The Milton Board of Selectmen (BOS) have posted their agenda for a BOS meeting to be held Monday, April 1.
Yes, an April Fools meeting. The “optics” are perhaps a bit unfortunate.
The April Fools meeting is scheduled to begin with a Non-Public session beginning at 5:30 PM. That agenda has two Non-Public items classed as 91-A:3 II (b) and 91-A3 II (a).
91-A:3 II (b) The hiring of any person as a public employee.
91-A:3 II (a) The dismissal, promotion, or compensation of any public employee or the disciplining of such employee, or the investigation of any charges against him or her, unless the employee affected (1) has a right to a meeting and (2) requests that the meeting be open, in which case the request shall be granted.
The second meeting of the Town year begins also with a secret meeting, also about raises and hiring. Job postings have been made for an additional clerk and truck driver.
How to handle a Default Budget? Start hiring. It is like they cannot help themselves.
The BOS intend to adjourn their Non-Public BOS session at approximately (*) 6:00 PM, when they intend to return to Public session.
The Public portion of the agenda has New Business, Old Business, Other Business, and some housekeeping items.
Under New Business are scheduled six agenda items: 1) Swearing in of New Police Officer (Rich Krauss), 2) Town-Issued Board of Selectmen Email Addresses (Andy Rawson), 3) Land Use Clerk Position (Dave Owen), 4) DPW Truck Purchase Request (Pat Smith), 5) Town Committee Board of Selectmen Appointments and Current Vacancy Discussion, 6) Side-Letter Agreement with Atlantic Broadband Re.: Internet Service.
Swearing in of New Police Officer (Rich Krauss). Here we find the reason for last week’s secret meeting.
Town-Issued Board of Selectmen Email Addresses (Andy Rawson). In answer to campaign and other promises, the Board of Selectmen will have e-mail addresses this year. This seemed previously to be some sort of insurmountable obstacle, but the new Town website is said to be capable of this.
Land Use Clerk Position (Dave Owen). For the paperwork of reducing assessed values? February real estate sales figures were published this week showing Milton as the only town in Strafford County with reduced values (although Farmington’s increase was ever so slight: less than inflation). (See Capital Reduction Program (CRP)).
Town Committee Board of Selectmen Appointments and Current Vacancy Discussion. This seemed to have been settled at last week’s meeting, at which the BOS seemed to be on the verge of covering fewer committees, but there has perhaps been some revision.
Side-Letter Agreement with Atlantic Broadband Re.: Internet Service. The addition of water, sewer, and “beach shack” locations to the list of Town broadband hookups.
Under Old Business are scheduled five items: 7) 2019 Town Election Recount Discussion & MS 232 Signing, 8) Follow-Up Discussion on Board of Selectmen By-Laws, 9) Follow-Up Discussion on Gifted Properties and Potential Public Hearings, 10) Follow-Up Discussion on Auctioning Town-Owned Properties, 11) Follow-Up Discussion on Town Vehicles/Equipment
2019 Town Election Recount Discussion & MS 232 Signing. The recount having come out the same as the count, the results shall be reported to the State.
Follow-Up Discussion on Board of Selectmen By-Laws. The current by-laws were continued until everybody had a chance to re-read them.
Follow-Up Discussion on Gifted Properties and Potential Public Hearings. Properties gifted, and accepted by the Town, cannot just be sold. There must be a vote on a ballot. The old fire station falls in this category, as well as a few others the BOS hopes to clear off their list. The boat for the ballot just taken sailed on schedule, but a special Town meeting could accomplish the same thing.
Follow-Up Discussion on Auctioning Town-Owned Properties. This seemed to have been settled with the auction planned for early May. (With everybody not as happy as they might have been).
Follow-Up Discussion on Town Vehicles / Equipment. How to maintain an aggressive CIP purchase schedule on a level budget? And now that DPW Truck request.
Other Business That May Come Before the Board has two items: Household Hazardous Waste Collection. and NH Municipal Local Officials Workshop Offering
Household Hazardous Waste Collection. Setting a date for the annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection event.
NH Municipal Local Officials Workshop Offering. The Teddy Bears’ Picnic. This particular assemblage will have already undergone the basic mental conditioning in other years. But we have paid some thousands already for their membership fee. Perhaps just a quick mental steam-cleaning and press?
Finally, there will be the approval of prior minutes (from the BOS meeting of March 18, 2019), the expenditure report, Public Comments “Pertaining to Topics Discussed,” Town Administrator comments, and BOS comments.
In this rather full year, we encounter Noah B. Thayer, who would become later a major Milton employer, the return of the Rev. Frank Haley, a series of burglaries by a criminal gang, a sudden freak death, a local student of poetry and elocution, yet another Milton mill fire, and a remembrance of recently-deceased Milton Mills merchant Bray U. Simes.
Here we find Noah B. Thayer, of Fogg, Shaw, Thayer & Co., of Boston, MA, receiving an “assignment” from a bankrupt wholesale shoe dealer.
A Heavy Shoe Failure. Fellows, Shaw & Raymond, wholesale dealers in boots, shoes and rubbers, 159 and l61 Pearl street, have made an assignment to N.B. Thayer, of the firm of Fogg, Shaw, Thayer & Co. of this city. The liabilities amount to about $100,000, and the assets are nominally in excess of that amount. There are contingent liabilities of $15,000 or $20,000. A meeting of the creditors has been called for Saturday, April 18 (Boston Globe, April 15, 1885).
New Hampshire. Milton Mills. Rev. J.L. Sewall accepts his call to this church. Milton. Rev. Frank Haley has accepted a call from this church, and began his services two weeks ago. All are glad at heart to recall our pastor of years ago, and hope the time is far distant when he will make another change (Vermont Chronicle, June 12, 1885).
Rev. J.L. Lowell actually went to Milton, VT. Rev. Frank Haley returned from his time away in Boscawen, NH, to begin his second pastorate at the Milton Congregational church.
Milton suffered a rash of burglaries in this year. Without more information it is difficult to say much more about the criminals, who seemed to have been based in Rochester.
One interesting aspect was the apparent ease of escaping from the local lockups. And that, as the proverb goes, there seems to have been little “honor among thieves.” Hamilton rolled right over on Smith, and more disclosures seemed to be expected.
Robbers in Dover. DOVER, N.H., June 22. – Several robberies have occurred around Milton, N.H. Saturday, one of the parties, Ed Hamilton, was traced to East Rochester. He was arrested, but escaped. and was again recaptured and locked up in Rochester. James Smith, another of the gang, was captured on account of information given by Hamilton, but he escaped Sunday from the lockup and has not yet been recaptured. Hamilton is held for breaking and entering and stealing five watches, three revolvers, jack-knives, etc.. He was tried at Rochester this morning and held in $1000 bonds. He was brought here to jail today by Sheriff Greenfield in default of bail. It is thought there are more in the gang who will be “given away” and captured (Boston Globe, June 23, 1885).
To the extent that these burglaries were a random sampling, it would seem that Milton had three revolvers for every five watches. The court proceeding mentioned would have been an arraignment, rather than a “trial.”
Summary of News. A gang of burglars have lately been operating in Milton, N.H. Ed. Hamilton was arrested last Monday evening, and several gold and silver watches and some money were found on his person. Another man was also arrested (Argus & Patriot (Montpelier, VT), June 24, 1885).
One of Luther Hayes’ farm laborers was killed by a freak lightning strike while sitting at a table inside the Hayes house in West Milton.
A Man Killed in Milton, N.H. DOVER, August 1. – Last evening a heavy thunder shower visited Milton, N.H. Mark Dore, who works on the place of Hon. Luther Hayes, was sitting at a table when a bolt struck a tree in front of the house, caromed in through an open door and struck him on the head, instantly killing him and discoloring the body. The other inmates received slight shocks from the electric current. The house was not damaged (Boston Globe, August 2, 1885).
Despite the victim being identified as a man called Mark Dore, only fifteen-year-old Charles S. Dorr died in Milton on the named date. He died in Milton, NH, July 31, 1885, aged fifteen years, seven months, and seventeen days, son of Steven D. and Melvina F. [(Staples)] Dorr.
Stephen D. Dorr, a farmer, aged forty-eight years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Melvina F. Dorr, keeping house, aged thirty-six years (b. NH), and his children, Emily F. Dorr, at home, aged nineteen years (b. NH), Rosa Dorr, at home, aged fifteen years (b. NH), Augusta Dorr, at home, aged thirteen years (b. NH), Charles S. Dorr, at home, aged eleven years (b. NH), Alphonzo Dorr, at home, aged seven years (b. NH), and Fred H. Dorr, at home, aged three years (b. NH). Stephen D. Dorr appeared in the enumeration between the households of Calvin Mason, a farmer, aged thirty-five years (b. NH), and James M. Breen, a clergyman, aged sixty years (b. NH).
Here we find Will Wilde – an apparent pseudonym – of Milton Three Ponds, receiving a reply to his inquiry for additional information about poetry and elocution.
Inquiries Answered. “Will Wilde, Milton Three Ponds, N.H.” At least two of the poems referred to are in the familiar elocutionist’s series known as “One Hundred Selections.” Send to the New England News Company. Boston, for indexes of these volumes (Boston Globe, August 22, 1885).
At this time, Milton had district schools, which would take a student up through what might now be considered an early Middle School level. We have mentioned before some of the standard textbooks used in them: Milton’s Arithmetic Textbooks of 1878.
Plummer’s Ridge District No. 1 Schoolhouse
Right up through the late nineteenth century, district school teachers might not have been much older than their students (as with the Milton Teacher of 1796-05, who began teaching at thirteen years of age). We might think of the fictional Miss Anne Shirley of Anne of Green Gables. (Anne with an “e,” thank you).
Most students who completed their district school educations went directly to work or into apprenticeships. (One need only look at Federal Census schedules to confirm this).
Milton had no public high school, although it did have a private one, the Milton Classical Institute, which had been established in 1867. The Institute’s student body would have been small, comprising only the few students that wanted further education, perhaps intending to go into one of the professions, and who were able to pay the freight (or obtain a patron). Its students might have gone on to college thereafter, but not necessarily.
(Milton had also for a time a private subscription library, the Milton Social Library, which opened its doors in 1822).
The Nute High School & Library would open its doors in 1891 but, even then, not all of Milton’s district school graduates would have gone there.
Obviously, education is never complete. One of its purposes is to teach you how to teach yourself. And the enterprising Will Wilde of Milton Three Ponds seems to have been working on that.
Isaac W. Springfield was born in Rochester, NH, October 27, 1823, son of Isaac and Clara (Blaisdell) Springfield.
Isaac W. Springfield, a woolen manufacturer, aged fifty-seven years (b. NH), headed a Rochester household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Clarinda [(Nutter)] Springfield, keeping house, aged fifty-eight years (b. NH), and his children, Jennie E. Springfield, at home, aged thirty-four years (b. NH), Fred A. Springfield, at home, aged twenty-eight years (b. NH), Hattie L. Springfield, at home, aged seventeen years (b. NH).
I.W. Springfield & Son appeared as woolens and blanket manufacturers in the Milton business directories of 1884 and 1887.
MISDEEDS AND MISHAPS. Isaac W. Springfield & Son’s woolen mill, Milton Three Ponds, N.H., was struck by lightning and destroyed by fire Saturday morning (St. Albans Daily Messenger (St. Albans, VT), [Monday,] August 24, 1885).
NEW HAMPSHIRE NEWS. A.W. Springfield’s woolen mills at Milton, Three Ponds, twenty-two miles from Dover, were struck by lightning early Saturday morning, and with the contents, burned to the ground. Fifty hands were employed there; loss $30,000 (Springfield Reporter (Springfield, VT), August 28, 1885).
In 1894, I.W. Springfield, then of South Wolfeboro, NH, was one of 1,150 manufacturers of “woolens and worsted goods, carpets, hosiery, and knit goods, wholesale clothing and cloak manufacturers, wool dealers, and commission merchants,” who opposed the Wool and Woolen Schedule of the Wilson Tarriff Bill. The petition originated at a mass meeting held in New York City, January 10, 1894, and was “referred” to a US Senate Committee. (The Waumbeck Company, of Milton Mills, NH, also signed the petition).
Clarinda (Nutter) Springfield died in Rochester, NH, January 6, 1888. Isaac W. Springfield died in Wolfeboro, NH, January 7, 1900, aged seventy-six years.
Bray U. Simmes, a prominent Milton Mills merchant, who appears to have retired about 1871-72, died there July 15, 1885. He is here remembered for his subtlety in detecting a sneak thief.
GLEANINGS. The death of B.U. Simes, of Milton Mills, recalls an incident that occurred about thirty years ago. He was a merchant and a very shrewd man. One day he discovered that his till had been robbed, and he resolved to say nothing about it to any one, not even to the members of his family. Some three months afterward one of his customers said to him: “Did you ever find out who took that money out of your till?” Mr. Simes replied: “I never have till now, but now I know it was you, as I have never told any one that I lost it.” And he made the man pay him the amount – Worcester (Harrisburg Telegraph, October 3, 1885).
Bray Underwood Simes was born in Portsmouth, NH, in June 1801, son of William Simes.
He married, circa 1827-28, Martha Spinney. She was born in Maine, circa 1809-13. She died between June 1880 and July 1885.
(The 1886 and 1891 dates on their gravestone are incorrect. He died in 1885, at which time he was a widower. Likely, an earlier soft white marble stone was replaced by the current granite one and the original dates were difficult to read).
Bray U. Simes set up as a merchant in Milton Mills as early as 1830. The Sixth (1840) Federal Census listed him as “engaged in commerce.”
Bray U. Simes, a trader, aged forty-nine years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Martha Simes, aged thirty-seven years (b. ME), Elizabeth E. Simes, aged twenty years (b. NH), William Simes, a student, aged eighteen years (b. NH), George Simes, a student, aged sixteen years (b. NH), Caroline Simes, aged fourteen years (b. NH), John Simes, aged twelve years (b. NH), Ann Simes, aged ten years (b. NH), Edward Simes, aged eight years (b. NH), Shadrach Simes, aged five years (b. NH), and Adaline Simes, aged two years (b. NH). Bray U. Simes had real estate valued at $1,500. His household appeared in the enumeration between those of James Parker, a weaver, aged twenty-five years (b. ME) and John L. Swinerton, a physician, aged forty-five years (b. ME).
B.U. Simes, a merchant, aged fifty-nine years (b. NH), headed a Milton (Milton Mills P.O.) household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Martha Simes, aged fifty years (b. NH), Elizabeth Simes, aged thirty-one years (b. NH), Ann Simes, aged twenty-one years (b. NH), Adda Simes, aged twelve years (b. NH), and John Simes, a merchant, aged twenty-four years (b. NH). Bray U. Simes had real estate valued at $1,200 and personal estate valued at $3,000. His household appeared in the enumeration between those of Elbridge W. Fox, a farmer, aged twenty-five years (b. NH) and [his son] George Simes, a house carpenter, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH). (His location seems to have been the same as that of 1850).
The youngest son, Shadrach S. Simes, of Milton, NH, aged nineteen years, enlisted in Company C of the Ninth NH Regiment, at Portsmouth, NH, January 5, 1864. He was captured on May 12, 1864, during the Battle of Spotsylvania, VA. He died in the notorious prison camp at Andersonville, GA, June 30, 1864.
His store and that of another son, John U. Simes, were two of Milton Mills’ “four regular stores” mentioned in the Vulpes Letter of January 1864, and they were both taxed as retail dealers in the US Excise Tax of May 1864.
Bray U. (or B.U.) Simes appeared as a Milton Mills variety merchant, or a dry goods & grocery merchant in Milton business directories of the years 1867-68, 1869-70, and 1871.
The last will of Bray U. Simes, of Milton, NH, dated February 3, 1879, devised $5 to each of four sons, George, William, John U., and Edward S. Simes. It also canceled $1,000 promissory notes that he held from each of the same four sons. He devised $2,000 to his daughter, Elizabeth E. Simes. (Other children, Shadrach (d. 1864), Caroline (d. 1868), Adaline (d. 1875), and Ann Simes (d. 1878), died prior to the drafting of the will). He devised all the rest, residue, and remainder of his estate to his “beloved wife,” Martha Simes (who would also predecease him). John T. French, Geo. Annable, and Charles E. Green signed as witnesses.
Bray U. Simes, a retired merchant, aged seventy-eight years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Martha Simes, a housekeeper, aged seventy-two years (b. ME), his daughter, Elizabeth E. Simes, at home, aged fifty-one years (b. NH), and his grandson, William C. Simes, works peddling fancy goods & c., aged seventeen years (b. NH). Bray U. Simes appeared in the enumeration between the households of [his son] Edward S. Simes, a carpenter, aged fifty-seven years (b. NH), and Ira Miller, a storekeeper, aged fifty-three years (b. ME).
US Congress. (1895). Miscellaneous Documents of the Senate of the United States, for the Second Session of the Fifty-Third Congress, 1893-94. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=BR5HAQAAIAAJ&pg=RA10-PA8
Boston’s famous Durgin-Park restaurant closed its doors for the last time on Saturday, January 12, 2019, after nearly two hundred years (founded in 1827). I heard about it recently from a friend that lives in Boston.
Durgin-Park occupied an upstairs location in the northern row of buildings at the Quincy Marketplace. It was known for its communal seating at long tables, and its menu of what might be called traditional “Yankee” food: cornbread, seafood, chowders, broiled meats, Boston baked beans, boiled dinners, apple pie (and cheese), and Indian pudding. Even spruce gum for afters.
There were and are many fine ethnic restaurants in Boston and New England, but only Durgin-Park presented traditional Yankee cuisine so authentically and so thoroughly.
I have (from an older relative) one of their postcard-like handouts from some forty-five years ago, which featured their recipes for Boston Baked Beans, Baked Indian Pudding; Tea Cake, Blueberry Cake, and Cornbread; and Old-Fashioned Apple Pie.
I will here reproduce, as a sort of tribute, the Durgin-Park recipe for Tea Cake, Blueberry Cake, and Cornbread, which all shared a common base.
TEA CAKE, BLUEBERRY CAKE, AND CORN BREAD
For Tea Cake:
¾ cup sugar
3 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 eggs
1 tablespoon melted butter
¾ teaspoon salt
1½ cups milk
Mix sugar with beaten eggs. Sift flour, baking powder and salt together. Add melted butter and milk. Beat up quickly and bake in a large buttered pan in a very hot oven. This makes one large pan, which will cut into 21 squares.
For Blueberry Cake, add one cup blueberries last.
For Corn Bread, substitute one cup granulated yellow corn meal for one of the three cups of flour.
One may notice that, as with the Milton Cookies of 1895-96, no specific temperature or time is given. You are supposed to just know that. For those that do not, a modern oven temperature of 400° might be taken to be a “very hot oven,” and a baking time of about ½ hour should be about long enough, but keep an eye on it. A 9″x14″ baking dish of 3″ depth would be about the right size.
Should there be sufficient interest, I am prepared to reproduce one or all of the other Durgin-Park recipes from the handout also.
Meanwhile, if you ever find yourself in need of lunch in Boston, Jacob Wirth’s German Restaurant (founded 1868) offers a not too dissimilar experience, except with German food instead of Yankee food. You might drown your sorrow over the loss of Durgin-Park in a nice Hefeweizen beer.
In this year, Henry H. Townsend’s Milton Mills blanket factory “failed,” i.e., experienced a bankruptcy. This state of affairs might also be termed an “embarrassment.”
Business Embarrassments. H.H. Townsend, blanket manufacturer, Milton, N.H., has failed (Boston Globe, August 29, 1884).
Henry H. Townsend was born in Dorchester, MA, August 12, 1842, son of John and Jane M. Townsend.
He married in Milton, NH, June 7, 1870, Agnes J. Brierly, he of Boston, MA, and she of Milton. Rev. N.D. Adams of Union, NH, performed the ceremony. She was born in Lowell, MA, May 17, 1844, daughter of Edward J. and Margaret M. (Thompson) Brierly.
Henry H. Townsend started his own blanket factory, as opposed to that sold by his father, prior to 1873. Sullivan H. Atkins joined him as a partner between 1875 and 1880. The factory appeared previously when it suspended production for a time in 1878.
Agnes J. (Brierly) Townsend died December 26, 1891. Henry H. Townsend died in Milton Mills, NH, June 25, 1904.
New Hampshire. UNION. It is expected that Rev. G.S. Butler of Milton Mills is to preach here Sunday afternoon at two o’clock, for a while (Vermont Chronicle (Bellows Falls, VT), February 9, 1883).
This may be when he met the widow that he would marry in the following year. She lived next door to the Union village parsonage.
In this year, we encounter the auction sale of a Milton Three Ponds hotel, the calling of a new minister to Milton Mills’ Union Congregational church, and the tragic freezing death of a Lebanon mother.
Horatio Gates Wentworth, Jr., was born in Lebanon, ME, July 4, 1841, son of Horatio G. and Esther (Gowell) Wentworth. He married, probably in Lebanon, ME, circa 1861, Susan Hersom. She was born in Lebanon, ME, December 10, 1841, daughter of John and Asenath (Shorey) Hersom.
Horatio G. Wentworth, Jr., of Lebanon, ME, a laborer, married, aged twenty-two years (b. ME), registered for the Class I military draft in July 1863. He was a farmer in Lebanon, ME, in 1870.
H.G. Wentworth appeared as manager of Milton’s Glendale House hotel in the Milton business directories of 1880, 1881, and 1882.
Horatio G. Wentworth, keeps hotel, aged thirty-eight years (b. MA), headed a Milton (“Milton 3-Ponds Village”), NH, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Susan [(Hersom)] Wentworth, keeping house (hotel), aged thirty-seven years (b. ME), and their six boarders, George Babcock, works for ice co., aged twenty-two years (b. MA), Nelson Babcock, works for ice co., aged nineteen years (b. MA), George Ingalls, works for ice co., aged thirty years (b. MA), George B. Knowlton, works for ice co., aged twenty-three years (b. MA), Howard Conkling, works for ice co., aged twenty-eight years (b. VT), and Thomas J. Gile, works for ice co., aged twenty years (b. ME).
The hotel appeared in the enumeration between the households of George I. Jordan, works on shoes, aged forty-five years (b. ME), and Albert Downs, works on shoes, aged thirty years (b. NH).
AUCTION SALES. HOTEL AT AUCTION. The well-known Glendale House, situate at Milton “Three Ponds” village, on the banks of a beautiful lake on the Conway division of the Eastern Railroad, will be sold at public auction, THURSDAY, May 25, at 2 o’clock P.M., sharp; situate in a growing manufacturing village, amid beautiful scenery, pure air, on the direct line of White Mountain travel, excellent boating, fishing, etc.; within two minutes walk of the depot, it presents superior advantages as a summer resort for the invalid or pleasure-seeker; terms liberal. Apply to H.A. WORTHEN, carriage manufacturer, or V.H. McDANIEL, Auctioneer, Dover, N.H. (Boston Globe, May 23, 1882).
Note that the auction advertisement seems to be pitched more towards tourist interests than those of the ice industry.
H.G. Wentworth appeared as manager of Milton’s Phenix House hotel in the Milton business directory of 1884.
Rev. Gardner S. Butler transferred from North Troy, VT, to the Union Congregational Church at Milton Mills, NH.
North Troy. Rev. G.S. Butler has received and accepted a call to preach at Milton Mills, N.H. (Express and Standard (Newport, VT), September 12, 1882).
This next article concerns the freezing death of Mrs. Moses W. Foss. Their marital life was a bit complicated and requires a bit of preliminary explanation.
Moses W. Foss married (1st) in Milton, NH, June 7, 1874, Addie S. Simonds, he of Milton and she of New Portsmouth, NH. Rev Joseph F. Joy [of the Milton Mills Free-Will Baptist church] performed the ceremony. She was born in Dover, NH, circa 1855-56, daughter of Stillman and Hannah W. (Stevens) Simonds. They seem to have divorced.
Moses W. Foss married (2nd) in Wakefield, NH, November 13, 1878, Susan A. (Sanborn) Goodwin, he of Milton and she of Wakefield. She was born in Wakefield, daughter of Goodwin and Hannah Sanborn. She had married (1st) Frank Goodwin, with whom she had a son, Charles W. Goodwin.
Moses W. Foss, a laborer, aged thirty-seven years (b. NH), headed a Lebanon, ME, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Susan A. Foss, keeping house, aged twenty-five years (b. ME [SIC]), his son-in-law (i.e, stepson), Charles W. Goodwin, at home, aged six years (b. NH), and his son, James H. Foss, at home, aged one year (b. NH).
HER LAST SHOPPING. A Woman Frozen to Death in a Snow Storm Near Milton, N.H. MILTON, N.H., December 16. Mrs. Moses W. Foss walked about two miles to this place to do some trading Wednesday afternoon in a snow storm. She attempted to return in a deep and blinding storm, and had nearly reached there, when, overcome by exhaustion, she fell down and perished. She leaves three small children. Her husband was out of town (Boston Globe, December 16, 1882).
Miscellaneous Items. Mrs. Moses W. Foss, of Milton, N.H., was caught out in a snow storm last week, and froze to death (New England Farmer, December 23, 1882).
Moses W. Foss married next (3rd) in Milton, NH, June 19, 1884, Rosa Cole, both of Milton. She was born in Milton, NH, daughter of Simon and Martha O. (Sargent) Cole.
Moses W. Foss died in Cornish, ME, July 18, 1910. Rosa (Cole) Foss married (2nd) in Cornish, ME, May 30, 1911, Greenleaf Pugsley.
Milton had the second part of its annual School District election (the first being the Deliberative Session), on Tuesday, March 12, 2019.
Only about one-third (32.4%) of the electorate chose to participate: 1047 / 3232 = 32.4%.
These results come from photographs of vote totals, which do not seem to be posted on the Town or School District websites.
The School District Clerk is pushing a recount: “I will be available at the Town Hall Friday (tomorrow) and Tuesday 3p-5p for anyone requesting a School District Recount” and “Yes, 10 signatures on an official recount request. Must be a registered voter, with a fee of $10.” Presumably, because you did not vote “correctly.” Come on, people, get in line.
School District offices appear first, followed by School District Warrant Articles. (Both are listed in the order of the percentages of votes received).
School District Offices (in Descending Order by Percentages Received)
School District Moderator – One for One Year
Chris Jacobs won the seat with 840 (80.2%) votes. He ran unopposed. “Scattering” received 3 (0.3%) votes. (He is also the incumbent Town Moderator).
School District Clerk – One for One Year
Tammy J. Crandall won the seat with 824 (78.7%) votes. She ran unopposed. “Scattering” had 4 (0.4%) votes.
School District Treasurer – One for One Year
Mackenzie Campbell won the seat with 815 (77.8%) votes. He ran unopposed. “Scattering” received 6 (0.6%) votes. (He received 836 (79.8%) in his unopposed race for Town Treasurer).
School Board Member – Two for Three Years
Emily Meehan won a seat with 548 (52.3%) votes. Melissa J. Brown won a seat with 455 (43.5%) votes.
Carter Wentworth Terry received 342 (32.7%) votes. “Scattering” received 309 (29.5%) votes. (“Scattering” included the write-in candidate, Alfred Goodwin).
School District Warrant Articles (in Descending Order by Percentages Received)
Article 5: School Plow Truck – Rejected – 275 (26.3%) in favor, 694 (66.3%) opposed, and 78 (7.4%) neither
Article 6: School Transportation Caravan – Rejected – 350 (33.4%) in favor, 615 (58.7%) opposed, and 82 (7.8%) neither
Article 11: Extension of School Moderator, Clerk, and Treasurer Terms to Three Years – Passed – 593 (56.6%) in favor, 366 (35.0%) opposed, and 88 (8.4%) neither
Article 9: Utilities Trust Fund – Rejected – 378 (36.1%) in favor, 587 (56.1%) opposed, and 82 (7.8%) neither
Article 10: Technology Expendable Trust Fund – Rejected – 379 (36.2%) in favor, 579 (55.3%) opposed, and 89 (8.5%) neither
Article 8: Building Maintenance Fund – Passed – 576 (55.0%) in favor, 375 (35.8%) opposed, and 96 (9.2%) neither
Article 4: Library Media – Passed – 561 (53.6%) in favor, 415 (39.6%) opposed, and 71 (6.8%) neither
Article 3: Salary Increases – Rejected – 445 (42.5%) in favor, 536 (51.2%) opposed, and 66 (6.3%) neither
Article 2: Operating Budget – Rejected – 448 (42.8%) in favor, 525 (50.1%) opposed, and 74 (7.1%) neither
Article 7: Educationally Disabled Children Trust Fund – Rejected – 481 (45.9%) in favor, 484 (46.2%) opposed, and 82 (7.8%) neither
The Milton Board of Selectmen (BOS) have posted their agenda for a BOS meeting to be held Monday, March 18.
This meeting is scheduled to begin with a Non-Public session beginning at 5:30 PM. That agenda has two Non-Public items classed as 91-A:3 II (a) and 91-A3 II (b).
91-A:3 II (a) The dismissal, promotion, or compensation of any public employee or the disciplining of such employee, or the investigation of any charges against him or her, unless the employee affected (1) has a right to a meeting and (2) requests that the meeting be open, in which case the request shall be granted.
91-A:3 II (b) The hiring of any person as a public employee.
A new Town year begins with a secret meeting, about raises and hiring. It is like they cannot help themselves. It does beg a question: legally, can Selectman-elect Rawson participate in this prior to being sworn?
The BOS intend to adjourn their Non-Public BOS session at approximately (*) 6:00 PM, when they intend to return to Public session.
The Public portion of the agenda has New Business, Old Business, and some housekeeping items.
Under New Business are scheduled twelve agenda items: 1) Swearing in Newly Elected Officials, Board and Committee Members, 2) Re-Organization of Board of Selectmen, 3) Board of Selectmen Committee/Board Assignments: a. Budget Committee b. Planning Board c. Zoning Board of Adjustment d. Economic Development Committee e. Recreation Commission f. School Board, 4) Board of Selectmen By-Law Discussion, 5) Board of Selectmen Recording Clerk Contractual Agreement Approval (Danielle Marique), 6) 2019 Town Election Results Discussion, 7) Request Approval of Motor Vehicle Registration Fees Abatement, 1 of 2 (M. Beauchamp), 8) Request Approval of Motor Vehicle Registration Fees Abatement, 2 of 2 (M. Beauchamp), 9) Durgin Fund Reimbursement for Veterans’ Park Project (Michelle Beauchamp), 10) Approval of Payment to JS Marine & Vinyl Works (Richard Krauss), 11) Town Ordinance Exception Request (David Paey), and 12) Discussion With Atlantic Broadband Representative Re.: Franchise Renewal (Dave Owen).
Agenda Item #12 has a fixed time of 6:30 PM. The other items will “flow” around this fixed time.
Swearing in Newly Elected Officials, Board and Committee Members; Re-Organization of Board of Selectmen; Board of Selectmen Committee/Board Assignments: a. Budget Committee, b. Planning Board, c. Zoning Board of Adjustment, d. Economic Development Committee, e. Recreation Commission, and f. School Board. All of the newly-elected officials are to be sworn; the BOS will identify their Chairman (or Chairwoman) and Vice-Chairman (or Vice-Chairwoman); and they will decide which selectman or selectwoman will sit on which Town committee.
As there are six committees and three selectmen, an even division would be two committees per selectman. Last year, Selectman Lucier hung back and took only one, while Vice-Chairwoman Hutchings picked up his slack.
Board of Selectmen By-Law Discussion. Will they continue Selectman Thibeault’s meeting by-laws?
Board of Selectmen Recording Clerk Contractual Agreement Approval (Danielle Marique). Renewal of the Recording Clerk’s contract.
2019 Town Election Results Discussion. The Town budget was rejected, 614 (61.6%) to 382 (38.4%). None of last year’s selectmen voted like the (nearly two-thirds) majority of the voters that rejected the increased Town budget. The BOS served again in their accustomed role as rubber stamps for more increases. Might this discussion include their apology, accompanied by a promise to better represent the taxpayers’ interests in the future? We shall see. Wonders never cease.
Request Approval of Motor Vehicle Registration Fees Abatement. Times two. When last this occurred it was an adjustment for a vehicle no longer owned.
Durgin Fund Reimbursement for Veterans’ Park Project. The Ira S. Knox Fund (AKA the Durgin Fund).
Approval of Payment to JS Marine & Vinyl Works. Although the States of New Hampshire and Maine have sole jurisdiction on the ponds, the Milton Police Navy feels a need to be a “presence” there. When last seen, Chief Krauss wanted $40,000 for a “patrol truck” capable of towing their boat. At that time, he mentioned that their boat had been damaged by the ice.
Town Ordinance Exception Request. On February 20, the Milton Planning Board voted 7-0 to “approve the request to renew the existing excavation permit submitted by David Paey Jr. owner / excavator, property located at 76 Piggot Rd.”
Discussion With Atlantic Broadband Representative Re.: Franchise Renewal. Cable TV is on its way out. (They raise prices like selectmen). One hopes at least that the contract term is a short one, allowing for future developments.
Under Old Business are scheduled two items: 13) Follow Up Discussion on Town Owned Properties, and 14) Follow Up Discussion on Town Vehicles / Equipment.
Town-Owned Properties. When last seen, the BOS was inching towards auctioning the three-year tax seizures. Chairman Thibeault would not “support” including the “Blue House,” valued at $168,300, in the list. He preferred giving it away to his favorite private organization. Here is his chance for a recount.
Finally, there will be the approval of prior minutes (from the BOS meeting of March 4, 2019), the expenditure report, Public Comments “Pertaining to Topics Discussed,” Town Administrator comments, and BOS comments.
Milton had the second part of its annual Town election (the first being the Deliberative Session), on Tuesday, March 12, 2019.
Only about one-third (32.4%) of the electorate chose to participate: 1047 / 3232 = 32.4%.
Town offices appear first, followed by Town Warrant Articles. (Both are listed in the order of the percentages of votes received).
Town Offices (in Descending Order by Percentages Received)
Town Clerk / Tax Collector – One for Three Years
Michelle Beauchamp won the seat with 903 (86.2%) votes. She ran unopposed. “Scattering” received 6 (0.6%) votes.
Library Trustee – One for Three Years
Miranda Myhre won the seat with 844 (80.6%) votes. She ran unopposed. “Scattering” had 2 (0.2%) votes.
Cemetery Trustee – One for Three Years
Bruce W. Woodruff won the seat with 840 (80.2%) votes. He ran unopposed. “Scattering” received 7 (0.8%) votes.
Treasurer – One for One Year
Mackenzie Campbell won the seat with 836 (79.8%) votes. He ran unopposed. “Scattering” received 11 (1.1%) votes.
Trustee of the Trust Funds – One for Three Years
Brittney Leach won the seat with 814 (77.7%) votes. She ran unopposed. “Scattering” received 2 (2.0%) votes.
Planning Board – Two for Three Years
Joseph A. Michaud won a seat with 791 (75.5%) votes. He ran unopposed. Nick Philbrick won a seat with 20 (2.0%) write-in votes.
Budget Committee – Two for Three Years
Thomas McDougall won a seat with 700 (66.9%) votes. Humphry Williams won a seat with 575 (54.9%) votes. They ran unopposed. “Scattering” received 45 (4.3%) votes.
Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) – Two for Three Years
James M. “Mike” Beaulieu won a seat with 646 (61.7%) votes. Sean Skillings won a seat with 618 (50.0%) votes. They ran unopposed. “Scattering” received 16 (1.5%) votes.
Fire Chief – One for Three Years
Nicholas Marique won the seat with 630 (60.2%) votes. Stephen D. Duchesneau received 396 (37.8%) votes. Neither of the above received 21 (2.0%) votes.
A total of 963 votes were cast for the five candidates for the single three-year seat on the Board of Selectmen.
Andrew “Andy” Rawson won the seat with 311 (33.9%) votes. (That would be 9.6% of the total electorate).
Laurence D. “Larry” Brown received 250 (23.9%) votes, Billy Walden received 223 (21.3%) votes, Adam G. Sturtevant received 104 (9.9%) votes, None of the above had 84 (8.0%) votes, James M. “Mike” Beaulieu received 72 (6.9%) votes, and “Scattering” had 3 (0.3%) votes.
Article 3: Zoning – Rejected – 382 (36.5%) in favor, 609 (58.2%) opposed, and 56 (5.3%) neither
Article 6: Highway and Road Reconstruction Fund – Passed – 595 (56.8%) in favor, 406 (38.8%) opposed, and 46 (4.4%) neither
Article 13: Geographic Information System – Passed – 583 (55.7%) in favor, 419 (40.0%) opposed, and 45 (4.3%) neither
Article 16: Conservation Commission Casey Road Fund – Passed – 576 (55.0%) in favor, 431 (41.2%) opposed, and 40 (3.8%) neither
Article 11: Milton Free Public Library Capital Reserve Fund – Passed – 576 (55.0%) in favor, 429 (41.0%) opposed, and 42 (4.0%) neither
Article 7: Fire Department Equipment and Apparatus Capital Reserve Fund – Passed – 551 (52.6%) in favor, 455 (43.5%) opposed, and 41 (3.9%) neither
Article 12: Town of Milton Technology Fund – Passed – 549 (52.4%) in favor, 452 (43.2%) opposed, and 46 (4.4%) neither
Article 19: Town Boat Ramp Revitalization and Construction (Submitted by Petition) – Rejected – 412 (39.4%) in favor, 546 (52.1%) opposed, and 89 (8.5%) neither
Article 4: Zoning – Passed – 546 (52.1%) in favor, 428 (40.9%) opposed, and 73 (7.0%) neither
Article 8: Highway Department Special Equipment Capital Reserve Fund – Passed – 539 (51.5%) in favor, 455 (43.5%) opposed, and 53 (5.0%) neither
Article 9: Highway Department Capital Reserve Vehicle Fund – Passed – 513 (49.0%) in favor, 495 (47.3%) opposed, and 39 (3.7%) neither
Article 10: Municipal Buildings Capital Reserve Fund – Rejected – 497 (47.5%) in favor, 500 (47.8%) opposed, and 50 (4.8%) neither
Today is Pi Day. It is an unofficial holiday that celebrates the mathematical constant known by the Greek letter π, which is rendered in English as Pi (pronounced “Pie”).
Pi represents the ratio between the circumference of a circle and its diameter. It is an irrational number, which is to say that it cannot be represented as a common fraction. (22/7 is sometimes used as an “approximation,” due to which an alternate or supplementary holiday, Pi Approximation Day, is sometimes celebrated on July 22).
Pi’s decimal equivalent has an infinite number of digits that have no settled pattern. Its first few digits are: 3.14159 … Pi is used in many, many formulas and applications in many fields of study. Pi Day is celebrated on March 14 due its US calendar representation of 3-14.
Mr. Plissken reminds me of an amusing story regarding Pi. It seems that the Indiana state legislature once tried to legally define Pi as being 3. Of course, this was patent nonsense. But the hubris of politicians and regulators knows no bounds. They blithely define penalties as taxes, and vice versa, amid a host of other definitional absurdities. (Milton just encountered something similar in a proposed change to its zoning definitions). The Indiana legislature drew back at the brink, although their attempt at imposing their ignorance on the world as a law has made them an infinitely repeating laughing stock.
Many people celebrate Pi Day by partaking in some of its homophone: Pie. Apple pie, cherry pie, Boston crème pie, whatever you like. You may contemplate the ineffable mysteries of Pi while you enjoy your pie.
In this year, 
Milton Observer 