USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Newport > Newport, New Hampshire, 1761-1961 : bicentennial celebration, Aug. 14-20, 1961 > Part 10
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In June 1924 Lloyd Cummings pur-
chased the Martin Business and con- tinued same to 1935. From 1935 to 1956 Burton Cady continued said store as a grocery store. Since 1956 Krans Furniture and then Dot's Pastry Shop had been located at the above loca- tion.
What wouldn't "youngsters" give to see Dr. Cain's jovial face poke around Central St. Corner or that of Carlton Hurd, Arthur Winter, Ty Barker and the other great personal- ities of those days!
* * MILLER BROTHERS, Main Street - Miller Brothers men's and women's clothing store was preceded by Mooney & Merserve, and Tyler L. Barker, both men's clothing establishments. In 1917, it became Miller Brothers. A month lat- er, the business was burned out, and there was a fire sale in the Town Hall before the store re-opened five months later.
NEWPORT CLOTHING MANUFAC- TURING COMPANY, 66 Spring St. - Back in 1934, John Colasacco and An- thony Tarullo came to Newport and began a clothing business that today is one of the town's leading industries. Their first efforts were made in the factory building on Ash Street, where they started the manufacture of mens and young mens clothing.
Mr. Tarullo died in 1946, and Mr. Colasacco continued the business, ex- panding and moving in 1947, to the present factory site. The building origi- nally was the barn and dairy farm of Billy B. Van, noted Broadway co- median who came to Georges Mills and Newport to retire. For a time he operated a large farm and his slogan was "The best of milk from contented COWS".
The Newport Clothing Manufactur- ing Company has increased the size of its plant and during World War II, when they were at full production making Army overcoats, they em- ployed as many as sixty-five employees. A large number is presently employed in the manufacture of men's suitings. *
NEWPORT SHOE STORE, 11 Main St. - Back in the early 1830's Abijah Dudley began a business as a cobbler and a shoemaker of women's and men's boots and shoes. In over one hundred and thirty years of continuous opera- tion, through many different hands, the business today is known as the Newport Shoe Store.
Dudley began his operations in the Dudley Block, the present site of the Priscilla Sweet Shop and carried it on for about a quarter of a century before he passed possession to a J. H. Patch. Between 1865 and 1909, the business was successively owned by Patch, Franklin P. Dudley, Alva Chase and Arthur G. Winter. At the present location of the Newport Shoe Store Walter Davis carried on a shoe business and, during the 1920's sold out to Har- old H. Wright.
In 1918, Charles G. Winter became associated with his brother in the business and ten years later moved up to the present Newport Shoe store location, when they bought out Wright.
After World War II, James Ferriter and Kermit Baker moved here from
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Brattleboro, Vt., and purchased the business from Winter Bros. Ferriter manages the local store, while Baker has moved to Keene where he man- ages a second store for the partner- ship.
NEWPORT WELDING COMPANY, * rear 22 Ash Street, - is a welding shop which was started by John S. Carson in October, 1947. In addition to his snop to which much of the work is brought, he has a portable unit on a truck which permits him to go directly to construction jobs and mills to do the work on the spot. His work takes him to many places at varied hours and he is called upon to per- form many odd types of welding jobs. The mills and transportation indus- tries require his services frequently. In 1953 the garage building adjacent to his burned and had not the New- port Fire Department with the aid from the Claremont Fire Department controlled this fire he could have lost everything.
NEWTON-BARTLETT FUNERAL HOME, 42 Main - The Newton-Bart- lett Funeral Home is one of Newport's oldest business establishments, having been opened for business in 1876, and in the Newton family until the death of Dixi C. Newton in 1959. Since then, Clinton S. Bartlett, a partner of Mr. Newton since 1953, has continued to operate the business.
David A. Newton, who established the business. operated it for thirty- one years, until 1907, when it passed into the hands of his sons, Dixi C. and William A. Newton, They con- tinued the business under the name of the Newton Brothers. Dixi C., ran the business as sole owner from 1919 until 1953, when he took the present owner, Clinton S. Bartlett into part- nership with him.
L. M. PERKINSON'S, 15 Main - What started as a woman's millinery store is now L. M. Perkinson's men's furnishing store. Many remember Hourihan's, Mike Hourihan and Carl- ton Couitt. Mr. Hourihan, better known as Mike, worked for Tyler L. Barker from 1900 to 1913, at which time he bought Chadwick's Millinery shop and immediately proceeded to sell it out to the bare walls.
Changing it over, Mr. Hourihan re- opened it as a men's furnishings store in early March, 1914. A fire gutted the property in 1916, and temporary quar- ters were erected on the Little Common where business was continued until the store could be rebuilt. Carlton Couitt worked for him for many years.
Earl Douglass bought the store in 1949 and closed out the business in 1954, at which time Joyce and L. M. Perkinson completely remodelled and opened the present store Oct. 15, 1954.
RADIO STATION WCNL, Belknap Avenue - Newport's own radio station went on the air Aug. 11, 1960, owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. W. Richard Carlson, trading as Carlson Enterprises. The couple came to New- port from Williamsport, Penna. Origin- ally Mr. Carlson hailed from Connecti- cut and Norah came from Northern
Ireland. Both had worked together in radio for 15 years or more. They ac- quired the construction permit to build the station by purchasing it from Judge Kenneth E. Shaw, who had made the original application and received the authority to build the station from the Federal Communications Commis- sion.
The station was built into a specially designed 50-foot 10-wide mobile home shell made to specifications set up by the Carlson's The complete station was installed and wired in the unit and it arrived in Newport, June, 1960. The 200-foot radio transmitting antenna was erected in March, and its lighted beacon kept Newporter's wondering when the station would start broad- casting. The Carlson's moved to our community on July 31, 1960 and 11 days later were "on the air" with music, news and sports features. Arthur "Arch" Mountain has been associated with their staff since the inception of programming both as sportscaster and Sales Manager. The station trans- mits daytime hours on a clear channel frequency of 1010 kilocycles, as author- ized by the FCC. The Commission specifies the hours of operation which go from 7:15 to 4:15 during December to as long as 6:30 a. m. to 8:30 p. m. in mid-summer.
WCNL operates with 250 watts, and its entire plant-studio, control room, transmitter and offices, are located on Belknap Avenue with its antenna on the lowlands bordered by the Sugar River. The wet ground is reported to be one reason for the excellent signal and coverage reported by the station since the dampness provides good con- ductivity.
WCNL operates as an independent outlet, carrying many programs of local interest, such as concerts by the Towle High School Band; the concerts from the Newport Common, a weekly Town Manager's report, the Town Meeting and School Meeting, and the Selectmen's meetings.
* * ROWE LUMBER COMPANY -- What started out as a Coal & Ice Company has turned into a lumber business with the original owner, John E. Rowe, still continuing to operate the business.
At one time, the plant, located at Reeds Mill, had extensive plans to ex- pand. The plans had to be abandoned, however, when the Water Polution Board at Concord enforced the laws to stop further pollution of Sugar River. Mr. Rowe continues, however, his busi- ness of buying and selling lumber.
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SARGEANT & HOY LUMBER COM- PANY, 109A South Main Street This business was originally owned by John Cutting and located on the south side of the Brampton Mill Dam. This mill burned and a new one was built by a Mr. Wilson at its present site on South Main Street. After operating it for several years, Mr. Wilson sold out to Mr. LeRoy Angel who ran it until 1931 when Frank Haven took over. Mr. Haven sawed, stacked and milled his lumber having as much as one-half million feet on sticks at one time. In 1945, Mr. Haven sold the mill to Costas Catsam & Sons, who oper-
ated it for about one year and then sold it to the present owners, Law- rence E. Sargeant and William A. Hoy. These two men added to the business all building materials - paints, ply- wood, doors, windows, roofing, insul- ation and floor coverings. The saw mill hasn't operated for more than four years. The machinery is all in place, but they have been buying their lumber all milled.
* M. J. SARGENT, REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE, 23-25 Sunapee St., - A native of Sunapee, Mr. Sargent came to Newport in 1932 and has, since that time, operated his real es- tate and insurance business at various locations. He also does considerable land appraising for the New Hamp- shire Highway Department and for the United States Government. He first had offices in the Edes Block, then, previous to the time when Earl T. Chase purchased the Gamash Block at 20 Sunapee St., had an office there, and then, later, had offices in rooms at the north end of the Newport House before the Latchis Theatre was built.
In 1946, he bought the Wilkins Block, where he is now located. This build- ing was originally a wagon and paint shop, built with a ramp to haul the wagons to the second floor. A black- smith shop was operated on the first floor by the owner, Mr. Wilkins. Later it was operated by a Mr. Teitelbaum, on the first floor as a variety store, and the second story was made into apartments.
S&K DEPARTMENT STORE, 29 Main Street. - Owners Harry Sternberg and Hans Katzenstein purchased this busi- ness from Hamilton Krans in 1956. Mr. Sternberg has a department store in Hoosick Falls, New York and Mr. Katzenstein has a department store in Ticonderoga, New York. Mr. Krans started this business operating under the name of Krans Department Store in 1946. Prior to Krans owning the building it had been used as a theatre owned by Arthur Chadwick. This was used for social functions, business meetings after the closing of the Em- pire Theatre until Krans bought it and remodeled.
This building was originally the old county jail. Built in 1850, it was used as a jail for nearly 50 years.
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RAY SMITH, 15 Beech Street - Mr. Smith started in the plumbing business in Newport in 1941 when he was then employed by Martin Hard- ware. In September, 1945, he left and started a heating and plumbing busi- ness at Del Thorton's building on South Main Street. In 1948, he pur- chased the property at 15 Beech Street where he now resides and has his place of business. This property was purchased from the Gile Estate. Mr. Gile had operated a grist mill on Cen- tral Street in the building at the rear of Newcomb's plumbing.
SPORTWELT SHOE COMPANY, INC., 169 Sunapee Street - The New- port Division of this company was started in February, 1957, specializing in production of government footwear.
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The original owners, Benjamin Alberts and Emanuel Alberts, started manufac- turing shoes in North Abington, Mass- achusetts, in 1939. The Newport plant started with 60 employees and has grown to approximately 250 employees. This firm has won government quali- ty and service awards for the past two years. The officers of this organi- zation are: President, Emanuel Alberts; Vice President, Irwin Alberts; and Treasurer, Murray Alberts. This com- pany is supporting Newport by co- sponsoring a Little League Baseball team, a bowling team, a soft ball team, and is a sponsor contributor to Winter Carnival festivities,
STOCKWELL GREENHOUSES, 140 North Main Street - Starting in 1929, with a small greenhouse and garden growing vegetables, the business grad- ually evolved into a florist business operated by Ralph and Lillian Stock- well on a part time basis.
Since its purchase by Norman Crotto and Gilman Stockwell, it has been expanded to include a modern com- pletely equipped flower shop doing all types of floristry as well as green- houses growing cut flowers, annuals and vegetable plants. A recent addi- tion has been a garden center featur- ing perennials, evergreens and shrubs.
THE STREAMLINER DINER, Main Street - This business has been in operation at the same location for over 50 years. Since 1928 it has been under the continuous management and own- ership of the Lamothe family. Previous owners were Ed Trow and Bill Lambert. Armand Lamothe, husband and father of the present owners, is deceased. In the spring of 1957 the old "lunchcart" was replaced by the present modern diner.
SUGAR RIVER PHARMACY, 71 Main St. - The Sugar River Pharma- cy first opened its doors at its present location (next to the bridge) in 1870, when Carlton Hurd bought out the Amos Little Hat Factory and moved the drug store he had recently pur- chased across the street from the Eagle Block. At that time, the build- ing housed the drug store, next to the river, and on the opposite side was a fishing tackle store with a bar to the rear.
In 1907, Frank E. Bronson became a partner with Mr. Hurd and the partnership continued until Mr. Hurd's death. Following Mr. Hurd's death. Mr. Bronson bought out the business and continued it until his death in 1946. Richard P. Donovan then pur- chased the store and operated it until his death. Bernard P. Towne, B.S., registered pharmacist, became the own- er in June of 1955 and continues with the business today.
Extensive improvements were made in 1908, when new plate windows and a new soda fountain were added by Mr. Bronson. In 1949 and 1950, the entire block was remodelled and new modern apartments became available on the second and third floors. Since 1955, several remodelings have taken place making the store double its size and with a modern all-glass front.
SULLIVAN COUNTY FINANCE CORPORATION, 29 Main St., - began business in November, 1956, under the direction of Hamilton R. Krans who was at that time owner of the Krans Department Store in the Empire Build- ing and of the Krans Furniture Store in the Citizens Bank Building. These establishments were sold to the S&K (May, 1957) and Derby's (October, 1960). Mr. Krans is now in the loan and finance business exclusively.
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TEDDY'S RESTAURANT, 3 South Main Street, - is owned and operated by Theodore A. Demetrakopoulos. Orig- inally there was a furniture store here known as Scribner Brothers who start- ed business in 1908, In 1914 Hutch's Restaurant was opened in this space. In 1916 the business changed to Geof- frion's Harness Repair Shop. Walter Patten reopened the place as a res- taurant in 1920. It has remained an eating place owned by Frank Young in 1921; a Mr. McGowan in 1924; Mrs. Anna Muzzey in 1929; Spiro Durmas in 1932. Mr. Demetrakopoulos pur- chased the business in 1952 and added a catering service in 1954. * *
UNITED CONSTRUCTION COR- PORATION, North Main Street - was founded in August, 1960. The busi- ness was an outgrowth of Bill Hoyt Trucking Co. which was started in 1944 as a rubbish collection and truck- ing and moving business. The original location on Belknap Avenue was changed to South Main St. and later in 1956 to a large new building con- structed for the business on North Main St. Mr. Hoyt had previously bought the Roy Houghton ICC moving rights and Roy Billings' moving bus- iness. In 1959 he sold his moving busi- ness and rights to O'Brien of Clare- mont. and in August, 1960 the asphalt and paving business to the United Construction Corporation whose in- corporators include himself and Leland A. Whipple. Hoyt Trucking is still operated from 84 South Main Street.
Leland Whipple operates a used car sales business in Claremont under the name of L. A. Whipple, Inc. He also founded General Auto Sales which was sold to Larry Eaton. Mr. Whipple bought a residence on Washington Street, Claremont which he has had remodeled into a modern show room. A large garage for repairs and body work has also been constructed on the property. L. A. Whipple, Inc. in ad- dition to the used car business is now the local dealer for Pontiac and Olds- mobile.
The United Construction Corp. has available trucks, loaders and bulldo- zers for general contracting purposes and engages in landscaping, driveway paving, filling and all other services of this kind.
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L. E. WEED & SON, 187 South Main - Lawrence E. and Kenneth D. Weed originally started in business as a lumbering operation in 1946. Additions to their fields of interest have been: concrete blocks, 1953; sand and gravel, 1957; and Redi-Mix Cement in 1961. In 1954 their saw mill was moved from what is now Eaton Jones Sand & Gravel to a new mill on South Main,
their present location. They have also constructed a new building to house their equipment and the cement block manufacturing plant. This concern has added general contract work, putting in cement footings for buildings, drive- ways and walls. Also, they have their own washed sand, gravel and crushed rock plant. Their equipment consists of five trucks, bulldozers, back hoe and loader.
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WHITE & WHITE REAL ESTATE, Richards Block, Main Street, - was established by Willis H. White in Provi- dence. Rhode Island in 1918. Bradford White, a graduate of Brown University, and a resident of New London, opened the Newport office on Nov. 1, 1960. Mr. White is the third generation of his family to be active in the real estate business in New England. The firm has offices in Providence and Cumber- land. Rhode Island and Newport, New Hampshire.
WINDSOR PRODUCTS CO., Clare- mont Road - Costume jewelry find- ings are manufactured by this busi- ness which has been in continuous operation since April 1, 1939. The owners are George H. and Laurea Zilch.
Mr. Zilch designs and builds all of the machines and tools used at the plant, which at one time had as many as forty-nine on the payroll. At the present time there are eleven em- ployed.
During the past three years, they have conducted a sales store on the premises, selling jewelry from some of the parts manufactured in the plant. *
* * THE WINSTON HOTEL, Main Street -
On the corner of what is now Main and West Streets used to stand a fine colonial residence and a hat shop owned by Amos Little. These were burned in the fire which also consumed the old Sugar River Hotel. Rufus P. and George Freeman Dudley, barbers, built on this location a large house and barber shop, in the base- ment of which George Freeman later established a restaurant. In the south yard on the 20 foot space between this and the Silsby & Johnson Block (which used to be called the Stowell Block), a dry goods store was built by George Dudley, Jr. and Clarence D. Collins. In time the two buildings were joined into one. This structure was badly damaged by fire and lay dormant until Mr. William Childs salvaged it and made it into a hotel. Mr. and Mrs. Childs moved the restaurant from the basement to the section that was the dry goods store. The barber shop was made into a hotel lobby. They built on the L part which pro- vided an additional 14 rooms. This renovation was accomplished during World War I. The house remains one of Newport's two tributes to Winston Churchill, the novelist, in whose book "Coniston" Newport appears as "Brampton". Mr. Childs named his hotel "Winston." under which name it is known today. In 1929 Mr. Childs sold out to Cleo Franklin and Nicholas Houpis, and in time Cleo Franklin became the sole owner. Mr. Franklin, the present owner, ably assisted by
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Mrs. Frankiln has from time to time greatly improved this property. * * *
WOODHULL'S MARKET, 28 Pleas- ant St., - Woodhull's Market is lo- cated where it originally opened its doors to the public in 1931. At that time, the store was operated by John and Remington Woodhull, brothers, and the partnership continued until 1939, when Rem bought out the busi- ness.
The neighborhood store is one of the most progressive in town and was the first market in Newport to have self-service; was first to have a self- service meat display; and was the first to put in National trading stamps.
Just a few years ago it was com- pletely remodelled inside and with a new modern front is a model neigh- borhood self-service market. * *
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AVONA BEAUTY SALON, 16 South Street - Mrs. Aili Kivisto originally started her business on May 12, 1933, in the Kendall Block on Main Street. In September of the same year, she moved to 62 Sunapee Street and about 1943 she purchased the property at her present location where she con- tinues to operate her business. During her years in beauty work, methods and techniques have changed consider- ably; i.e., in giving permanents, the cold wave method having replaced the heat wave, and the increase in diversity of styling.
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BAGLEY'S SERVICE STATION, Wendell - This business was purchased October 1953 by Donald R. and Geral- dine B. Bagley from the late Harold Clogston Estate. Formerly located at the junction of Route 103 and Route 11, this business consisting af a com- bination service station and grocery store was moved to its present site to facilitate new highway development. A wooden frame two-story building was razed at this new location (100 yards north) and replaced by a modern brick, three-bay station. Prior to mov- ing to this new location, the structure in which the business was operated was gutted by fire causing great loss of stock and equipment.
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BETTY'S BEAUTY SHOP, 111 Chen- ey - This business was originally start- ed at the present location in 1959 by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hardy. They specialize in all phases of modern beauty culture. * *
BILL THE BARBER, Sunapee Street - This barber shop is owned by Vaios S. Spanos who came to Newport in 1914 when he bought out Muzzeys' barber shop which was then located in the Lewis Block where the Douglas barber shop is today. After operating this for a year, he sold out to Angelo Durmas. He left Newport and returned in 1924 at which time he set up a barber shop and pool parlor where the Yankee Grill is now located. Sub- sequent changes of location were: to Sunapee Street where presently the Green Bonnet restaurant is operating; to the Edes Block on Main Street; back to Sunapee where Coronis' store is located; and about 1941 he moved into the Lauste Block.
LEROY BIILLINGS, Unity Road - Mr. Billings started in the trucking business in 1948 as a contract carrier. In 1926, Mr. Billings drove a truck for Merton Sargent, who hauled freight from Concord to Newport. In 1931 he worked for H. P. Welch Company until he started his own business. In 1953, Mr. Billings sold his trucking business to Bill Hoyt. later, when the passenger trains were eliminated, Mr. Billings entered mail contract hauling from Claremont Junction to Newport and from Concord to Newport.
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BOB'S SPORT SHOP, 10 Main St., - Th's business is cwned by Robert A. Shackett. He started it in October 1957 and sells sporting goods, paint, wallpaper and tires. * *
BRAMPTON WOOLEN CO., South Main Street - The Brampton Woolen Company, manufacturers of cloth, was founded in 1906 by Vincent J. Brenn- an, Sam D. Lewis, John McCrillis, Seth M. Richards, and Franklin P. Rowell. Its original building at South Main and River Streets had formerly been occupied by the Knipe Shoe Com- pany. Its present two-story, fire-proof building was built in 1946. Since 1938, Elrcy K. Prior has been the general manager.
COLLINS ELECTRICAL SERVICE, 167 Cheney Street - was formed by Francis and James Collins after their return from duty overseas after World War II. In the fall of 1945, they had their place of business on Union Street and a year later moved to 64 Summer Street. In 1949, Francis purchased the Lewis home at 167 Cheney Street and the business is now operated from this location. In addition to the elec- trical installation and service work performed in 1960, they opened a store in the old Newcomb Block on Central Street where electrical fixtures and supplies are sold.
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COLONIAL TOURIST HOME, 11 Central Street - This was one of the first homes built in Newport. Mr. Wm. McAllister, who ran the village grist mill, built the home in 1813. He later sold it to Judge Forsythe who was judge of the police court in Bos- ton. Judge Forsythe sold it to Sam Lewis, who in turn, sold it to Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Lindsay on October 27, 1940. Mrs. Lindsay has lived in this home for 41 years and she, with her husband, operate a second-hand furni- ture store in conjunction with the Tourist Home.
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CORNER PHARMACY, 2 Main Street - There has been a pharmacy at 2 Main Street ever since the building was built in 1886. The five owners, in the order of succession, have been Lewis, Willey, Donovan Brothers and Ed Maley, who sold the business to its present owner, R. A. Eggleston, in June 1943.
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