USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Lyndeborough > The history of the town of Lyndeborough, New Hampshire,1735-1905 > Part 36
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378
HISTORY OF LYNDEBOROUGH
No. 3. Miss Fannie L. Carlton, the year.
No. 4. Miss Ida M. Mason. Two terms.
No. 5. Miss Alice G. Crosby. One term.
No. 6. Miss Eva I. French. Two terms.
No. 7. Miss Ida M. Mason. One term.
No. 9. Miss Belle Morrison ; Miss Katie J. Herlihy.
Teachers, 1891.
No. I. Miss Annie E. Downes; Miss Clintie A. Emery.
No. 2. Miss Mary E. Richardson ; Miss Mabel Hadley.
No. 3. Miss Eva I. French. Three terms.
No. 4. Miss Ida M. Mason. Two terms.
No. 5.
Miss Maude L. French ; Miss Mary E. Richardson.
No. 6. Miss Maude M. Harrison. Two terms.
No. 7. Miss Hannah E. Hickey ; Miss Maude M. Harrison.
No. 9. Miss Mary E. Richardson. One term.
Teachers, 1892.
No. I. Miss Clintie A. Emery ; Miss Lillie M. Butler.
No. 2. Miss Jennie M. Joslin ; Miss Mabel Hadley.
No. 3. Miss Carrie M. Proctor ; Miss Ida. M. Mason ; Miss Clara Blood.
No. 4. Miss Lillie M. Prince ; Miss Clintie A. Emery.
No. 5. Miss Katie J. Herlihy. Two terms.
No. 6. Miss Maude M. Harrison. Two terms.
No. 7. Miss Marion Hartshorn; Miss Lu A. Butler.
Teachers, 1893.
No. I. Miss Lillie M. Butler ; Miss Hannah J. Herlihy.
No. 2. Miss Lu A. Butler ; Miss Agnes Cary Curtis.
No. 3. Miss Clara H. Blood. Three terms.
Fo. 4. Miss Susie J. Chickering ; Miss Emma J. Duncklee.
No. 5. Miss Agnes Cary Curtis ; Miss Flora M. Chapman.
No. 6. Miss Mabel Hadley. Two terms.
No. 7. Miss Lillie M. Butler.
No. 9. Miss Hattie E. Thompson; Miss Carrie M. Downes.
Teachers, 1894.
No. I. Miss Hannah J. Herlihy ; Miss Grace E. Putnam.
No. 2. Miss Marion M. Hartshorn. Two terms.
No. 3. Miss Clara H. Blood. Three terms.
No. 4. Miss Emma J. Duncklee. Two terms.
No. 5. Miss Agnes W. Curtis ; Miss Addie W. Downes ; H. J. Herlihy.
No. 6. Miss Mabel Hadley. Two terms.
No. 7. Mrs. Frances H. Curtis. Two terms.
Teachers, 1895.
No. I. Miss Emma J. Duncklee. Three terms.
No. 2. Miss Mabel Hadley. Two terms.
No. 3. Miss Ida S. Fletcher. Three terms.
No. 6. Miss Helen M. Chase, one term; Miss Nellie M. Perham, two terms.
No. 7. Mrs. F. H. Curtis. One term.
379
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Teachers, 1896.
No. I. S. K. Swinington. Two terms.
No. 2. Miss Mabel Hadley, one term; Miss Minnie Martin, two terms.
No. 3. Miss Edna Swift, two terms; Algernon W. Putnam, one term.
No. 6. Miss Clintina E. Curtis. Three terms.
No. 7. Mrs. F. H. Curtis. One term.
No. 9. Miss Lillian G. Harrington. Two terms.
Teachers, 1897.
No. I. Miss Imogene E. Edwards. Two terms.
No. 2. Miss Agnes C. Curtis ; Miss Eva M. Bugbee.
No. 3. Miss Clintina E. Curtis. Three terms.
No. 6. Miss Elsie B. Curtis. Two terms.
No. 9. Miss Lillian G. Harrington ; Miss Alice F. Herlihy.
Teachers, 1898.
No. I. Miss Irene V. Murch. Two terms.
No. 2. Miss Eva M. Bugbee ; Miss Ida B. Woodward.
No. 3. Miss Clintina E. Curtis, one term; Miss Helen C. Farnsworth, two terms.
No. 6. Elsie B. Curtis. Two terms.
No. 7. Miss Marion M. Hartshorn. One term.
No. 9. Miss Alice M. Herllhy. Two terms.
Teachers, 1899.
No. I. Miss Irene V. Murch. One term.
No. 2. Miss Minnie L. Martin. One term.
Ro. 3. Miss Jennie G. Dodge. Three terms.
No. 5. Miss Bertha C. Duncan ; C. M. G. Johnson.
No. 6. Miss Julia L. Langdell. Two terms.
No. 7. Miss Alice F. Herlihy. Two terms.
Teachers, 1900.
No. I. C. L. Brockway.
No. 3. Miss Jennie G. Dodge, one term; Miss Ida Fletcher, two terms.
No. 6. Miss L. Anabel Tenney. Three terms.
No. 7. Miss Elizabeth Desilets. Two terms.
No. 9. Miss Carrie G. Johnson. Three terms.
Teachers, 1901.
No. I. C. L. Brockway, one term ; Miss Ethel M. Hadley, two terms.
No. 3. Miss Ida Fletcher, two terms ; Miss Annie Curtis, one term.
No. 5. C. M. Johnson, one term; Miss Florence Chauncey, two terms.
No. 6. Miss Ethel M. Hadley, one term; Miss Annie Curtis, two terms.
No. 7. Miss Lizzie Desilets. Three terms.
Teachers, 1902.
No. I. Miss Ethel M. Hadley. Three terms.
No. 3. Miss Annie Curtis. Three terms.
No. 4. Miss Annie Senter. Two terms.
No. 5. Miss Florence M. Chauncey. Three terms.
No. 6. Miss Blanche M. Bullard. Three terms.
No. 7. Miss Elizabeth Desilets. Three terms.
380
HISTORY OF LYNDEBOROUGH
Teachers, 1903.
No. I. Miss Ethel M. Hadley, one ; Miss Amy T. Tenny, two terms.
No. 3. Miss Annie M. Curtis, two terms; Miss Lizzie M. Gordon, one term.
No. 4. Miss Edith E. Weston. One term.
No. 5. Miss Martha M. Whitney ; Miss Edith E. Weston ; Miss Martha M. Whitney.
No. 6. Miss Amy T. Tenny, one term; Miss Bertha G. Perham, two terms.
No. 7. Miss Florence M. Chauncey, one term ; Miss Edith Parker, two terms.
Teachers, 1904.
No. I. Miss Amy Tenney. Three terms.
No. 3. Miss Annie M. Curtis, one term; Miss Bertha T. Parker, two terms.
No. 5. Miss Martha M. Whitney. Three terms.
No. 6. Miss Bertha G. Perham, one term; Miss Bertha G. P. Wood- ward, two terms.
No. 7. Miss Bertha T. Parker, one term; Miss Annie M. Curtis, two terms.
CHAPTER XVII.
LIBRARIES.
THE SOCIAL LIBRARY
The town of Lyndeborough, in the early days, did not possess many literary advantages. Some of its citizens, however, evinced an appreciation of the value of good books. For we find a "Social Library " not only in operation, but also, actu- ally incorporated, in the year 1798. Very likely it had been in existence some time before its founders sought to have it sanc- tioned by legal enactment. It seems to have been conducted as a stock company, governed by its proprietors. Its collection of books was good for that day, It was incorporated seven years before the Francestown " Social Library,"* although the latter was thought to be "the first of its kind in the vicinity "; and it was thirteen years ahead of the " Peterborough Social Library."t
An extract from the act of incorporation follows : -
"Be it enacted by the Senate & House of Representatives in General Court convened, that Sewall Goodrich, Ephraim Putnam, Peter Clark, and their associates, proprietors of said library & all such as may here- after become proprietors of the same be & they hereby are incorporated into a body politic by the name of the Proprietors of the Social Library in Lyndeborough continuation & succession forever - in that name may sue and be sued in all actions personal & may prosecute & defend the same to final judgment & execution & they are hereby vested with all the powers & privileges incident to corporations of a similar nature & may enjoin penalties of disfranchisement or fine not exceeding three dollars for each offence to be recovered by said Society in an action of debt to their use in any court in said State proper to try the same; & they may purchase & receive subscriptions, grants & donations of personal estate not exceeding the sum of one thousand dollars for the benefit of their as- sociation."
Approved Dec. 4, 1798.
A true copy, Attest :
J. T. Gilman, Governor.
Philip Carrigain Secretary.
An old schedule gives, 17, 53, 54, 70, as the numbers of books to be sold out of the library, and also names for purchase, "Washington's Letters, European Spectator, 8 volumes, (was it Addison's ?) Evelina, History of a young lady, 3 volumes, Ed-
* Francestown History, p. 403.
t Peterborough History, p. 113.
382
HISTORY OF LYNDEBOROUGH
wards on the Affections, Keith on Prophecy and Andrew Ful- ler's "The Gospel its own Witness." The works here named indicate something of the rugged manhood which prompted their selection. We have found no record of the success or of the decline of this institution. But like the noble men who originated it, having served its generation, it passed away.
From records found by Mr. Woodward, he adds, "This library established in Lyndeborough was organized in April, 1792. It was a subscription library, and the books were kept at the village at the middle of the town. The following are the subscriber's names, with the amount contributed : -
s
d
S
d
Rev. Sewall Goodridge
I2 0 Eleazer Woodward O I2 O
Joseph Kidder
I2 0 Ephraim Kidder
O
I2 0
Ithemere Woodward
12 0 Capt. Jacob Wellman O I2 0
Capt. Jonas Kidder
12 0 Jonathan Chamberlain, Jr.
I2 O
Simeon Wilson
6 0 Maj. Clark O
I2
O
Dr. Benj. Jones
Capt. William Barron
12 0 Dea. Ephraim Putnam O I2
0
William Dutton
12 0 Ephraim Putman, Jr. O
I2 O
Dan1 Cram, 3ª
12 0 James Ordway
I2 O
Capt. Sam1 Houston
I2
0 Dan1 Hardy
O I2 O
Uriah Cram
O
6
3
John Clark
I2
O
John Besom
I2 O Lieut. Joseph Batchelder
John Boffee
I2 0 Aaron Carkin
Lieut. J. Blanchard
I2 O Esq. Spaulding
James Boutwell
I2 0 Benj. Epes
The amounts given by the last four subscribers are not legible on the record. Of this amount of money raised, £6, 19s., 9d. was expended by Esq. Rand for books Apr. 1792, and July 2, same year, Dan1 Gould expended £8, os., 3d. for books, and the expense of "giting " them was 3s.
After a record of fines is this entry, under date of Sept. 3, 1798 : -
" Reckoned and settled with Peter Clark Treasurer to ye Social library in the Town and find due to said proprietors five dollars and twenty-nine cents to balance. Jonas Kidder, John Clark, Aaron Lewis, Committee.',
This was money received from fines and the sale of one book to Dr. Benjamin Jones. The list of the subscribers' names show that it was supported by people from all parts of the town. The amount given was nearly a hundred dollars, a large sum in those early days, and this shows, also, the strong desire for knowl- edge which our forbears had."
John Epes O 6
8 Dan1 Gould I O
4
12, 0 Aaron Putnam O I
6
Lieut. Aaron Lewis
12 0 John Wood ward O 12
0
383
LIBRARIES
FRANKLIN LIBRARY, BY J. A. WOODWARD.
In the winter of 1850-51 the citizens of the town organized a lyceum, or at any rate were holding lyceum meetings, and among the questions proposed for discussion was the following : "Resolved : That Napoleon Bonaparte was a greater man than George Washington." William H. Grant and William A. Jones, then young men, were among the disputants, and started out one morning to see if they could find a " Life of Napoleon," a book they much desired to consult. They called on William J. Herrick at his shoemaker's shop, and there these three Wil- liams came to the conclusion that books were entirely too scarce in Lyndeborough, and that some way should be devised to remedy the fault. The result of that conversation was that they went to see Rev. Mr. Claggett. The result of the inter- view was that a meeting was called for a week from the follow- ing Saturday at the town hall for the purpose of talking the matter over. Mr. Claggett actively interested himself, and there was a pretty full attendance of those interested. At this meeting a plan was outlined for a library association, and a constitution and by-laws were drafted, and much of the stock was subscribed for.
PREAMBLE, CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF THE FRANKLIN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
Preamble : Feeling it important to cultivate a taste for profitable read- ing and to procure access to good books in the various departments of literature we form ourselves into a body corporate agreeably to the laws of this Commonwealth and adopt the following Constitution and By- Laws :
CONSTITUTION
Art. I. This shall be called the Franklin Library Association.
Art. 2. The stock of this Association shall be taken in shares of one dollar each, and every share shall be subject to such tax as may be assessed from time to time by vote of the Association. All the income of the Association arising from the sale of stock and from other sources except what is necessary to defray current expenses, shall be appro- priated to the purchase of books.
Art. 3. Any person may at any time by purchasing one or more shares become a member of this Association.
Art. 4. The officers of this Association shall consist of a Board of five Directors to be chosen annually.
Art. 5. The Directors shall at their first regular meeting make choice of one of their number for Chairman who shall preside at all meetings of the Association.
384
HISTORY OF LYNDEBOROUGH
Art. 6. It shall be the duty of the Directors to select and purchase books for the Association, appoint Librarians, extend the sale of stock, meet once in three months to inspect the state of the library, appraise damages if any and distribute books, also to make a report of their doings at the annual meeting of the Association, and transact all other needful business.
Art. 7. This Association shall hold its annual meetings the first Satur- day in January to choose officers, hear the report of the directors and transact all other necessary business.
Art. 8. All votes of this Association shall be taken by stock when requested by one or more members.
Art. 9. This constitution may be altered or amended at any regular meeting of the Association by vote of three-fourths of the stockholders.
BY-LAWS.
Sect. I. No member shall have books from the library amounting in value to more than their stock unless it be a single volume of more than that value.
Sect. 2. All books shall be returned to the library at or before every quarterly meeting of the Directors, and any member not complying with this law shall be fined six per cent. on the value of the books charged to him, and tliree per cent. for each succeeding week until the fine shall amount to the cost of the book or books.
Sect. 3. Every member shall be held responsible for all books charged to him, and shall be liable for all damages committed on the same while in his possession, and any member charged with the damage of a book may have it at his option to pay said damages or take the book at its appraised value.
Sect. 4. No member shall be entitled to draw books from the library who neglects to pay any fine or charge for damages standing against him.
Sect. 5. Any member may at any time except at the quarterly meet- ings of the Directors draw books from the library by paying three per cent. on their value.
Sect. 6. At the quarterly meetings of the Directors any member wish- ing for any particular book may request of the Librarian to sell the use of the same to the highest bidder, and no book shall be drawn from the Library at said meetings in any other way.
Sect. 7. No member shall lend any book belonging to the Association to any person not residing in the same house with himself, unless it be a stockholder, and for every infringement of this law he shall be fined twenty-five cents (amended Jan. 1, 1853). Every stockholder shall pay an additional three per cent. every time while charged to hiim any book is lent to another stockholder and shall be responsible for all damages on the same until returned to the library.
LIBRARIES
385
LIST OF STOCKHOLDER'S.
No. of
No. of shares
shares
Rev. E. B. Claggett
IO
John Richardson
2
David C. Grant
IO
Asa Hill
2
Wm. H. Grant
7
Israel Herrick
2
D. B. Whittemore
5
Benj. G. Herrick
David Holt
5
Benj. J. Clark
5
Lafayette Herrick
.3
Lyndeboro Benefit Asso.
20
Daniel Woodward, Jr.
3
John C. Goodrich
2
Williams Woodward
2
Charles Parker
I.
Putnam Woodward
2
Charles H. Parker
2
Artemas Woodward
2 Isaiah C. Parker
2
James H. Karr
2
Sherebiah Manning
3
Wm. R. Duncklee
I
Wm. A. Jones
2 .
Clark B. Jones
2
Harvey Perham
3
Sylvester Hill
5
Otis Perham
I
Wm. J. Herrick
3
Eli C. Curtis
2
Wm. Jones
I Wm. W. Curtis
I
Rodney C. Boutwell
2
Burnham Russell
I
Nathan Boutwell
I
Isaac Duncklee
2
Levi P. Spalding
I
Levi Holt
I
George E. Spalding
I
Transferred
Peter Clark
I
George Woodward
I
Oliver Bixby
I Charles Carkin
I
Oliver H. Bixby
I Eliza M. Cochran
I
John Wellman 2nd
I Mary A. Joslin
I
Luther Cram
5
Leonard G. Brown
I
Amaziah Blanchard
3
Nathan Richardson
I
Ebenezer Fisk
2
William Raymond
I
Jonathan Stephenson
2 Henry F. Dodge
I
Samuel N. Hartshorn
I Levi Spalding
I
John Bachelder
I David D. Clark
I
John Proctor
2 David E. Upton
I
Alonzo Hartshorn
I George B. Young
I
Wm. N. Ryerson
2 Benj. F. Holt
I
Mary C. Lucas
I
Asa B. Clark
I
Edmond J. Parker
I
Lois J. McIntire
I
Wm. L. Whittemore
5 Josiah Wheeler
Jan., 1851. At a voluntary meeting of the stockholders of the Franklin Library Association at the town hall, the meet- ing being called to order, John Richardson was chosen chair- man, and D. B. Whittemore secretary, for. the meeting. After remarks had been made by several members in regard to the future prospects of the association, it was unanimously voted that the association now go into permanent organization by the choice of directors. And in accordance with said vote the fol- lowing gentlemen were chosen the first directors of the associa-
386
HISTORY OF LYNDEBOROUGH
tion. Israel Herrick, David Holt, Daniel B. Whittemore, David C. Grant, E. B. Claggett. Voted that this meeting adjourn to the call of the directors, D. B. Whittemore, secretary.
May 17, 1851, the first sale of books was made, and at this meeting Israel Herrick was chosen president of the Board of Directors, and David C. Grant, secretary. The amount realized from the sale of stock and other sources was $163.12. A room was furnished at the house of Josiah Wheeler, and Mrs. Wheeler was made librarian, which office 'she kept until her death, in 1870. Four hundred and five books have been purchased and 77 donated by the U. S. departments.
After the death of Mrs. Wheeler the library was removed to the parsonage, and since it has been located at various houses. Since the formation of the town free public library the Franklin library has practically ceased to be patronized. In 1860 John H. Goodrich was chosen secretary and treasurer, which offices he has held ever since, a term of forty-four years.
The sale of the books at the quarterly meetings was some- times productive of much fun and sometimes spirited bidding, especially when new books had been bought. For a long time fiction was not in favor with those who selected the books, and for that reason the library contains many standard works, much of history, and books of a scientific character. It has been a blessing to the town !
SOUTH LYNDEBOROUGH CIRCULATING LIBRARY.
Fogg's "Gazetteer of New Hampshire," published in 1874, reports at that time a library at South Lyndeborough which con- tained three hundred volumes. A writer in the Milford En- terprise of June, 1878, states that the South Lyndeborough library contained about four hundred volumes. Definite dates of the origin of this library do not now seem attainable. But it is probable that it was started late in the sixties. Mrs. E. C. Tarbell was one of its earlier librarians, and the books were then kept in Tarbell's hall, about where our public library is now located.
The prime mover in founding this library seems to have been a talented lady who was accustomed to spend a portion of her summers here, Miss Clara Urann. She circulated a paper and obtained subscriptions for it among the boarders and others. She enlisted Mr. Merrill, her brother-in-law, in favor of it. He was an elocutionist, and gave a reading in aid of the enterprise.
387
LIBRARIES
The library thus begun was designed for the common benefit of both citizens and summer guests, and the number of the books indicates that a very lively interest was taken in the project. The books were also of admirable quality. Among them was a set of Bancroft's "History of the United States " and a large sprinkling of standard works.
In time, however, the interest in maintaining it flagged ; and in the decade commencing with 1880, the books were much scattered through the community, and systematic care for them had rather relaxed. Though greatly reduced in the number of its volumes, the library still continued in operation until the Lyndeborough public library was established, and then, nemine contradicente, became merged in that organization.
LYNDEBOROUGH PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The public statutes of New Hampshire, in 1891, made pro- vision to aid in establishing free public libraries in all towns of the state which should by vote at a legal town meeting accept the provision. The towns accepting the aid were to receive one hundred dollars' worth of books after having provided in a sat- isfactory manner " for the care, custody and distribution of the books."*
Any town accepting these provisions must "annually appro- priate for the use and maintenance of its free public library a sum not less than fifty dollars, if its last assessed valuation was one million dollars or upward, or a sum not less than twenty-five dollars, if the valuation was less than one million and not less than two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, or a sum not less than fifteen dollars if the valuation was less than two hundred and fifty thousand dollars."t
Eighty-one towns voted in favor of accepting the provisions of the law, among which was Lyndeborough, although it had not fully completed all its arrangements.
Library commissioners had been appointed to further the work of establishing such libraries. Their aim, as avowed, was "to get the best books rather than the cheapest," to have quality rather than number. This aim, we believe, was evidenced by the volumes which they selected.
The accession list of the books granted by the State was not made up till March, 1894, when one hundred and four volumes were entered, and three more were added the following June.
* Public Statutes, 1891, Chap. XIII, Sec. 24.
t Ib., Chap. XIII, Sec. 25.
388
HISTORY OF LYNDEBOROUGH
Further additions have been made, not only by town appropria- tions, but also by private citizens. The late Mr. William R. Putnam, a native of Lyndeborough, residing in Woburn, Mass., made very large personal gifts to it ; and as the executor of the will of the late Jotham Hildreth, he appropriated five hundred dollars from the latter's estate, for the purchase of books for our library. This grant added many volumes to our collection. The town has also made liberal appropriations year by year, until now there are thirteen hundred and thirty-five volumes upon our lists, many of which are very instructive as well as in- teresting and entertaining. One hundred volumes were added to the library during the year ending Feb. 15, 1904.
Its present trustees are Mr. W. S. Tarbell, secretary of the board since its first organization ; Mr. Algernon W. Putnam, elected last year, and Rev. D. Donovan, treasurer, continuously since its organization. Two other gentlemen served as trus- tees for a time, namely, S. N. Hartshorn, Esq., who served till his death, and Mr. J. A. Woodward, who resigned last year.
The library is now in its third domicil; it was first placed in the building now used as post office and store, with Mrs. Lizzie G. Tarbell as librarian ; it was secondly housed in the B. & M. R. R. station, with Mrs. E. A. Danforth as librarian; and thirdly, given its present quarters, over Tarbell's store, with W. S. Tarbell as librarian.
We hope, not vainly, I trust, that some worthy child of Lyndeborough, blessed with abundant means, will yet build for himself " monumentum aere perennius," a monument more last- ing than bronze, in the form of a convenient library building, and thus confer an enduring benefit upon future sons of his beloved native town.
CHAPTER XVIII.
LYCEUMS.
THE SOUTH LYNDEBOROUGH LYCEUM.
By special request of the writer, Mr. Luther Cram, the oldest member of our "Town History Committee," in his eighty-sixth year, furnished the following account of one of the earliest lyceums in Lyndeborough. He wrote :
" Soon after the erection of the store at South Lyndeborough, a lyceum was organized composed of the adult portion of the community, with a preamble substantially as follows :
' We, the undersigned, believing that a well-conducted lyceum is of great advantage, form ourselves into an organization to be known as the South Lyndeboro Lyceum, the object of which is to prepare ourselves more fully to perform our duties as American Citizens, adopt the follow- ing Constitution and By Laws : '
The meetings were held in the hall over the store, which was fairly well filled each week with interested members. The ex- ercises consisted of debates by the male members, and composi- tions and essays by the ladies. Those who took part in the exercises would seek information on the subject of debate ; and consequently, books which had lain neglected and unread for years, were brought into use, much to the benefit of the dis- putant and the interest of the audience. An effort was also made in those gatherings to improve in a correct use of the. English language. Critics were appointed to report any im- proper use of words or phrases introduced into the debate. An example of this kind occurred once in a discussion of the pro- hibitory law, when all the speakers, except one, called it 'pro- hibetary ' law. The remarks of the critics were so keen and trenchant, that the proper word was used ever after in that lyceum."
Among the teachers who interested themselves in the lyceums of those times was Ephraim Knight of Hancock, famous at a later day as teacher of mathematics and natural sciences at the New London Literary and Scientific Institution, New London, New Hampshire.
Mr. Cram thinks that the first lyceum in town was organized in District No. 3, and also, that this of which he has written was one of the earliest. He distinctly remembers when Prof.
390
HISTORY OF LYNDEBOROUGH
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