite the wide spread of the activities of the parent company and its subsidiaries its most important plant is in Nashua where it turns out approximately 25,000 tons annual- ly of its varied products.
Nashua Gummed & Coated Paper Company.
The officers of the Nashua Gummed & Coated Paper Co., are : Winthrop L. Carter. President and General Manager: Vasco E. Nunez. Vice-President ; Eliot A. Carter, Treasurer; George H. Lowe, Secretary, and Edward C. Smith, Assistant Secretary.
PROCTOR BROTHERS
The building of one of the finest and largest establishments of cooperage in America was due to the vision and ambition of Ira H. and Nathaniel H. Proctor. As they were born on Proctor Hill. Hollis, the company first came into existence in Hollis, and in 1876 their first factories were built there.
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In 1881, owing to the expansion of their trade, a new factory was built on Marshall and Hollis Streets, in Nashua, N. H., and in the following year they acquired several other large factory buildings on Tyler Street.
Clayton B. and Roscoe F., sons of Nathaniel H. Proctor, were taken into the firm to assist in the rapidly expanding business.
This firm manufactures kegs, barrels, pails and kits, and in addition they are wholesale and retail dealers in building materials of all kinds, furnishing everything necessary for a building, from the cellar to the top, including the roof.
They own large tracts of standing pine timber in Nashua and the surrounding towns, and buy more each year, as it is offered for sale. They cut about eight million feet of lumber each year. This is hauled into their mills either at Nashua or at West Hollis, where the logs are graded and sawed into plank, boards, and staves. The boards, when dry, are hauled to their mill on Tyler Street, where they are dressed and graded. In this way, they secure some of the finest pine finish.
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