By Muriel Bristol (Transcriber) | January 26, 2020
In this year, we encounter a snow train meeting a snowplow, a truck accident, a convalescent home, cottages for sale and for rent, a lightning strike, Milton’s sesquicentennial celebrations, a new cottage for sale, a former music supervisor, a devastating barn fire, Red Gate farm for sale, a large Acton-side house for sale, and a former physician.
[This sequence of Milton news articles will be paused here for a time at Milton’s sesquicentennial year, so that other articles may be brought up into this same time period. Generally, these others might require more research, which means that my usual twice-weekly pace may slacken for a time].
The first Boston & Maine Sunday Snow Train of the season struck the plow of a Milton snowplow truck partially struck on the tracks.
346 Aboard First Sunday Snow Train. Reluctantly Quit Skiing at Call For Last Busses. By PAT HARTY. A crowd of 346 skiers and spectators rode the first Boston & Maine Sunday Snow Train of the season to the Eastern Slopes region of New Hampshire yesterday and had some of the best skiing of the year. They had an unscheduled experience when the train hit a snowplow in Milton, N.H. The plow became stuck in heavy snow and did not quite clear the track. The operators leaped to safety, but a piece of the plow frame swept the side of the diesel and broke a few windows in the train. No one was hurt. Snowshoes Too. Nova Kelso, a dentist’s receptionist in Boston, transplanted from Walla Walla. Wash., called one of her first days of New England skiing superb. She did most of her skiing in Oregon and was one of he country’s few women ski patrolmen. She doesn’t mind splinting a broken bone but claims handling a toboggan on a mountainside is really tough for a girl. They didn’t waste a minute, they kept the rope tows and the skimobile humming, and quit only when the word was passed that the last buses were leaving for the station, a mile away. However, skiers did not have a monopoly, as snowshoers, hikers and just plain spectators swelled the crowd. Peer Reed Owen, 65, of 275 Gallivan boulevard, Dorchester, brought along his favorite snowshoes and hiked to the summit of Cranmore Mountain. “That ice the skiers were falling on was no easier for my snowshoes,” commented Peer, “but I soon got above them and into soft snow. It was wonderful up there looking off at Mt. Washington in the distance.” Peer is a head janitor at Harvard University’s Business School, where he presides at Hamilton Hall. He brought along his 19-year-old son, Edward, who is a sophomore in the undergraduate college. Ed does not share his father’s love for the snowshoes, but skis. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Nesbitt, 74, and 72, respectively, were certainly the oldest folks on the train, but their spirits were among the youngest. They were the pair who organized a party of 79 skiers in Lawrence years ago in order to get the Sunday snow special to stop there. Their comments would qualify them as experts as they watched the stream of down-running skiers. Donald Guy, 8, son of the photo chief of the Associated Press, hated like fury to head for the station at the close of the day. Aid Olympic Fund. Henry Brown of Beverly, train conductor, was on hand early this morning to shake the hands of many of the train’s regulars. First to greet him was Sven Cederstrom of Beacon Hill, without whom the train wouldn’t leave the station. He and Henry rode the first one and they have not missed many since. Henry (Swampy) Paris of the Initou Ski Club of Woburn made the trip and sold decals for the Olympic Ski Team Fund en route. He realized $40 for the fund at half a dollar a throw. Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Miselis at New London, Conn came the longest distance to ride up. They got up at 3:30 in the morning and took the 5 o’clock train to Boston. They brought their sons, Robert, 5, and Richard, 6, to take a ski lesson from Hannes Schneider, famed ski maestro of Cranmore Mountain. Neal Mahoney was in charge of the ski car, which is complete with every ski gadget known to man. John O’Rourke assisted him in fitting bindings to rental skis or fixing broken gear. Bjarne Johanssen, ski shop owner, and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Burt Lindahl of Brookline and Burt Shea of Somerville were on hand. Margaret and Mary Reil of Woburn, Bill Rouillard and Ed Hamilton oi Stoneham, and John and Dot Mason of Woburn were part of a group of 17 that came along from the Initou Ski Club. Nan Mulcahey was another Woburnite who sped down Cranmore all afternoon. Joan Hureau and Rita Lucarelli of Everett gave the rope tow a workout. Margaret Coppinger of Medford confided that she lives for the Winter and skiing. Summer is just something to be endured, she feels. The crowd of spectators who went to make up a crowd of close to 1500 at the skimobile were treated to a pretty sight this afternoon when 150 children, members of the junior ski program, went through their paces. They were having a dress rehearsal for a television and movie short they will make later in the week. The skiing was good here today with most of the crowd playing around on the North and South Slopes. The upper Rattlesnake and Arlberg trails as well as the lower Arlberg and North Conway trails got plenty of running. The snow was deep and the runs were well packed out. This may be the year when Snow Train crowds will again reach the 1000 mark (Boston Globe, January 7, 1952).
Ralph E. Treadwell [“Jr.”] of Milton Mills was hospitalized for injuries he received in a truck accident on Spring street in Farmington, NH.
MILTON MILLS MAN INJURED IN TRUCK CRASH ON SPRING STREET. Ralph E. Tredwell was taken to the Frisbie Memorial hospital early last Sunday morning, where he was treated for injuries sustained in a truck accident on Spring street, shortly before 1 a.m., on that date. The extent of his injuries are not known at present, but it was reported that he was still hospitalized early in the week. The accident occurred just north of Ricker’s garage. Tredwell was reported driving his truck toward Farmington village, on his return from a dance in New Durham. It is believed that the truck, with a snow plow attachment on front, struck a series of bumps, causing him to lose control of the vehicle, with the result that the truck went off the highway, and crashed into a tree. The truck was badly damaged, but was saved from complete demolishment by the snow plow attachment. Tredwell was taken to a local physician, who advised him to be taken to the hospital. The accident was investigated by Lawrence Lover, the officer on duty (Farmington News, February 29, 1952).
Ralph E. Treadwell married in Maine, October 20, 1953, Louise D. French. Ralph Treadwell appeared, with his wife, Louise Treadwell, in the Rochester directory of 1960, as a Portsmouth Naval Shipyard employee, with a house at 8 Mill street, East Rochester.
They removed to Honolulu, HI, between then and 1968. He died at Ewa Beach, Honolulu, HI, December 12, 1983.
Beatrix A. “Billie” (Bishop) Meunier, formerly of Northfield, VT, but reportedly resident at this time in Acton, ME.
Beatrix Meunier became proprietor of the Sunshine Lunch and Bakery in Newport, NH, in August 1946 (Burlington Free Press, August 9, 1946). She opened the eponymous Billie’s restaurant, in the Varney Block (at the intersection of Central and North Main streets), in Farmington, NH, in August 1950.
In March 1952, she planned to open a convalescent home on Charles street in Milton.
LOCAL BUSINESS WOMAN TO START CONVALESCENT HOME IN MILTON. Miss Beatrix Meunier, well known proprietor of Billie’s restaurant, has announced the purchase of the former Reginald Curtis dwelling property on Charles street in Milton. This is of considerable interest to people in this vicinity, as Miss Meunier also announced that following a series of repairs and renovations, she plans to open the large 16-room structure as a convalescent home. It is not expected, however, that the home will be open for business until sometime in late spring or during summer (Farmington News, March 28, 1952).
Beatrix Meunier appeared in the Milton tax valuation of April 1, 1952, as owner of the Reginald Curtis homestead, which was valued at $4,300.
William P. Boivin advertised a new cottage for sale, as he had in the previous year. (He had previously offered similar “Little America” cottages for rent in 1949).
Summer Cottages and Houses. FOR SALE. New Lake Front Cottage. 4 ROOMS and flush, finished and furnished, ready to move in, electric pump, good well, pine trees on lot; good beach; loan can be arranged; price $4800. Write WM. BOIVIN, Box 51, Milton, N.H. SSu (Boston Globe, May 24, 1952).
William P. Boivin appeared in the Milton tax valuation of April 1, 1952, as owner of Lots 6, 7, Durkee cottage and 8 lots and cottages, Bowering, which was valued at $8,800.
Summer Cottages and Houses. STEVENS Cottages. Milton, N.H.; spacious, modern, lake boat, bathing. $50-$60. TR6-4577. dSu3t je6 (Boston Globe, June 6, 1952).
Shore, Mountain, Lake, Country. 112. STEVENS COTTAGES, Milton, N.H. Tel. Mil. 34-11. $50-$60 a week. Spacious, modern, bathing, boat. 3t j6 (Portsmouth Herald, June 10, 1952).
Florence E. Stevens appeared in the Milton tax valuation of April 1, 1952, as owner of five cottages and lots, which was valued in total at $6,700. (Earlier advertisements (those of 1944) place the Stevens Cottages on Northeast Pond).
Charles E. [Jr.] and Eva M. (Pearson) Perry lost their Goodwin road residence to a fire caused by a lightning strike.
MILTON DWELLING STRUCK BY LIGHTNING BURNS COMPLETELY. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Perry on the Goodwin road in Milton was struck by lightning during the electrical storm early Tuesday evening and was completely destroyed by fire that ensued. Mr. and Mrs. Perry were away from their home at the time and the blaze was not discovered until it had gained such headway that it became noticeable to neighbors in that section of town. The dwelling, which was one of the oldest structures in that area, was completely gutted before firemen could be notified. It is reported that the unfortunate couple had no fire insurance coverage (Farmington News, June 13, 1952).
The Heirs of Charles E. Perry [Sr.] appeared in the Milton tax valuation of April 1, 1952, as owners of a 50-acre farm, which was valued at $1,000.
Bad weather forced Milton’s sesquicentennial celebration from its planned location on the grounds of the Nute High school to the town hall building on Sunday, August 10, 1952.
As its name implies, the featured Goodall Sanford band was based in Sanford, ME. Norman I. Stansfield, a Sanford weaver, aged thirty-six years, was its manager, and Everett E. Firth, a Sanford music teacher, aged fifty-six years, was its director. In some of its reported concerts it featured as many as fifty musicians.
The principal speaker was Styles Bridges of Concord, NH, one of New Hampshire’s two U.S. senators. U.S. Representative Chester Merrow was also in attendance.
150th ANNIVERSARY OF THE TOWN OF MILTON CELEBRATION, AUGUST 10. The town of Milton was incorporated in 1802, when it separated from Rochester, where formerly it was known as the Northeast Parish. Since the first settlement in 1760, the population has increased until now there are 1510 persons in town. They will be joined by many former residents and people from other communities in celebrating the 150th anniversary of the town at a program to be held on Nute high school grounds on Sunday August 10, from one to five in the afternoon. The Goodall Sanford band will be in attendance, the principal speaker will be Hon. Styles Bridges, and there will be other interesting and entertaining numbers. The committee in charge of the occasion consists of Chairman Lyman Plummer, Edward R. Stone, Maurice L. Hayes, Theodore C. Ayer, John G. Gilman, Leroy J. Ford, and Robert P. Laskey (Farmington News, August 1, 1952).
150th ANNIVERSARY OF TOWN OF MILTON. The town of Milton celebrated the 150th anniversary of its incorporation last Sunday, August 10, with a program that featured local and national participants. Although the rainy day necessitated the change of location from the scheduled Nute high school grounds to the town hall building, the interest of citizens and former residents and friends was not dampened in the least. The hall was filled by one o’clock in the afternoon, when the Goodall Sanford Band opened the ceremonies with a concert. The address of welcome was given by Lyman Plummer, who was chairman of the committee of arrangements. Then followed “The Star Spangled Banner,” by Joseph Barry, Pledge of Allegiance, and invocation by Rev. George F. Currier. The history of the town was given by John G. Gilman, chairman of the board of selectmen. Speakers for the occasion were Hon. Styles Bridges, Hon. Chester Merrow and Mayor C. Wesley Lyons of Rochester. Singing by the audience, benediction by Rev. Buell W. Maxfield and a concert by the band brought to a close the order of the day which made a very fitting observance of 150 years of progress in the town of Milton (Farmington News, August 15, 1952).
Milton’s centennial observance took place on August 30, 1902 and one of New Hampshire’s two U.S. Senators took notice of its bicentennial year in a speech on the senate floor on March 13, 2002.
William P. Boivin advertised a new cottage for sale, as he had in May and in the previous year.
Summer Cottages and Houses. FOR SALE. BRAND new water front cottage, Milton, N.H.: if you love to fish, swim and hunt, this is it; 4-room Summer home, furnished, refrigeration and gas; ready to move in; running water and your own private beach and wharf; price $4500. Write Wm. BOIVIN, Box 51, Milton, N.H. SuM (Boston Globe, August 3, 1952).
William P. Boivin appeared in the Milton tax valuation of April 1, 1952, as owner of Lots 6, 7, Durkee cottage and 8 lots and cottages, Bowering, which was valued at $8,800.
Here we learn that John Whelan of Durham had at one time been in charge of music education in Milton.
Durham Items. The John Whelans of Mast Rd. are moving this week to Munson [Monson], Mass., where Whelan will be supervisor of music in the public schools. He formerly was in charge of music for Durham, and Milton, N.H. (Portsmouth Herald, August 26, 1952).
WW II Veteran Paul R. McDermott and his wife, Geraldine M. (Davis) McDermott lost their huge barn and twenty-seven head of cattle in an overnight five-alarm fire. (A similar fire destroyed the Katwick’s West Milton barn and cattle in February 1948).
Paul R. and Geraldine M. McDermott appeared in the Milton tax valuation of April 1, 1952, as owner of the 70-acre Bailey farm and creamery, which was valued at $6,500. They owned also seven cows, valued at $875, and three neat stock, valued at $300.
27 HEAD OF CATTLE LOST IN N.H. BLAZE. Huge Barn Destroyed in Milton; Loss Given at $100,000. MILTON, N.H. (AP). – Fire, unofficially estimated at $100,000 damage, raced through a huge barn here last night and 27 head of cattle perished in the flames. Only five cows were saved by farmhands and neighbors who braved smoke and intense heat and entered the structure which belonged to Mr. and Mrs. Paul R. McDermott. The fire was discovered by Mrs. McDermott shortly before midnight when she noticed smoke emerging from the building. Fire companies from three towns helped fight the flames but the barn was leveled. No cause for the fire was immediately determined but firemen said new hay was stored in the building yesterday and they theorized spontaneous combustion may have been responsible (Brattleboro Reformer, September 9, 1952).
Paul R. McDermott appeared, with his wife Geraldine M. McDermott, in the Dover directory of 1953, as a farmer, with his house at 392 Central av.
New Hampshire Real Estate and Business Properties. Excellent Village Home in N.H. ATTRACTIVE, sound construction, 1½-story house, 7 rooms, large porch, sizable barn, 2-story workshop adjacent, suitable for business; good well, electricity, 1 min. walk to P.O. and stores, lakes and large shopping districts nearby; price .$4500. Address RED GATE FARM, Milton Mills, N.H., tel. 24-12. Su3t s21 (Boston Globe, September 21, 1952).
Mr. and Mrs. Theodore H. Ayer of Red Gate Farm, Milton Mills, announced the engagement of their daughter, Jane E. Ayer, to Donald E. Pearson of Manchester, NH, in January 1965 (Farmington News, January 7, 1965).
REAL ESTATE. IN ACTON, ME. State line property, 12-room house, could be used as two-family, guest, convalescent home or an ideal summer home. Near schools, stores, post office and churches; several large lakes nearby, plenty good fishing and hunting. Price $2900, cash or terms. CLARENCE DeVOID, BOX 93, MILTON MILLS, N.H. (Boston Globe, October 5, 1952).
Clarence E. Devoid came from Vermont. The $2,900 he sought for this large house would be worth $28,329 in current inflation-adjusted dollars.
Here we bid farewell to Dr. John A. Stevens, who appeared in various sources as a resident of Union, NH, in the period 1903-11.
LOCAL. Dr. John Andrew Stevens, aged 77 years, died Monday morning, October 6, at his home in Dover. Dr. Stevens at one time practiced medicine in Milton Mills, and later in New York state. He retired about twenty years ago. He was quite well known among older Farmington residents (Farmington News, October 10, 1952).
Previous in sequence: Milton in the News – 1951; next in sequence: Milton in the News – 1953
References:
Find a Grave. (2014, April 19). Beatrix A. “Billie” Meunier. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/128194272
Find a Grave. (2013, August 4). Charles Everett Perry, Jr. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/114912495
Find a Grave. (2002, November 27). Chester Earl Merrow. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/6957984/chester-earl-merrow
Find a Grave. (2003, February 4). Henry Styles Bridges. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/7146308/henry-styles-bridges
Find a Grave. (2015, August 6). Paul R. McDermott. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/150262322
Find a Grave. (2015, August 18). Ralph Ezekiel “Zeke” Treadwell. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/150926796
Find a Grave. (2016, June 23). William P. Boivin. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/165939126/william-p_-boivin
Wikipedia. (2019, May 20). Chester Earl Merrow. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chester_Earl_Merrow
Wikipedia. (2020, January 8). Styles Bridges. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Styles_Bridges
Milton Observer 