USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Hillsborough > The history of Hillsborough, New Hampshire, 1735-1921, Volume 1 > Part 33
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Originally known as the Marcy Mills, and then as the Smith Mills, in 1882 the business was incorporated under the title of Contoocook Mills Corporation, by which name it is still known.
HILLSBOROUGH WOOLEN MILLS COMPANY.
The success of the mills already built on the banks of the Contoocook encouraged others to undertake the building of other mills for manufacture, and in 1880 the anticipations, plans and efforts culminated in the establishment of a company styled the Hillsborough Woolen Mills, Rufus F. Frost & Co., proprietors. John Kimball became the first agent. Known for a long time as "The New Mill," and even to this day designated by many as such, this factory was a success from the start.
Under date of September 26, 1885, the following resolution was adopted and signed by the men whose names are given :
We the undersigned do hereby associate ourselves together for the purpose of purchasing the necessary land, power, buildings, tene- ments, works for manufacturing purposes, and for the manufacture and sale of such goods, and fabrics, as shall be determined by the majority in the amount of the subscribers hereto; and we hereby agree to constitute ourselves a corporation under the provision of Chapter 152 of the general laws of New Hampshire, under the style and the name of the Hillsboro Woolen Mill Company and take the
38I
FOUNDRY AND MACHINE SHOP.
number of shares set out against our respective names, and the prin- cipal place of business of said corporation shall be at Hillsboro Bridge Village in the Town of Hillsborough, in said State, and the capital stock shall be one hundred thousand dollars divided into shares of the par value of one hundred dollars each and that the officers of said corporation shall consist of a board of Directors, not exceeding five nor less than three, a Clerk and Treasurer, and that said capital stock shall be paid at such a time in such amounts as said board of Directors shall from time to time order, and upon the amount of such capital stock being subscribed, the first meeting of the association shall be called by the first subscriber, he going in hand to each subscriber, or leaving at his last and usual place of abode, or sending to him by mail a written notice of the time, place and object of such meeting, three days at least prior thereto.
Signed by
Date.
Name
Residence
No. Shares
Sept. 26, 1885
Rufus S. Frost
Chelsea, Mass.
240-24%
Sept. 28, 1885
Edward P. Tenney
Roselle, N. J.
220-22%
Sept. 26, 1885 C. H. Frost
Chelsea, Mass.
220-22%
Sept. 26, 1885
Rufus F. Greeley
Chelsea, Mass.
220-22%
Sept. 26, 1885
Rufus H. Frost
Chelsea, Mass. 50-05%
Sept. 29, 1885
Albert P. Frost
Orange, N. J.
50-05%
A true copy
FRANK E. MERRILL, Town Clerk.
This mill manufactures woolen goods, suitings, overcoatings and cloakings ; has fifteen sets of cards, and sixty looms. N. F. Greeley, Boston, Mass., is treasurer, and George W. Haslet, agent.
OTHER INDUSTRIES.
Besides the cotton and woolen mills in Hillsborough, there have been many minor industries which taken collectively have done much towards the prosperity and the progress of the town. The Lower Village has been the scene of several enterprises, some of which promised well.
Foremost among these was the foundry and machine shop started as a starch factory by a man named Emerson in 1860. In 1861 this property was brought by L. S. Morse & Son, who sold out to Benjamin P. Moore and Erickson Burnham in 1865, the former being connected with the enterprise until his death September 13, 1870. Mr. Burnham continued alone until 1878, when he sold to McClintock and Son, and in 1886 Henry Martin
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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
became associated with the company. Soon after Mr. Martin became sole owner, and he continued the business until he was burned out in 1889, meeting a loss of three thousand dollars.
At one time Peter Rumrill had a machine shop, getting water through a penstock from the Contoocook.
TANNERIES.
At one time there were several tanneries in town in a flourishing condition. The largest of these were at Lower Vil- lage, and operated very successfully for several years after the close of the Civil War.
Early in the '30s Samuel Kimball started a tannery at this village, which he carried on until he sold out to Elijah Reid, who came here from Hancock, and continued the business until his death April 4, 1864, when Stephen Tuttle became his successor. Mr. Tuttle conducted the enterprise until he was burned out on the night of December 6, 1872, and this place has not been rebuilt.
Stephen Brown operated a tannery at this village several years very successfully, but early in the '8os its business declined and it was sold at auction by Manahan & Baker for $2230. The plant and two houses, stables, driveway, scales, water-power, etc., was bought by Harvey Jones for $1338, while the outlands were purchased by Samuel Gibson, E. C. Pendleton, Andrew J. Crooker and William H. Manahan for $892.
Jackman Brothers operated a saw mill plant for wooden manufacturing for several years, and did a flourishing business. Lowell White made chair legs at this mill in 1885, and H. M. Bartlett manufactured his racquets here as late as 1894. Other manufacturing was carried on here.
Joshua Fuller came to this town from Connecticut and started a tannery at Upper Village, meeting with marked success. He was succeeded in this business by his son Mark W. and his grandson, John G., and this tannery became noted as the producer of what was known to the trade as "Wescott Calf."
At one time this village was doing considerable manufacture in the line of furniture, shovel handles, etc. The Fullers and others had prosperous saw mills here.
383
WATER POWER OF THE CONTOOCOOK.
A tannery stood just below the Contoocook crossing at Bridge Village for several years. William G. Fess, from Wells River, Vt., manufactured shovel handles at this village from 1872 to 1877, when he returned to Vermont. Samuel A. Dodge manufactured needles here for some years. Other enterprises equally as worthy of mention have been carried on from time to time, but regarding which the data is not at hand.
BUSINESS INTERESTS.
The business enterprises of the town have been many and varied, so numerous, in fact, that it would be practically im- possible to name them with complete satisfaction. An idea of the growth and extension of the different lines of trade may be obtained from the history of the hamlets of the town in Chapter XXVII.
The water power of the Contoocook and tributaries in and about Hillsborough is not nearly taken up. While situated at the head of a section of six and one-half miles rapids, capable of being made to produce two thousand horse power at a com- paratively small cost, above the plant of the Henniker-Hillsbor- ough Electric Light Company, the river is capable of being developed to the extent of ten thousand horse power. Saying nothing of the "great falls" whose waters are already made to run the machinery of the mills that are the industrial life of the town and which hold yet greater possibilities above these just west of the Lower Village is a basin that can be made the re- servoir to produce upwards of five thousand horse power. Beard Brook, rising in East Washington and receiving the drainage from a watershed of five hundred acres, offers yet further pro- mise of increased usefulness. So Hillsborough is well favored with natural resources to produce either water power or electrical energy.
It is mete that the mills of Hillsborough should flourish and gain in power and number of operatives employed, for it was these same water privileges that called the people from the hills to join together here in building up those enterprises which should be the life of the town. Not only were these manufacturing interests the magnet to assemble a considerable percentage of the
384
HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
town folk, but they attracted hither others from abroad, until to- day many races and many lands are represented by those who toil and prosper here. Manufacture calls people together, to give us our centres of population; agriculture scatters people over the hillsides that would be otherwise a wilderness. Both classes have their respective places in the affairs of men, and in Hillsborough the two walk hand in hand.
Fortunately for the town the water powers of Hillsborough, as far as improved, have been developed judiciously by men well fitted for the task. Among them all there has not been one unable or unfitted to fulfill his purpose. Hence the high degree of prosperity and progress.
CHAPTER XXIV.
MISCELLANEOUS ENTERPRISES.
Post Offices-Postmasters-Change in Spelling of the Name of Post Offices in Town-Offices at Lower Village, Centre, Upper Village and Bridge Village-Three Discontinued-Telephone-First News- paper-The Messenger-Frequent Changes in Ownership -- Old Social Library-Fuller Public Library-Fuller Bequest-Water Works-Fire Department-Electric Light and Power Company- Board of Trade-The Railroad-Banks-Business Interests-Public Houses-List of Oldtime Inn Keepers.
POST OFFICES.
Though a post office was established at Portsmouth May 18, 1775, this benefited only a small section of New Hampshire, and it was not until several years after the Revolution that postal facilities were given serious consideration. As has been de- scribed in the chapter on post riders, the legislature in 1791 arranged four post routes, one of which included Hillsborough in its circuit, these riders being the original rural mail carriers. Amherst established a post office that year, but this town, as well as most of those along the route, had no general place of leaving the mail, but this was delivered at convenient places on the way.
The opening of the turnpike through the town and the in- creasing business brought by the stage coach were the reasons for establishing post offices in one town after another. Hills- borough had her turn in 1803, when the first post office in town! was opened in Lower Village, and David Starrett was appointed the first postmaster. This act was a source of great satisfaction to the town's people.
A petition signed by some of the citizens of the town was sent into the Post Office Department to have the last three letters in the name Hillsborough dropped so the spelling would be Hillsboro, and this request was granted by the government April
385
386
HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
24, 1894. The spelling of the name of the town, however has never been officially changed so that remains in the original form. When the railroad station was established the abbreviated form of spelling of Hillsborough was adopted by the company, so that corresponds to the name in the postal directory.
The following is the complete list of the post offices in town in the order in which they were established, with the names of the postmasters and the dates of their appointment, each man serving until his successor was installed in the office.
HILLSBORO LOWER VILLAGE.
This office was established April 1, 1803, as Hillsborough ; spelling of name changed to Hillsboro, June 12, 1894; changed to Hillsboro Lower Village, February 19, 1908.
Post Master Appointment
David Starrett, April 1, 1803
Braverter Gray, April 5, 1834
John Burnham, June 9, 1812 Benjamin Tuttle, Jr. Ap. 28, 1847
John Harris,
June 22, 1818
Jotham Moore,
May 10, 1856
Benjamin Pierce, July 8, 1818 Benjamin Tuttle, April 26, 1858
Silas Marshall, June 2, 1827
John P. Dickey, April 13, 1861 Luther Cole, November 3, 1828
John P. Gibson, Nov. 11, 1885
Samuel Kimball, May 7, 1829
Fred J. Gibson, June 12, 1894
Leonard M. Kimball, July 13, 1830
Office discontinued January 1, 1907.
HILLSBORO.
A post office under the name of Hillsborough Bridge was established March 6, 1827 ; spelling of name changed to Hillsboro Bridge, January 8, 1894 ; changed to Hillsboro, February 19, 1908.
Postmasters Appointment
Simeon E. Bard, March 6, 1827 Martha A. Lovering, Aug 3, 1874 Jonathan Sargent, May 21, 1829 Daniel Brown, May 27, 1834 De Witt C. Newman, Jan. 30, 1885 Charles Kimball, Nov. 12, 1885 William B. Whittemore, DeWitt C. Newman, Aug. 2, 1889 December 30, 1847 Frank M. Parker, January 8, 1894 Ephraim Dutton, March 30, 1855 Jason H. T. Newell, James S. Butler, January 14. 1898 Joseph F. Nichols, Jan. 16, 1902 March 20, 1861 Jesse C. Parker, Feb. 28, 1906 William H. Story, July 10, 1867 Frank E. Merrill, April 1, 1916 Reuben F. Lovering, April 13, 1874 Jesse C. Parker, Jan. 15, 1919
387
TELEPHONE.
HILLSBORO CENTRE.
This office was established February 21, 1833; as Hillsbor- ough Centre; name changed by dropping the last three letters from the name, April 24, 1894.
Postmasters Appointment
Samuel G. Barnes, Feb. 23, 1833
Benjamin Priest, May 2, 1836
Oramel Danforth, July 20, 1861
Mrs. Elizabeth Nelson,
Mrs. Alonzo Robbins,
November 12, 1895
Lizzie A. Robbins, Dec. 10, 1895
Ruth B. Gammell, Nov. 15, 1902
July 13, 1863
Office discontinued January 1, 1917.
HILLSBORO UPPER VILLAGE.
Established January 28, 1873; name changed by dropping last three letters, April 24, 1894.
Postmasters Appointment
Charles W. Conn, Jan. 28, 1873 Henry H. Bailey, May 12, 1898
Hiel Mcclintock, Aug. 27, 1885 Albert J. Burnham, Nov. 17, 1899
Charles W. Conn, Dec. 9, 1890 Herbert F. Dresser, Dec. 12, 1903
Sillman Mcclintock, Apr. 24, 1894
Office discontinued, R. F. D. to East Washington.
TELEPHONE.
The electric telephone was introduced into Hillsborough in 1891 by George W. Lincoln then having a grocery store in the block where the Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co. is now located. Mr. Lincoln began by running a line from his store to Jackman Brothers' mill at Lower Village. This venture proving success- ful, in company with Messrs. Jackman and Sillman M. Mc- Clintock the line was extended to Upper Village and Washington Centre.
In 1894 Dr. Marcellus H. Felt and Stillman H. Baker be- coming interested in the enterprise, the Contoocook Valley Tele- phone Company was chartered. At this time very few suburban towns had telephone lines, and the undertaking was looked upon with some doubt as to its outcome by many. Confident of ulti- mate success the new company planned to extend a line to Con- cord, and had built it as far as Hopkinton, when the New England Tel. and Tel. Company purchased the plant, making Mr. Lincoln local manager.
388
HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
Under the new management the telephone lines were ex- tended in every direction, and became an important adjunct to the extension of business in town and elsewhere. Finally, April I, 1908, Mr. Lincoln obtained possession of all the wires owned and operated by the company in Hopkinton, Contoocook, Henni- ker, a part of Deering, Antrim, Bennington, Webster and Hills- borough, the central office being in the home town. This division is known by the name given it by its founders, The Contoocook Valley Telephone Company, and continues very successfully.
At the time Mr. Lincoln established his first line there were few if any towns in the state of the size of Hillsborough that had telephone connection. At the time he became sole owner there were 167 telephones in the territory. On January 1, 1921, there were 996 telephone subscribers.
NEWSPAPERS.
The first newspaper in Hillsborough was called The Hills- borough Weekly News, and the initial number was printed December 7, 1859, Warren Hagar, Editor and Proprietor. Among the items of local news it contained was a roll of the officers of the Boys' Artillery Company, which seems to have been recently organized :
Captain, Benjamin F. Dutton ; Lieutenant, Samuel C. Barnes ; Sergeants, John Goodell, Ist; Benjamin F. Livermore, 2nd; C. A. Priest, 3rd ; B. F. Moore, 4th.
The News was a four-page, quarto sheet, of six columns to a page. It was well printed for a country paper, and seems to have flourished fairly well, but was discontinued after four years. During its second volume it printed Mr. Charles J. Smith's Annals of Hillsborough by installments.
Following the discontinuance of the News, The Hillsborough Messenger came into existence, 1868, under the supervision and ownership of Mr. William M. Sargent, with an office on Main Street, "near the Drug Store." This was also a four-page sheet of four columns, devoted to the news and interest of the town. Yet, as a contrast to the newsy matter of the present day, the only news item in the issue for November 24, 1870, was a two-line notice of the beginning of the winter term of the district school. There was, however, an excellent article concluded from previous
389
HILLSBOROUGH MESSENGER.
numbers "Recollections of the First 40 Years of the 19th Centu- ry," by a former resident of the town. Among the business cards we are informed that Briggs & Harden were Attorneys at Law in the Bridge Village; John H. Locke was landlord of the Valley Hotel; Charles Gillis, proprietor of the St. Charles Hotel at the Lower Village; G. F. Crowell & Co. were the druggists ; Solon Newman, Photographer ; Brooks K. Webber, Attorney at Law ; Bell and Lovering, Licensed Auctioneers and Appraisers.
Mr. Sargent continued to publish the Messenger for about eight years, and early in 1877 he sold to Harrison Perry, who published the paper until January 1, 1883. Charles W. Hutchins became his successor, who published the paper until October, 1886, when he sold to Mark Hadley.
Mr. Hadley was its publisher for ten years, when he trans- ferred the "paper, subscription list, good-will, etc." to Messrs. Brehaut & McPhail of Boston. This couple apparently tired of the care and burden after a brief experience, for at the end of, eleven months they sold to Louis Lincoln in 1897.
May 13, 1899, another change in ownership, which proved, more permanent than any before occurred, when Charles S. Flanders and Joseph W. Chadwick became its owners and pub- lishers. Mr. Chadwick at once became the manager of the enter- prise, while Mr. Flanders continued to hold his position as teacher in Dean Academy, Franklin, Mass., for about four years, when he came to Hillsborough to make his home.
The Messenger was then a four-page, eight-column sheet, but May 10, 1900, it was changed to eight pages, six columns each. When purchased by this firm the plant was located in the basement of Odd Fellows block, but in July, 1901, it was moved to the building on Henniker Street where it is now published and known as Messenger Block, which the firm bought at the time.
May 13, 1916, Mr. Chadwick purchased his partner's half interest in the concern, and remains owner of the plant. At the present time Mr. Chadwick has been managing editor and owner for 21 years, and still active in the service. Mark M. Hadley had the longest ownership before him, having published the paper nearly ten years.
390
HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
In 1882 Hiram Smart came here from Concord and started the Hillsborough Enterprise, but abandoned the project after about a year.
LIBRARY.
CORPORATION OF THE SOCIAL LIBRARY.
State of New Hampshire in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety seven
An Act to Incorporate Certain persons by the name of the pro- prietor of the social Library in Hillsborough in this State --
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court covened, that Jonathan Barnes, James Eaton, William Taggart, and Benjamin Pierce and their associates proprietors of said Library and all such as may hereafter become proprietors of same, be, and they hereby are incorporated into a body Politic, by the name of the Proprietor of the social Library in Hillsborough, with continuation and succession forever, and in that name may sue and be sued in all personal actions, and may prosecute and defend the same to final Judgment and Execution ; and they are hereby vested with all the powers and privileges Incident to Corporation of a similar nature, and may enjoin Penalties of disfranchisement, or fine not exceeding three Dollars for each offence, to be received by said proprietors in an Action of debt to their uses in any court in this state proper to try the same, and they may make, purchase and receive subscriptions grants and donation of personal Estate, not exceeding the sum of one thousand Dollars, Exclusive of the Books belonging to said Library, for the purpose of their Association.
And be it further enacted, that said proprietors be and they here- by are Authorised to Assemble in Hillsborough aforesaid on Tuesday following the first monday in March annually to Choose all such Officers as may be found necessary for the orderly conducting the affairs of said Corporation, who shall continue in Office until others are chosen in their room, and that said Corporation may assemble as often as may be found necessary for filling up any Vacancies which may happen in said Offices, and for transacting all other business except the raising of Monies, which shall not be done except at an annual Meeting, at which Annual Meeting, they are impowered to Vote all such Sums as shall be found necessary for defraying the annual expence of preserving said Library and for enlarging the same, and shall make an enact such rules and by Laws, for the Government of aid Corporation as may from time to time by them be found neces- sary, providing the same be not repugnant to the Constitution and Laws of this State or of the United States, and be it further enacted that Jonathan Barnes and Joseph Symonds or either of them are
391
TOWN LIBRARY.
hereby authorised and enpowered to call the first meeting of said proprietors at such time and place as they may appoint by posting up a notification expressing the time, place and design of said meeting, at the public Meeting House in said Hillsborough at least fifteen days before the time of said meeting, and the said proprietors at said Meeting may agree on the manner of calling Meetings in future and shall have all powers to enact such by Laws and choose all such Officers as they may or can do, at their Annual Meeting
State of New Hampshire In the House of Representatives Dec. 14, 1797.
The foregoing bill having had their several reading passed to be enacted
Sent up for concurrence
William Plumer Speaker In Senate Dec. 15, 1797 this bill having been read a third time voted that the same be enacted
Amos Shepard President
Approved Dec. 16, 1797
J. T. Gilman Governor
A true copy Attest
Joseph Pearson Secry.
These social libraries became quite numerous during the decade between 1790 and 1800, and were generally successful. They show the spirit of the day, the anxiety to obtain reading matter, which could not be furnished in any other way. That founded by the good citizens of Hillsborough was no exception to the rule. This library flourished for ten or twelve years, and did not cease to exist for as many years more. Great credit for their enterprise belongs to these pioneers of library work.
In contrast to the reading matter afforded by the town library to-day, the titles of a few of the books listed in Hills- borough Social Library is appended :
The Spectator, 6 vols., Fool Quality, 3 vols., Newton on Prophecies, 2 vols., Christian & Farmers Magazine, 2 vols., View of Religion, Watts on the Mind, Franklin's Works, Female Jockey Club, Looking Glass for the Mind, Bold Stroke for a Wife, Arabian Nights Entertainment, Religious Courtship, Morses Geography, Doddridge Rise and Progress, Doddridge Sermons, Doddridge on Regeneration, Rassalas & Dirabus, etc., etc.
The old "social" library, the original of the public library, having done good work for several years, the need of a library founded on broader principals was felt, and finally, one of its
392
HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
native citizens upon his decease left funds to establish what is known as the Fuller Public Library, as witness the action of the town at its annual meeting on the second Tuesday of March, 1877, Article 10:
Voted to accept and adopt the following Resolution.
Whereas Mark W. Fuller late a citizen of the town of Hillsborough and state of New Hampshire, who died September 23, 1876, did by his last will and testament bequeath to the Said Town of Hillsborough, the Sum of two Thousand dolars upon two conditions.
First that Said Town Shall yearly expend for the benefit of Said Town and its inhabitants an amount of Money equal to income of Said Bequest.
Second. That the Said Town shall forever Keep in good and Suit- able repair and condition the "Fuller Plot" in the cemetery between the Upper and Lower Villages in Said Town.
Therefore. Resolved by the people of the town of Hillsborough as represented by the legal voters thereof in annual Town Meeting assembled, this thirteenth day of March 1877, that said bequest be and hereby is accepted upon the conditions set forth in the will of Said deceased.
Resolved that in order to provide for the conditions upon which said bequest is made and accepted, the Selectmen of said Town be and hereby are instructed and empowered to invest Said Sum for the benefit of Said Town, in the purchase of the Bonds of Said Town to the amount of Said Two Thousand Dollars Said Bonds to be marked and Certified by the Town Treasurer as belonging to the Mark W. Fuller Fund of the Town of Hillsborough Said purchase and transfer to be recorded by the Town Clerk, and that said Bonds shall be held by Said Selectmen as Trustees of second fund.
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