USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Newport > Newport, New Hampshire, 1761-1961 : bicentennial celebration, Aug. 14-20, 1961 > Part 7
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Courtesy of Mrs. Eva Jordan
Capt. Ira Stowell and his "Stowell Guards", officially Company M., Ist. N. H. Volunteers, leave the local railroad station in 1898.
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A Page of Military Pictures .. .
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HA
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GEO. H. WOODBURY.
STOWELL & SILSPY
From the collection of C. D. Johnson
In private life, Capt. Ira Stowell was engaged in the hardware business in the store shown above, now Silsby & Johnsons. George Woodbury's Jewelry Store another land- mark in Newport occupied the northern half of the present hardware store site.
NATIONAL CHARD COMPANYE NEWPORT. W
CUR
Courtesy of Mrs. Eva Jordan
Company M of the National Guard, led by Capt. Samuel H. Edes, on parade in 1916. A year later they were leaving to take part in World War I.
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FAREUCH IRTHE, BON PHOTO
Courtesy of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Darling
Company M, leaves Newport on July 27, 1917, for World War I action. They were soon to become a part of the 103rd. U. S. Infantry.
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Courtesy Historian American Legion Post
Returning home after World War I, there is a real turn- out of veterans for some unknown occasion on Newport's Main Street.
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THE 2ND. BATT., HDQTS., 197TH. (A. A.) taken about 1937
Courtesy National Guard Unit
Front row-left to right: Raymond Couture, Malcolm Hall, Norman Trudeau, John Patten, Freeman Farewell, George Clark, Eugene Goyette, and Christy Haservlat.
Second row, John Chartier Oliver Gladue, Felix Smith, Donald Hurd, Arnold Peltonen, Norman Heidenblad, Lawrence Couitt, Henry Mardin and Frank Farmer.
Back row, Richard Wright, Walter Piotrowski, David Dunham, Henry Allen, Jr., Roland Hall, Cy Young, Leopold Henault, James Wright, Adam Smith and Richard Parker.
was again changed this time to the 197th FABN, 4th Howitzer Bat- talion, the title which they hold at the present time.
During the Korean conflict, there were no members of the unit called for active duty but training was in- tensfied in the event of anticipated call to action.
Over the years, Newport's sol- dier-civilians have distinguished themselves in the National Guard and the present battery under the command of Captain Robert A. Peirce has won the best battery award for three consecutive years, a feat never accomplished before. This award is based on summer
field training, attendance, federal inspection and training throughout the year at the armory.
Lack of space prevents more de- tailed reports on the scores of New- port men who have fought and are ever ready to defend their country in any capacity.
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H. E. Mahoney Photo
The National . Guard Armory on Belknap Avenue is now headquarters for the 197th. FABN, 4th. Howitzer Battalion.
L. R. Whitney Photo
During World War II, a group of thirty-one interested Newport citizens, with voluntarily pledged funds, purchased the Sam. D. Lewis property on Cheney Street for a Veterans Home. It is used now, by all Newport's military organizations.
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GOLF NEWPORT'S 9 Hole Course A Favorite
It's History
as told by JOHN AND IRENE CAIN
D. "Sid" Rollins and "Bob" Gould were weary of travelling way over to Claremont or up to Han- over for a game of golf, so early in 1920 they decided to do something about it. They called together a meeting of interested citizens at which a committee was appointed to lay the groundwork for the form- ation of a golf club. D. S. Rollins was chairman; H. E. Brown, secre- tary; Sam D. Lewis, George A. Dorr, and John J. Condon, finance of- ficers. After investigating the possi- bility of a Sunapee Street loca- tion, a committee headed by Bob Gould decided to lease the Dr. J. L. Cain property, and parts of the George Spooner and Will Davis land on Unity Road.
Willy Parks, a noted English golf course architect, laid out the course, which was constructed by Charles "Will" Davis using one horse and a wheelbarrow. By the spring of 1921 the course was opened to play and was informally dedicated by an ex- hibition match between some of the great golfers of the time; Jesse Guilford, American Amateur Champion of 1920; Ralph Rooks, Rhode Island Champion; Parker Schofield, Massachusetts Champion; and Joe Stein, then professional at Nashua, C. C.
The ladies formed a committee and raised money for furniture and equipment for the club house which was used only for social affairs as the pro shop was then in a barn on the site of the present locker room building.
The first golf professional at the
Don Eggleston Photo
The view of the Newport Golf Clubhouse as seen from Unity Road, looking across the first and ninth fairways.
club was Harold Stallwood from England. He was followed by Mr. Marr, who died shortly after he came. Charlie Laing was then hired for three years, followed by John Jack. Since 1929 John Cain, son of the late Dr. J. L. Cain, has been employed by the club, except for a period of 8 years when he was in Lowell, Mass. and then joined the Marine Corps, and again in the 1950's when he was in the lawn mower business. While he was away the club ran under a series of at- tendants: Pro Arthur Townley had a branch shop here (he was pro at the Granliden Course). During the War Bert Marcus kept the shop open. In the early 50's the club hired Art and Irene Fee, Dick and Marion Brown, Jack and Ann d'Agostino, Bill Spanos, John Brill, Pro Art Johnson, Chef Al Wilson, and Pro Bob Thompson. John Cain now superintends the work on the course and still finds time to help his wife, Irene, manage the club house and pro shop.
When John Cain went to Lowell, the late Arthur Hurd was promoted to greenskeeper and continued car- ing for the greens until about six years ago when he left for less strenuous work in the school de- partment.
Since Robert E. Gould won the
first Men's Championship in 1921, there have been only eight other men to win that honor. D. S. Rol- lins won it twice, B. A. Heath Jr. 6 times, H. M. Woodard 5 times, John Brill twice, John Hutchinson once, Dave Roush once, but H. E. Brown won it most. He was cham- pion 11 times from 1923 through 1942 and made the course record of 29 for 9 holes. Our present Champion, J. R. "Dick" Kelly won five times since 1933, and he holds the course record of 64 for 18 holes.
On the Ladies' plaque we find Louise R. Rollins the first Cham- pion, our Grace Carey (who so ably tends the Information Booth) won once, as did Norma Lucas and the present champion, Dorothy "Dodie" Belski. Rachel Fernald won 5 years; Irene Cain 5 years; Lucille Nelson two; Louise Kelly two; Sydney Badmington two. But the outstanding lady golfer has been Bertha Rowell Winter who won the Club Championship seven times and twice went on to win the State title.
The Newport Golf Club has grown to a high place in the social economic, and civic life of Newport, and with its well-kept golf course, and the friendliness of its members makes a definite contribution to the recreational facilities of the area.
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Courtesy of Miss Emma Rowell
In years gone by, North Newport was a busy part of the community with both the Draper Lumber Company and the Sibley Scythe Company as employers of several people. Pictured above is a group of employees of the Sibley Scythe Company pictured outside the factory. The pile of cordwood testifies to the kind of fuel used to heat the establishment.
SIBLEY SCYTHE COMPANY OF NORTH NEWPORT SUPPLIED SCYTHES FOR PANAMA CANAL
Back in 1842, at North Newport, a small group of men began work- ing for Sylvanus Larned in the production of scythes, the result product of which has been shipped all over the world. The mosquito infested swamplands of Panama, that caused epidemics of yellow fever and malaria, at the time the canal was being built, were fought and conquered partly through the use of the Sibley Scythe.
It is called the Sibley Scythe be- cause three years after operations began. 1845, until 1929, when the business was dissolved, the controll- ing interest was in the Sibley family.
Ezra T. Sibley went into business with Mr. Larned in 1845, and in 1848, upon Mr. Larned's beath, be- came associated with William Dun- ton. In 1851. Mr. Sibley bought out Mr. Dunton's interests and operated the establishment by himself until 1873, when he enlarged the business and admitted his son, Frank A., as a partner.
In these days, the company em- ployed fourteen hands, used nearly 44,000 pounds of steel and iron and made 30,000 scythes. They paid in wages. in 1870, $7,500. Scythes were shipped to Germany, India and other parts of the world.
Frank A. Sibley carried on the
business until his death in 1909, at which time his wife, Mary M. Sib- ley, and D. K. Barry continued the operation for two years, at which time, Charles E. Winter, a son-in- law of Mrs. Sibley became plant foreman. In 1913, Mr. Barry sold his share to Mrs. Sibley and in 1920, Mr. Winter left to enter the shoe business with his brother at Newport.
The elder son, Homer T. Sibley, then entered the business with his mother and carried on until 1929, the shop having been rebuilt, after a fire had burned the shop to the ground. just a year before.
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$25 Sponsors
Argus-Champion Barrett Press Bates & DeMayo-Your Mobil Service Dealer Berkeley Stores, Inc. Blue Ribbon Launderers & Cleaners Budd's Beverages, Inc. Buker Airways, Inc. John & Irene Cain John P. H. "Jack" Chandler, Jr .- Warner Chase & Avery, Inc. Conroy & Smith Cott Bottling Company Cummings Market Daily Eagle
Dartmouth Motors, Inc.
Derby's of Newport Douglass Barber Shop-Kenneth C. Dresser Ernie's Mill End Shop
Fairlea Farms, Inc. Federal Machine Tool Co., Inc. First National Stores
Flower Shop Goodrich Oil Company Grand Union Champagne's Super Markets Harold Greenwood
Hackwell Lumber Company
M. J. Harrington Heath Motor Sales
Hilltop Motel J. S. Hirsch Dept. Store Holland's Electrical & Refrigeration Sales & Service
Johnson's Ben Franklin Store Kemp-Chapman Machine Co. Lucas Santa Shop Frank and Clarice Martin Miller Bros.
New England Telephone & Telegraph Co. Newport Clothing Mfg. Co., Inc. Newport Shoe Store Newport Welding Co.
Newton-Bartlett
L. M. Perkinson
Charles V. Racicot
Radio Station WCNL (Carlson Enterprises)
Rowe Lumber Company Sargeant & Hoy Lumber Company
Merton J. Sargent
S & K Department Store Ray H. Smith
Sportwelt Shoe Co., Inc. Stockwell Greenhouses Streamliner Diner
Sugar River Pharmacy, Inc. Sullivan County Finance Corporation Teddy's Restaurant
United Construction Corp.
L. E. Weed & Son
White & White of N. H. Windsor Products Corporation Winston Hotel Woodhull's Market
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NEWPORT'S PROGRESS IS DUE
DORR WOOLEN CO.
BRAMPTON WOOLEN CO.
IN LARGE PART TO ITS
SPORTWELT SHOE CO.
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NEWPORT SHOE MFG. CORP.
DIVERSIFIED INDUSTRIES
NEWPORT CLOTHING MFG. CO.
FEDERAL MACHINE TOOL CO., INC.
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Brief And Not So Brief - Old And Not So Old Business Histories of NEWPORT
Editor's Note On Business Histories
Your booklet committee, especial- ly the sponsor solicitors, have made an attempt to secure a history of every business establishment in Newport through personal contact, through the newspapers and over the local radio. Of course, their efforts have not proved to be a 100% successful, but they are, I think, 1000% more successful than had originally been anticipated. A deadline on the material had to be denoted in order to get this ma- terial to the printer in time for its appearance at the time of the Bi- centennial, and toward the close the solicitors had to leave the turning in of the material to the owners of the individual businesses. If a certain business history does not appear on any of the following pages, I am sure that it was not the fault of the solicitors.
CITIZENS NATIONAL BANK, Main Street - The Citizens National Bank was established November 6, 1885. The first office was located in the building now occupied by the Town Offices: the vaults now still in use there were installed in thick granite walls for bank use. P. A. Johnson, father of present President Carroll D. Johnson, came to Newport to be the first cash- ier. At the end of the first full week of business, total loans amounted to a little over $1,000, deposits $6,000, and undivided profits $21.75. The Citizens bank did a thriving business on the east side of muddy Main Street for twenty-six years; in 1912, the move was made to the brand new three-story edifice on the opposite side of the street.
Time has changed banking in the seventy-five years since the establish- ment of the Citizens. The National Banking Act, establishment of the Fed- eral Reserve System, the Federal De- posit Insurance Act, new loaning con- cepts such as installment loans, all contribute to our banking practices as we know them today. Banks at one time issued their own currency based on gold deposits with the government. Examples of this currency issued by the Citizens National Bank will be displayed during anniversary week.
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CORBETT OIL CO., INC., Belknap Avenue - This business was origin- ally begun by Glen Chapman, who in 1929, started installing range and power burners. In 1932, he established an oil business with one 220 gallon tank mounted on a pickup truck. All oil was delivered in 5 gallon cans. It was not unusual to deliver 1600 gallons carrying the cans through the deep snow. Mr. Chapman bought the first piece of land for the bulk plant in 1933 from the Edes Estate; in 1934, he
bought first pump and meter tank truck; in 1935, he bought a second one; and in 1941, he bought more land and built coal sheds. In May, 1946, Mr. Chapman sold the business to Austin Corbett. Mr. Corbett came to Newport from Belmont, Massachusetts, where he had been connected with the oil industry since 1930. On May 23, 1947, Mr. Corbett erected a 25,000 gallon tank which was the tallest tank in the valley 39' 7" tall. On January 1, 1948, Mr. Corbett purchased all the land and storage tanks of the Socony- Mobil Oil Company. This increased storage by 150,000 gallons. This com- pany was incorporated under the laws of New Hampshire on June 30, 1951. Mr. Corbett, starting with three tank trucks and one pickup in 1946, has in- creased his equipment to five tank trucks, two pickup trucks and one ser- vice van.
DORR WOOLEN COMPANY, Guild, N. H. - In 1894 George A. Dorr came to Guild to work in a woolen mill as a payroll clerk. As in many communi- ties in New England, there had been a mill beside the river for many years. He worked for several successive man- agements and in 1910 he formed, with George A. Fairbanks, the partnership of Fairbanks and Dorr and purchased the property. The partnership operated successfully and in 1918 Mr. Fairbanks sold his interst and the Dorr Woolen Company was established. At this time the mill operted on water power and employed about 155 "hands". When the mill pond ran out of water the employees used to wait on the banks until the pond filled so they could start their looms. The principal prod- uct was material for woolen shirts worn by draymen and workers in the steel mills. The characteristic of this fabric, especially desirable for steel workers, was the ability to shed sparks before the open furnace. Early in the 20's, with the introduction of the cab truck, worker preference shifted to cotton shirts and the company had to enter another field. The automotive industry began to use woolen materials in the interior of their cars and Dorr fabrics were shipped all over the world inside of Ford, Lincoln and Gen- eral Motor products. During the war the mill supplied cloth for bathrobes for Army hospitals and Red Cross installations and large amounts of material went to the refugee areas un- der Red Cross supervision. Following the war, Dorr fabrics continued in the automotive industry until 1952, when synthetic fabrics and vinyl upholstery supplanted this material. Once again the mill converted its production, this time to women's wear, sports wear and fancy woolens. In this field the mill has continued to expand and today utili- zes not only wool but all kinds of synthetic and natural fibers.
Completely re-equipped and modern- ized since the war. Dorr Woolen Com- pany today is one of the most versatile, modern mills in the industry. Its 330
employees represent a payroll of over $1,250,000.00 per year and the taxes paid locally approach about 10% of the tax burden of the town. When in full production the mill has finished over 100,000 yards per week.
The founder, George A. Dorr, who saw it through the difficult periods, died in 1947 and the company is now under the active direction of George A. Dorr, Jr., President, and Rudolf W. Mortensen, Manager. Mr. Karl A. Schuhle of the K. A. Schuhle Sales Corporation in New York City is in charge of sales. Affiliated with the Dorr Woolen Company for commission yarn manufacturing and as a realty corporation, is Pinnacle Manufacturing Corporation. Rudolf W. Mortensen is President and George A Dorr, Jr., is Treasurer. This firm was established in 1955 and has 30 employees.
A THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF NEWPORT, 9 Main St. - was origin- nally a state bank with the name Sugar River Bank. The act to incor- porate the Sugar River Bank was passed by the State Legislature on January 7, 1853. The bank was organ- ized on February 19, 1853, with capital stock of $50,000.00 and the following officers: Ralph Metcalf, President, and Paul J. Wheeler, Cashier. The first board of directors was composed of Edmund Burke, Chairman, and Dexter Richards, Clerk, and Ralph Metcalf, Amasa Edes, Thomas A. Twichell, Thomas W. Gilmore, and Amasa Hall. The bank was opened for business on June 10, 1853.
The bank was originally located in a small building on the East side of Main Street and a few years later, soon after the Richards Block was completed, it was moved to the pres- ent location at 9 Main Street.
On June 3, 1864, Congress passed "An act to provide a National Currency, etc.", and the stockholders of the Bank decided to convert the Bank into a National Banking Association, which was done on February 17, 1865. The name was changed to The First Na- tional Bank of Newport, just as it is today. The first day of business under the new name and as a National Bank was April 1, 1865.
The officers at this time were Thom- as W. Gilmore, President, and Fred W. Lewis, Cashier. The directors were Thomas W. Gilmore, Oliver Booth, Worthen Hall, Henry G. Carleton, Amasa Edes, Daniel R. Hall, and Dan- iel J. Warner.
On April 24, 1865, the capital stock of the bank was increased from $50,000.00 to $100,000.00.
Each year since it was organized the bank has paid dividends on its stock, and each year it has grown in size and resources, as the town has grown. It has always been a strong bank and was one of the first banks to reopen on March 15, 1933, after the so-called "bank holiday", when the President or- dered all banks to close.
The bank was completely renovated
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and modernized in 1950, and provides pleasant air-conditioned comfort for its customers.
The present officers and personnel of the bank are Kenneth D. Andler, President; Elroy K. Prior, Vice-Pres- ident; Earle A. Pollard, Cashier, who has been an employee of the Bank since November 13, 1933; Howard C. Bennett, Assistant Cashier. The bank has the following staff - Evangeline Gokas, Catherine Gosselin, Lena R. Haubrich, Marion F. Duling, and Sha- ron L. Krans. The Board of Directors are Roy A. Messer, Elroy K. Prior, Kenneth Andler, Arthur S. Little, Jr., Dexter Richards, John H. Munro, Ray- mond L. Barrett, Harry M. Woodard, and Herbert G. Martin. * *
THE GREAT ATLANTIC & PACIFIC TEA COMPANY, 20 North Main - This Company had its first store in Newport in 1927. Merrill Hebert is presently manager of the Newport branch of this Company. The build- ing just concluded major alterations both inside and out. The red front A & P stores of the past which dotted the New England landscape were as familiar to everyone as is the church steeple of the village green. Today this landmark is being replaced by the colonial type of architecture and the Newport store reflects this de- sign, which is typically New England. This Newport store is one of the 4200 stores operated by this, the largest food chain in the nation-160 of these stores located in four provinces of Canada. This mammouth business was founded by Mr. George Huntington Hartford in 1859. Mr. Hartford was born in Augusta, Maine, and started out retailing tea. His first store was established in New York City, where Mr. Hartford would buy whole carloads of tea from the China Clipper ships and then sell the tea directly to the consummer-thereby pioneering the first mass distribution of food at low prices.
* THE NEWPORT SAVINGS BANK, 9 Main St. - incorporated July 1, 1868, is the oldest savings bank in this area, having completed ninety- three years of faithful service to the public.
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On Tuesday afternoon, July 28, 1868, the twelve charter members, Dexter Richards, Henry G. Carleton, Amasa Edes, Frederick W. Lewis, Levi W. Barton, Albert S. Wait, Isaac A. Reed, Shepherd L. Bowers, Benjamin F. Sawyer, George W. Nourse, Thomas Sanborn, and Edmund Wheeler held the initial meeting of the newly formed bank in the Main Street offices of the First National Bank of Newport. At this meeting Dexter Richards was elected President, Henry G. Carleton, Vice President, and Frederick W. Lewis. Secretary and Treasurer. A total of forty Incorporators were named and a Board of Trustees chosen.
From that day to the present time, the Newport Savings Bank has main- tained a steady growth with an un- broken dividend record, continuing to meet the needs of an ever expanding territory.
Only four persons have held the post of Treasurer over all these years. Fred-
erick W. Lewis served twenty years in this capacity; and following his death, George E. Lewis was elected Treasurer on February 5, 1890 holding this po- sition until April 10, 1940 when he was elected President. It is believed that Mr. George Lewis is the only person in the history of the State who has ever served as Treasurer of a Savings Bank for more than fifty years.
The third treasurer, Bernard B. But- ler, held the office from 1940 until his retirement in 1960. Under Mr. Butler's guidance, the methods of banking were changed from manual records to machine posting and modern equip- ment was installed to facilitate the best possible service to the public. During this period the interior of the Bank building was completely remodeled and redecorated in keeping with the times.
The present Treasurer and Secretary is Girvan S. Caldwell, one of the first women in New Hampshire to be so honored. John J. Kiernan was elected Assistant Treasurer and Assistant Sec- retary on April 6, 1961.
The Investment Committee is com- prised of the President, Herbert G. Martin and Trustees, James F. Ferriter and Remington B. Woodhull. Auditors are Trustees Kenneth D. Andler, James F. Ferriter, and Robert F. Hill. Michael J. Hourihan, Vice President, served on the Investment Committee for 4 years and as an auditor for fifteen years un- til his recent retirement from those duties. Bernard B. Butler, Jarlath M. Slattery, George F. Smet, Albert T. Kirk, and Clinton S. Bartlett are also Trustees of the Bank. Other members of the staff are Mrs. Grace F. Kemp and Miss Sandra J. MacWilliams.
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NEWPORT SHOE MANUFACTUR- ING CORP., Canal Street - The chief industries of Newport have always been shoe and woolen goods manu- facturing which located themselves along the banks of the Sugar River, the only major source of power at that time.
The Sugar River has no great vol- ume of water but it is a lively, ener- getic stream similar to many small rivers found all over New England and much sought after by industry in the latter part of the 19th century.
At the foot of Canal Street along the banks of the Sugar River, where once stood an old grist mill, the towns' first shoe factory was built.
The new plant was acquired by the Child-Chamberlin Shoe Company in 1898 after their plant in Hudson, Mass- achusetts had burned down. Three years later the plant was bought out by the W. H. McElwain Company. The new management retained only one executive who was foreman of the packing room Francis P. Murphy. This industrious young man had been transferred to Newport from Hudson by the old management.
At first things did not go well, but after a number of superintendents had been tried without success the McEl- wain brothers put Francis Murphy in charge of the plant in 1908. Within two years the factory was a going concern and two additions were con- structed which more than doubled its size. First a fifty-foot addition and within nine months an extension of a
hundred and twenty-five feet.
Young Murphy who made the W. H. McElwain Shoe Company a success in Newport spent many of his most fruit- ful years here. His chief hobby was baseball and while here in Newport he built up the Newport Polar Bears into a team that was the terror of New England.
It was here in Newport that Francis P. Murphy had his first real fling at politics and was elected to membership on the Newport School Board. This was the same man who was to become in 1937, New Hampshires' sixty-fifth Governor.
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