USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Newport > Newport, New Hampshire, 1761-1961 : bicentennial celebration, Aug. 14-20, 1961 > Part 9
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12
*
THE BARRETT PRESS, 8 Central St. - was started March 20, 1946, by Raymond L. Barrett in the basement of the Lewis Block at 10A Main St., together with Mahoney's Camera Sup- ply Shop, owned and operated by Henry E. Mahoney.
One hand press and a cutter were the only major pieces of equipment. Mahoney sold out his business to Ro-
land Hall in 1948, and Hall moved out in 1949 to the basement of the Winston Hotel when Barrett expanded by add- ing an offset department.
The first employee was added in 1947. In 1955, March, he bought the former Creamery Block, where the Newport Lake Sunapee Times was be- ing published by George D. Graves, who sold his equipment soon after that to The Argus-Champion.
The Barrett Press moved in Septem- ber, 1955, and again expanded, adding a Ludlow machine, a power cutter and a new Heidelberg press, This be- came necessary, when in the process of moving his old Heidelberg, which was done by a professional mover, it was dropped in the middle of Main St.
At the present time there are three employees and a fully equipped shop with three automatic presses and a linotype.
BATES SOCONY SERVICE STA- TION, Corner of South Main Street and Elm - In July 1953, Robert Bates opened the Socony Service Station on the corner of Elm and Main Streets. In October 1955, he took John DeMayo in as a partner.
The service station is located on the site of the home of the late George Wheeler, benefactor of Newport's hos- pital and schools.
*
THE BERKELEY STORES, INC., 8 Main St. - The Berkeley Stores, Inc., a chain of stores throughout Massa- chusetts and New Hampshire, came in- to existence in Newport the year of 1926. It is located at 8 Main Street in the Lewis Block.
In its beginning, it was called the Berkeley Textile Company with its slo- gan being, "The Stores That Strive To Please". Warm clothing was a must for the clerks in the store in its in- fancy, as the heating system consti- tuted the proverbial pot bellied stove. At that time, it primarily sold dry goods and notions but has added sev- eral departments in the interim such as ready-to-wear, hats, purses, linger- ie, foundations and a home depart- ment and eliminating the yard goods and notions departments.
There have been four managers of the store since its advent. Mrs. Lillian Howland of Littleton, New Hampshire was the first manager followed by Mrs. Elsie Young of Sunapee, Mrs. Marie Geoffrion of Newport, and pres- ently, Mrs. Impi S. Nelson of Newport. The main office of the chain stores is located in Framingham, Massachu- setts, headed by Mr. Charles Brown, Jr. of that city. * *
BLUE RIBBON LAUNDRY, Pearl Street, was founded by a Mr. Brailey in 1901, in its present location on Pearl Street. Its next owner was Jo- seph Galbraith who was killed at the Pearl Street railroad crossing while driving a team across the tracks on November 23, 1911. A Mr. Batchelder operated the laundry for a few years and it was then sold to W. O. Shaw. On October 18, 1928, transfer was made to Dennis Hanchett who operated a steam laundry until 1937, when he sold out to Paul Gosselin. Mr. Gosselin started expanding the hand laundry
Page 61
to a commercial operation as well. A serious fire in 1946 badly damaged the building and equipment. Repairs were made and business continued until May, 1950, when Hugh Yates purchased the business and the building. The laundry today has an extensive com- mercial account and is also catering to family laundry and dry cleaning work.
*
BUDD'S BEVERAGES, INC., Sun- apee Street - This enterprise was founded in 1916 as A. Budnitz & Son and was located on Sullivan Street in Newport. It was started in the "horse & buggy" days of the soft drink bus- iness with hand-powered production machinery and delivery by horse and wagon. In 1929, it moved into its pres- ent location on Sunapee Street, where it was further expanded in 1938 with the addition of modern syrup and bot- tling rooms. This organization has been wholesalers of beer since Pro- hibition was repealed. In 1948, this business, then known as the Newport Bottling Works, was incorporated as Budd's Beverages, Inc. In the same year, they opened a warehouse in Lebanon. Currently, they are celebrat- ing their 45th year in the beverage business. Isaac Budd, one of the found- ing partners with his father, is present- ly President and Treasurer of the Corporation.
*
*
BUKER AIRWAYS INC., Croydon Road - Buker Airways was formed in 1948, taking over the operation of the Newport Airport from Dartmouth Air- ways, Inc. In 1958 the airport was rebuilt with local, state and federal funds. In 1949 Buker Airways received Air Agency Certificate No. 10.200. This gave the airport approval for primary, commercial and flight instructor train- ing. Many private and G. I. students were trained in this program. In 1949 Buker Airways acquired its first execu- tive aircraft, a Bellanca Cruisair. This was the year Buker Airways started out on its present program to provide aerial transportation to the companies in this area. In 1950 a Beechcraft Bo- nanza was purchased in addition to the Bellanca; in 1951 the Bellanca was sold and a second Bonanza was acquired. Also, it was in this year that Buker Airways took over the opera- tion of the Springfield, Vermont, Air- port. In 1953 Buker Airways instituted a pilot service for companies owning their own aircraft. Also, in this year the Newport airport paved a 2,000 foot runway using state and local funds. In 1959 Buker Airways purchased its first twin-engine aircraft available to the public for hire. At the present time Buker Airways, with a staff of fourteen employees and a fleet of ten airplanes, operates the Newport, Clare- mont and Springfield, Vermont, air- ports.
*
CHASE & AVERY, INC., 20 Sunapee St. - Newport has several father and son businesses and among them is Chase & Avery. Inc. The business was originally established by Fred Ga- mash as a Buick dealership. In 1930, the Plymouth franchise was installed along with Buick. In 1937, I. W. Rowell & Son bought the business and were
actively engaged in the Sales & Ser- vice of Chrysler Plymouth.
Reviewing history, we find that this business has been affiliated with Chry- sler Corporation products since 1930.
The present owners, John Avery, Sr., and his three sons, John, Jr., Gordon and Dan Avery, has been associated with the auto business since 1929 and with Dodge products since taking ownership of the present premises at 20 Sunapee Street in 1945. In 1960, the "World Famous" Land Rover fran- chise was awarded to Chase & Avery. Inc.
*
CONROY & SMITH, 34 North Main St., began business in 1946 under the ownership of Donald "Bud" Conroy. Begun as a retail fruit and produce business, it branched out to a whole- sale operation in 1958 after Mr. Roger Sınith became a partner in 1955. It was at that time that the place of business was moved to 34 North Main St. in what was known as the Craig Machine Tool Factory.
In 1961 Conroy & Smith, one of the fastest growing businesses in this area, purchased the Park and Tilford Grain Store in Depot Square.
DAILY EAGLE, Central Street * It has been about twenty-one years since the Newport Bureau of the Claremont Daily Eagle was opened here with G. Henry (Hank) Crawford, now publicity director for the N. H. Forestry and Recreation Department, as chief. It was soon after Lincoln O'Brien of Massachusetts had pur- chased the Eagle and began an ex- pansion program that brought the paper to serve forty surrounding com- munities.
Other bureau chiefs, in some cases, have remained to take up new roles in Newport. Mrs. June LeClair Schweitzer is now a partner with her husband in the restaurant business. Eve Whit- taker Spanos turned to teaching Eng- lish at Towle high school. Arthur "Archie" Mountain is now a salesman and sports announcer for Newport's youngest news media. WCNL radio. The present chief is Lou Thompson. * *
*
DARTMOUTH MOTORS, INC., North Main Street - Lynn M. Ball and Howard A. Lord have been in business together since 1948, when with Solon S. Mudgett, they formed Dartmouth Highway Sales & Service, and con- tinued the business started originally by Mr. Ball and Frank George on the Unity Road, as an automobile repair shop.
They now hold the franchise for the sale of GMC Trucks, Willys, new cars and jeeps, and Studebaker cars. Pre- viously they held. in addition, fran- chises to sell Kaiser-Frazer and Henry J cars.
Mr. George left the business in 1946. and Mr. Mudgett in 1949. It was at this time that the new corporation, under the name of Dartmouth Motors. Inc., was formed.
*
DERBY'S OF NEWPORT, INC., 37 Main Street - This store at its present location at one time served as a com- bination furniture and undertaking parlor, which seemed to be the custom
years ago. Mr. William Nourse opera- ted the store for many years and then sold it to Mr. Frank Martin, who op- erated it in its present location until July, 1953, when Mr. Hamilton Krans, proprietor of Krans Department Store, purchased it. Mr. Krans operated it along with his department store which was spread out in several locations. In September of 1958, Mr. Krans sold the furniture and appliance end of his Department store to a newly formed Corporation known as Newport Furni- aure, Inc. Its president was C. Edward Lehr - its vice president, Edwin S. Narus. Mr. Narus served in overall capacity as general manager of the Newport Furniture, Inc. until October, 1960, when it was sold to Derby's. Inc. - a corporation that has four stores within the Granite State, located in Keene. Peterboro and Greenville. Mr. Clarence Derby's family who head the corporation have been in the retail business in New Hampshire for over a century. The store is presently man- aged by Edwin S. Narus of Newport.
*
DOUGLASS BARBER SHOP. 4
Main Street - This shop has been in existence for well over eighty years; no one knows its original owner. Spiro Condos once owned it. Later he sold to Burt Demming, who ran the shop for ten years before selling to Earl Doug- lass, owner for 15 years. Earl Douglass sold to his brother Ernest Douglass, who in turn operated the shop for 26 years before selling it, a year ago, to Ken Dresser, the present owner.
ERNIE'S MILL END SHOP, 63 Main St., opened for business as Vari- ety Mill Ends in the old Eugene Paul Curtain Factory on West Street, now the address of the Argus Press, on June 17, 1947, under the proprietorship of Ernest E. Tarullo. The Shop which han- dles mill ends and an extensive line of yard goods, including imported wool- ens, was located for some years in the Economu Block, Sunapee St., be- fore moving to much larger quarters. The latest addition to the merchandise is a line of fine knitting yarns and supplies.
* FAIRLEA FARMS DAIRY, North Main Street - was started as Cum- mings Creamery Inc., on Central Street, in Newport, in 1925 by the late Lloyd R. Cummings. The following year the first quart of pasteurized milk in Sullivan County was processed and sold in this area. In 1938 Mr. Cum- mings moved his creamery to its present location and continued to op- erate it until 1943. Due to ill health he sold his business to Mr. Wendell Gage, who changed the name to New- port Dairy and operated the plant for one year.
In 1944 Henry Bartlett purchased the business and later changed the name to its present "Fairlea Farms". In the last thirty five years other pasteurizing plants have been in op- eration in this area, but still "Fairlea Farms" is the only pasteurizing plant in Sullivan County.
*
FEDERAL MACHINE TOOL CO., INC., Guild Road. - In early 1952 F.M.T. Co. Inc of Newport, N. H. was
Page 62
established occupying a new building of 12,500 sq. ft. on Guild Road. This company specializing in the manu- facture of precision machine parts for the electronic, aeronautical, and mis- sile industries is an outgrowth of F.M.T. Co. of So. Boston, Mass. Orig- inally founded by Frank Nichol & Joseph Nelson; the company rapidly expanded from a few men in a garage to three separate buildings occupying over 30,000 sq. ft. of modern buildings.
Starting operations in Newport in April of 1952 with a crew of approxi- mately 20 men, this industry soon employed 90 men on two shifts and is presently operating at that capacity.
In October of 1959 the ownership of F.M.T. Co. changed from a closely held corporation to the Houston Fear- less Corporation of Los Angeles, Cali- fornia.
THE FIRST NATIONAL STORES, INC., South Main Street - This or- ganization first opened a branch store in Newport at 61 Main Street. The late Ted Louiselle will be remembered as the manager in those days. Later, the location was changed to 23 Main Street, now The Shoe Tree. In 1952 the store moved just up the street to No. 17. Many will recall the man- agership of George and Mable Pres- ton and of "Bud" Mccullough, who now directs the business in the Clare- mont branch. In 1960 the company pur- chased land at 76 South Main Street from Maurice Cummings. Following the removal of the Cummings' home, a large, modern building was erected where a greatly enlarged business is now operated by the First National Stores.
*
THE FLOWER SHOP, 64 Main Street -- was started March 15, 1922, by Elsie C. Bailey in the Newport House. Lou- ise G. Fuller joined Miss Bailey as partner Sept. 15, 1923, and their flor- ist business was moved to the Coniston Theater Building. The Flowershop, Newport's first florist establishment, was moved to much larger quarters in the Edes Block in Sept., 1947, where it is found today. Greeting cards and gift merchandise have been offered to the public as well as plants, cut flowers, and every type of floral ser- vice.
GOODRICH OIL COMPANY, North Main Street, - a retail fuel and range oil business, was purchased in June, 1953, from Paul Gosselin. Its original location was at the Gosselin home and now is operated from the home of its present owner, Mr. Howard Goodrich. * *
GINTOWT'S IGA FOODLINER NOW GRAND UNION CHAMPAGNE SUPER MARKET, 87 Sunapee Street -- Anthony Gintowt originally purchased this property from the Stockwell sis- ters in 1928, where he opened a vul- canizing and tire repair shop. After a few years he decided to go into the meat and grocery business. In 1932 he opened a small store and restaurant. Cramped for space, he closed the restaurant and enlarged his store which he operated until his death in 1944. Mrs. Monica Gintowt, his wife, then became owner and ran the business
until 1947 when she sold it to Walter Gintowt and Ida Nebrydoski - her son and daughter. To facilitate the parking problem they in turn bought the adjoining property known as the Warren property and the home of Mr. and Mrs. William Mahoney. The build- ing was torn down and made into a parking lot. Business conditions forced them to look for greater expansion and they again started to remodel their market to meet the public demands. So, in 1958, L. Bean Construction Com- pany of Keene, New Hampshire, built the new Modern IGA Foodliner. On June 21, 1961, this business was sold to the Grand Union Company, which is the 8th largest food chain in this country with a total of 475 stores in this country and Puerto Rico. The New Hampshire Division includes 16 stores and is known as the Grand Union Champagne Super Market. * * *
GREENWOOD JEWELER, 65 Main St. - Greenwood Jeweler, owned by Harold J. Greenwood, a jeweler and watch repairman first began bus- iness in Newport in March of 1940 when he opened a watch repair de- partment on the second floor of the Lewis Block over the Corner Pharmacy where Henry Stevens for many, many years had conducted a watchmaker and watch-repair business. At that time, he had just completed four years of training under another Newport watch repairman, Joseph A. Nadeau.
He left in 1941 to serve in the armed forces during World War II, and re- turned after the war to the same location to continue his business. In 1949, he moved to 37 Sunapee St., ex- panding the jewelry part of his busi- ness. In 1953, he again moved, this time to Main Street, next to the Pris- cilla Sweetshop. When the Priscilla expanded in 1957, Greenwood moved to his present location.
Mr. Greenwood has lived in Newport since boyhood and previous to study- ing watch-repair, he had worked as a clerk in the A & P Store when it was located on Main Street where Aubu- chon's Hardware store now is.
*
HACKWELL LUMBER CO., 35 Main St. - The history of Hackwell Lumber Company started a century ago in the Province of Quebec, Dominion of Canada, and has moved with three generations through the aggressive formation of four lumber sales and manufacturing companies to it's pres- ent status of lumber wholesalers and manufacturers located in Newport.
The timberlands of the Newport area have served as the source of raw material for these companies that Edward A. Hackwell has been associa- ted with since coming to this coun- try as a boy of seventeen. His father, Robert Hackwell, was a lumberman before him.
In the early nineteen hundreds, E. A. Hackwell Company was a business devoted to the sales of lumber to the building trade. Later came the for- mation of Hackwell & Stevens Com- pany. During these years these sales organizations were connected with sawmills in the Connecticut Valley and Newport area of New Hampshire. These were the colorful years of log
drives and lumber camps, of cross-cuts and peavies, of skid horses and bob- sleds.
In 1938 Hackwell Lumber Company came into being and since that time has seen the advent of chain saws and tractors. The old time lumber-jack and logging operation has become a legend, a memory in the minds of the old timers who reminisce of the steam mill, the huge horse barns, and timber- lands of an era gone by.
The present Hackwell Lumber Com- pany incorporates the New Hampshire Lumber Operating Company for its timber buying and lumber producing agent. The company is administrated under the leadership of Edward A. Hackwell, senior partner, and is car- ried on by Arthur W. Hackwell and Philip G. Hackwell, his sons and part- ners.
This business caters to an indus- trial trade which uses its hard and soft wood boards and timbers for everything from a chair rocker to a crate housing a 20 ton machine ready for export shipment. The manufac- turing plant is located on the Goshen Road 2 miles south of Newport.
* MICHAEL J. HARRINGTON, JEW- ELER, 19 Main Street - Mr. Harring- ton has operated a modern jewelry store since 1948, having purchased the business from Maurice J. Downing. The store, originally located in the Silsby Block, was established by Amos Woodbury in 1841, making this one of the oldest businesses in town. Mr. Woodbury, who later had as partner his son, George, remained in business until 1914. The next owner was a Mr. Morse who sold out in 1918 to M. A. Noury, now of Manchester, New Hamp- shire. It was Mr. Downing who moved the store to its present spot in 1944 when he opened it beautifully redec- orated. Mr. Harrington has further renovated this establishment and it is today one of the most attractive and best stocked businesses of its kind in the State.
HEATH MOTOR SALES, Depot Square - This business was originally located at the site of the liquor store on Depot Street where the original owner, Harold G. Fairbanks, operated a Ford Agency. This was changed to Chevrolet in 1927 five years after mov- ing on to Main Street in the A & P building which was built for the bus- iness. It moved to Depot Square in 1941. Mr. Fairbanks died on November 9, 1959, and the business was carried on by the family with the assistance of long time employees among whom were Helene Nutting, bookkeeper; the late Roger Shaw, salesman; and the late Reginald Sumner, parts manager. Walter C. Heath purchased the busi- ness in 1953.
*
* HILLTOP MOTEL, Claremont Road Purchasing the property in July, 1954, Howard F. Bovers has greatly improved and expanded the facilities of the motel.
The property was originally the home and print-shop and mail order warehouse for the soap business of the late Billy B. Van, nationally known
Page 63
radio and television star and a comed- ian of national fame on New York's stages.
J. S. HIRSCH DEPARTMENT
STORE, 16 Main Street - In the early 1900's the clothing firm of Hunton & Barker existed at this location for many years; then, followed a John C. Ketchen Grocery Store and a Chad- wick Pool Room. In 1934 on the north side of the store was Nadeau's Jew- elry for a period of five years. In No- vember, 1939, J. S. Hirsch took over the whole ground floor. The name of the building is DeWolfe Block - it was built by Sam D. Lewis in 1893. J. S. Hirsch purchased the building in March, 1960.
HOLLAND'S ELECTRICAL & RE- FRIGERATION SALES & SERVICE, 5 Sandy Lane - An Electrical and Ra- dio Service business was established by Stephen L. Holland on Syndicate Street in 1930; by 1945, this had be- come Holland's Electrical and Refrig- eration Service, located on Oak Street.
On the death of Stephen D. Holland in November, 1957, his son, Richard D. Holland, who had been associated with him, inherited the business and transferred it to its present location. *
JOHNSON'S BEN FRANKLIN STORE, 25 Main St. - The business known today as Johnson's Ben Frank- lin Store, or Cleon Johnson Inc., was originally started by John W. Johnson on November 16, 1888. At this time Mr. Johnson bought Whipple's 5c & 10c store which was located on the East side of Main Stree, and relocated it in the Cheney Block where Gau- thier and Woodard are now located.
In 1895 Mr. Johnson bought the Universalist Chapel and in May of 1896, after remodeling, moved his va- riety business to this new building. This is where it is still located today.
After the turn of the century Mr. Johnson's son, Cleon Johnson, joined the business which was known as J. W. Johnson & Son.
Cleon Johnson continued the busi- ness after his father's death in 1926 and in 1927 the store became a charter member of the new Ben Franklin Chain.
In 1941 and '42 the block was com- pletely remodeled, changing the busi- ness to a modern Ben Franklin Store. This remodeling proved to be of short duration when in November of 1942 a fire destroyed the entire block.
Because of priorities needed during World War II, it was late in 1943 be- fore the block was rebuilt and the store reopened. The store was enlarged this time to include a downstairs store about half the size of the main floor.
In 1960 the business was incorpor- ated and with the death of Cleon Johnson in February, the business has been continued by his wife, Ida M. Johnson, and his son Cleon Johnson Jr.
*
KEMP-CHAPMAN MACHINE CO. Inc., Roseland Road, - was founded in 1952 and is conducted by Leslie A. Kemp and Glen C. Chapman. They specialize in making parts for the Tex- tile Industry.
KEN'S MARKET, formerly Cum- ming's Market, 7 South Main St., - was until this year owned and operated by Maurice Cummings and his son, Barton. It first started out as a res- taurant. Kenneth Upham is the new owner. William Milliken built the Milliken Block, in which the store is housed, in 1892. Orison Page operated the restaurant, which covered the whole area that Cumming's Market and Teddy's Cafe occupies today.
In 1905, a man named Nugent pur- chased the business and continued to operate it until he sold out in 1910 to a Mr. Clough. It is said that Nu- gent was sentenced to jail for selling intoxicating beverages unlawfully, while he owned the restaurant, and was such a big man that he couldn't sleep in the jail bed. He had to bring his own bed with him from home. About 1914, Win Sargent turned it into a meat market. During the War years it was operated by Sargent, a Mr. Muzzey and by Hall & Davis before it was purchased in 1923, by Mr. Cummings. Cummings had come to Newport from Bradford on Feb. 9, 1912, and worked for John J. Condon in Condon's Market, until he bought this business.
LUCAS SANTA SHOP, Wheeler Block, is owned by Aldrich and Rachel Lucas. Associated with the Western Auto concern since September, 1951 in Newport, Mr. Lucas sold his store to John H. Cummings in September, 1960, and opened the Santa Shop in this same building, the Wheeler Block, which he owns.
The Santa Shop deals in toys and in addition to this enterprise, the Lucases own a number of rental properties in Guild and on Canal and Laurel Streets.
MARTIN'S (Former) GROCERY STORE, 2-4-6 Central St. - In 1860 Frank A. Rawson opened a grocery store in the new Wheeler Block. He continued in business up to May 17, 1895 when said business was sold to Robert T. Martin. Those were the days when molasses came in 250 gallon hogs-heads, coffee in 100-1b. canisters, salted codfish in huge slabs and chew- ing tobacco was displayed in huge showcases. Labor relationship was on a very sound basis; in fact Ellie Stearns was "Rob" Martin's head clerk for 27 years. Furthermore competition was on a most friendly basis. Every Friday night the grocers would meet and establish the prices for the following week.
In those days Central Street was a very busy street. In back of the Lindholm Block was located the Upper Tannery owned by John Hunton and the lower tannery owned by Lyman Rounsevel. These tanneries were in existence from 1820-1895. Gile's Grist- mill did a booming business from 1880 to 1914 when destroyed by a huge fire. The Edes Block was constructed in 1826 and has since housed many suc- cessful businesses. At the Coniston Theatre location stood Byron's Phoenix Hotel. On the front porch roof was held the Finnish Band Concert every Saturday night.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.