USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Plymouth > Twenty decades in Plymouth, New Hampsire : 1763-1963 > Part 5
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After the Superintendent, "Major" Russell, and Captain Pecker, the architect, had completed the bridge, the selectmen of Plymouth were instruct- ed that "a highway be laid out between the Main Road leading from the Court House to Baker River Bridge and to the bridge called Pont Fayette lately erected over the Pemigewasset River having its center of its present traveled path."
The selectmen made the layout and "assessed" the damages accruing to Arthur Livermore "the owner of said land through which the road is laid out" at the sum of forty dollars. At the following town meeting this order was rescinded because this bridge was still owned by a private corporation for pri- vate profit. Evidently the town of Plymouth did not intend to maintain the approach to the bridge.
The bridge was constructed with its width twenty-two feet and its length 278 feet. Near the middle of the bed of the river a stone pier supported the framework. On the southern edge of the highway, at the Plymouth end, a toll house was erected that stood during many years.
This was the period when covers were being built over the floors of bridges. There is a conjecture that Pont Fayette was a covered bridge.
The proprietors of the charter, with one exception, William Webster, were lawyers. Phineas Walker came to Plymouth in 1794, the same year that
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he was admitted to the Bar in Grafton County. He was appointed judge of probate in 1823 and served the following eight years. He removed to New- port, Maine in 1835. He married the sister of Jabez Hatch Weld.
Arthur Livermore was the younger son of Squire Samuel Livermore, now a successful lawyer at sixty years of age. He sold his property in Holderness and purchased the house and lands that belonged to James Little about this time, known today as Livermore Falls.
Josiah Quincy was a young lawyer living in Rumney. He married Mary Grace Weld, the daughter of Jabez Hatch Weld. His career was in its begin- ning at this time.
Nathaniel Peabody Rogers was the son of Dr. John Rogers and Nancy Russell, the daughter of Moor Russell. He graduated from Dartmouth Col- lege in 1816, was admitted to the Bar in 1819 and opened his law office in Plymouth.
After five years, these five proprietors sold their rights to Attorney Wil- liam C. Thompson of Plymouth who sold the bridge to the Town of Plymouth in 1843.
A regulation prevailed that to drive over this structure at a speed "faster than a walk" would cause the driver to pay a fine of several cents.
THE ROGERS RESIDENCE
No house in Plymouth acquired greater fame than the home of Nathaniel Peabody Rogers that he erected on Main Street in 1825. The house was razed by Plymouth Teachers College in 1958 to provide a lot upon which to erect the gymnasium. This young lawyer, mentioned as one of the Proprietors of the corporation for Pont Fayette, was the son of the successful line of physi- cians in the town and Nancy Russell, daughter of the merchant, Moor Rus- sell. He was admitted to the Bar in 1819, married the daughter of Judge Dan- iel Farand of Burlington, Vermont in 1822, and opened his office in Plymouth.
His new home was of brick, and designed for cultured living. Situated upon a rise of ground, the view was across the Pemigewasset River to Mount Prospect. The rooms were spacious with ornamental fireplace mantels, and staircase. A two story ell and large stable were at the rear. The grounds were landscaped with a curved drive and shaded by tall trees.
In this home eight children were born, four sons who were distinguished in life in business and professional positions, and four daughters who became musicians of ability with both vocal and instrumental skills.
This home was the center of hospitality. The poet, John Greenleaf Whit- tier, and Lucy Larcomb often visited there and after Mr. Rogers sponsored the cause of anti-slavery, he entertained national advocates of freedom.
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later became Little's Hotel and was razed by Amos M. Kidder in 1888.
The Thompson Building in 1825. The State Bank occupied the front room on the left. This building
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Many memories remain about the secret closet that he arranged to con- ceal the run-away slaves on their way to Canada. He is said to have sheltered a fugitive in his personal sleeping room when necessary.
The house was sold to James McQuesten after Mr. Rogers removed to Concord and was inherited by his daughter who married Cyrus Sargent, a suc- cessful businessman of Boston. Gradually the house was neglected and its final occupant was the daughter of the Sargent Family who married abroad and returned to her former home to escape from enemies during World War II.
In brief outline, the history of this famous homestead remains but a memory of a century that brought tragedies to this quiet village.
THE GRAFTON JOURNAL
The first newspaper in Plymouth had a brief existence. Henry Eaton Moore came to Plymouth from Andover, the twenty-one-year-old son of Dr. Jacob R. Moore. He opened a printing business about in the location of the drug store at the corner of Main and Highland Streets. He advertised a book store and a circulating library, in addition to printing and binding.
On January 1, 1825 he began the publication of "The Grafton Journal," a four page sheet 13X20 inches in size. In September of the following year the business moved to Concord. Mr. Moore became a teacher of music, and also published a number of books with musical titles.
THE PEMIGEWASSET BANK
An indication that business was prospering in the town is confirmed by the fact that a State Bank was incorporated on July 2, 1825. Thirteen busi- ness and professional men of Plymouth and surrounding towns joined the corporation.
The Charter was limited to twenty years, the usual period in New Hamp- shire. The capital stock was $50,000.
On the east side of Main Street, about opposite Court Street, a new brick building was erected. Here William Cooms Thompson, a young lawyer, opened his office. The bank was established in the same building with Mr. Thompson as its first cashier.
Mr. Thompson was born at Salisbury in 1802, graduated from Dart- mouse College, and advanced to become a lawyer of marked ability and a prominent citizen of Plymouth. After two years he resigned his position as cashier to devote his entire time to his practice of law.
Arthur Livermore was the first President, followed by Daniel Smith and William Webster, before the bank closed at the expiration of its Charter.
William Green of Concord succeeded Mr. Thompson as cashier. He was a
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prominent citizen both at the bank and in the religious community. He moved to Bristol when the bank closed.
THE METHODIST CHURCH
A third addition to Main Street was the first church building to be erect- ed in the center of the village. The Methodist denomination began to assem- ble in a hall on Highland Street, probably in the second story of the building that was occupied by the store of Nathan Harris at the corner of Langdon and Highland Streets.
Their church was erected in 1833 after Rev. William Nelson was ap- pointed the first stated preacher for the Methodists in the village in 1831. This church stood somewhat north of the present Record Office building, was of wood construction, and was built at an expense of about $1000.00.
Special mention should be given to Rev. William Nelson whom age com- pelled to retire in 1835 to a farm, now isolated upon a hillside road that branches off the route to Newfound Lake, although the place is within the limits of Plymouth.
Mr. Nelson was a capable citizen both in town and in school affairs. He served four terms as a selectman after his retirement in the church. Also he was elected to the legislature to represent Plymouth in 1836. He substituted in the pulpit until his death in 1859.
His twelve children became teachers, physicians and several were clergy- men. His daughter, Eliza, married Hon. Henry W. Blair of Campton, senator in the United States Congress. Mrs. Blair was one of the well known women in New Hampshire. Her novel, 'Lizabeth Wilson was published in 1895. The story describes the prejudice between the Methodist and Congregational de- nominations in the period of the circuit riders. A copy is preserved in the Plymouth Town Library. The description of Rev. Nathan Ward is excellent reading.
THE CONCORD STAGECOACH
A discovery that changed the mode of traveling and attracted tourists into the Pemigewasset Valley was the Concord Stagecoach in 1827. A genius named Lewis Downing of Concord invented the tough leather thorough-brace that served for a spring to support the body of the coach. At this time these coaches were pronounced "the only perfect vehicle for traveling that had ever been built."
Although the highways were rough and dusty, nevertheless passengers crowded both the seats within and on the top of the coach.
Among the stage drivers, the most famous in Plymouth was James Fogg Langdon, the first member of this distinguished family to introduce the name
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Abbot, Downing stagecoach, 1827
into the population of the town. He and his wife, Rhoda, who usually accom- panied him on his trips between Haverhill and Concord, became prominent residents in Plymouth. Mr. Langdon was "Uncle Jim" to everybody.
Mr. Langdon acquired ownership of the stagecoach lines through Fran- conia Notch to Stanstead, P.Q., also from Dover to Concord. Delivering par- cels became a steady business that developed into an express company. Na- thaniel White of Concord and Benjamin P. Cheney of Peterboro with Mr. Langdon established the Cheney Express between Boston and Montreal that was sold to the American Express company.
Mr. and Mrs. Langdon were staunch Universalists who contributed gen- erously to build the church of that denomination in Plymouth.
Tales from the taverns along the turnpikes described how the six or eight horses whirled the coaches to a stop before the doorways. Names of drivers to be remembered are James Langdon of Plymouth, Edmund K. Cox of Holder- ness, Arthur E. White of North Woodstock and Eugene Bowles of Franconia.
REV. GEORGE PUNCHARD
Rev. Jonathan Ward, the son of Rev. Nathan Ward, completed his eleven years of service as minister of the Town of Plymouth in 1829. After an interim of six months, the Congregational Church employed Rev. George Punchard of Salem, Massachusetts as pastor.
Here was a young man, fresh from Dartmouth College and Andover Theological seminary, full of enthusiasm and energy. He infused his spirit into his parish and the entire community. With his inspiration he conducted a three day evangelistic revival that added over fifty members to his church.
Since 1825 the trustees of Holmes Plymouth Academy had been attempt-
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ing to renew the sessions. A meeting of the trustees was called at William Webster's tavern. Several new trustees were appointed and repairs to the building were voted. One of the trustees was authorized to employ a student from Dartmouth. Samuel A. Burns of Rumney accepted the position of prin- cipal at a salary of $350.00 for one year. In the succeeding years three other men filled the position of principal without attracting enough pupils to con- tinue the school. Such was the condition when Mr. Punchard arrived in Plymouth, 1833.
SUMMARY
Stoves were introduced, a bell hung in the meetinghouse, a third bridge constructed over the Pemigewasset River, the Grafton Journal published about two years, the Pemigewasset State Bank established, the Methodist Church, N. P. Rogers residence and another brick building erected on Main Street, Mr. Arthur Livermore removed to Livermore Falls from Holderness, Concord Coach stage lines established through Franconia Notch and between Haverhill and Concord and Dover, Rev. George Punchard, a young minister, was employed by the Congregational Church, Rev. William Nelson first ap- pointed Methodist minister for Plymouth.
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-W. Edward White
Willis Martin hauling logs with a snow-drag or skids on the Tory Farm -a forgotten scene of a past generation. (See page 144, another forgotten picture, an ox-sled.)
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1833-1843
POTTERIES
Two industries developed within this decade that brought prosperity to Plymouth: Potteries and Plymouth Buck Gloves.
Doubtless the idea of manufacturing pottery was generated from the brick yards, especially those along the Coos Road in West Plymouth.
The first pottery was set up by Peter Flanders of Concord. He was a stage driver between Concord and Haverhill. Next, he was the tavern keeper at the "Head" of the Mayhew Turnpike in West Plymouth. One conjectures that the trips through Boscawen, where pottery was then produced, may have planted the idea in the mind of Mr. Flanders when he passed the brick yards on his weekly trips in the stage.
He began to produce pottery in 1816, on the lot just north of his tavern, about opposite the two story brick house formerly occupied by Mrs. W. H. Cummings. This house was built from the small, water-struck brick in 1835 by a stage driver named Adams. A small wooden building across the road is said to have been the old pottery.
Within the following half-century, this pottery was continued by Peter and his son, George, until 1867. The daughter of Peter Flanders married Mr. Alexander G. Smythe, who were the parents of the late Mrs. Blanche Smythe Smith, long associated with banking in Plymouth.
The Gill Family of Boscawen were famous potters. Seven years after Peter Flanders began the business, William Gill arrived to establish his pot- tery on the farm that he purchased from Peter Webster, known as the "Pem Farm." There beside the sharp curve on the road that turns off Route 25 toward the approach to the Smith Covered Bridge, William Gill and his son, John, made pottery. Later, William Webster and his son, John, continued this business until 1897.
Unfortunately, these potters did not imprint a trade mark upon their so called "Brown Ware." In consequence, only a few pieces can be identified with the name of the manufacturer.
A third brick yard flourished beside the Yeaton Road near the abandoned, dirt road that turns into the field toward the south, where a pile of the residue of this yard may be found today.
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-Doris W. Wherland
These specimens of Plymouth pottery are from the collection that Mr. George G. Clark willed to the Library Association. The information is copied from slips of paper within the pieces, in the handwriting of Mr. Clark.
The only specimen of the actual size of household utensils is the large jar at the center back of the above picture. This is unglazed clay, light tan in color. All other pieces are miniatures for samples that salesmen carried from house to house to solicit orders.
Directly in front of this jar stands a "wide-mouth bottle by John H. Gill near Smith bridge, 1850," and probably shows "the Gill Glaze." This is dark brown and very glossy. To the right is a brown, covered bean-pot, also by Gill. At the left front is a small, brown basin, a miniature of many sizes for mixing bowls, milk pans and all flaring dishes.
The rum ring on the left is a fine specimen by Peter Flanders. It is mottled brown and yellow, well glazed, with a firm base the size of a man's arm. The larger ring is gray in color with a fernlike pattern in dark blue. The two-handled vase is by Flanders. William Webster is the potter for the small sample jug and the small pitcher.
At the right front is a most interesting shaving mug, potter unknown. A small cup is attached to the side for the soap. The handle is well shaped.
In storage are many jars that are of one or two gallon size and many more interesting pieces, waiting until a museum is erected to display these valuable antiques.
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Later a pottery was there that facetiously gave the name of "China Street" to the road. According to the word of the late Mr. George Clark, a number of the pieces of pottery in his collection were made and glazed on China Street. One regrets that Mr. Clark did not identify the name of the manufacturer on these specimens.
The early mechanism consisted of two wooden disks about two feet in diameter and two inches thick, both attached to an axle, and the whole resembling a pedestal table. The upper disk or potter's wheel was set upon the top of the axle. The other disk, about thirty inches below, was attached to the axle by a sprocket device called the "kick wheel" that sat about six inches above the floor into which the axle was firmly fastened, upright.
The potter sat or stood beside the wheels with his foot on the kick wheel. Upon the upper disk he placed a ball of moist clay. With his foot he turned the wheels while his fingers pressed the clay outward from the center of the ball, higher and higher, while the whirl of the wheels turned the clay into a hollow circular vessel with its base set on the potter's wheel. The sides or walls were shaped as the potter's fingers worked and the surplus clay was cut from the top.
The moist vessel was left to dry for several hours. If a handle was tc be attached, this was shaped and dried, then fastened in place before the vessel was set into an oven or kiln to bake.
To render the porous vessel moisture proof, a glaze was necessary on the inner surface. The early salt glaze was formed by first heating the vessel then tossing salt over its interior that spread with the heat to form a glossy covering that prevented moisture from seeping through the clay.
What a boon to housewives these milkpans, bean pots, pudding dishes. and tall jars for liquids became, although their weight was considerable. Experience designed jugs, bottles, plates and mugs.
Possibly the rum ring was the most difficult article to shape. This hollow circle about two inches in diameter was curled into a ring that a workman wore about his arm. An opening in the side admitted liquids. When a drink was desired. the stopper was removed. the opening raised to the lips and thirst was quenched. A well glazed ring brings many ten dollar bills to antique dealers today.
Miniatures are collecters' items, relics of samples that salesmen carried to solicit orders. The tin pedlars ended the demand for pottery eventually.
PLYMOUTH BUCK GLOVES
The second industry that spread the name of Plymouth far and wide honors the name of Alvah McQuesten whose patient research created the
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The Alvah McQuesten Home, 1790 - 1963, at Ward Hill.
Plymouth Buck Glove industry. The McQuesten Family of Scotch-Irish ancestry settled in Litchfield in 1735 and moved to Plymouth in 1790. Their home was at 100 Highland Street, known as the Mary Walker house.
Alvah McQuesten was born in Plymouth in 1797. At the age of sixteen he was left fatherless with six younger brothers and sisters. Possibly he learned to be a tanner from Samuel Dearborn who ran a tannery about on the site of the barn belonging to Dr. Learned.
In his tanyard, at the foot of Ward Hill beside a brook that furnished the supply of water, he ground hemlock bark to soak in vats to produce a bath in which hides were immersed until the hair loosened and could be removed. Then the skins were dried and processed to become leather of various names and grades.
When Mr. McQuesten attempted to process deer skins the product was hard, and the surface crackled and wrinkled. After many experiments, by trial and error, a method of dressing the deer hides, by rubbing oil into the tanned skins, rendered them soft and durable. Thus the stock for the famous Plymouth Buck Gloves was discovered and promoted.
During the years between 1835 and 1870, at least twenty small plants manufactured gloves and mittens or dressed deer skins for sale. Jason C.
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Draper established a tanyard on the Glove Hollow Brook about 1835 and began the glove business. One dilapidated small building now beside the brook was the shop of Thomas F. and David Glynn in Glove Hollow. Other shops were operated in homes or in second story rooms above the stores along Main Street.
A person over eighty years of age describes watching a skilled workman dress and polish a deer skin that he stretched and pressed with his hands over a rapidly revolving wheel that resembled an automobile tire until the surface resembled grey velvet.
The glove manufacturer stretched a skin tightly over a board and securely fastened it. Patterns of heavy cardboard were arranged to permit the most economical advantage of every inch of the material. With sharp knives the fronts and backs were cut and with narrow welts included, these were tied into bundles by the dozen. Each shop distributed the bundles to its list of women who expertly sewed the seams with a welt between the two parts by using linen thread and three sided needles that were frequently filed to keep the edges sharp.
After the seams were closely trimmed, round wooden forms were inserted into the fingers and the seams were tapped flat with small wooden mallets. After all of the seams were sewed and treated, the gloves were turned to the right side.
Scores of housewives kept their glove baskets where every spare minute would be snatched to sew a seam. Although the remuneration was almost a pittance, yet these thrifty women found that many dollars accrued from their glove baskets.
After the shops amassed their usual output, dozens of shapes and sizes of gloves and mittens were packed in cases that filled the "democrat" wagons. Within a radius of a hundred miles, the manufacturer marketed his goods to merchants throughout the summer months. Gradually the reputation for quality of the Plymouth Buck Glove filtered into the city stores so widely that salesmen were employed to solicit orders wherever the soft, durable. waterproof gloves and mittens were in demand.
In time the machine age invaded this rural industry until only two of the shops survived the competition. About 1925, only Mr. Gill Fletcher and Mr. Frank C. Calley were supplying customers who were eager to purchase their handmade products. One winter night a fire consumed their equipment and soon the Plymouth Buck Gloves were no more.
Alvah McQuesten was a deacon in the Congregational Church from 1834 to 1857, an honored citizen in the town until his death in 1880 in Roxbury. Massachusetts. The family name should be remembered, because prosperity
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was promoted during a half century because of the genius of this patient tanner at the foot of Ward Hill.
A NEW ACADEMY BUILDING
The dynamic personality of the young minister, Rev. George Punchard, infused new ambition to revive the sessions of The Holmes Plymouth Acad- emy. As authorized agent, Mr. Punchard collected thousands of dollars to remove the old building and erect not only an Academy but two "boarding houses," one for students on the site of the present Rounds Hall, the other for the faculty which is now the home of Mrs. Ernest L. Silver on Summer Street.
Three acres of land were purchased by the trustees and the buildings were ready for the Academy to open in 1836 with an enrollment of 168 students, fifty percent of them from other towns. A theological department was introduced, a custom at that time in other academies, and one diploma was awarded before this experiment was discontinued.
In the fall of 1837, Rev. Samuel Reed Hall was persuaded to accept the position of principal at the salary of $1,650 and a faculty of twelve was hired to assist him. The enrollment increased to 201 students. Mr. Hall introduced a course that was a decided innovation: a class to train teachers for the public schools. Mr. Hall wrote a treatise about his ideas of methods in teacher training and methods of education that reads with the same understanding of mental processes that modern theories advance.
After three years, Rev. Hall was sent to Concord, Vermont as a mission- ary, a customary title to designate a minister in a rural church. There he opened a school to train teachers that has the credit of being the first Normal School in this country.
The funds that were contributed by citizens to erect the three buildings were given to the Trustees of the Academy who assumed responsibility for the mortgage. The deficits exceeded the income. Soon the enthusiasm waned, the enrollment decreased, and finally in discouragement, the Trustees closed the institution. Several private schools failed to attract students although their curriculum was satisfactory. The buildings were sold to several cus- tomers. The last owner was Denison R. Burnham, the landlord of the Pemigewasset Hotel, who sold the property to the State of New Hampshire. (See page 56, Academy, 1835.)
THE OLD WHITE CHURCH
The above title honors the present Congregational Church building. The meetinghouse on Ward Hill displayed the wear of fifty years. This was the property of the town, yet the voters were unwilling to be taxed for repairs.
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Highland Avenue with the dormitory of 1835 on the site of the present Rounds Hall. This dormitory was moved to become the east wing of the third Pemigewasset Hotel. (See page 135.)
No religious denomination accepted the responsibility. The Methodists had already withdrawn to their new building on Main Street.
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