By Muriel Bristol (Transcriber) | November 18, 2019
In this year, we encounter an attraction committee, the snowy death of a former iceman, Rev. Frank Snell auditioning, the death of Fred M. Chamberlain, hiring at the Salem Shoe company, a fall from a height, an auto fatality at Laskey’s Corner, and the death of a former Milton teacher.
Milton was said to have lost several shoe companies, a paper mill, and an ice house (due to a fire) during these recent Great Depression years. A committee formed for the purpose of “attracting” new industries. Milton’s NH state representative, Stanley C. Tanner, chaired the committee, which was reported variously to be a either a Town committee or a citizens’ committee.
The Salem Shoe company, of Salem, MA, indicated its interest in taking over the Milton factory of the Kennebunk Manufacturing company. The Salem Shoe company was one of several Salem shoe companies seeking to relocate their operations – lock, stock, and barrel – out of Salem, due to a recent wave of strikes there.
The Salem Shoe company’s major wage and strike issues were resolved when 250 its “former” employees – that is to say, its striking employees – assented to a 15% wage cut. The Salem Shoe Company remained in Salem, MA, for the most part, but opened also a satellite operation in Milton. Other Salem shoe companies solved their problems by relocating their plants to sites in Maine and New Hampshire. Milton’s primary “attraction” was the naturally lower wage structure of “Country” mill towns. (See also the Milton Mills Shoe Strike of 1889).
MILTON MAY GET MASS. SHOE FIRM. Milton, Jan. 11. – A committee formed to attract new industries to the town of Milton announced last night that the Salem Shoe company, established for the past 18 years in Salem, Mass., planned to locate its plant here. Representatives of the company yesterday inspected the plant of the Kennebunk Manufacturing company, part of which one of its owners, Roland H. Sawyer [Rolland H. Spaulding], former governor, said would be available for the Salem firm, The town committee said the company was represented as willing to transfer here if it could obtain an entire plant (Portsmouth Herald, January 11, 1935).
The Spaulding brothers purchased the Kennebunk Manufacturing company, of Kennebunk, ME, in 1902 and moved its operations to Milton. It remained in operation here through 1936. Thereafter, it transferred its activities as a new division in its plant at North Rochester, NH.
Roland H. Spaulding, a leather-board factory president, aged fifty-nine years (b. MA), headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of ten years), Vera G. [(Going)] Spaulding, aged forty-eight years (b. MA), his children, Virginia P. Spaulding, aged nine years (b. MA), and Betty R. Spaulding, aged seven years (b. MA), his cook, Mary Wakefield, a private family cook, aged fifty-three years (b. MA), and his servant, Rachel Houle, a private family maid, aged nineteen years (b. NH). Roland H. Spaulding owned their house at 76 Wakefield Street, which was valued at $200,000. They had a radio set.
INDUSTRY AND FINANCE. Gets Shoe Plant. MILTON, N.H. A committee formed to attract new industries to the town of Milton announced the Salem Shoe Company, established for the past 18 years in Salem, Mass., planned to locate its plant here (Berkshire Eagle, January 11, 1935).
NEWS GATHERED OVERNIGHT. (By the Associated Press). MILTON, N.H. A committee formed to attract new industries to the town of Milton announced the Salem Shoe Company, established for the past 18 years in Salem, Mass., planned to locate its plant here (North Adams Transcript, January 11, 1935).
INDUSTRY AND FINANCE. Shoe Plant To Move. ROCHESTER, N.H. – State Representative Stanley Tanner, chairman of the citizens committee of Milton, a town eight miles from here, announced negotiations had been completed for the removal of the Salem Shoe Company from Salem, Mass., to Milton, N.H. (Berkshire Eagle, January 15, 1935).
Mary [“Molly” (O’Hare)] Tanner, a widow, aged sixty-three years (N. Ire.), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. Her household included her children, George L. Tanner, a garage mechanic, aged thirty-nine years (b. NH), Stanley C. Tanner, a garage mechanic, aged thirty-seven years (b. NH), Charles E. Tanner, a house carpenter, aged thirty-five years (b. NH), and Hervey C. Tanner, a barbershop barber, aged twenty-five years (b. NH). Mary Tanner rented their house on Charles Street, for $11 per month. They had a radio set. The three older sons were all W.W. [World War] veterans.
SALEM SHOE CO. CHANGES PLANS. SALEM, Jan. 17 (A.P.) The Salem Shoe Manufacturing Company, which planned to remove its plant to Milton, N.H., today accepted the offer of 250 former employes to take a 15 percent wage reduction and decided to retain its Salem plant. The plant will reopen tomorrow. Company officials, however, said plans for a New Hampshire plant had not been abandoned. They said a subsidary plant would be opened in Milton, but details of the number to be employed were not made public. Retention of the Salem Shoe Manufacturing Company plant, which has operated here for 18 years and has a $250,000 annual payroll, was assured when company officials and a committee of workers signed a labor agreement containing the 15 percent wage reduction, which was voted at a workers’ mass meeting last night. Mayor Bates, who directed the conferences to retain the industry for this city, today also sought to halt the plans of the Gable Shoe Manufacturing Company to move its plant to Raymond, N.H.. The Philco Shoe Company moved to Bangor, Me., where, as in New Hampshire, it was claimed manufacturing costs were lower. The proposed transfer of the Salem plant to Milton, N.H., had heartened residents of that town, which in recent years had lost other shoe factories, a paper mill and an ice plant. Citizens helped clean and renovate the. empty factory building. Money, lumber for work benches and other donations were made to assist Milton’s new industry (Boston Globe, January 17, 1935).
Benjamin Franklin “Frank B.” Tasker, formerly a proprietor of the Union Ice company, collapsed into a snowbank on Market Street in Brighton, MA, January 23.
SNOW DRIVEN BY GALE BLOCKS EASTERN PART OF BAY STATE. [Excerpt:] A 40-mile wind was blowing along the coast in mid-evening and increasing hourly. Tasker, Brighton victim of the storm, was found by Miss Gertrude Mallonphy of Freshman road, Brighton. While walking home, she saw the man in the snowbank. She helped him to his feet and brought him to a nearby garage from which police took him to the hospital. Mr Tasker had attended a meeting of the Brighton Men’s Club at the Brighton Congregational Church. His son, Lyman, who lives in Allston, had attended the meeting with him and had left him a few minutes before he collapsed. Mr Tasker was a former proprietor of the Union Ice Company at Milton, N.H. Besides his son, he leaves a wife (Boston Globe, January 24, 1935).
Frank B. Tasker, retired, aged sixty-nine years (b. NH), headed a Boston, MA, household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of thirty-five years), Florence L. Tasker, at home, aged sixty-six years (b. NH), and his sister-in-law, Bertha L. Smith, at home (retired), aged sixty-six years (b. NH). Frank B. Tasker owned their house at 29 Bentley Street, which was valued at $6,000. They had a radio set.
BRIGHTON DISTRICT. The funeral of Frank B. Tasker, 74, of 29 Bentley st, who was a victim of Wednesday night’s storm, will take place Sunday afternoon at the home. Mr Tasker had been a resident of this district for 40 years. He formerly owned the Union Ice Company at Milton, N H, but had been in retirement for the past several years. He was a member of the Brighton Congregational Church and the Men’s Club of that church. He was returning from a meeting of the club Wednesday evening when he collapsed on Market st. (Boston Globe, [Friday,] January 25, 1935).
Frank B. Tasker was preceded in death by Milton ice magnates Jeremiah R. Downing in 1911, Mial W. Chase in 1922, and John O. Porter in 1924.
Frank H. Snell settled in Acton, ME, as pastor of the Milton Mills Baptist church in 1930 and was ordained there in 1931. Here we find him auditioning, as ministers were wont to do, for his next parish. He also received his Bachelor of Divinity degree from Gordon College, which was situated then in Boston, MA.
NORTH BENNINGTON. Rev. Frank H. Snell, pastor of the Baptist church of Milton Mills, N.H., will conduct the Sunday morning worship service at the Baptist church. Mr. Snell is a candidate for the pastorate of the local church (Bennington Evening Banner (Bennington, VT), May 17, 1935).
CHURCH NOTICES. North Bennington Baptist. Sunday, Mav 26 – A meeting of the membership of the church will be held at the close of the morning service to vote on the two candidates who occupied the pulpit on May 11 and 18. Rev. John Maxwell of Randolph and Rev. Frank Snell of Milton Mills, N.H. (Bennington Evening Banner (Bennington, VT), May 20, 1935).
GORDON COLLEGE DEGREES BESTOWED. Graduation Exercises in Park-St. Church. The annual graduation exercises of the Gordon College of Theology and Missions were held last evening at Park Street Church, and were attended by a gathering of friends and relatives of the graduates, which filled the church and balconies. Dr. Nathan Robinson Wood, president of the college, presented the diplomas. The degree of Doctor of Theology was conferred upon Carleton Leroy Feener, Frank Theodore Littorin and Eugene Sumner Philbrook. The degree of Master of Sacred Theology was conferred upon Lester William Kellie; the degree of Bachelor of Divinity on Mary Evangeline Clarke, Ralph Earle, Jr., William Lincoln MacDuffie, Pearl McCoy, Henry Clay Mitchell and Frank Herbert Snell. The degree of Master of Religious Education was conferred on Luther Marion Fuller and Ruth Eloise Worthington. [The] degree of Bachelor of Theology in the four-year theological course at the college was conferred on: Adam Z. Arnold, Forrest D. Banta, Earl W. Beal, David W.N. Buzzell, Priscilla I. Conley, Dorothy E. Covell, Foster G. Crane, Leslie G. Deinstadt, William E. Douglas, Leonard P. Edwards, Lando Eitzen, Isabelle G. Empet, Aldine L. Foskett, Jack Grenfell, Irma D. Groves, Richard J. Hanson, George H. Hart, Robert W. Holcomb, Dorothy A. Huff, Joseph C. Hunt, Maeville E. Jordan, Arthur W. Kennan, Henning T Landstrom, Merton E. Libby, Norman C. MacLean, James C. Marshall, Leland L. Maxfield, Cecil M. Miller, Theophilus Ringsmuth, Alvin D. Rogers, Frederick Schelander, Robert O. Seely, Ernest D. Sillers, Pauline C. Stradtman, Isabella D. Taylor, Luretta I. Trumbull, Daniel C. Tuttle, Verne T. Vincent, Cecil L. Witham (Boston Globe, June 6, 1935).
Frank H. Snell, a church minister, aged thirty years (b. MA), headed a Melrose, MA, household at the time of the Sixteenth (1940) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Doris H. Snell, aged thirty-three years (b. NH), his child, Joan M. Snell, aged six years (b. NH), his mother-in-law, Florence Hapgood, retired, aged fifty-one years (b. NH), and his grandfather-in-law, Coleman Kelly, retired, aged sixty-nine years (b. NH). They resided at 14 Farwell Avenue. They had all resided in Acton, ME, in April 1935, except Florence Hapgood, who had resided in Whitefield, ME.
Fred M. Chamberlain, former proprietor of Milton’s Phoenix Hotel, and more recently a state road inspector died in Union, Wakefield, NH.
IN MEMORIAM. Fred Chamberlain. Fred Chamberlain of Milton, aged 77, passed away at Union last Thursday evening. The deceased was a native of Milton Mills, the son of Samuel G. and Mary E. (Fall) Chamberlain. He was well known in this section where he served as state road patrolman between Milton and Sanbornville. He is survived by one son, Guy Chamberlain; a sister, Mrs. Charles Lowe of Union, a brother, Moses Chamberlain of Milton Mills, and twelve grandchildren living in Milton and Boston. The funeral was held Sunday afternoon at the Congregational church. Bearers were Fred Foster, Ed Jordan, Charles Tanner and Martin Eaton (Farmington News, June 7, 1935).
The newly-established Milton branch of the long-established Massachusetts-based Salem Shoe company began hiring shoe workers.
FEMALE HELP WANTED. WANTED – Vampers, folders, closers and fancy stitchers. Apply SALEM MANUFACTURING CO., Milton, N.H. 2t au13 (Boston Globe, August 13, 1935).
Leroy “Bob” Whetnall of Milton fell from a height of twenty-five feet and landed flat on his back – on a pile of boards. Ouch.
Leroy Whetnall, a construction co. bridgeman, aged thirty years (b. OH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of five years), Eleanor [(Tanner)] Whetnall, aged twenty-eight years (b. NH), and his child, Ruth Whetnall, aged three years (b. OH). Leroy Whetnall rented their house on North Main Street, for $8 per month. They did not have a radio.
WORKMAN INJURED IN HINSDALE, N.H. Leroy Whetnall of Milton, N.H., Falls 25 Feet Striking on Back – Brought to Hospital. (Special to The Reformer.) HINSDALE, N.H., Aug. 14. Leroy (Bob) Whetnall of Milton. N.H., employed on the construction of the 250,000-gallon storage tank in this town, was injured yesterday afternoon when he slipped and fell 25 feet, landing on his back on some boards. It was at first feared that he might have sustained spine fractures; but x-rays taken at the Brattleboro Memorial hospital revealed no fractures. Whetnall was first attended by Dr. Edmond Lachaine of this town, who ordered him removed to the Brattleboro hospital, where be was examined by Dr. Philip Wheeler. Paralysis, which extended from the waist down, suggesting the possibility of a serious spinal injury, was clearing up this noon. Dr. Wheeler said. A slight injury to the spinal cord was the extent of the injury, he stated. Whetnall, employed by the Chicago Bridge & Iron Co., has a wife and several children in Milton. He has been living at the home of Harry Bruce since coming to town. Harry Walker, superintendent of the construction, was out of town at the time of the accident (Brattleboro Reformer, August 14, 1935).
Mrs. Eleanor (Tanner) Whetnall was a sister of garage mechanic (and NH State Representative) Stanley C. Tanner. Leroy Whetnell of Dover, NH, was employed at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, ME, by 1940.
Automobiles driven by Michael J. O’Brien and Clarence Herbert, both of Quincy, MA, collided at Laskey’s Corner (where Applebee Road joins the White Mountain Highway). Herbert’s passenger, J. Percy Lee, was killed instantly.
John P. Lee, a rivet factory electrician, aged twenty-five years (b. ME), headed a Quincy, MA, household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of less than a year), Adrienne [(Kelcourse)] Lee, aged twenty-three years (b. MA). John P. Lee rented their house at 2 Fifth Avenue, which for $35 per month. They had a radio set.
BODY OF WOLLASTON VICTIM OF AUTO CRASH SENT HOME. MILTON MILLS, N.H., Sept. 15. Michael J. O’Brien of 16 Dale av., South Quincy. Mass., held for questioning last night in connection with an automobile accident which cost the life of J. Percy Lee of Wollaston, was released by police today. According to Motor Vehicles Inspector Frank D. Manning, O’Brien said he stopped his car in the rain to adjust a blanket about his legs and had just started again when the crash happened. Lee was killed instantly when his head crashed through the windshield. His body was taken to Wollaston today. The driver of the other car, owned by Robert T. Bushnell, president of the Republican Club of Massachusetts, was Clarence Herbert, an employe at the Bushnell Summer home in Wolfcboro. Mr. Bushnell was not in the car at the time of the accident (Boston Globe, September 16, 1935).
John Percy Lee’s Milton death record explains that he died suddenly at Laskey’s Corner on the State Road, September 14, 1935, “when his head came into contact with the windshield when automobile in which he was riding was in head-on collision with another automobile.”
QUINCY. The funeral of J. Percy Lee, 30, of 21 Oval road, Wollaston, died Saturday night in an automobile accident at Milton Mills. N.H., was held yesterday morning at St. Anna Church, Wollaston. High mass of requiem was celebrated at 9 o’clock. Burial was in Mount Wollaston Cemetery (Boston Globe, [Thursday,] September 19, 1935).
Grace E. (Grenell) Farmer, a Milton teacher of 1893-95, died in her Montclair, NJ, home.
William W. Farmer, a notions proprietor, aged fifty-nine years (PA), headed a Montclair, NJ, household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of thirty-two years), Grace E. Farmer, aged fifty-nine years (b. NY), his children, Burt G. Farmer, a wholesale dry goods salesman, aged twenty-seven years (b. NJ), Grace C. Farmer, an airways typist, aged twenty-three years (b. NJ), Ruth C. Farmer, a librarian, aged twenty-one years (b. NJ), his servant, Mildred N. Donoghy, a private family housekeeper, aged thirty-one years (b. NH), and his boarders, Waitstill Donoghy, aged eight years (b. NH), and Gwenyth Donoghy, aged six years (b. MA). William W. Farmer owned their house at 8 Draper Terrace, which was valued at $15,000. They had a radio set.
MRS. FARMER DIES; MISSIONS LEADER Headed State Board; Active in Church Groups; Lived Here Forty Years. Mrs. Grace Grenell Farmer of 8 Draper Terrace, a farmer State president of the New Jersey Woman’s Board of Missions, died Sunday morning at her home. She was sixty-five years old. Funeral services will be held this afternoon at 3 o’clock at the Home for Services, 56 Park Street. Born in Kingston, N.Y., the daughter of a Baptist minister, Mrs. Farmer early became interested in church work. She was graduated from Wellesley College in 1893 and after teaching for two years at Milton, N.H., came to Montclair to teach in the high school. In 1898 she was married to William H. Farmer and the couple made their home at the Draper Terrace address, residing there ever since. Mrs. Farmer had been an active member of the First Baptist Church where for seven years she taught the Women’s Bible Class. She organized mission study classes in Montclair and in several other communities and was a lecturer and mission study leader at the Northfield Summer Conferences. From 1923 to 1926 Mrs. Farmer was State president of the Woman’s Board of Missions and for several years was a member of the Baptist Board of Education. In 1918 Mrs. Farmer, with the late Mrs. James M. Speers and other church women, organized the Missionary Union of Montclair and Vicinity, and was its first president, (Continued on Page Two) serving for six years. She was also one of the past presidents of the International Relations Council. For five years she was an editorial writer for the “Missionary Review of the World” and also wrote for other missionary publications. Surviving Mrs. Farmer are her husband, William H. Farmer; four daughters, Mrs. Alexander H. Kemp, wife of a medical missionary in Angola, Africa, Mrs. George E. Dean and Mrs. Robert S. Ringland of Montclair, and Mrs. W.I. Lincoln Adams Jr. of New York City; one son, Burt G. Farmer of Montclair; a sister, Mrs. Lindsey R. Goss of Kalamazoo, Mich.; and two brothers, Burt B. Grenell of La Grange, Ill., and Arthur F. Grenell of Montclair (Montclair Times (Montclair, NJ), December 24, 1935).
Previous in sequence: Milton in the News – 1934; next in sequence: Milton in the News – 1936
References:
Find a Grave. (2016, September 18). Benjamin F. Tasker. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/170122832
Find a Grave. (2013, July 30). Frederick Moody “Fred” Chamberlain. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/114673086/frederick-moody-chamberlain
Find a Grave. (2018, February 19). Grace Grenell Farmer. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/187460140/grace-farmer
Find a Grave. (2011). Leroy Edward Whetnall. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/179813105
Find a Grave. (2009, September 21). Rolland Harty Spaulding. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/42231184
Snyder, Jim (PaperboardPro). (2019). Spaulding’s Kennebunk Connection. Retrieved from www.paperboardpro.com/files/LeatheroidSpauldingConnection.pdf
Wikipedia. (2017, November 9). Rolland H. Spaulding. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolland_H._Spaulding
Dies At Age 93. SWINERTON RITES TO BE AT 4 TODAY. Body of City Pioneer Will Be Taken to Union, N.H., Old Home, In Spring. Funeral services are to be held at 4 this afternoon for John Robinson Swlnerton, vice president of the First National Bank and one of the city’s pioneers, at the family residence. Death came yesterday morning to the widely known bank and hotel man at the residence he built before the turn of the century at 2115 Chestnut Avenue slightly less than two months after he had celebrated his 93rd birthday, Dec. 18. His health had not been good for a year or more, but his mind had retained with clarity incidents of the early days In Newport News. He came into this city from Old Point in a wagon with two other men Jan. 2, 1883 to become manager of the old Lafayette Hotel, then on Lafayette Avenue (now Huntington) and Twenty-seventh Street. Shipping of walnut logs and staves to Europe was the town’s main industry at that time, he said recently. A few months after he came here Henry P. Stevens, his first wife’s father, acting for the Old Dominion Land Co., opened the Warwick Hotel. Stevens left soon after the opening and Swinerton assumed management of both institutions. The Lafayette later became a hospital and after that a business building was erected. He was a member of the Pioneers of Newport News and Unity Lodge, No. 62, A.F. &A.M., of Union, N.H., where interment will be made in the spring. The body will be placed in the vault at Peninsula Memorial Park Cemetery temporarily. He was the son of the late Dr. and Mrs. John L. Swinerton of Danvers; and was born Dec. 16, 1840 at Milton, N.H. He spent his boyhood in Boston, spent some time in New York, and then came to Newport News. His ancestors in America date from 1628, when Jobe Swinerton settled at Salem, Mass. The funeral services today will be conducted by the Rev. E.T. Wellford, D.D., pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, assisted by the Rev. T.H. Dimmock, pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church. The family has asked that flowers be omitted. Active pallbearers will be: Dorsey L. Downing, H.W. Chandler, B.G. Roy, Homer L. Ferguson, Jr., J.C. Watson, Harvey T. Parker. William S. Parker and Willard M. Marks. Pioneer Club members and friends will be honorary pallbearers. His second wife, formerly Miss Annie H. Newton of Greenfield, Mass., and niece, Mrs. Thomas A. Tirrell, Lynn, Mass., survive. His first wife was Miss Mary R. Stevens, also of Greenfield. Mr. Swinerton was a charter member of the Pioneers Club, and a member of the First Presbyterian Church since it was organized in 1884. He assisted in organizing the First National Bank in 1891 and has been a vice president since 1895. He also was a vice president of the Security Trust and Savings Bank during its existence (Daily Press (Newport News, VA, February 9, 1934).
Milton native Capt. George A. Ham died in Braintree, MA, March 4, 1934. He was renowned for his 1903 rescue of thirty-one crewmen from their sinking ship during a winter gale.
HERBERT P. NICKERSON, SOMERVILLE, RETIRES. Herbert P. Nickerson of 11 Teele av., Somerville, the oldest man in Boston who has been actively connected with the hay and grain brokerage business, retired from service last Saturday. He was born in Madison, N.H., Nov. 21, 1857, and came to Charlestown in 1876, where he engaged in various pursuits. In 1882, he was employed by J.H. Hawthorne to drive one of the old stages. His route started at Northampton st., to Washington, Court, Scollay sq. Causeway, Warren Bridge, Main st., Charlestown to Salem st. He was required to work 16 hours a day, and received $1.50 for his day’s work. In Winter the stage was placed on runners, and rode on top of the snow. Then it was not an uncommon thing to see a stage tipped on its side in the gutter. Two horses were usually used on the stage, except in the Winter, when a spiked team with a leader horse was used. In 1884 he went to work for Gilman Cheney & Co, 35 Congress st., brokers in hay and grain, where he had charge of the Boston end of the business for six years. In 1890 he became connected with Lord & Webster, brokers in the same line of business, and had been connected with them until last Saturday, 43 years of continuous service, and approximately 50 years in that kind of business. Many of his customers from far and near came to express their regrets at his retirement, but he felt that a man who has reached his age should cease to be actively engaged in business. Mr. Nickerson, a deacon in the Advent Christian Church of Somerville, and Mrs. Nickerson, a deaconess, were presented with an electric clock and a floor lamp by the church group in a surprise at the home of Dr. I.F. Barnes, pastor of the church. Mr. Nickerson has purchased a small farm in Milton Mills, N.H., and will make his residence there (Boston Globe, April 24, 1934).
FUNERAL IN MILTON, N.H., OF CAPT JONES. Commanded Back-Bay Station Four Years. Capt. Frank I. Jones, retired from the Boston Police Department as commander of the Back Bay division in the Summer of 1912, was buried today at Milton, N.H. Funeral services were conducted yesterday afternoon by Rev M.F. Allbright, pastor of the Allston Congregational Church. Capt. Jones was born in West Lebanon, Me., came to this city, was appointed a policeman in 1881 and did work at Brighton. His efficiency was quickly brought to the attention of his superiors and he was promoted to sergeantcy in 1898, remaining at Brighton. The following year he was transferred to Back Bay and later served at La Grange st. In 1901 he was made lieutenant and continued at La Grange st. until Feb. 8, 1908, when he was promoted to captain and given command of the Back Bay Division. The manner in which he protected the property of the people in that section won for him many commendations. His insistence on constant patrol of the alleys in the Back Bay stopped the breaks in that section, which were numerous when he took command. He was the proud possessor of a bronze medallion presented him by His Eminence William Cardinal O’Connell for the manner in which he handled the centennial celebration of the Archdiocese of Boston. In the Summer of 1912, he retired from the Police Department. He was suffering from a stomach ailment at the time and it was feared that he would not live long. However he was 76 years of age at the time of his death. Recently he lived at 332 Center st. in Jamaica Plain (Boston Globe, May 21, 1934).
The forty-seventh birthday of Milton-native and well-known theatrical designer was noticed in various papers around the country.
DEATH IN PORTLAND OF CHARLES J. BERRY. Charles J. Berry of Milton Mills, N.H., died at the home of his son, Arthur L. Berry, in Portland, Me., last night, after sickness of three weeks. Funeral services will be held Monday afternoon at Milton Mills, N.H. He was 96 years old and a Civil War veteran, serving in the 1st New Hampshire Cavalry. He was a member of Eli Wentworth Post, G.A.R. of Milton, N.H., and president of the 1st New Hampshire Cavalry Association of the Weirs, N.H. He is survived by a daughter, Mrs. William M. Burrell of Wollaston, and two sons, Arthur L. Berry of Portland, Me., and Clifford A. Berry of East Weymouth; also a sister, 
Fish and Game Chat by Lyin’ Bill.
The U.S. Congress proposed the Twenty-First Amendment, which repealed the Eighteenth Amendment – Prohibition – on February 20, 1933. New Hampshire was the thirteenth state to approve it, on July 11, 1933. The repeal took effect with Utah’s passage on Tuesday, December 5, 1933, at 5:32 PM EST. Those twenty-nine states that lacked their own state-level prohibitions were immediately free to take a drink.
MAJ. C.J. BERRY REACHES 94 YEARS AT W0LLASTON. QUINCY, Feb. 14 – Maj. Charles J. Berry, the oldest man in Milton Mills, N H, and a veteran of the Civil War, is observing the 94th anniversary of his birth today at the home of his daughter, Mrs, William M. Burrell, 114 Beach st., Wollaston. Always on this Valentine Day observance, Mrs. Burrell arranges a dinner party and a few old-time friends of Maj. Berry gather in his honor. He is one of the two or three surviving members of Eli Wentworth Post, G.A.R., of New Hampshire. He also is president of the 1st New Hampshire Cavalry Association. Maj. Berry is still active and alert, physically and mentally. Each Summer he attends the reunion of Grand Army veterans at The Weirs in New Hampshire. Last October he astonished the people of Milton Mills by walking a mile and a half through the woods of that place and finishing in fine shape. For many years he has been a reader of the Globe and one of his delights each day is to listen in to the Globe news broadcasts. He has two sons, Arthur L. Berry of Woodfords, Me, and Clifford A. Berry of East Weymouth. With his daughter, Mrs. Burrell, be makes his home each Winter (Boston Globe, February 14, 1931).
FRANK H. SNELL ORDAINED AT MILTON MILLS CHURCH. MILTON MILLS, N.H., June 16 – The ordination of Frank Herbert Snell, pastor of the Baptist Church, to the Christian ministry took place this evening at the local Baptist Church. The ordination sermon was given by Rev. Dr. Nathan R. Wood, president of Gordon College. Rev. Dr. Edwin H. Byington of Needham, Mass., gave the charge to the candidate. The invocation was by Rev. H. Franklin Parker of Chichester, N.H., and the Scripture lesson by Rev. Clarence Sanger of Strafford, N.H. The ordination prayer was offered by Rev. George Kneeland, Lebanon, Me. The welcome to the Christian ministry was tendered by Rev. Dennis S. Jenks of Manchester, secretary of the State Convention. Rev. G.S. Cambell of Rochester gave the charge to the church. Organ music was furnished by Mr. Fred E. Gale and vocal selections were by Miss Hazel Grant. Rev. Mr. Snell, who has been a student of Gordon College, has been acting as preacher since last Fall at the local church. He will continue in service as settled minister (Boston Globe, June 17, 1931).
MILTON MILLS VETERAN TURNS 93 IN WOLLASTON. QUINCY, Feb. 14 – Maj. Charles Jewett Berry of Milton Mills, N.H., a veteran of the Civil War, is observing the 93d anniversary of his birth today at the home of his daughter, Mrs. William M. Burrell of 114 Beach st., Wollaston. Maj. Berry is one of the three surviving members of Eli Wentworth Post, G.A.R. of New Hampshire. He served in the 1st New Hampshire Cavalry and is president of the 1st New Hampshire Cavalry Association. He is the oldest resident of Milton Mills. His birthday anniversary was marked today at a dinner in his honor at the home of Mrs. Burrell. Among the guests present were Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Farnsworth at Swampscott, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Farnsworth of Everett, and Mr. and Mrs. Alan Painten of Wollaston. Maj. Berry received many messages and cards of congratulation. Mr. and Mrs. Burrell were assisted in the arrangements of the party by Mr. and Mrs. Clifford A. Berry of East Weymouth. Mr. Berry is physically well and mentally alert and attends each Summer the reunion of veterans at The Weirs, N.H. He has two sons, Arthur L. Berry of Woodfords, Me., and Clifford A. Berry. He is spending the Winter months in Wollaston at the home of his daughter (Boston Globe, February 14, 1930).
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).
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).
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).
CAKE AND 91 CANDLES FOR CHARLES BERRY. QUINCY, Feb. 14 – Charles J. Berry, 91, a Grand Army veteran of Milton, N.H., entertained Paul J. Revere Post, G.A.R., at a luncheon this afternoon which combined both the spirit of his birthday anniversary and St. Valentines Day. Mr. Berry spends his Winters with his daughter, Mrs. William M. Burrell of 114 Beach st., Wollaston, and that is how he happened to have the Quincy Grand Army men as guests instead of his comrades of Eli Wentworth Post of Milton, N.H. The luncheon was served in Grand Army Hall by Mrs. Dora Ferguson of Wollaston and one of the features of the table was a birthday cake which held 91 candles. Mayor McGrath and Ex-Mayor Bradford made addresses in which they complimented Mr. Berry on attaining such a ripe old age in such a vigorous physical condition. Mr. Berry was born in Milton Mills, N.H. He served in the Union Army in the 1st New Hampshire Cavalry and was allowed the rare privilege of bringing his horse home with him. Mr. Berry is an ardent radio fan. His favorite diversion along the radio activities is listening to the news broadcasts from the studio of the Boston Globe, He has three children, Mrs. William M. Burrell of Wollaston, Clifford A. Berry of East Weymouth and Arthur L. Berry of Portland, Me. (Boston Globe, February 15, 1928).
BOSTON CONFECTIONERY COMPANY. Since the purchase of this company the Boston factory of H.D. Foss & Company has been moved to the new location in Cambridge and the several businesses are being carried on in Cambridge at 814 Main Street. A branch office is maintained at 41 Union Square, New York City. The Foss products will be marketed direct to the retailers as in the past, and the brands previously made by the Boston Confectionery Company will be distributed through the jobbing trade, as formerly. The origin of the Boston Confectionery Company dates back to 1892 when the business was first established by H.F. Sparrow on Hampshire Street. It was incorporated as the H.F. Sparrow Company in 1896. C.F. Simes became president of the company in 1900; in 1908, having outgrown the Hampshire Street plant, the company consolidated with the Lydian Confectionery Company, and moved into its present quarters, and became known as the Boston Confectionery Company. The building at that time was about one-third the size of the present factory, which is one of the most modern and up-to-date in equipment that can be devised. The hospital is under the supervision of a graduate nurse, with the latest appliances. On the same floor is a fully equipped cafeteria, 50 by 100 feet, where the help is supplied with good food practically at cost of production. The company’s products, under the brand names “Quality” and “Premier” Chocolate have a national distribution and also considerable foreign output (Cambridge Chronicle, October 8, 1921).
BOSTON CONFECTIONER. CHARLES F. SIMES. DIES. Charles F. Simes, who died in Philadelphia Tuesday after a short illness, was born in Milton Mills, N.H., on April 29, 1858. He came to Boston as a boy and learned his trade with the Forbes-Haywood Company. Since then he had been prominently connected with the candy business in Boston for 47 years. He was past president of the National Confectioners Association, past president of the Confectioners Club of Boston. and member of Soley Lodge, A.F. & A.M., Somerville. He leaves a wife, Anna Burbank Simes; two daughters, Mrs. Robert H. Harding and Mrs. Ralph D. Nickerson, and a brother, Albert Simes. Funeral services will be held at 32 Barnum st., Taunton, tomorrow, at 2:30 p m. (Boston Globe, August 22, 1928).
MILTON MILLS, N.H., MAN OBSERVES 90TH BIRTHDAY. QUINCY, Feb. 14 – Charles J. Berry of Milton Mills, N.H., is observing his 90th birthday today at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Annetta Burrell at Wollaston. His son, C.A. Berry of Portland, Me., was among those who assisted in the celebration. Mr. Berry is a member of the Grand Army post of this city. He served during the Civil War with the New Hampshire cavalry, having enlisted at Portsmouth. Capt. Berry ran a horse car in the old days between Charlestown and Cambridge. He was educated in the public schools of Milton Mills and later at Tilton Seminary, Tilton, N.H. In 1857 he was engaged in the grocery business with 
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