USA > Vermont > Windham County > Rockingham > History of the town of Rockingham, Vermont, including the villages of Bellows Falls, Saxtons River, Rockingham, Cambridgeport and Bartonsville, 1907-1957 with family genealogies > Part 44
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Sullivan, John J., Jr.
Westcott, Edward M.
Whitcomb, James G.
*Died in Service
CHAPTER XVI
MISCELLANEOUS
This might be said to be a chapter of all the things which do not fit in anywhere else; everything left in the basket but among them, some of the most interesting tales of the town. Among these was the famous Halley's comet, last observed in 1759. In May, 1910, a favorite pastime of local residents was a daily visit to Oak Hill and other high spots around town, to see this phenomena of the heavens or rather, it's tail. This took place in the morning but clouds managed to show up each day along with the comet so that but few good views were had of the celestial tail. It was also visible in the evening sky most of the month and you could get glimpses of it well into the summer as hundreds of people scanned the skies with the naked eye or bought dark glasses, the sale of which hit an all-time high. On May 26, 1907, another comet was also visible accord- ing to the diary of Mrs. Mable Severance who also recorded that year as outstanding with a cloudburst in August that wrecked the dam at the "cut" near her home in Brockways Mills and an earthquake the same month and in November a com- plete eclipse of the sun. In 1932 there was also a total eclipse of the sun here and here only and New York trains brought in 1,176 outsiders for the great demonstration in a darkness so complete that cars put on their headlights. But the most astounding phenomena of the twentieth century to date-and at the present rate of progress it will doubtless soon be out- dated-was the launching of the 1957 satellites, the most dra- matic achievement of the world geophysical year. In 1945 came the atomic age when American scientists advanced nuclear fission from theory to public reality and 1957 brought forth the space age. The Soviets put the first man-made moon into predictable, globe-circling orbits as true celestial bodies on Octo- ber 4 which sparked a whole new era in Space travel, some- thing hitherto relegated to Jules Vernes novels. Sputniks I and II began their steady travel through outer space, the second one carrying a dog and were seen by many local people as well as in the rest of the world, in the pre-dawn sky and twilight hours. At the end of the year, on Cape Canaveral, Florida, the United States sent its first rocket missile into the skies after the first abortive attempts. Henceforth, no mere comet or eclipse of the sun will probably cause much excitement.
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HISTORY OF ROCKINGHAM NEW DEVELOPMENTS
MORGAN'S FIELD
The development of this land from farm to circus grounds to housing project began many years ago. The original farm of Quartus Morgan, covering many acres of meadow land and woods, was sub-divided in May, 1895, into building lots, having been surveyed by George S. Stoddard of Newport, R. I. But it was never developed to any extent until 1934 when several of the restrictions imposed by the Morgan family were removed. These included stipulations that each house erected must be two-and-a-half stories high (ranch houses had not come in yet) and be set back from the street a certain number of feet. They also included the strange ruling that no Roman Catholic be allowed to buy in that area. These restrictions forced people to build in other sections of that locality such as Atkinson and Tuttle Streets and Laurel Avenue with three houses along Rockingham Street including that of A. C. Halladay in 1906. James Morgan died in 1905 and Myron H. Ray was appointed agent for the property. Miss Mary Morgan died in the old home in 1910 and in 1919 it was suggested that a Building and Loan Association be formed to build on Morgan's Field but upon Mr. Ray's death in 1923, Albert Rice took over the posi- tion as agent and during his regime, the Smith Auto Garage was built west of the Morgan home on Tuttle Street. In 1934 the property was still owned by the heirs of the family, Frank Morgan of Chicago and Richard Dodge of Manchester, N. H.
Control of the property was put into the hands of Albert C. and Ralph Halladay, some of the restrictions were removed and re-subdivision of the land made. New plans of the north end were made by Ralph Halladay who, with Byron Robinson, also made a new survey which changed the layout on Morgan Street and all the north section including Pond Road which was part of the original farm. At that time building of new homes started rapidly with J. Charles Lawlor the first to take advan- tage of the opportunity. New streets were cut through and filled to grade level. Albert Halladay died in 1948 and by this time most of the land had been sold for building lots. After his death those lots remaining were taken over by Attorney William J. Kissell and new homes are still going up on the old meadows. The new streets are called Lincoln, Elm, Meadow Lane, Summer, Morgan and Steuben, the latter for Baron von Steuben under whom Quartus Morgan served as private secre- tary during the Revolution. Near Minard's Pond are Bramley Way and Colony Road (data furnished by Ralph D. Halladay).
But many people had dreamed of seeing other things some- day, on Morgan's Field, a new school, an athletic field. But in 1938, while there was still a chance, the village refused to buy the land for a playground. Even before that, in 1926, the new Chamber of Commerce was urged to save the field for a public
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park as the only place available. This same Chamber of Com- merce was also asked to do something about better parking facilities. It was also felt that Bellows Falls needed an Old Ladies' Home (as there were more widows than widowers) and that the James H. Williams home would do nicely. Perhaps it is just as well that Morgan's Field-a name which has meant so much to so many generations and which will soon be for- gotten-has been taken over by attractive homes or it might have blossomed to gas pumps as so much of the village's resi- dential area has done before zoning came to the rescue and which is now working on a temporary basis. As long ago as 1931, zoning was urged by the late James P. Taylor, the secretary of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. The next year Town Manager Downing recommended that the village adopt a plan- ning and zoning ordinance, adding that it would be his major project that year. Today the town and village are still working for this end together with a Community Planning Commission, functioning temporarily as the Interim Zoning Ordinance. As the gas pumps bloom along Atkinson Street, someone may re- member the old adage about locking the barn after the horse is stolen.
Another new development is on top of Oak Hill with access from the New Terrace and commanding a fine view of the Connecticut River and village beside it. Owned and developed by the late Stanley Griswold, water and sewage rights were granted in 1955. Real estate prices have changed consider- ably over the years. In 1915 a rural home could be purchased for $400 up and a good farm for $500-$3,000. Land sold from five to thirty-five dollars an acre. Today farms sell from $12,000 to $30,000 while building lots sell for $1,000 and $12,000.
Around 1900, the area known as King's Field and Williams Terrace was forest and pasture land. Pine Street was a sandy lane that ended at the top of the hill with bars to keep Jim Wil- liam's cows from straying. The Terrace was called after the Williams family and King's Field for the King family, these two once owning all the land which now comprises the Old Terrace. Among the first families to build or live on this new part of the town were the Lockwoods near the cemetery; the MacDonalds and A. I. Bolles who built near the Orchard in 1909. Neil MacDonald built the first house in King's Field now occupied by the Hanley girls. One of the oldest houses in Bellows Falls is the three-decker next to the old Baptist parsonage on Atkin- son Street, once known as the "Squire Hall house." This was once occupied by E. P. Kidder and more recently was owned by the widow of Richard Wolfe of Keene, N. H. In front of Dr. George's house on Wesminster Street, now occupied by Harry George, was once a "gulf" crossed by a small wooden bridge with a steep descent on each end. Another structure in town, remembered by only the older residents but recalled
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vividly by W. J. MacDonald, now of California, was the old wooden footbridge that ran out over the tracks below, from a spot at the north end of the present Meatland, formerly Gates Garage and which terminated in a long staircase leading down to the paper mills below. Mr. MacDonald relates how he always negotiated that bridge and stairs, carrying his father's dinner pail to him at the mill.
Other changes in town include the north end of the village where Green and Rockingham Streets meet. This triangular lot was once covered entirely by Cherry Hill and it's pine grove. Sufficient gravel had been removed from the hill by 1880, cutting it down in size, to make possible the erection of a steam sawmill owned by the Fall Mountain Paper Company, giving this area the cognomen of the "steam mill lot." According to the Wind- ham County Gazeteer, published in 1884, this mill used to saw pulpwood and at that time employed 30 men with Simon D. McLeod as foreman. The logs were pulled from the river, over the railroad tracks and the street by an elevated track and so to the mill which consisted of two buildings on Green Street just north of the present Sacred Heart Church. Between them ran a road hung with a slatted wooden gate and largely used by the public as a short-cut to Rockingham Street. There was no street through the lot until machines had chewed off enough of the hill to make possible the extension of Williams Street. Today Cherry Hill and the pine grove have shrunk to a few trees behind the parochial school and the houses beyond. When the mill moved to North Walpole, the buildings, for some years were used for the storage of large bales of old rags and paper and as the hiding place of small boys. Later these were taken down and the lot reverted, about 1909, to a baseball diamond sur- rounded by a high board fence known as Russell's Field and used by the town teams. About the same time, when the vil- lage began to use asphalt sidewalks, a plant to manufacture this material was opened at the gravel pit here by the Bartlett Company of Claremont, N. H. and carried on for a number of years. This location was also used, like Morgan's Field, for many years as a stopping place for carnivals and traveling shows.
FIRST COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS
Today we take it for granted that each Christmas, Santa shall ride into the Square on a fire truck because there isn't snow enough for a sleigh any more and anyway, all the fire horses went away long ago. We expect tall spruces to burst into colored bloom each night around town and strings of rain- bow lights to festoon the Square. But the whole idea of a Community Christmas started in 1916 with a Community Tree in the Square, south of the Hotel Windham and with 1,100 school children singing carols to the Christmas sky. The
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season, however, wasn't up to specifications that year and festi- vities had to be postponed from Friday night, when it rained, to Saturday. But it was a sensational program and, again, one of the things for which the Woman's Club was responsible. At exactly 6 p. m., Fire Chief David Lawlor blew the fire alarm as a signal for all the schools to take their places around the 25-ft. spruce donated by A. M. Bragg. When each and every child was in their place, E. P. Taft stood up and blew his trumpet grandly to the north, south, east and west whereupon the great Tree suddenly blazed forth with lights, red, white and blue for this was a war year. The children sang carols under the direc- tion of B. E. Merriam and were trained by Miss Jackson, music supervisor. A little black pony named Nigger and belonging to Harold Holmes, trotted up, pulling Santa in a sleigh for they didn't scrape all the snow from the Square then. The pony, like the Tree, was decorated with Christmas lights and Santa, who reminded you surprisingly of Charlie Underhill, with smiles. The various pastors helped Santa pass out bags of candy, the bags sewed by local women and paid for by various organiza- tions. The whole program was supervised by the education committee of the Woman's Club consisting of Mrs. L. R. Row- land, Mrs. G. M. Baker, Miss Mary Dascomb, Miss Jessie Judd and Miss Mary Baker. Today not one but several Trees hold up their shining heads each year, merchants give away prizes and grown folks sing with the children in the Square as the lights come on and Santa comes roaring up on the fire truck. The Spirit of Community Christmas is stronger than ever today as houses vie for prizes with extensive decorations, carol singers roam the streets and maybe a few people remember when it all began.
GYPSIES
One of the terrors of growing up fifty years ago, was the fear of being kidnapped by the gypsies. Every strange swarthy person was a suspect and you were sure that, if one came to the door, the least that could be expected, was the loss of your watch while you talked with them, if, indeed, they didn't get away with the baby! Many people remember how each summer the gypsies camped along the river bank towards Cold River, among the trees and called the Jungle by the "tramps" once numerous about town. It was a convenient dropping-off place for these free riders of the rail being also beside the railroad tracks. But the gypsies had their families with them and the dark complexioned women roamed the streets, telling fortunes and "making a general nuisance of themselves" as someone said, while the men loafed at the camp site or went into the country trading horses and "spotting items to pilfer." At one time a band of these nomads lived in a row of three houses belonging
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to the Snythe Snath Shop west of Morgan's Field it is stated. Various tales are told of the gypsy tribes who were never wel- comed and always hustled out of town. First traveling in wagons with horses and camping in the meadows, the latter day bands move rapidly in high powered cars. The last big band traveled in seven big cars and arrived at Morgan's Field in 1931 only to be sent on their way. Among the credulous folks duped by the unscrupulous wanderers was Hiram Penn in 1936 who lived alone in his house on the Missing Link Road now owned by Welcome Blood. The gypsies convinced Hiram that his savings could easily be multiplied many times and the gullible victim turned over $3,300 and waited patiently for nine long days for a box of torn paper to turn into money. Finally con- vinced that he had "been had," he sat day after day on the bank near his house, gun in hand, waiting for his erst-while friends to pass that way again. They were the bane of the farmer's existence each spring, camping on his land and often appropri- ating anything loose. In 1919, in Guilford, Vt. they absconded with cash and checks and one Mrs. Amelia John was in court before State's Attorney Gibson, fined and warned never to return to Vermont. In 1922 a band traveling in nine big cars and estimated at 75 people were apprehended in Bellows Falls after making off with various articles in Chester and hurriedly moved on to Keene. That same year a 10-year-old boy of another band was struck by a car near the Fountain in Bellows Falls and had to remain here awaiting settlement, the incident causing ·no little excitement between the angry gypsies and the police.
NONAGENARIANS
Vermont is noted for its salubrious climate and the following people who reached their fourscore years and ten-and not a few of them passed it-seem to prove the contention. There are doubtless others who deserve a spot in history for their longevity.
MRS. MARTHA SPARROW ALLBEE, widow of George B. Allbee, died in 1941 at the age of 93. Married in 1882, she spent all her married life in Bellows Falls except two years before her death in Newport.
MRS. KATHARINE E. BRITTON BABBITT, one of the grand old ladies of town, died in November, 1954, aged 94. She was always proud of her age. The widow of Fred Babbitt, legislator, paper mill owner and leading figure in all town and village activities for many years, Mrs. Babbitt had always been active also in civic endeavors and lived for 50 years in the big house on Henry Street and was the oldest member of the Universalist Church.
MRS. MARY JACKSON BACON who was 103 on April 17, 1954, died in June 25 of that year, the oldest woman in Rocking- ham and Windham County. Born in Liverpool, N. S., she
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was a pioneer school teacher there before she came to Bellows Falls to visit her brother, Rev. Charles Jackson of the First Baptist Church and eventually she married George Bacon.
S. LESLIE BENNETT died in 1948, aged 92, the oldest member of the Congregational Church.
WILLIAM H. BODINE, of the old and well-known plumb- ing firm, died in 1949, aged ninety.
NORMAN S. BROCKWAY, aged 95, died in July, 1936, last of the skilled workers who produced the American target rifle. Although he did most of his living in another day and age, and although he was blind at the end, he was one of the most colorful and interesting people who ever lived in Bellows Falls. He built his first gun shop in the yard of the old Brock- way home on Atkinson Street, the lot being later purchased by N. G. Williams (now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Paul Glynn) and the old house moved to No. 42 Henry Street. The gun shop owned and run so long by Frank Mark, was started by Norman Brockway. In the AMERICAN RIFLEMAN of July, 1936, was an article paying tribute to Mr. Brockway "to whom the riflemen of today owe a debt for the preservation of much un- written history for the American match rifle." Coming to Bellows Falls in 1866 to help his father build a house, in his first shop he made fine target rifles with false muzzles, bullet starters, swages and other accompaniments to rifles, making his own machinery and tools with a steam engine to drive them. A great woodchuck hunter, he shot one on his 90th birthday, probably with one shot as was his custom. He saw the first train ever to arrive in Keene where he went to have a leg am- putated only the surgeon was too busy with the celebration to bother with him so he went back home and his leg got well. He always said it was the oysters that did it-his first.
MRS. CLARA EDDY DOWLIN, with a clear mind that remembers vividly the old days and still active of body, was 92 in April, 1957. She is "Grandma Dowlin" to the whole town and lives with her daughter and husband, Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Pierce in the house on Green Street where she came when she was one year old.
MRS. MARY LOUISE EARLE in 1937, formerly of Bellows Falls, was 100 years young. Living then in Peterboro, N. H., she was the mother of Mrs. Mary Earle Benton of Earle Street, the street named for Ira L. Earle. Mrs Earle's husband, a rail- road fireman and engineer for 40 years, firing the first locomotive run over the Cheshire railroad to Bellows Falls. He built the first houses on this street.
ALFRED L. FIELD was 90 years old on August 3, 1957 and has lived in Bellows Falls for 60 years, former member of the firm of Field & Lawrence. He lives at his home on South Street.
MRS. SARAH FLETCHER, although not a native of
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Rockingham, made news when she died in October, 1955 at the age of 96, five months after the death of her son, John T. Fletcher, owner of Fletcher's News Stand. An invalid since she came here with her son and family in 1929, she passed away at the Bellows Falls Inn, a convalescent home.
MRS. LUCY GAGE died at 93 in Gageville in 1938, widow of Sidney Gage and for over 50 years bookkeeper at the basket factory from which she retired when she was 83, her life, she said, being then over.
MRS. SIBLE GUILD, the oldest woman in town at that time, died October 5, 1917, aged just 100. She once taught school in Rockingham for 88/3c per week. Her 99th birth- day was celebrated at the home of her nephew, Harley Huntoon.
MISS ALICE HAPGOOD died in 1947 at the age of 94, descendant of one of the oldest families and who attended St. Agnes Hall. She also once had her own private school.
THEOPHILUS HOIT of Saxtons River, was one of the oldest and wealthiest men in Windham County, dying the day after his 95th birthday, February 20, 1908. He early learned the trade of wool carding, cloth dressing and weaving ingrain carpets. He came to Saxtons River and after spending two years in the west, remained in Saxtons River for 70 years, a member of the firm of George Perry & Co., with mills in Saxtons River and Cambridgeport; also with the firm of Farnsworth & Hoit. He retired in 1866.
MRS. ETTA WHITNEY HOWARD, widow of Charles S., died December 27, 1951, aged 94 years.
COLIN CAMPBELL LAKE, celebrated his 96th birthday in 1956 at the home of his son, Dean Lake, photographer, and is still an active gardener each summer. In 1952 he was the champion apple picker of his age.
PROSPER MORRIS died in Bartonsville in 1904 at the ripe age of 102 years, 11 months and 24 days, the "old man" of the village. He left 7 children, 54 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren.
MRS. MARY MORSE died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. E. R. Campbell on Henry Street in 1909, shortly after her 90th birthday.
MRS. FRANCES PERRY, probably the oldest person to pass away in this town and county for many years, died in April, 1945, at the home of her grandniece, Mrs. John Knight. She was still active and in good health at the time of her death at 106.
MR. and MRS. C. L. PETTY celebrated 65 years of married life in 1937, a local and probably state record for long and happy wedded life. Mr. Petty was 90 the preceding week and his wife 88. She died two years later in February and Mr. Petty nine weeks after his wife. They lived in Bellows Falls
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for 42 years where Mr. Petty was employed in the paper mills and later in Zeno's Bakery.
HENRY PORTER died in 1950 at his home on School Street at the age of 94 after but a few years of inability to drive his car. His mind remained clear and bright and he had an active interest in local and world affairs.
MRS. LUCINDA RANVILLE died in 1931 at the age of 95.
MRS. MARCIA SAXBY celebrated her 95th birthday in May, 1939 and passed away the next year. A resident of the town for 29 years, she was the mother of Mrs. Beatrice Rattray Herrick.
MR. WILLARD W. OSGOOD of Saxtons River died on January 19, 1936 at the age of 94 and his wife, Louise Thornton Osgood, died in 1940 at the age of 93 following a fall at her home. They were the parents of Dr. F. L. Osgood of Saxtons River.
MRS. LUCY WHITING SHAW died at 97 in Brattleboro in 1941. She was the great granddaughter of Rev. Samuel Whiting, first settled minister in Rockingham and was born in Saxtons River.
GEORGE R. WALES died November 7, 1953 at the age of 94, one of the pioneer business men of Bellows Falls.
MRS. ELLA MacELVAIN WASHBURN was born in Saxtons River in 1846 and celebrated her 100th birthday in 1946, living with her 73-year-old son, Leland, in Westbrook, Conn.
MRS. MARY WHITING WESTON lived on the Upper Meadows for many years and died in 1939 at the age of 91 She was also a great granddaughter of Rev. Samuel Whiting. Her father's farm in Saxtons River is now owned by Vermont Academy.
MRS. SARAH A. WILEY died January 27, 1926 having celebrated her 90th birthday shortly before. She was a noted spiritualist preacher and was instrumental in building the Spiritualist Hall in Bartonsville, now the Grange Hall.
MRS. JOSEPH WILLETTE was 95 in 1955 and said that the children who congregate in the home of James Diggins where she lives, keep her young.
MRS. SUSAN WOODFALL, 90, passed away in 1951, mother of Mrs. Warner Graham.
Among the well-known and sometimes rather odd characters about town for many years, was Mose Miller who lived the life of a hermit in a hovel on Center Street in a state of more or less disreputableness where he was found dead in 1910 at the age of 87. A familiar sight in town in the early part of the century were the Misses Nichols, Emma Medora and Ella Minora, twin daughters of the well-known doctor of another era, Dr. Samuel Nichols who practised here from 1847 to his death in 1905. Of his seven children, only the twins and the youngest child William, called Willie, survived infancy and these never married. Reduced to desperate circumstances after their father's death,
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they were assisted by the town but their pride refused to allow them to accept the "poor farm" as a home. It was tartly re- marked by some that had people paid their doctor bills, "the Nichols girls" would not be in such straits. For many years they appeared about the streets clad in garments of a past generation, shawls, mitts and parasols. Ella did crocheting at home which Emma sold from door to door and they collected magazine subscriptions. Ella Minora died in 1921 at the age of 70 and Emma Medora in 1931. It was Willie who died on the "poor farm" in 1932, aged 74.
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