USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Newport > Newport, New Hampshire, 1761-1961 : bicentennial celebration, Aug. 14-20, 1961 > Part 2
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Dexter Richards, one of the town's two most generous benefactors, gave the Richards Free Library in 1888, and the Richards High School Building on
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Courtesy of F. P. Hutchinson
The Town Hall was destroyed by fire in 1885. The ruins are shown above. To the rear is the County Courthouse in its prime, much different than its present day appearance.
Courtesy of Mrs. Eva Jordan
The start of the Circus parade, a feature of the 1911 Cele- bration, Newport's Sesqui-Centennial, when, as the author states, "the town blew the lid off for the biggest celebration in its history."
School Street in 1896. This was used as a high school until Towle High was built in 1923. The Primary School on Sunapee Street dates from 1903.
The boys responding to the 1898 call to arms were led by Captain Ira Stowell, who with one other man died of typhoid fever in camp. It was that kind of a war.
So now, with many grievous but necessary omissions in our account we have arrived at the turn of the century.
The period from 1900 to 1914, the outbreak of the first world war, seems in retrospect a golden age - we were at peace and all nations liked and ad- mired us. We had band concerts, the great new inventions of movies, the phonograph and automobiles. There were minstel shows, barber shop quartets, and graduation classes going to Washington to admire the Capitol. In 1911 the town blew the lid off for the biggest celebration in its history. a Sesqui-Centennial complete with a circus and all the fixings.
Austin Corbin. famous railroad president, native of Newport, had re- turned here from New York in the Nineties, and built Corbin Park, a 22,000-acre game preserve, a relatively small portion of which lies in Newport.
Winston Churchill, of Cornish, one of three all-time best selling American novelists, wrote "Coniston" in which Newport appears as Brampton and from which the present textile mill derives its name.
The textile industry brought new jobs. Fairbanks and Dorr (1904-1918). the Dorr Woolen Campany from 1918 on: the Brampton Woolen Company (1906) - these are still part of our industrial backbone. to a large extent due to a never-say-die fight with for- eign competitors practically subsidized by our own supposedly friendly Gov- ernment. (The Gordon Woolen Mill gave up in 1950.)
Local charities, founded by public- spirited citizens, were being started:
The Newport Home for Aged Women (1909) and Carrie F. Wright Hospital (1910).
World War I found Captain (now Major) Samuel HI. Edes leading Com- pany M to the fight as he had also for the Mexican Border troubles. We sent out about 230 men and lost 8 in this effort "to make the world safe for Democracy."
Again in World War II Major Edes led the boys from here. In that war we sent forth about 650 men and lost 30. As to the Korean War we are unable to ascertain the necessary data but a number of our boys were in it.
The famous Winter Carnival was started in 1916. The Newport Outing Club had a death-defying toboggan chute more than a half-mile long, a ski jump and a warming cabin on the western slope of the Pinnacle, leading down to Wilmarth Flat.
Between these great wars many new homes were built but few business blocks, although the Richards Block was rebuilt after the terrific fire of Novem- ber 14. 1919 destroyed the two upper floors.
The Newport Airport, the Albert N. Parlin Field, one of the first in the State, originally organized by public subscription in the form of a corpora- Tion, and boasting a good hangar and field house, opened in 1929 and was taken over by the Town in 1939, and from time to time was considerably im- proved. The day after the great hur- ricane of September 21, 1938, although flooded for a few hours, the Airport furnished the only means of leaving town, and in fact a plane took off and flew to Boston.
Of course, Newport during the great depression (modern euphemism for "hard times") suffered along with the rest of the country. The Newport Clothing Manufacturing Company em- barked on these stormy seas in 1934 and is still going.
After the Second World War a re- surgence of building occured largely due to a bequest in the will of George B. Wheeler, one of our two most generous philanthropists. His gift made possible the Wheeler Gymnasium in 1950: the new rooms to the Richards Annex in 1952; and our fine new Hos- pital on Summer Street Extension, in 1952. It should be added that the Hos- pital would not be possible without the gifts of time and large sums of money from many other dedicated citi- zens.
The County built the fine new Records Building in 1949. in Court Square, providing splendid modern facilities for the Registry of Deeds, the Registry of Probate and the Judge of Probate.
What with the Gordon Woolen Mill going out in 1950 and the Internation- al Shoe Company, which had provided our largest payroll, quitting in 1955, the industrial future of Newport looked bleak. But a group of public- spirited citizens by dint of much hard work soon brought in the Newport Shoe Mfg. Corporation to take the place of the International. And, pro- videntially, the Federal Machine Tool Corporation began here in 1952, and the Sportwelt Shoe Company, Inc. arrived in 1957 to take over part of the old Gordon Woolen Mill. These things together with the building of the new Junior High School on wil- marth Flat in 1956 changed the mood of the town from pessimism to opti- inism.
On August 11, 1960 our first radio station, WCNL, began broadcasting fine music and good programs from its site on Belknap Avenue.
No doubt the first settlers would not recognize the old place: they might not even like it. But one thought would certainly strike them - their idea of starting Newport was no "flash in the pan."
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NEWPORT - As It Looked - 1911
LOOKING UP DEPOT STREET
1761 WELCOME 1911
:
Courtesy of F. P. Hutchinson
The "Welcome" sign was out for Newport's 1911 Sesqui- Centennial celebration, and hanging where it does would suggest that many of those returning to Newport for the cele- bration came by train.
THE SUGAR RIVER BRIDGE
R GARAGE
Courtesy of Kelly's Drugstore
As a part of the Sesqui-Centennial parade made its way up Main Street it shows familiar landmarks that are greatly changed today, especially in the present gulf station area. Who remembers the iron bridge that spanned the river at this point?
NEWPORT'S WIDE MAIN STREET
Courtesy of Cecil Page
Back in 1911, before Main Street was paved, it must have presented an appearance of being much wider than it does today with the parking meters down the center. There was plenty of room for parking then, but it will be a problem at this year's celebration.
LOWER MAIN STREET, LOOKING NORTH
-
Courtesy of John & Irene Cain
The Brampton Inn, right foreground, has today made way for Newport's expanding industry. The site is now the of- fices for the Brampton Woolen Company, but in those days it did a thriving tourist business.
A 1911 FLOAT - AND WELL KNOWN PASSENGERS
Courtesy of Cecil Page
Back in 1911, Newport's nationally known stage per- formers were Billy B. Van and the Beaumont Sisters. They are shown here in their decorated touring car, across the street from the present Newport Shoe Store.
CORNER OF MAIN AND SUNAPEE STREETS
Courtesy of John & Irene Cain
The Little Common was a part of Newport's present day common back in 1911. The town was well bedecked with bunting for the Sesqui-Centennial celebration.
RIVERSIDE
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CHURCH HISTORIES
From "The Book of Old Newport"
THE SOUTH CHURCH
The interior of the South Church has been changed a good deal since it was built in 1823, but the exterior of the main building remains the same. The little wooden chapel, or vestry, was built in 1844. The new one was built in 1872 and, as the point of the roof may be seen, this picture must have been taken between that date and 1877, when the parson- age was erected on the site of the old chapel.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH
The Baptists were ahead of the Congregationalists in building a church in what is now the village, as the structure shown was erected in 1821, through the ef- forts of Colonel William Cheney. It faced North Main Street and was swung around to its present position when remodeled in 1870. The drawing was made in 1860 by Freeman W. Nourse, and as far as could be learned is the only likeness of the old church, except the one in the 1834 picture (see front cover), which gives a better idea of the front.
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SOUTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH The United Church of Christ in Newport, New Hampshire Church built in 1822 Present Minister: Rev. William C. Blair
The history of the Church in Newport dates from the very morn- ing the first settlers arrived. It was a Sunday in early June. 1766, and these Connecticut Congregational- ists gathered in the shade of a spreading elin to give thanks to God and ask his blessing upon the new community. Benjamin Giles led worship in a log cabin until the Proprietors' House was built in 1773. The Congregation was form- ally organized in the war year of 1779, and the first pastor was called in 1783. The old meeting house, framed in 1793, stood on a knoll at the foot of Claremont Hill. When the new turnpike forced the villag- ers to relocate east of the river, early in the 19th century, it was debated whether the town center would be north or south of the Main Street bridge. The Baptists built at the winning end; the pres- ent South Church meeting house was dedicated a year later, in 1823. The simple dignity of the structure
has been attributed to the pastor, James Wheelock, son of the founder of Dartmouth College. In the cus- tom of the time, the design was copied from builders' handbooks by a local craftsman with an un- common eye for graceful propor- tion. The storied steeple, charac- teristic of the Connecticut Valley, is duplicated at Acworth. Brick was fired on the spot. A generation ago, the interior was handsomely re- stored to remedy an unfortunate Victorian modification made just after the Civil War. The present membership stands at 390, as it enters a third century of service to God and the community.
The list of pastors who have served is as follows: John Remmele, 1783-1791; Abijah Wines, 1796-1816; James Wheelock, 1818-1823; John Woods, 1824-1851; Henry Cum- mings, 1851-1866; George R. W. Scott, 1868-1873: Ephraim E. P. Abbott, 1875-1884; Charles N. Flanders, 1884-1887; George F. Ken-
E
Photo by L. R. Whitney
gott, 1889-1892; John P. Pillsbury, 1892-1895: James Alexander, 1896- 1903; Perly C. Grant, 1904-1909; Ralph H. White, 1909-1916; Daniel Robinson, 1917-1918; David Lewis Yale, 1919-1924; Franklin E. Bige- low, 1924-1937; Clarence H. Clark, 1937-1948; Harry G. Suttner, 1948- 1950; Robert J. Macleod, 1951- 1957; Leonard W. Fowler, 1957; and William C. Blair, 1958.
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH Church built in 1821 Present Minister: Rev. William F. Brown
The First Baptist Church was born in this community in the year 1779 when the thirteen colonies were still in revolt against the British. Eight deeply religious and frugal farmers were in revolt too, but against the stern Calvinist doctrine, in their home town of Killingsworth, Conn. so they migrated to the wilderness of New Hampshire, settling in the North- western part of Newport, which became known as "Baptist Hill."
These eight devout souls organized the first Baptist church in this section, but did not build a meeting house until 1798. Up to that time they met in their homes, in barns and wherever they could. This first building stood in what we know as North Newport.
In the summer of 1821 a meeting house was built at the head of the Common in Newport. This building originally faced the West, but later was turned to face the Common. The church acquired one of the very few Paul Revere bells in existence, the bell being cast in 1822. It still rings out through the valley, the call to worship.
The present pastor, William F. Brown, began his ministry here in 1942, and will have completed his twentieth year in February 1962, the longest pastorate in the history of the church, and at present the longest in the State.
Photo by H. E. Mahoney
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NEWPORT'S FIRST CHURCH
From "The Book of Old Newport"
This drawing of unknown au- thorship and veracity, represents the first church. but not the first house
of worship, erected in Newport, for the "proprietor's house" was used for church purposes from 1773 un-
til 1791. It stood on the cone-like hill at the junction of the Unity and Claremont roads.
THE ABIJAH WINES HOUSE
The old Abijah Wines house, once occupied by the staunch old minister who was pastor of the Con- gregational Church from 1796 until 1816, still stands at the head of Belknap Avenue and for many years has belonged to the Aiken family (Now the Charles Aiken residence). Although known as the parsonage, it was not owned by the church and was never occupied by any other minister.
From "The Book of Old Newport"
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ST. PATRICK'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Dedicated: 1902
Present pastor: Rev. Joseph Shields Present curate: Rev. John Sullivan
The Catholic people dwelling in the town of Newport did not take on parochial stature until the year 1902. Prior to this date, they were under the jurisdiction of St. Mary's parish in Claremont. In the year 1854, they became a mission of St. Mary's. The Reverend Father O'Sullivan was then pastor of St. Mary's. During this period, Masses were celebrated in the home of Patrick Herrick on Sunapee street. Later they assembled for holy Mass at the Armory on Central St. In 1870, "mirabile dictu" they gathered at the Masonic hall, in the Burke block, now the Priscilla Sweet Shop. In 1883, a wooden structure was raised on
Don Sieburg Photo
the present site of the parish church.
In the year 1902, the parish of St. Patrick's was canonically erected. The first pastor, a graduate of the college of Holy Cross, was the Rev- erend James J. Hogan.
The Reverend Father Hogan was succeeded as Pastor by the Reverend Thomas Finning, in 1913. Father Finning's administration spanned a quarter of a century. It was a time of growth and expansion.
Death came
suddenly to St. Patrick's beloved pastor in Janu- ary of 1938. In the following month, he was succeeded by the Reverened Michael R. Griffin. Shortly after his assuming the reins of office, the present church building was en- larged and enhanced. Bishop John Peterson came to bless it. The late Governor Francis P. Murphy was a most generous benefactor.
In 1946, Father Griffin was called upon to take over the parish of St.
Paul in Franklin, N. H. where he still presides. Succeeding him at Newport came the Reverend John McCarthy. During the latter's ad- ministration, the chapel of St. Joachim in Sunapee, was con- structed. Death came to this de- voted and pioneering priest in 1959. In March, Rev. Joseph Shields was appointed by the late Bishop Brady to this distinguished pastorate of St. Patrick's - Newport, N. H.
CHURCH OF THE EPIPHANY (Episcopal) Dedicated: June, 1910 Present pastor : Rev. Samuel N. McCain, Jr.
The Church of the Epiphany held its first service on the Feast of the Epiphany, being Sunday, in the year 1907 in the court room on Main street. Some two years later land was purchased on Cheney Street from the Wait family and in June 1910 the church was dedicated by the Rt. Rev. Edward M. Parker, Bishop of New Hampshire. For many years the church re- mained in missionary status in the Diocese. In 1950
Don Eggleston Photo
under the leadership of the Rev. Harold G. Martin plans were laid for the building (or digging) of an Undercroft, which proved to be a project widely supported by the whole community.
In 1953, The Rev. Stanrod T. Carmichael was appointed to serve as the vicar of the congregation, which at this time was showing many signs of newness of life. In 1956, when the Diocesan Conven- tion was held in Newport, the
church was admitted to the Diocese as a Parish. In 1957 the congrega- tion purchased for a second time the property facing the Common, reno- vating the first floor for church school purposes and the second floor as the rectory. In February, 1958 the Rev. S. N. McCain, Jr. ac- cepted the call as rector.
Clergy in residence at Newport: Lawrence F. Amor, Fall 1908; Al- bert Bowles, 1909-1914; (Mr. Mc- Bride. 1914); Claude M. A. Poole,
1914-1915; Sheafe Walker, 1916- 1919; Wm. P. Picksly, 1921-1925; P. S. McConnell, 1926; Forrest East- man, 1927-1930; Harold G. Martin, 1949-1952; Stanrod T. Carmichael, 1953-1957; S. N. McCain, Jr., 1958 -.
Non-resident clergy: Wm. Patter- son, 1907; Arthur M. Dunstan; Lawrence F. Piper; R. C. Gould, 1932-1936; Robert Dunn, 1936- 1942; Malcolm Hotchkiss, 1942- 1944; William P. Neal, 1945-1949; John McGann, 1952-1953.
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From "The Book of Old Newport"
The four pictures illustrated from "The Book of Old Newport" issued in 1909, by Marcia J. and Samuel H. Edes, embellished by Martin W. Nourse of Hartford, Conn., and printed by the Argus & Spectator, Newport, shows "the bank building", which was between Sunapee Street and the Town Hall and burned in the fire of 1885; beneath it, the Common, about which it says, "Be- fore the common was regularly laid out in 1891, it was used for
OLD NEWPORT
cattle shows, and baseball games. The smaller boys played on the South end and the big games took place on the wider part, greatly to the discomfort of the windows in the Baptist Church".
The two pictures to the right are: (upper) The Universalist-Unitarian Church. After holding their meet- ings in various places, the Univer- salist Society built its church in 1837. Jonathan Wilmarth, who
built a great many houses in town, was the contractor. After a varied career, in which the Universalists and Unitarians were alternately in control, the building was sold in 1895 to John W. Johnson, who re- modeled it. The same picture also shows something of the old form of the Emerson Block; and (lower) Cheney Street. The lack of trees accounts for the strange appearance of the street.
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ST. VASILIOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH Dedicated: June 29, 1952 Present priest: Rev. Nikos Georges
The Newport Hellenic Society was founded in 1928 and dedicated to the moral, sociał - and economic advance- ment of the Greek-American inhabi- tants of Newport.
At the same time, the Society did not neglect the spiritual requirements of the community and though, without a church building of their own, the group utilized the Episcopal Church edifice with neighborly Greek Ortho- dox priest officiating.
Every member of the community nu- tured a fond hope that a church of
their own could be established. Aided by the younger generation, imbued with tremendous energy and well- schooled in the art of determination and ambition, St. Vasilios Church final- ly became a reality. Ground breaking was started on October 26, 1950 and completed in 1952.
The first services were conducted on June 29, 1952 by the Rev. Arthur Rizos of Worcester, Mass., a previous Greek school teacher in Newport, and also the Rev. Christopher Tasarlas of Keene, N. H.
..
Don Eggleston Photo
Rev. Nikos Georges of Holliston, Mass., the Greek Orthodox Chaplain for the State of Massachusetts, now con- ducts the services and is the priest of the parish.
L. R. Whitney Photo
METHODIST CHURCH Dedicated: December, 1851 Present minister: Rev. Charles A. Rogers
Peter Wakefield was the founder of Methodistism in Newport, N. H. He was formerly a member of the Baptist Church but rejected the doctrine of the perseverence of the saints and was expelled from their communion. Eli- jah Hedding, who held services oc- casionally at Sunapee, probably preached the first Methodist sermon in Newport.
The small group that was formed. met in the school-house until 1840 and at that time the first Methodist chapel was built in Northville.
A few years later, circumstances arose in the Congregational Church which caused a secession of those Methodists who had joined it be- cause they had no church of their own
and also many others. They proposed a permanent union with the Northville Methodists and asked the New Hamp- shire Conference for a preacher. In May 1850 Warren F. Evans was their preacher and the Universalist chapel was their place of worship. They want- ed a church of their own however and such was the progress of the work that in Dec. 1851 they were able to dedicate their own house of worship, erected in the center of town.
The Methodist parsonage was built in 1854 on a site next to the church for the sum of $2000.00. This land was sold to the U. S. government years later for the new postoffice and a new parsonage was erected on Cheney St. in 1936.
FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST Dedicated: August 1, 1933
On Thanksgiving Day, 1908, the first Christian Science service in New- port was held in a room in the Rich- ard's school. It was attended by two readers with one person in the audi- ence.
In the natural order of events these seemingly limited efforts bore fruit and on Thanksgiving Day, 1911, the first regular public service was held in a millinery parlor in the Woodbury block. Main street.
Soon. the attendance demanded greater seating capacity and Citizen's Hall in the Citizen's Bank building was hired. On December 3, 1919, this group
of Christian Scientists was recognized as Christian Science Society of New- port.
In 1922, a Sunday school was started and six years later, in July, 1928, the Society moved to rooms in the Dewolf block where a Reading Room was established together with room for services and Sunday school.
On Sunday, August 1, 1933, First Church of Christ, Scientist, of New- port, corner Cedar and Cheney streets was dedicated, and Newport paid generous tribute by filling it's audi- torium to capacity at two dedication services.
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Don Sieburg Photo
The above is a brief resume, a skele- ton sketch of important steps in prog- ress; but we pause earnestly to salute the courage and loyalty of those early pioneers.
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H. E. Mahoney Photo
NORTH NEWPORT UNION CHAPEL Dedicated: March 14, 1886
The North Newport Union Chapel was dedicated March 14, 1886, as a result of a decision by the people of North Newport, then called North- ville, the year before, to build a new chapel rather than to buy the so-called Wakefield Chapel that was to be dis- posed of.
In 1798, the First Baptist Church of Newport built a meeting house just across the road and slightly to the south; and in 1840, the Wakefield chapel was built, the site not named, to be used as a Methodist Church. Just how the Wakefield Chapel was dis- posed of, or what happened to the Baptist Church, is not mentioned, but the Union Chapel became the religious center of the community and has served as such since that date.
Newport ministers have preached there at times on a regular schedule.
Of late years, Leland E. Brigham of Portsmouth, former Sullivan County Y.M.C.A. secretary, has conducted services there once a month.
In August, 1936, the fiftieth anniver- sary of the chapel was held with a full program for the day and was very well attended. The committee in charge comprised Leland Brigham, Homer T. Sibley, Paul Nystedt, Mrs. Lillian Farwell, Mrs. Elsie Blodgett, Mrs. Rose Coutermarsh, Miss Emma Rowell and William Storey. Obadiah Ring, Mrs. M. E. Ring, Mrs. Winnie Heath, Albert Smith and William Storey, who had been present at the dedication were in attendance.
A seventy-fifth anniversary program is planned and it is hoped that it will be held during the Newport Bicenten- nial observance.
THE ALLIANCE CHURCH Dedicated: Dec. 8, 1958
The Alliance Church is a fully con- nected church of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. The Christian and Missionary Alliance (C.M.A.), born in our own New England in 1887, is a world-wide missionary organization with over 1,000 churches in the home- land and more than 700 active mission- aries in 22 fields around the world.
The Charter Members carried on un- der the faithful ministry of Mr. Wilbur T. Plotner, a layman of the Alliance Church of Brockton, Mass., until the summer of 1955 when they became a
fully connected church of the C.M.A. In August, 1955 the church was in- corporated and purchased its building site. The erection of the church began in the fall of 1957 and was completed the following year.
The Dedication Service was held Dec. 8, 1958 with Home Department Secretary, Rev. H. E. Nelson and the District Supt., Rev. E. J. Bailey. Sun- day Morning and Evening Services, mid-week Prayer Service, and Sunday School have been conducted weekly since the Dedication.
L. R. Whitney Photo
ADVENT CHRISTIAN CHURCH Built in 1952
It was in the summer of 1946 that Rev. Alice Bennett was spending some
Lou Thompson Photo
time in Newport, New Hampshire, and vicinity in helping care for her aged parents who were in poor health. At the camp meeting session at White River Jct., Vermont that August, Or- ren Barton asked Mrs. Bennett if she would hold a prayer meeting at New- port if he would find a place for it. She said she would, and he secured glad permission to have such meetings at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Fred Kim- ball. The first was held August 29 with 11 present. Mr. Barton asked if she would have preaching services if he would find a church edifice. To this Mrs. Bennett also agreed and it was with happy anticipation that the first meeting was held on Sunday, October
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