By Muriel Bristol (Transcriber) | October 27, 2019
In this year, we encounter a Charles J. Berry’s ninety-second birthday, a barber wanted, Rev. Howard M. Starratt writing a letter, an ice cream-eating champion, a G.A.R. meeting, Mrs. Sarah Jewett adopting a woodchuck, Rev. and Mrs. Howard M. Starratt on vacation, a barber wanted still, the retirement, and then death, of Frank H. Thayer, the Wall Street Crash of 1929, and a boxing match.
Charles J. Berry of Milton Mills celebrated his ninety-second birthday in Wollaston, MA, as he had in 1927 and 1928. He is here identified as one of the last two members of Milton’s Eli Wentworth Post of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) Civil War veterans’ organization. (C.A. Adams of Milton, NH, attended a G.A.R. meeting in Reading, MA, in June (see below)).
CHARLES JEWETT BERRY HAS 92D BIRTHDAY. QUINCY, Feb. 15 – Charles Jewett Berry, one of the last two surviving member of Eli Wentworth Post, G.A.R., Milton Mills, N.H., old First Regiment, New Hampshire cavalryman and president of the First Regiment Association, which meets annually at the Weirs, N.H., celebrated his 92d birthday yesterday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. William M. Burrell, 114 Beach st., Wollaston, where he is spending the Winter. He has two sous, Clifford A. Berry of East Weymouth and Arthur L. Berry of Portland, Me. He received many congratulations (Boston Globe, February 15, 1929).
Charles L. Burke advertised again for a barber (who was also a good “bobber”), as he had in 1923 and 1924. He was still looking in September.
MALE HELP WANTED. BARBER WANTED at once; must be good workman and good bobber: good pay. Address C.L. BURKE, Milton, N.H. * (Boston Globe, March 3, 1929).
Milton Mills’ new Baptist minister wrote to his former parish in Pownal, VT. He mentioned having attended a Boston Garden gospel meeting led by famed evangelist Rodney “Gypsy” Smith, Mabel A. Starratt’s lung ailment being on the mend, and encouraging progress in his work at Milton Mills.
POWNAL. H.M. Starratt, late of this place, now pastor at Milton Mills, N.H., and a student at Gordon college of Theology and Missions writes of attending the recent Gypsy Smith gospel meetings. These were held in Boston Gardens, an auditorium seating 20,000 people and hundreds were turned away for lack of room. The evangelist’s spiritual message has moved Boston he writes. Mrs. Starratt writes of a recent visit to a lung specialist in Boston, who after an X-ray examination pronounced her well on the road to recovery but cautioned against overexertion for some time to come. The course of treatment she has followed for the past year and a half bids fair to make her entirely well in time. Work in the church at Milton Mills is very encouraging. About 185 persons attended the Easter morning service and about the same number witnessed a pageant in the evening. An illustrated lecture on the Holy Land was given on Monday evening by Dr. A.D. Kempton of Broadway Baptist church, Cambridge, under whom Mr. Starratt worked before coming to Pownal. Both wish to be remembered to all local friends and offer a hearty welcome to any that will visit them at Milton Mills (North Adams Transcript, April 12, 1929).
Rev. Howard M. Starratt died in Clerksburg, MA, November 10, 1965. Mabel A. (Bishop) Starratt died in Pownal, VT, September 7, 1995.
Boston & Maine Railroad crossing tender Charles L. Morrison is here featured as New Hampshire’s statewide ice cream-eating champion.
FINDS GALLON A DAY KEEPS DOCTOR AWAY. Crossing Tender, 75, Likes His Ice Cream. Charles Morrison, B.&M. Vet, Stationed Near Milton, N.H. Special Dispatch to the Globe. MILTON, N.H., May 31 – A gallon a day keeps the doctor away, at least that seems to be the belief of Charles Morrison 75-year-old crossing tender at Lebanon st. crossing of the Boston & Maine, who is without doubt the champion ice cream eater of the State. When not on duty at his little flag shanty, situated but a few feet over the State line in Maine, this hale and hearty veteran of 45 years of service with the B. & M., can be found in an ice cream parlor taking, what he calls, his daily medicine. Morrison says that, outside of his work, his greatest pleasure is derived from eating ice cream, which he firmly believes is the direct cause of his fine physical condition. This is the only bad habit I have, he continued, and many the day, especially in Summer, I consume nearly a gallon of what I call my daily medicine. Morrison was born in Limerick, Me, July 23, 1853, and as a young man moved to Charlestown, Mass, where he married Miss Minnie Savage of that city 38 years ago. After entering the employ of the B. & M. he served 23 years as a freight brakeman, 22 years as a freight conductor and on account of his age was transferred as a flagman to this crossing last September (Boston Globe, June 1, 1929).
Milton’s ice cream vendors in the business directory of 1917 were J.H. Willey’s drug store, at 2 Main street, corner of Silver street; and F.H. Lord’s variety store, at 39 Main street. (There were others at Milton Mills). J. Herbert Willey, druggist, and Harriet A. Lord, were still active on Main street in 1930. Charles Morrison might have obtained his ice cream at either location.
Robert Gray, a contracting carpenter, aged thirty-two years (b. NH), headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twelve years), Marian Gray, aged thirty-one years (b. MA), his children, Marian Gray, aged thirteen years (b. NH), and Charles Gray, aged five years (b. NH), his father-in-law, Charles Morrison, a railroad gate tender, aged seventy-two years (b. ME), and his mother-in-law, Minnie [(Savage)] Morrison, aged sixty-three years (b. MA). Robert Gray rented their house, which cost $8 per month. They had a radio set.
Charles Lafayette Morrison died in Lebanon, ME, May 15, 1941, aged eighty-six years. Merced M. “Minnie” (Savage) Morrison died in Lebanon, ME, December 11, 1946, aged seventy-nine years.
Brian McQuade, a current Milton resident, has also an interest in ice cream, if not Mr. Morrison’s gigantic appetite for it. He wrote a book on the subject, entitled Brian Eats New Hampshire: Ice Cream & Gelato. His book concentrates on NH ice cream vendors who make their product “on the premises.” Milton has also – in season – an ice cream shop, named The Pink House.
READING. It was G.A.R. Day at the meeting of the Reading Rotary Club yesterday, the special guests being five of the eight members of Post 194. The veterans present were Commander Walter S. Parker, William C.M. Howe, Harland P. Pratt. John Bacheller and John Simpson of Wilmington. Comrade C.A. Adams of Milton, N.H., who is visiting in Reading, was invited to attend. Rev Wesley G. Huber, of the First Baptist Church, spoke (Boston Globe, June 4, 1929).
Mrs. Sarah Jewett of Milton Mills acquired a pet woodchuck, with the assistance of her dog Stubby, who perhaps had other ideas.
BABY WOODCHUCK MADE PET BY NEW HAMPSHIRE WOMAN. MILTON MILLS, N.H., July 5 – Mrs. Sarah Jewett of this village on June 14 captured a 5-weeks-old woodchuck in a stone wall on her farm and has made a real pet of this animal. Mrs. Jewett, who resides on a 200-acre farm on the outskirts of this town, noticed her dog Stubby trying in great anxiety to tear down a stone wall near the house, and upon going out to investigate, found that be had cornered a small woodchuck. Capturing the scared little animal she took it to the house, made a new home for it in a small cage in the back yard and began to show Master Woodchuck that he was among friends and not enemies. He was especially fond of bananas and within a short time they were indeed pals, Mrs. Jewett being able to handle him as she would a kitten. Whistling and chattering all day long, Lucky Lindy, as she has named him, seems to enjoy his new home although no opportunity is given him to return to his old life (Boston Globe, July 6, 1929).
Lucky Lindy was a namesake for Charles Lindburgh, whose transatlantic flight had taken place just two years earlier (May 20-21, 1927).
Richard I. Jewett, a farmer, aged forty-five years (b. MA), headed an Acton, ME, household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty years), Sarah E. [(Lowd)] Jewett, aged fifty-four years (b. ME). (And Stubby, a dog, and Lucky Lindy, a woodchuck). Richard I. Jewett owned their house. They had a radio set.
Rev. Howard M. and Mabel A. (Bishop) Starratt of Milton Mills visited her parents in Clarksburg, MA, and his old parish in adjoining Pownal, VT in July and August.
The Pownals. POWNAL. Mrs. Howard M. Starratt, formerly of this village, is spending a few weeks with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank E. Bishop of Clarksburg and expects to call in Pownal before returning to her home at Milton Mills, N.H. (North Adams Transcript, July 11, 1929).
The Pownals. POWNAL. Mrs. Howard M. Starratt of Milton Mills, N. H., spent a few days in town calling on friends (North Adams Transcript, July 22, 1929).
The Pownals. POWNAL. Mr. and Mrs. H.M. Starratt of Milton Mills, N.H., were calling on friends in town Friday and were supper guests of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Rathbun as were also Mrs. Starratt’s grandfather, Dexter Bishop of Clarksburg and his daughter, Miss Grace Bishop. (North Adams Transcript, August 5, 1929).
Charles L. Burke’s “good pay” of March is set forth here as being $25 per week, plus commissions. He appeared (with wife Lillian M. Burke) in the Milton directory of 1930 as having a garage and being a hairdresser, in Milton.
MALE HELP WANTED. BARBER wanted at once, must be good hair cutter, $25 a week and commission. Address C.L. BURKE, Milton, N.H., Lock Box 3. 2t* s4 (Boston Globe, September 4, 1929).
Chas. L. Burke, a barbershop barber, aged forty-six years (b. NH). headed a Milton houshold at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty years), Lillian [(Dennett)] Burke, aged forty years (b. US). They resided in a rented house on North Main Street, for which he paid $10 per month. They had a radio set. Census taker Mildred D. Horne enumerated their household between those of Howard Sceggell, a fibre mill laborer, aged twenty-five years (b. NH), and John A. Downs, an odd jobs laborer, aged sixty-eight years (b. NH). Just beyond John A. Downs appeared J.D. Willey, a general store retail merchant, aged seventy-six years (b. NH), and James H. Willey, a general store manager, aged fifty-five years (b. NH).
Frank H. Thayer, son and successor of shoe manufacturer Noah B. Thayer, gave over to Herbert Posner as of the beginning of November. His retirement was a short one, as he died but a month later.
Frank H. Thayer, a shoe manufacturer, aged fifty-six years (b. MA), headed a Boston, MA, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household inlcuded his wife, Alice U. Thayer, aged forty-nine years (b. IL), and his children, Louise Thayer, aged fifteen years (b. MA), and Richard W. Thayer, aged thirteen years (b. MA). They resided in a rented apartment at 535 Beacon Street.
BOSTON MAN TO QUIT E. ROCHESTER SHOE PLANT. ROCHESTER, N.H, Sept 25 – A new organization is being formed to take over the firm of N.B. Thayer & Co., shoe manufacturers at East Rochester. The firm name will be continued, but announcement has been made that the new concern will take over the business on Nov 1. Frank H. Thayer of Beacon st., Boston, whose father originally started the company and who has been the active head of the company, will retire, and the place will be taken over by Herbert Posner of the large firm of Dr. A. Posner & Co., of New York and Brooklyn, whose shoes tor several years have been manufactured at East Rochester. Stock to the amount of $150,000 is being issued and will be taken by Roy M. McQuillen of East Rochester, the president of the company, Mr. Posner and the salesforce and employes of the company in equal amounts. No change is to be made in the executive personnel of the company. The capacity of the East Rochester factory will be greatly increased, following the reorganization after Nov 1 (Boston Globe, September 26 1929).
FRANK H. THAYER. Frank H. Thayer, treasurer and general manager of N.B. Thayer & Co. Inc., shoe manufacturers of East Rochester, N H, died at his home, 282 Beacon st., Saturday afternoon, after an illness of five weeks. He was born at South Weymouth, Mass, Jan. 4, 1864, the son of Noah Blanchard and Lucy (Newcomb) Thayer. His father was one of the pioneer shoe manufacturers of this country and he himself was very widely known in the shoe and leather trade. Surviving him are his wife, Alice (Waterman) Thayer; a son, Richard W. Thayer, and a daughter, Mrs. Francis Tilden Nichols (Boston Globe, December 9, 1929).
A major stock market crash began on “Black Thursday,” October 24, 1929, and continued through “Black Tuesday,” October 29, 1929. It recovered partially, but continued to fall between April 1930 and July 1932.
CAPITAL SHOCKED BY STOCKS CRASH. Officials of Administration Frankly Worried. Federal Reserve Board Officers Silent After Meeting. Special Dispatch to the Globe. WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 – The Administration, individually and collectively, was dumbfounded and worried today as descending stocks crashed through all opposition, with ominous financial and political forebodings to the Government. In the face of the near-panic the Federal Reserve Board, the Governments machinery for stabilizing finance, continued its silence. There was a formal meeting of the board this morning, but none after the first break in prices and the succeeding downward sweep. Administration officials do not know why a secondary reaction could assume such proportions or know what they can do about it. They fear the trend of the last two weeks will leave political scars, whether deserved or not, that no amount of political salve or optimistic financial reports will obliterate. Their greatest fear is that publlc financial morale might be broken in a way that will not permit psychological mending for months to come.
Many Rumors Current. The continued silence of the Federal Reserve Board has brought many rumors. One of the most current is that members feel the best the board can do is encourage member banks to ease credit by buying Liberty Bonds and other Government securities in which their present holdings are comparatively small, thus allowing the purchase price to be thrown to the cause of stemming the bear rush. Since this would be done with no publio announcement, it is believed here that such buying has been in progress for more than a week. President Hoover has had his say, expressing confidence in the condition of basic industries in general. The Reserve Board and Treasury officials also have made announcements along similar lines. Now they are perplexed at the immediate devastating reaction to statements that were to them more in the form of cold analysis than of optimistic predictions.
Officials Reticent. Government officials today declined to give public explanations or individual views. A secondary reaction was ejected, but not a repetition of the smash of last week. Taking for granted their concern over the market situation itself, they are now tor the first time frankly worried about the effect on business and industry aside from all speculation and manipulation. The Treasury has brought its figuring on financial and business on predictions to a standstill. Two weeks ago it was prepared to present a rosy forecast for the remaining two-thirds of the fiscal year. Now officials admittedly do not know what to report to the White House, not only about what business should do but what industry actually will he doing when Congress meets In December (Boston Globe, October 29, 1929).
In a slate of boxing matches sponsored by the Dover Athletic Club, in the Dover Town Hall, Emile Vachon of Milton “stopped” Phil Chester of Dover.
Emile J. Vachon married in Milton, October 26, 1925, Emma Phoebe Custeau, he of Somersworth, NH, and she of Milton.
SHARKEYS PROTEGE SUFFERS DEFEAT. Tiger Dixon Stops Joe Vincha in Dover Bout. Special Dispatch to the Globe. DOVER, N.H., Oct. 31 – Jack Sharkey’s protege, Joe Vincha, Lithuanian heavyweight amateur champion, was stopped by Tiger Tom Dixon of Dover in the third round of the main bout of the Dover A.C. show tonight in the Town Hall. Both Sharkey and John Buckley, Sharkey’s manager, accompanied Vincha here, appearing before the largest attendance at a boxing show in this town in three years. The first round was a draw. In the second Dixon’s superior punching began to weaken his opponent. Vincha dropped just before the bell. In the next round Vincha was out on his feet and Manager Buckley tossed a towel into the ring. Bob Cecchetti of Madbury won a six-round decision over Jimmie Wilde of Waltham In the semifinal. In another six-rounder Tommy Mallon of Dover knocked out Buddie Nichols of Portsmouth in the fourth round. Young Gaffney of Dover and Young Sharkey of Portsmouth fought a four-round draw. In the opening bout Emile Vachon of Milton, N.H., stopped Phil Chester of Dover in the third round (Boston Globe, November 1, 1929).
Emile Vachon, an odd jobs laborer, aged twenty-five years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of five years), Emma Vachon, aged twenty-four years (b. NH), and his children, Joseph A. Vachon, aged three years (b. NH), Robert A. Vachon, aged two years (b. NH), and Theresa Vachon, aged one year (b. NH). Emile Vachon owned their house on the Wakefield Road (near its intersection with North Main Street), which was valued at $600. They had a radio set.
Regrettably, this young Milton husband and father died in Frisbee Hospital in Rochester, NH, October 8, 1932, of severe burns sustained accidentally when he “started a fire with gasoline, building burned down.”
Previous in sequence: Milton in the News – 1928; next in sequence: Milton in the News – 1930
References:
Find a Grave. (2014, October 12). Charles Lafayette Morrison. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/137146911
Find a Grave. (2015, December 5). Emile Joseph Vachon. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/155744317
Find a Grave. (2015, August 7). Frank Herbert Thayer. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/150294761
Find a Grave. (2015, September 5). Rev. Howard M. Starratt. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/151883874
Find a Grave. (2013, August 14). Sarah L. Jewett. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115419144/sarah-l-jewett
Wikipedia. (2019, September). Charles Lindburgh. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Lindbergh
Wikipedia. (2019, June 20). Rodney “Gipsy” Smith. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodney_%22Gipsy%22_Smith
Wikipedia. (2019, October 26). Wall Street Crash of 1929. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wall_Street_Crash_of_1929
Milton Observer 