USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Some things about Coventry-Benton, New Hampshire (town history) > Part 14
USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Benton > Some things about Coventry-Benton, New Hampshire (town history) > Part 14
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moderator, James H. Keyser ; town clerk, Edward L. Cox ; selectmen, William W. Eastman, James H. Keyser, Lebina H. Parker; highway surveyors, B. H. Tyrell, Norman Martin, Albert Morrill, Eben T. Hardy, E. L. Cox, Alonzo Spooner, Charles P. Collins, Sylvester Wheeler, Merrill Clough ; superintending school committee, Paul M. Howe.
Voted to raise for town charges and debt $1000, schools $300, highways $400.
March 7. Biennial election. Chose : moderator, Pardon W. Allen ; supervisors of check list, P. W. Allen, Ransom Coburn, Charles A. Veazey.
The whole number of ballots cast for representative was 70. Ashael L. Warren had 5, James H. Keyser 26, George W. Mann 39, and George W. Mann was elected. For governor Martin V. B. Edgerly had 58, Samuel W. Hale 18.
[1883.] March 13. Annual town meeting. Chose : moderator, Pardon W. Allen ; town clerk, P. W. Allen ; selectmen, W. W. Eastman, J. H. Keyser, Lebina H. Parker ; auditors, Charles A. Veazey, O. L. Mann, D. M. Howe; superintending school committee, Paul M. Howe.
Voted to raise for town charges and debt $1000, schools $400, highways $600 to be paid in labor at 15 cents per hour.
[1884.] March 12. Annual town meeting. Chose : moderator, Daniel M. Howe; town clerk, P. W. Allen ; selectmen, William W. Eastman, Daniel M. Howe, Lebina H. Parker; highway surveyors, Edgar S. Welch, Frank Hardy, Alfred Morrill, Albert Lindsay, L. H. Parker, Horace R. Spooner, Halsey R. Howe, Ransom Coburn, Nathaniel Clark ; superintending school committee, Pardon W. Allen ; collector, Edgar S. Welch.
Voted to raise for town expenses and indebtedness $1200,
.
GEORGE H. CLARK.
ORMAN L. MANN.
REV. GEORGE E. BROWN.
CHARLES A. VEAZEY.
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schools $400, highways $400, with labor at 15 cents per hour.
November 4. Presidential and biennial election. Chose : moderator, Pardon W. Allen ; supervisors of check list, Orman L. Mann, Geo. H. Clark, C. A. Veazey. (There is no record of the vote for governor and presidential electors. )
[1885.] March 12. Annual town meeting. Chose : moderator, Pardon W. Allen ; town clerk, Pardon W. Al- len ; selectmen, W. W. Eastman, Daniel M. Howe, L. H. Parker ; school committee, P. W. Allen ; highway survey- ors, E. S. Welch, John Russell, Jr., Eben Morrill, Leman S. Keyser, S. H. Chamberlin, W. T. Torsey, Halsey R. Howe, Fred M. Tyler, Nathaniel Clark.
Voted to raise for town expenses $500, schools $400, high- ways $600 in labor at 15 cents per hour.
[1886.] March 11. Annual town meeting. Chose : moderator, P. W. Allen ; town clerk, David F. Richard- son ; selectmen, Lebina H. Parker, David F. Richardson, James H. Keyser ; auditors, O. L. Mann, W. W. East- man, Paul M. Howe. Voted that the highway commission- ers be appointed by the selectmen.
Voted to raise for town charges $400, schools $400, high- ways $600, labor to be paid at 15 cents per hour.
November 2. Biennial election. Chose : moderator, S. H. Chamberlin ; supervisors of check list, Orman L. Mann, George H. Clark, Paul M. Howe.
The representative contest this year was an animated one. The Republicans were united and stood by their candidate, leaving the Democratic factions to fight it out among them- selves. Seven ballots were necessary to elect. S. H. Chamberlin was the republican candidate, and the Demo- cratic aspirants were several. The ballots were as follows :
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First, whole number of votes 53 ; James H. Keyser had 1, William T. Torsey 1, William W. Eastman 5, Lebina H. Parker 10, George W. Mann 17, S. H. Chamberlin 19. Second, W. W. Eastman 1, Prescott Parker 1, W. T. Torsey 1, L. H. Parker 9, S. H. Chamberlin 20, G. W. Mann 21. Third, J. H. Keyser 1, W. T. Torsey 1, Orman L. Mann 2, L. H. Parker 11, S. H. Chamberlin 20, G. W. Mann 21. Fourth, W. T. Torsey 1, Charles A. Veazey 1, William B. Page 3, L. H. Parker 10, S. H. Chamberlin 20, G. W. Mann 21. Fifth, David F. Richardson 1, W. B. Page 2, L. H. Parker 12, G. W. Mann 19, S. H. Chamberlin 22. Sixth, G. W. Mann 1, D. F. Richardson 5, S. H. Chamberlin 25, L. H. Parker 30. Seventh, whole number of votes 58, necessary to a choice 30, D. F. Richardson 1, S. H. Chamberlin 22, Lebina H. Parker 35, and Lebina H. Parker was declared elected.
The vote for governor was : Thomas Cogswell, dem., 37; Charles H. Sawyer, rep., 18; Joseph Wentworth, green- back, 6.
[1887.] March 10. Annual town meeting. Chose : moderator, Moses B. Mann ; town clerk, David F. Rich- ardson ; selectmen, Lebina H. Parker, David F. Richard- son, Moses B. Mann ; auditors, O. L. Mann, W. W. East- man, P. M. Howe ; fish and game wardens, D. F. Richard- son, Daniel M. Howe. Voted that road commissioners be appointed by the selectinen.
Voted to raise for town charges $400, schools $400, high- ways $600.
Voted that the North and South road be discontinued.
[1888.] March 8. Annual town meeting. Chose : moderator, George W. Mann ; town clerk, David F. Rich- ardson ; selectmen, L. H. Parker, D. F. Richardson, Edgar
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S. Welch ; fish and game wardens, D. F. Richardson, D. M. Howe ; constables, W. W. Eastman, D. F. Richardson.
Voted to raise for town charges $400, schools $400, highways $600, for town debt $1200.
Nov. 6. Biennial and presidential election. Chose : mod- erator, Moses B. Mann ; supervisor of check lists, Orman L. Mann, Horace R. Spooner, Norman J. Page.
The vote for governor was democratic, 46; republican 17, prohibition 3, and the same party vote was given for presidential electors.
Two ballots were had for delegate to constitutional con- vention : 1st, whole number of votes 48, necessary to ac- tion 25, Moses B. Mann had 1, Norman J. Page 3, Paul M. Howe 12, George W. Mann 12, William W. Eastman, 20; 2d, whole number of votes 54, necessary to a choice 28 ; M. B. Mann had 1, N. J. Page 5, G. W. Mann 7, P. M. Howe 13 and Wm. W. Eastman 28, and Wm. W. Eastman was declared elected.
[1889.] March 14. Annual town meeting held in the hall in "the Hollow," which later was purchased by the town and became the town hall. Chose : moderator, Moses B. Mann ; town clerk, D. F. Richardson ; selectmen, L. H. Parker, D. F. Richardson, Edgar S. Welch ; auditors, Alfred Morrill, George H. Clark, Paul M. Howe; road commissioners, William Tibbitts, Franklin Hill, George H . Clark, Clarence Spooner, Charles B. Keyser.
Voted to raise for town charges $400, schools $400, highways $600, with labor at 15 cents per hour.
[1890.] March 13. Annual meeting in town hall. Chose : moderator, George W. Mann, (declined to serve) then chose Norman J. Page; town clerk, D. F. Richard- son ; selectmen, L. H. Parker, Norman J. Page, W. Sims
)
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Nutter ; road commissioners, James M. Harriman, John Crimmings, Norman J. Page, Horace R. Spooner, Alonzo Spooner, Fred M. Tyler.
Voted to raise for town charges, $300, (the town was at last out of debt, ) schools $400, highways $600.
November 4. Biennial election. Chose : moderator, Norman J. Page ; for governor, Charles H. Amsden, dem. had 38, Hiram A. Tuttle, rep. 17, A. S. Fletcher, pro. 3. This was a warm election for Benton. For supervisors of check list, Daniel M. Howe and W. F. Bean were elected on the first ballot. Horace R. Spooner was elected on the fourth, but declined to serve, and Frank A. Moulton was elected on the sixth ballot. It took nine ballots to elect a representative. Paul M. Howe was the Republican candidate, while the Democrats had two, Lebina H. Parker and David F. Richardson. The Republicans however did not give their candidate full support. The highest vote he received was 12, and on one ballot he fell as low as 5. The first ballot stood whole number of votes 46. M. B. Mann had 1, P. M. Howe 10, L. H. Parker 15, David F. Richardson 20. The fifth ballot gave P. M. Howe 8, L. H. Parker 20, D. F. Richardson 25. The eighth gave P. M. Howe 8, L. H. Par- ker 19, D. F. Richardson 26. On the ninth P. M. Howe had 7, L. H. Parker 7, and D. F. Richardson 32, and D. F. Richardson was declared elected.
[189I.] March 12. Annual town meeting. Chose : moderator, George W. Mann ; town clerk, D. F. Richard- son ; selectmen, W. W. Eastman, W. S. Nutter, James M. Harriman : auditors, Paul M. Howe, William B. Page. Voted that road commissioners be appointed by the select- men.
Voted to raise for town expenses $400, schools $400,
MOSES B. MANN.
PAUL M. HOWE.
A. ELMORE TYLER.
NORMAN J. PAGE.
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highways $600.
[1892.] March 10. Annual town meeting. Chose : moderator, George W. Mann; town clerk, William W. Eastman ; selectmen, W. S. Nutter, W. W. Eastman, W. B. Page.
Voted to raise for town expenses $400, schools $400, high- ways $600.
November 8. Biennial and presidential election. Chose : moderator for two years, William B. Page ; supervisors of check list, Orman L. Mann, L. H. Parker, Chas. A. Vea - zey.
For governor, McKinney, dem. had 32 votes, Smith, rep. 14, Carr, pro. 2. The Democratic candidates for electors received 32 votes, Republican 18, Prohibition 1.
[1893.] March 9. Annual meeting. Chose : town clerk, W. W. Eastman ; selectmen, L. H. Parker, James M. Harriman, Paul M. Howe ; road agent, James H. Keyser. W. W. Eastman was first chosen, but declined to serve.
Voted to raise for town charges $400, schools $400, high- ways $600, town library $15.
[1894.] March 8. Annual meeting. Chose : town clerk, William W. Eastman ; selectmen, L. H. Parker, J. M. Harriman, Paul M. Howe; road agent, W. W. East- man.
Voted to raise for town charges $400, schools $200, high- ways $600, for purchase of road machine $100, for town li- brary $15.
November. Biennial election. Chose : moderator for two years, George W. Mann ; supervisors of check list, O. L. Mann, Fred M. Tyler, Chas. A. Veazey.
The vote for governor was : Henry O. Kent, dem., 29; Chas. A. Bussel, rep., 15 ; D. C. Knowles, pro., 2.
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[1895.] March 14. Annual town meeting at town hall. Chose : town clerk, W. W. Eastman ; selectmen, L. H. Par- ker, J. M. Harriman, P. M. Howe ; road agent, W. Sims Nutter.
Voted to raise for town charges $500, schools $300, high- ways $400, town library $15.
[1896.] March 12. Annual town meeting in town hall. Chose : town clerk W. W. Eastman ; selectmen, William Kendall (declined), L. H. Parker, Geo. H. Clark, W. J. Hardy ; road agent, W. Sims Nutter ; library trustee, P. M. Howe.
Voted to raise for town charges $400, schools $300, high- ways $600.
November 3. Biennial and presidential election. Chose : moderator for two years, Norman J. Page ; supervisors of check list, Orman L. Mann, Fred M. Tyler, Harry H. El- liott.
For representative, whole number of votes cast 53. Ne- cessary to a choice 27 : Orman L. Mann, dem., 24 ; William Kendall, rep., 29, and William Kendall was declared elected.
The vote for governor was : Kent, dem., 25 : Ramsdell, rep., 23 ; Barnard, national, 1. For presidential electors ; Democrat, 21 ; Republican, 29 ; National, 2.
[1897.] March 11. Annual town meeting. Chose : moderator, William D. Veazey, in absence of Norman J. Page ; town clerk, W. W. Eastman ; selectmen, L. H. Par- ker, Geo. H. Clark, Fred M. Tyler. Eight ballots were had for road agent, W. Sims Nutter being elected. There- upon W. W. Eastman resigned as town clerk. The select- men appointed James H. Keyser in his place, and then the meeting proceeded to further business. It was a particularly "hot time". Chose : library trustees, Geo. H. Clark, Byron
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M. Tyler.
Voted to raise for town expenses $300, schools $400, highways $600.
[1898.] March 10. Annual town meeting at town hall. Chose : moderator, George W. Mann in absence of N. J. Page ; town clerk, James H. Keyser ; selectmen, L. H. Par- ker, Geo. H. Clark, Albert W. Morrill ; road agent, Orman L. Mann, on the 7th ballot. The office of road agent had become quite an important one, in fact, so far as emoluments were concerned, the most important in town.
Voted to raise for town expenses $350, schools $400, highways $600.
November. Biennial election. Chose : moderator, George W. Mann ; supervisors of check list, Orman L. Mann, Solomon J. Hutchins, William I. Eastman.
The vote for governor was : Stone, dem., 27 ; Rollins, rep., 13 ; Stevens, pro., 2.
[1899.] March 9. Annual town meeting in town hall. Chose : town clerk, J. H. Keyser ; selectmen, L. H. Parker, Geo. H. Clark, (declined,) Albert W. Morrill, W. W. Eastman ; road agent, Orman L. Mann, DeElden Tibbetts.
Voted to raise for town charges $350, schools $300,. high- ways $600.
[1900.] March 8. Annual town meeting in town hall. Chose : town clerk, W. W. Eastman ; selectmen, Lebina H. Parker, John S Rogers, William W. Eastman ; road agents, Orman L. Mann, DeElden Tibbetts.
Voted to raise for town charges $300, schools $400, high- ways $800.
November Biennial and presidential election. Chose : moderator, in absence of George W. Mann, L. H. Parker ; supervisors of check list, Orman L. Mann, Solomon J. Hut-
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chins, Ervin A. Marden ; Moderator, for two years, Lebina H. Parker.
The vote for governor was : Potter, dem., 21; Jordan, rep., 29 ; for presidential electors Dem., 28, Rep., 22, Pro- hibition 1.
[1901.] March 14. Annual town meeting in town hall. Chose : town clerk, W. W. Eastman ; selectmen, Lebina H. Parker, William Kendall, John S. Rogers ; road agents, Orman L. Mann, James Crimmings.
Voted to raise for town charges $600, schools $300, high- ways, $600, town library $15.
[1902.] March 13. Annual meeting in town hall. Chose : town clerk, W. W. Eastman ; selectmen, L. H. Parker, William Kendall, Geo. H. Clark ; road agent, O. L. Mann, DeElden Tibbets.
Voted to raise for town charges $400, schools $200 above the amount required by law, highways $600, Memorial day $10. Orman L. Mann declined to serve as road agent and W. W. Eastman was chosen in his place. W. W. Eastman was also chosen tax collector.
November. Biennial election. Chose : moderator for two years, L. H. Parker ; supervisors of check list, Orman L. Mann, dem., W. F. Fackney, rep., Byron M. Tyler, rep. ; delegate to constitutional convention, L. H. Parker.
The vote for governor was : Hollis, dem., 18 ; Bachelder, rep., 18; Elliott, ind. rep., 2; Berry, pro., 1.
[1903.] March 12. Annual town meeting. Chose : town clerk, W. W. Eastman ; selectmen, W. W. Eastman, (declined to serve,) L. H. Parker, A. E. Tyler, Stephen H. Dexter ; road agent, B. M. Tyler.
Voted to raise for town charges $400, schools $300, high- ways $800, Memorial day $10.
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[1904.] March 11. Annual town meeting in town hall. Chose : town clerk, W. W. Eastman ; selectmen, L. H. Parker, A. E. Tyler, S. H. Dexter ; road agent, B. M. Tyler.
Voted to raise for town charges $400, schools $300, high- ways $800, Memorial day $20.
November 8. Biennial and presidential election. Chose : moderator for two years, Lebina H. Parker ; supervisors of check list, Orman L. Mann, Solomon J. Hutchins, Ervin A. Mardin.
The vote for governor was : Hollis, dem., 19 ; McLane, rep., 19. Presidental electors, Democratic 22, Republican 21. The whole number of ballots for representative was 40, necessary to a choice 21. William Kendall, rep. had 10, Lebina H. Parker 30, and Lebina H. Parker was declared elected.
Coventry-Benton like other New Hampshire towns had its quota of Justices of the Peace, the first appointed being Obadiah Eastman in 1806. His successors with the date of their respective appointments were : 1812, William Coolidge ; 1814, Daniel Davis ; 1822, William Whitcher ; 1822, Jesse Eastman ; 1831, Nathan Coburn ; 1835, Daniel Batchelder ; 1837 Deliverance Woodward; 1838, Enos Wells ; 1840, John L. Corliss ; 1842, James J. Page ; 1843, Moses Whitcher ; 1845 John Lathrop ; 1847, Ira Whitcher ; 1850, James Harriman, Jonathan Hunkings ; 1851, Nathan B. Davis ; 1855, George W. Mann ; 1857, Daniel D. Page ; 1861, Chase Whitcher ; 1863, Caleb Wells ; 1866, James Page ; 1867, Amos Whitcher ; 1872, Edward F. Mann, Ben- jamin H. Tyrrell ; 1874, James H. Keyser ; 1878, Pardon W. Allen ; 1880, William B. Page ; 1885, Orman L. Mann ; 1889, William W. Eastman ; 1892, Paul M. Howe; 1898,
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Charles A. Veazey, Lebina H. Parker. Some of these held commissions but for a short time, owing to deaths or removal from town. Those who held commissions for the longest period were William Whitcher from 1822 until his death in 1859, a period of 37 years ; James J. Page from 1842 till his death in 1880; Ira Whitcher from 1847 till his death in 1897, a period of 50 years; and George W. Mann from 1855 till his death in 1901, a period of 46 years.
It might be thought that, during these years when all the voters were of the same political party, the annual elections would be tame affairs, but political fights, especially when they are of a personal or family character, are always the bitterest. In the decade from 1850 to 1860 the "Bunga Road" controversy dominated the politics of the town, and indeed the question of whether this proposed highway along the banks of the Wild Ammonoosuc river, in the towns of Bath and Landaff, should or should not be built had much to do with political conditions in the county. The proposed road touched no part of Benton, but the Bunga Road ques- tion, for a period of ten years at least, overshadowed the Compromise act of 1850, its later repeal, the Kansas- Nebraska troubles, the anti-slavery struggle, and dominated not only the political life of Benton but entered into the social, educational and religious life as well. The four years in which George W. Mann and Daniel Whitcher were the opposing candidates for representative to the General Court were years when "Bunga Road" was the one absorbing theme. Phenomenally large votes were polled in those years. Voters were imported from other towns by both factions and kept in town long enough to gain a color of voting residence. The making of the check list was the work of artists. When Squire Page quoted to Squire Whitcher, who was chairman
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of the Board of Selectmen, some pertinent decisions of Judge Story relating to what constituted a voting residence, Squire Whitcher replied that while Judge Story might be an excel- lent lawyer, "Judge Story is not revising this particular check list here today." It would, perhaps, be incorrect to say that money was used at elections in the purchase of votes, but in those strenuous days candidates and their par- ticular friends were inclined to be friendly to those standing in need of friendship. A man who was unable to purchase a yoke of oxen, or to obtain funds to build a spruce oil dis- tillery, or to procure a team for hauling lumber, or to under- take a logging job, or who could not make living wages for the support of himself and family during the winter months, was naturally inclined to remember favorably at the polls the leader of whichever faction aided him. Many of the smaller homesteads in town were mortgaged either to Ira Whitcher or to Chase Whitcher. It was not strange that mortgagor should be a partisan of mortgagee. There were acts of charity to the poor. The gift of a barrel of flour, or a pair of boots, or an overcoat immediately preceeding election, or the promise of it immediately after, was not perhaps without its influence ; but there was a sentiment against the use of money to purchase votes. As a matter of fact there was not a surplusage of money in Benton. As an illustration of this sentiment this incident may be mentioned : Sarah Glazier promised Henry Sisco that she would marry him if he would vote for George W. Mann for representa- tive. Henry voted for George, but when he came to claim Sarah's hand her moral nature revolted, and Henry was informed that she could never think of marrying a man base enough to sell his vote. This may be taken as pretty con- clusive proof that while in the Bunga Road days, and later,
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factional feeling ran high, there was no need of stringent bribery laws in Benton. The moral sentiment which found illustration in the Glazier-Sisco incident rebelled at bribery. The incident is beautiful except for the one little blemish- Sisco, who had been pledged to vote for Daniel Whitcher, did vote for George W. Mann. Benton voters, like other voters in other towns throughout the state, are irrevocably committed to purity of elections. It is such little blemishes as have been hinted at which have been magnified into stories of bribery.
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CHAPTER VIII.
THE SCHOOLS.
There were never any high schools or academies in Cov- entry-Benton, only the district schools such as were common to the small rural towns of the state. The school houses were of the old fashioned type of buildings down to the sixties, when in the three districts, numbers four, five and six, in the north part of the town, new buildings were erected on more modern plans, but the most expensive of these, that in number five, cost less than $1200. The old type of building is well remembered. It was, of course, small, unpainted, and placed as near the geographical center of the district as possible. The entrance was at one end, the teachers desk at the other. On each side of the house there were rows of plank benches, with desks constructed by the town carpenter, in front, the boys occupying one side of the house and the girls the other. In the early days heat was obtained from a large fireplace, and later, after stoves had been invented, from a big stove placed in the middle of the floor, the heat of which nearly roasted the youngsters on the front seats, while on the cold winter days the big boys and girls on the back seats next the wall shivered and froze. As for school furniture there was none, except a blackboard at one end of the house, and in one or two of the districts some small outline maps. The curriculum, or course of study, was of the go as you please order. It was arranged to meet the requirements of babies on the front seats who were trying to master the alphabet, and from these all
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the way up to those who were "doing the sums" on the last pages of the arithmetic, who formed the class in gram- mar and who "analyzed and parsed" Milton's Paradise Lost, and Young's Night Thoughts. There was in the early days but one term of school a year, eight or ten weeks in winter, but later a summer term of eight or ten weeks was added. This latter was not so largely attended. The youngsters made up the school. The older ones had to work, and there was no time for school in the hoeing and haying season. From four to twenty-one was the school age in the winter, or beyond twenty-one if marriage had not put an end to school life. District number five was the most populous, and for many years there were from fifty to sixty scholars crowded into the little school house (now trans- formed into a dwelling house) in the winter term. It was the typical country school. There were from four to five classes in reading, from three to five in spelling, the same number in arithmetic and in geography, two in grammar, and one or two in history. Then there were the writing lessons, the enforced writing of compositions by the older pupils to be read before the entire school, the "speaking pieces," to say nothing of instruction in book-keeping, with now and then elementary algebra for an advanced few. It was primary, grammar and high school combined for sixty pupils all in one poorly lighted room, with such ventilation as came through the doors and windows. Judged by the standard of the modern system of graded schools, the schools of Benton and similar towns were only apologies, and poor ones at that, but judged by the product they turned out, they would compare favorably with the graded schools of the villages of today. The average boy and girl in Benton learned to read intelligently, and to write a fair hand, got a
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fair knowledge of geography, learned the parts of speech, and if Colburn's Mental Arithmetic was used, was an expert mathematician. Pretty much the same ground was gone over winter after winter, under different teachers too, the ground covered was small, but in the course of ten or a dozen winters it was covered pretty thoroughly, and it is a better education to really know a few things well than to half know a great many, in fact, better to really know be- yond all question that three and two make five than to be dimly guessing that x plus y equals a divided by b.
Not much money was spent on Benton schools. It should be said, however, in justice to the voters, that they usually spent all they could afford. The real fact is that they never had much money to spend. In proportion to its means Coventry-Benton made liberal appropriations for schools. The boys and girls who attended them, for the most part, made the best use they could of the opportunities offered and many of them availed themselves of additional facilities furnished by the academy at Haverhill, and later of the academies and seminaries at Newbury, Vt., New Hampton, Northfield and Tilton, while a few were able to pursue a college course of study. The chief factor in the old time district school was, of course, the teacher, and there were teachers and-teachers. Some of these were remembered for excellence of work or for peculiarities of administration or methods of instruction. The records of the early districts have long since disappeared, but there is well authenticated tradition that the first schools in the town were taught by Obadiah Eastman, Obadiah Eastman, Jr., Jonathan Hale, William Coolidge, David Marston and Salmon Niles. The early schools were at High Street and on the Meadows. The first schoolmaster in the north part of the town was
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