Category: History

Milton in the News – 1911

By Muriel Bristol (Transcriber) | August 11, 2019

In this year, we encounter a new meat market, patent leather repairers wanted, a former business owner seeking employment, the Boston funeral of a Milton-native female physician, a forest fire, ice for sale, a Boston pickpocket, J.R. Downing’s passing, a new team captain, and shoe operatives wanted.

This was also the year of Milton and the Income Tax and Milton and the Gypsy Moth in 1911.

Fred Howard, a shoe factory finisher, aged forty-three years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty-four years), Costilla [(Scruton)] Howard, aged forty years (b. NH). They owned their house free-and-clear, without any mortgage. Costilla Howard was the mother of one child [Effie], of whom one was still living. They were enumerated between the households of Hannah Wentworth, a widow, aged sixty-nine years (b. NH), and Sarah P. Haley, a widow, aged forty-eight years (b. NH).

A. Howard has opened a meat market at Milton, N.H. (National Provisioner, 1911).

Fred Howard kept a meat market on Main street in 1912. His house was at 9 School street. He was also a policeman.

Frank J. Currier, president of the Milton Shoe Company, sought patent leather repairers. Applications to be directed either to the factory in Milton or to his home in Lynn, MA.

MALE HELP WANTED. WANTED – Pat. leather repairers; good pay, steady work. Apply to MILTON SHOE CO., Milton, N.H., or F.J. CURRIER, 16 Greystone Park, Lynn, Sunday. dSu3t d30 (Boston Globe, January 1, 1911).

Some Milton business owner having sold his own business sought a good position in someone else’s enterprise instead.

SITUATIONS WANTED – MALE. WANTED, a good position – having sold my business for the best of reasons, I would like any good position where honesty and push are of value; am an American, 48 yrs. old, of good appearance and the best of habits; would prefer to qualify with a reliable wholesale house or manufactory as a traveling salesman, having had some experience, or any position of trust. P.O. Box 153, Milton, N.H. dSu10t d28 (Boston Globe, January 5, 1911).

Seeking business owners of a similar age in the census of the prior year, we find only Harry L. Avery, a fancy goods salesman, aged forty-six years; George W. Ellis, a laundryman, aged forty-eight years; and James H. Fletcher, a blacksmith, aged forty-seven years. Or someone not self-identified in the census as being a business owner.

Milton native Dr. Ann Sophia (Kenney) (Patch) Lindquist died in Boston, MA in March 1911.

She was born in Milton, circa 1863-64, daughter of Edwin and Mary A. (Wentworth) Kenney. She married (1st) in Farmington, NH, May 7 1884, Fredrick S. Patch, from whom she was divorced (after 1900). She married (2nd) in Boston, MA, April 28, 1905, Dr. Carl A. Lindquist; they were both physicians.

Carl A. Lindquist, a general practice physician, aged thirty-five years (b. Sweden), headed a Boston, MA, household at the time of the Thirteen (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of five years), Ann S. Lindquist, a general practice physician, aged forty-two years (b. NH), and his niece [in-law], Eunice Kenney, aged twelve years (b. NH). They owned their residence in a four-family dwelling at 195 Huntington Avenue.

FUNERAL OF DR. LINDQUIST. Wife of Dr. Carl Lindquist Had Practice in Boston. Private funeral services took place yesterday afternoon for Dr. Ann S.K., wife of Dr. Carl A. Lindquist at the family home, 196 Huntington av. Rev Thomas Van Ness of the Second church, Copley sq. The body was taken to Forest Hills cemetery for interment. Dr. Lindquist died Saturday morning. She was born in Milton, N.H., and received her degree at Tufts medical in 1896. She engaged in practice in this city. Besides her husband she is survived by her father, a brother, and one son (Boston Globe, March 21, 1911).

Sanford and Springvale, ME, as well as Milton Mills, NH, experienced drought and forest fires in the Spring.

LOSS IN SANFORD. ME. Timberland Damaged Fully $10,000 – Fire in Night Reported at Milton Mills, N.H. SANFORD. Me., May 8 – Three fires, which were burning on as many sides of Sanford and Springvale last night, were well in hand today, but it was uncertain how soon further damages would be done when the wind freshened, as the ground was extremely dry and the wells are drying up, so there is little water with which to fight the flames. No buildings were burned, but the timberland damage was estimated at fully $10,000. Timber valued at half this amount was burned on Shaws Ridge in the eastern section of Sanford. A large amount of timber was burned at Milton Mills. N.H., north of Sanford, in the night. No buildings were reported burned (Boston Globe, May 8, 1911).

J.R. Downing & Company offered Milton ice by the train car-load. We know from other sources that each train car would take about thirty tons of ice.

ICE FOR SALE. Ice, in car-load lots, finest quality, situated in Milton, N.H. Apply to J.R. DOWNING & CO., Brighton, Mass. (Portsmouth Herald, August 18, 1911).

An East Milton man – more accurately “Acton Side,” Milton Mills – encountered a Boston city slicker who snatched his wallet.

GETS HIS MONEY BACK. Milton, N.H., Man Makes Friends With Stranger Who Steals His Pocket Book – Latter Goes to Jail. Edward H. Libby, 40, who is known to the police as a wire for the sharpers, who has been in state prison twice for picking pockets, was arrested again last night by policeman William Walsh at the North station, charged with the larceny of $76 from George H. Brackett of East Milton, N.H. Brackett arrived from New Hampshire last night, and Libby met him almost at the gate of the track upon which the train arrived. “I know you; you’re from New Hampshire. I am well acquainted with some of your folks,” spoke up Libby. Then there was handshaking, and Brackett said among other things that he came to Boston to attend the wedding of his brother in Waltham, whom he had not seem for 10 years. Over to a liquor store Libby and Brackett went, where a few drinks were bought. Libby suggested a visit to a moving picture show. But it was not taken. When walking up Canal st., Brackett produced his pocketbook, and while abstracting several bills to be put to immediate use, Libby snatched the wallet and ran. Brackett shouted stop thief, and a man stopped further outcry by saying he was a special officer and he would chase and catch the thief. This “special officer” was acting the part of the wire last night. In court today Libby was sentenced to six months in the house of correction, and Brackett received his money back (Boston Globe, August 18, 1911).

Mary E. Lowd, a widow, aged sixty years (b. MA), headed an Acton, ME, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. Her household included her daughter, Sarah D. Jewett, aged thirty-five  (b. ME), her son-in-law, Richard I. Jewett, a home farmer, aged forty years (b. NH), and her servant, George A. Brackett a general farmer, aged forty-one years (b. ME).

Here we bid farewell to Jeremiah Roberts Downing, one of the principal dealers in Milton’s ice industry, who died in Milton in October.

BRIGHTON DISTRICT. The body of James R. [Jeremiah R.] Downing, the well-known ice dealer of this district, who died of pneumonia at Milton, N.H., Tuesday, will be brought home for the funeral services which will be held at the home, 128 Kendrick st. tomorrow afternoon at 2 o’clock. Rev. Dr. William Allen Knight of the Brighton Congregational Church will officiate. The body will be sent to Kennebunkport, Me., Mr. Downing’s native home, for interment. Mr. Downing was on a business trip in Milton and Milbury when stricken. He left Brighton last Thursday. He was in the ice business in Brighton about 35 years. As a very young man he left Kennebunkport and went to New York, where he was employed by the Knickerbocker Ice Company. Later he came to Brighton and bought out a small ice business. At first he supplied the Abbatoyr [abattoir], but a natural business ability led him to increase his trade, until he finally had the entire district. Years ago he cut ice on Chandlers Pond near Lake st., old Frog Pond on Chestnut Hill av., Woolshop Pond on North Beacon st. and on a pond in the Faneuil district. Mr. Downing recently built a barn near his home on Kenrick st., which cost him $30,000. He was 66 years old and stood over six feet in height. His friends say of him that he was as big in heart as he was in body. He is survived by his wife and one son, Jeremiah. The family has a Summer home at Beechwood, Me. (Boston Globe, October 11, 1911).

Jeremiah R. Downing, an ice dealer, aged sixty-five years (b. ME), headed a Boston, MA, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of thirty-eight years), Elvina P. [(Ross)] Downing, aged sixty-four years (b. MA). She was the mother of two children, of whom one was still living. They owned their home at 128 Kenrick Street, free-and-clear, without any mortgage.

The New Hampshire College football team elected Philip Cowell Jones of Milton as its team captain for 1912. (Gov. Fred H. Downs had the college’s name changed to University of New Hampshire (UNH) in 1923).

JONES CAPTAIN FOR 1912. New Hampshire College Football Leader a General Athlete of Mark in the Institution. DURHAM, N.H., Nov. 16 – Philip C. Jones of Milton, N.H., was elected captain today of the New Hampshire College football team for next year. Jones is a star football player and one of the best all-round athletes in the junior class. Jones prepared for college at the Irving School of Tarrytown, N.Y., where he played on the baseball, football and basket-ball teams. Since entering New Hampshire he has played on the football eleven three years, the baseball team two years and the basket-ball team a year. Mr. Jones is also managing editor of The New Hampshire, secretary of the Christian Association and of the Athletic Association. He is a member of Kappa Sigma and the Casque and Casket (Boston Globe, November 17, 1911). 

Fred P. Jones, a general farmer, aged fifty years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty-eight years), Emma C. Jones, aged fifty years (b. ME), his children, Robert E. Jones, aged twenty-two years (b. NH), Philip C. Jones, aged eighteen years (b. NH),  Elizabeth J. Jones, aged fifteen years (b. NH), and Alice V. Jones, aged thirteen years (b. NH); and his servant, Henry M. Bowens, a farm laborer, aged fifty-five years (b. Canada).

Philip C. Jones became a Presbyterian minister. Rev. Dr. Philip Cowell Jones died in Branford, CT, October 15, 1977.

The Milton Shoe Company sought still for sober, industrious machine operatives with various skills.

TAKE NOTICE. WE WANT pullers-over on Goodyear Welts, outside cutters, stitching-room help; to sober, industrious operatives we will guarantee 300 days’ work in a year at good pay; very cheap rents; best schools in New England. MILTON SHOE COMPANY, Milton, N H. Sud7t n26 (Boston Globe, November 27, 1911). 

Milton Shoe Co.’s offer of 330 days works out to fifty six-day weeks in a year. Their claim of Milton having then very cheap rents and the best schools in New England might have been mere advertising puffery, but they apparently made it without fear of contradiction.

Previous in sequence: Milton in the News – 1910; next in sequence: Milton in the News – 1912

References:

Find a Grave. (2013, November 7). George A. Brackett. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/119931546

Find a Grave. (2010, April 15). Rev. Philip Cowell Jones. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/51167425

National Provisioner. (1911 March 18). National Provisioner. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=9_XmAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA10-PA41

Wikipedia. (2019, August 1). University of New Hampshire. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_New_Hampshire

Milton in the News – 1910

By Muriel Bristol (Transcriber) | August 8, 2019

In this year, we encounter a fur coat thief, a persistent fire, new mill construction, a beer conviction, cold weather, a blacksmith wanted, ice for sale, a misidentification, shoe workers wanted, and more cold weather.

This was also the year of Milton and the Immigrants and Milton and the Progressive Pie.

A Boston man was arrested for the theft of a fur-lined coat from John E. Townsend of Milton Mills. (Townsend was the heir of the H.H. Townsend blanket factory).

ARRESTED IN BOSTON. Fur Coat Thief Captured by the Police of That City. Sheriff Myron Johnson of Union, N.H., was here today on his way to Boston where the police of that city will turn over to him a prisoner arrested on Friday for larceny of a fur coat at Milton Mills (Portsmouth Herald, February 5, 1910).

Houston Case Nol Prossed. DOVER. N.H, Feb 8. The complaint against Jesse G. Houston of Boston of breaking and entering the stable office of John E. Townsend of Milton, N.H., and stealing a fur lined coat valued al $75, was nol prossed today on motion of County Solicitor Dwight Hall. Houston was discharged (Boston Globe, February 9, 2010).

We have seen formerly that a substantial coat was a necessity for motorists driving the relatively open cars of the day. That would be especially the case in February. The “nol prossed” verb derives from the Latin legal term nol prosequi, i.e., despite an indictment, the prosecuter decided not to prosecute the defendant.

John E. Townsend, a woolen blanket manufacturer, aged thirty-nine years (b. NH), headed a Milton [“Milton Mills”] household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of fourteen years), Eda B. [(Lowd)] Townsend, aged thirty-nine years (b. ME), and his children, Henry A. Townsend, aged twelve years (b. NH), and Agnes M. Townsend, aged ten years (b. NH).

Jesse B. Houston, a clubhouse steward, aged forty-six years (b. VA), headed a Boston, MA, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty-two years), Lucy J. Houston, aged forty-three years (b. Canada), and his son, Jesse G. Houston, a private family chauffeur, aged nineteen years (b. MA). They rented their residence in a three-family dwelling at 60 Ruggles Street.

John E. Townsend would die in Milton Mills, September 8, 1914, aged forty-one years, eleven months, and thirty days.

As for the further adventures of the alleged coat thief:

Larceny and Forgery Charged. Jesse G. Houston, arrested late yesterday by special officer Lyons of the Back Bay Police Station, on a larceny charge, had an additional charge of forgery placed against him by Inspector Conboy, when he was arraigned before Judge Murray in the Municipal Court this morning. He was held in $500 on each charge for the Grand Jury. Special officer Lyons arrested Houston on a charge of the larceny of auto supplies worth $67 from a Massachusetts av. auto supply concern on April 12. When he was brought down town it was found that there was a warrant two years old against him on the charge of forging a check for $55 (Boston Globe, May 4, 1915).

The grand jury of 1915 returned “true bills,” i.e., felony indictments, against Jesse G. Houston for larceny, uttering, and forgery (Boston Globe, June 12, 1915). Passing bad checks was usually termed “uttering,” because the one “kiting” or passing the check was considered to be falsely vouching – or speaking – for its validity. Of course, as we have seen earlier, indictments are not convictions.

Coal-seam fires may burn for extended periods of times. There is one in Australia that has burned for at least 6,000 years. The coal bin of the defunct Salmon River Paper company was not a natural coal seam, but had enough fuel to be still burning eight months after ignited.

BIRDEYE VIEWS. Since the paper mill at Milton, N.H., was destroyed by fire last June the fire in the coal bin has never gone out, and on some days the smoke from it may be seen many miles away (Portsmouth Herald, February 10, 1910).

In the aftermath of the Salmon River Paper company’s fire, it was predicted that Spaulding Brothers would build a new mill. They acquired leases for the water privileges formerly enjoyed by burnt Salmon River Paper mill, and others.

BUILDING A NEW MILL. Rochester, Feb. 18. Already a large amount of building material has arrived at Milton for the building of the new mill by the Spaulding Brothers at what is known as the new flume, which place they purchased last fall and have since built a dam. The building will be commenced in the spring when a very large mill, over 300 feet in length three stories high and will be used in making gramophone barns, baskets and boxes which are now being manufactured at the old woolen mill in this city. The mill to be built at the Old Flume will be up-to-date in every way and when running full blast will give about 900 hands work (Portsmouth Herald, February 18, 1910).

Here we have the continuation of the South Milton beer arrest of an Italian immigrant millworker in the prior year. He was arrested as O.D. Berton, indicted as Odberton, and tried as either Attorio or Attonio Di Berto.

DOVER DOINGS. Dover, Feb. 18. The jury in the case of Michael Stanton of Somersworth, charged with liquor for sale, came in with verdict of not guilty. They were out about five hours. The case on trial Thursday was that of Attorio Di Berto of Milton, who was indicted under the name of Odberton, and whose name was later said to be O.D. Berton (Portsmouth Herald, February 18, 1910).

DOVER DOINGS. Dover, Feb. 19. – The trial of Attonio Di Berto, of Milton, who. was charged with keeping liquor for sale, resulted in a verdict of guilty, and the jury returned after being out about three hours. Out of three liquor cases being tried at this term of court two have resulted in convictions. Di Berto was fined $50 and costs on the charge brought against him. Court adjourned until Monday afternoon (Portsmouth Herald, February 19, 1910).

There is every reason to believe that Di Berto was not an accurate rendering of his name either. Had they not locked him up and extracted a substantial amount of money from him, for his victimless crime, it might almost be funny. (See also Milton and the Immigrants – 1910).

A February cold snap was compared to conditions in the Klondike region of the Canadian Yukon. The Klondike, and its severe weather, were well known from its gold rush of 1896-99.

IT WAS COLD ALL RIGHT. Well, it was certainly Klondike weather this morning and again demonstrates that the groundhog knew his game. At Milton the glass registered thirty degrees below zero while at Rochester it was twenty and twenty-eight (Portsmouth Herald, February 25, 1910).

It would seem that the groundhog had predicted six more weeks of winter (at the beginning of the month). These would be ideal conditions for Milton’s ice industry.

MALE HELP WANTED. BLACKSMITH, good shoer and jobber, steady job and good pay. CHARLES E. SMITH, Milton, N.H. dSu8t* mh18 (Boston Globe, March 18, 1910).

Mr. J.O. Porter’s Marblehead Ice Company ice was selling for 70¢ per ton Freight on Board (F.O.B.) in August 1910.

FOR SALE. ICE. FOR SALE, best quality, F.O.B. Milton, N.H.; freight to Boston 70c per ton; R.R. weights; price right. JOHN O. PORTER, Marblehead, Mass. (Boston Globe, August 20, 1910).

A Milton Italian immigrant “fit the description” of a Somersworth Greek immigrant who was wanted for murder.

SUSPECT NOT CAPSALIS. Man Resembling Alleged Slayer of Mrs. Capsalitsa Caught in Milton, N.H., But Released. SOMERSWORTH, N.H., Aug. 26. Acting City Marshal Thomas Joyal received word from Milton officials last that they had arrested on suspicion, a man whom they thought to be the Somersworth Greek, Nicholas Capsalis, alias Capsalakos, the alleged murderer of Maritsa Capsalitsa, his aunt. The suspect answered the description of Capsalis and looked like the latter’s published portrait. Marshal Joyal sent three officers to Milton in an automobile to identify and bring the prisoner here, should he prove to be Capsalis. They found, however, that the suspect was not Capsalis but was an Italian who bore a very strong resemblance to him. The suspect was released and the Somersworth officers returned after midnight. The story spread rapidly all over this section this morning that Capsalis had been captured and the police were besieged all the morning with telephonic inquiries and a stream of callers at headquarters (Boston Globe, August 26, 1910).

The Milton Shoe company had renewed its operations and hiring in the prior year. It would remain active through at least 1912. (It went into receivership in 1915).

SITUATIONS WANTED – MALE. WANTED – Closers, stayers, lining makers; good wages; steady work. Apply to MILTON SHOE CO., Milton, N.H. (Boston Globe, December 3, 1910).

The Salmon River Paper company of Milton burned down in June 1909. (As seen above, its coal bin was still smoldering). Its proprietor, William S. Lowe, decided not to rebuild. He removed instead to Kansas City, MO. Here he was sued by Harry A. Waldron.

Harry A. Waldron Recovers $3553. PORTSMOUTH, N.H., Dec. 8 – In the superior court this morning the jury in the action of Harry A. Waldron of Boston against W.S. Lowe of Kansas City, formerly manager of the Salmon River paper company, at Milton, returned a verdict of $3553 for the plaintiff, Waldron sued to recover $2900 which he alleged was owed him by Lowe (Boston Globe, December 8, 1910).

Harry A. Waldron, a paper mill supplies broker, aged thirty-nine years (b. MO), headed a Boston, MA, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of one year), Elinor M. Waldron, aged thirty-four years (b. Canada (Eng.), and his boarder, Mary C. Richards, a school teacher, aged thirty-eight years (b. MA). They resided in a rented house at 20 March Avenue.

The official thermometers of the Conway branch of the B&M railroad recorded another cold snap.

NEW HAMPSHIRE FRIGID. Mercury Ranges at Different Points from 4 Below at Portsmouth to 20 Below at North Conway. PORTSMOUTH, N.H., Dec. 31. This morning was the coldest of the present season, the glass being 4 below In the city and near-by towns. Reports from points along the Conway branch of the B & M R.R. are as follows: North Conway 20 below. Madison 21, Conway 18. Whittier 16, Sanbornville 12, Jewett 6, Union 18, Milton Mills 18, Ossipee 16 (Boston Globe, December 31, 1910).

Previous in sequence: Milton in the News – 1909; next in sequence: Milton in the News – 1911

References:

Find a Grave. (2013, August 12). John E. Townsend. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115352496

Wikipedia. (2019, May 12). Coal-Seam Fire. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal-seam_fire

Wikipedia. (2019, July 19). Klondike Gold Rush. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klondike_Gold_Rush

 

Milton and the Progressive Pie – 1910

By Muriel Bristol (Transcriber) | August 4, 2019

Here we find an amusing tale of a surfeit of pumpkin pie received during a Thanksgiving journey from Portland, ME, to Cambridge, MA. This early automobile trip included a stop in Milton, NH.

Milton having just in the prior year become the southern terminus of the White Mountain Highway stretch of the state’s new Eastern Route.

[Ed. note: Progressive Pie was a party game originating in the 1890s. It was sort of a musical chairs with servings of pie.]

PROGRESSIVE PIE. Why Two Standard Delicacies Were Put on the List of Things Untouched by a Thanksgiving Guest.

The hostess looked chagrined as her guest left his generous section of pumpkin pie untouched.

She had only known him a short time, but her husband had insisted on bringing him out for Thanksgiving dinner.

“His folks are all away,” he explained, “and it would be tough if he had to dine at the club.”

Now she was awfully proud of that pie and to think that it was left begging hurt her dreadfully. And he hadn’t even taken a sip of the cider, the cider that uncle Ben sent all the way from Maine. The two crowning touches of her dinner were completely ignored.

True, he had eaten heartily of the turkey and fixin’s, but he might at least have made a bluff at eating her pie. It wasn’t courteous, but she couldn’t take her eyes off of that slice of golden goodness, and finally she said in a plaintive voice, “You don’t care for pie?”

“Madam, I don’t, came the prompt response.- That is, I don’t care for pumpkin pie. Any kind of pie but pumpkin pie. Apple, peach, plum, cranberry pie, lunch counter pie of any description but pumpkin. Pumpkin is my pet aversion, my bete noir.

“I know this is good pie and I should like to honor you by eating it, but never again will a morsel of pumpkin pie pass these lips without the use of an anesthetic.

“And I also include cider with the pie. The very sight of the combination makes gooseflesh on my spine, gives me palpitation of the medulla oblongata, produces chills followed by rapidly rising temperature.

“Madam, listen to my sad, sad story. You and your husband have been good enough to entertain me on this festal day and I know that you will not betray my confidence.

“When I was a small boy I adored pie. Pumpkin pie would make me forsake tops, marbles, three old cat or any of childhoods pleasures. And cider – why, madam, cider seemed to talk to me through stone walls. I would play hookey and hide in the storeroom with a straw and suck the liquid sweetness from the bung. My love for pumpkin pie and cider amounted to an obsession.

“Pardon these tears, but I find it hard to control my feelings as I recall the great change that came over me. It was just a year ago this morning that I was in Portland. I had just finished a business deal and was anxious to come to Cambridge and dine with a dear old aunt whose cooking would cause our worthy President to class her with Aunt Delia.

“As I was starting to the depot I met Tom Potts in his touring-car. He was just about to make the run to Boston and enticed me away from the certainties of railroad travel. In a moment of thoughtlessness I fell. We started at 8 o’clock after I had wired my aunt that I would be in Cambridge in time for dinner.

“I had indulged in a lunch counter breakfast and the sharp tang of the fall air whetted my appetite before we got well under way. We were about 15 miles out of Portland when a rusty nail reached up and bit a slice out of one of the tires.

“Tom may be able to drive a car, but he can’t qualify as an expert mechanician. It took him a couple of hours to get a new tire on and we had a nice audience before we were through.

“An old farmer with worsted whiskers watched us and offered suggestions. The only reason that I didn’t slay him was that just before we got under weigh he went to the house and returned with a bundle of hot pumpkin pie and a pitcher of cider. Now that was right where I lived and Tom and I made short work of it.

BG101124-1“Nearing Milton, N.H., the engine got hot and we had to make another stop. It was dinner time all along the line, and a hospitable farmer appeared at the roadside with a Thanksgiving offering of hot pumpkin pie and a pitcher of cider. And said offering was sacrificed on the altars of our appetites.

“At Portsmouth we were way behind time and I wired the aunt that I would be late getting in, but to save dinner. And two miles out of Portsmouth we picked up the little brother to the puncture we had met earlier in the day. Before we had that tire mended we were presented with hot pumpkin pie and cider by a dear old lady who just couldn’t think of anybody missing out on such delicacies on Thanksgiving.

“I was beginning to crave turkey and onion dressing and celery and bread when we ran into a culvert near Powwow river. We sprained something and while Tom was rubbing liniment on the running gear the afternoon wore well along and we had a caller. He was a nice old chap and said that he was sorry that we didn’t break down earlier so he could have asked us in -to dinner. He assured us that the girls were redding things up, but he insisted that we have some of his cider and pumpkin pie. Now for once in my life I had had enough pumpkin pie, likewise cider, but 1 didn’t have the moral courage to refuse.

“The next stop happened about 30 miles from Boston. We ran out of gasoline, and Tom trudged off to get some. He left me to guard the machine, and told me that if I got hungry before he returned that I would find some lunch under the back seat. I got hungry all right, and a little later I opened up the hamper and found a nice pumpkin pie, and one of those keep-it-hot or cold bottles, filled with – cider.

“It’s really too sad to speak about, and when Tom came back to the car he found me with my head bowed in grief and my salt tears splashing on the varnished tonneau.

“We made 10 miles on the next spurt, and then sat in the mist where the roads crossed, and were about to toss a coin to see which road should take when we heard somebody coming. He was a nice old codger and gave us the cheering information that we were off of the right track. Said if we’d wait a minute he’d get us a map.

BG101124-2a“And then he reappeared out of mist, like Ganymede [cup-bearer of the Olympic gods], bearing cider and pumpkin pie. He had forgotten the map. We forgave him when he sent his son with us to the proper turn and we finally came in sight of Cambridge.

“My spirits began to rise, and while I didn’t expect to find the sizzling turkey intact on my aunt’s table, I knew that I could do justice to anything in the line of solid food, even if I had to eat it off the ice chest. I wasn’t as ravenous as I have been, but while a steady diet of pie and cider may be filling it is not always satisfying.

“Tom’s little machine was working beautifully now and he ran right up on the lawn by the side door. I looked through the window and saw aunty bobbing about and I was blessing her for the dear good cook that she was.

“Tom spilled a couple of honks out of the horn and saw aunty scurry to the door. She stood against the light and called out a welcome to us. We readily assured her that we were there and ready for dinner.

BG101124-2b“And now, madam, comes the saddest part of this sad, sad tale. ‘Bob,’ said aunty, ‘I kept dinner waiting three mortal hours and then uncle and the boys got so hungry that they couldn’t wait a minute longer, and when they sat down to the table they just cleaned that turkey to the last bone. But never you mind. I’ve saved some pumpkin pie and cider for you.’

“And when they brought me to I found myself unable to look at pumpkin or an apple without tremors.

“Madam, If you will pardon me, I will pass the pumpkin pie and cider but I would take another little slice of that dark meat and some stuffing” (Boston Globe, November 24, 1910).

See also Milton Automobiles in 1906-07, Milton and the Eastern Route – 1909, and Milton, Straight Thru (North), in 1918

 

Milton Businesses in 1905-06

By Muriel Bristol (Transcriber) | August 1, 2019

Here is extracted the Milton business listing section from the Dover Directory of 1905-06. This Milton business listing is more comprehensive than many that have been available to us in prior years.

The bolded upper-case entries (with page numbers) were those that had purchased supplementary advertisements. We may deal with those advertisements in a separate article.

The abbreviations used were defined elsewhere in the directory as A.S.M.M. (or A.S., M.M.) for Acton [ME] Side; Far. for Farmington, NH; Leb. for Lebanon, ME, as in Lebanon, Lebanon Bridge, and Lebanon Side (Leb. s.); M. for Milton; M.M. for Milton Mills; p o for Post Office (or n p o for near Post Office); and prop. for proprietor.

MILTON

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

EMBRACING

A Classified List of all Trades, Professions and Pursuits in Milton, for the years 1905-06, arranged Alphabetically for each Trade, thus exhibiting, at a glance, the full address and Special Business of its Citizens.

Twenty miles northwest of Dover. R.R. stations at Milton, Union and Hayes, on B.&M. R.R., northern division. Milton Mills four miles from Union, stage twice daily. It was originally a part of Rochester. Incorporated June 11, 1802. Farming and manufacturing are the principal employments. Area, 25,000 acres. Population, 1,625.

Selectmen – Haven R. Jewett, Jos. H. Avery, Chas. A. Jones. Town Clerk – Harry L. Avery. Treasurer – Everett F. Fox. School Board – Forest L. Marsh, M.A.H. Hart, Frank G. Horne. Treasurer School Board – Forest L. Marsh. Board of Health – Dr. M.A.H. Hart, E.W. Fox, Harry D. Coles. Postmasters – Joseph H. Avery, Milton; E.T. Libby, Milton Mills. Deputy Sheriff, Charles D. Fox, Milton Mills. Constables, Hazen W. Downs, Charles E. Remick.

Agricultural Implements.

Apothecary.

Architect and Designer.

(Water Power Plants.)

Bakery.

  • Horne, H.F. (dealer), Main

Barrel Headings.

  • Mayo, L.S. & Sons Co., Leb. side, M.

Bicycle Repairer.

  • Knight, W.C., Toppan

Blacksmiths.

  • DUNTLEY, I.W., See p 791
  • RUDD, ALFRED A., 20 Main, M.M. – See p 796
  • WENTWORTH, J.E., 71 Main, M.M. – See p. 798
  • YOUNG, JAMES C., Leb. s. M. – See p 795

Blanket Mfr.

Boarding Houses.

  • BLAISDELL, S.G. MRS., Charles on hill
  • Hall, W.C. Mrs., Charles
  • Hodgdon, E.A. Mrs., 9 Church
  • Lindsey, M.E. Mrs., River, A.S.M.M.
  • PRESCOTT, C.H., Main – See p 795
  • Ramsdell, E.E. Mrs., A.S. at bridge, M.M.
  • Rowe, E.I. Mrs., 10 So. Main, M.M.

Boats to Let.

  • Brown, Everett E., B.&M. depot

Boot and Shoe Dealers.

  • Flye, A.M., 41 Main, M.M.
  • FOX, ASA & SON, Milton Mills – See p 797
  • Mason, H.S., Main
  • PINKHAM, N.G., Main – See p 793
  • WILLEY, J.D., Main – See p 793

Boot and Shoe Maker and Repairer.

  • Page, Joseph, Main opp depot

Boot and Shoe Machinery and Repairer.

  • PLUMMER, H., 28 Silver – See p 794

Boot and Shoe Mfrs.

Building Material.

Butchers.

  • HORNE, C.A., Main – See p 795
  • Pike, R.S., Milton Mills

Carpenters and Builders.

  • AVERY, JONES & ROBERTS – See page 791
  • Rines, Mark, Milton Mills
  • SHAW, A.B., Milton Mills – See page 797
  • Simes, Edward S., Milton Mills
  • SIMES, GEO. E., Milton Mills – See page 797
  • Webber, Everett S., South Main
  • WEBBER, ROYAL K., South Main – See page 791
  • WENTWORTH, HIRAM, 31-35 Church, Milton Mills – See p 796

Carriage Repairers.

  • Ayers, H.E. (painter), Milton Mills
  • DUNTLEY, IRA W., Main – See page 791
  • PRESCOTT, A.O., 11 Leb rd, A.S., M.M. – see page 798
  • YOUNG, J.C., Leb s., Milton – See page 795

Churches and Clergymen.

Cigars and Tobacco.

  • LIBBY, E.T., 15 Main, Milton Mills – See page 797
  • MUCCI, N., 44 Main, Milton Mills – See page 798
  • PAGE, ROBERT, 23 Main, Milton Mills – See page 798
  • WILLEY, J.H., 2 Main, Milton – See page 795

Civil and Hydraulic Engineer.

Clothing.

  • Horne, J.E., Milton Mills
  • LOVERING, J.S., 27 Church, Milton Mills -See page 798
  • Mason, H.S., Main

Coal and Wood.

  • Downs, H.W., 7 Silver
  • Pinkham, J.D., 8 Silver

Coffins and Caskets.

  • FOX, ASA A., 10 School, Milton Mills – See page 797

Confectionary and Fruit.

  • Horne, H.F., Main
  • Knight, E.G., Main
  • LIBBY, E.T., Milton Mills – See page 797
  • MUCCI, N., 44 Main, Milton Mills – See page 798
  • WILLEY, J.H., 2 Main – See p 795

Conveyancer, Claim and Collection Agents.

Crockery and Glassware.

  • FOX, ASA & SON, Milton Mills – See page 797
  • WHITEHOUSE BROS., Main – See page 792
  • WILLEY, J.D., Main, Milton – See page 793

Dentist.

Deputy Sheriff.

  • Fox, C.D., 10 School, M.M.

Designer of Water Power Plants.

  • JONES, I.W., Main, opp Leb. bridge, Milton – See page 794

Dressmakers.

  • Corkery, D.G. Miss
  • Rowe, E.I. Mrs., 10 So. Main

Dry and Fancy Goods.

  • FOX, ASA & SON, Milton Mills – See page 797
  • HART, LENA M., Main n p o – See page 781
  • Jones, C.D., Main
  • LOVERING, G.S., 27 Church, Milton Mills – See page 798

Embalmer.

  • FOX, ASA A., 10 School, Milton Mills – See page 797

Engineer (Civil.)

  • JONES, I.W., Main, opp Leb. bridge, Milton – See page 794

Express Company.

  • American Express Co., H.A. Beaton, agent, Milton; C.H. Fox, Milton Mills

Farm Products.

  • AVERY, B.H., 21 South Main – See page 792
  • HAYES, C.L., South Milton – See page 795

Fish and Oyster Dealer.

  • WENTWORTH, E.L., 14 Mill n Charles – See page 792

Flour and Grain.

  • WHITEHOUSE BROS., Main – See page 792
  • WILLEY, J.D., Main – See page 793

Furniture.

  • FOX, ASA & SON, Milton Mills – See page 797
  • MILLER, W.S., 46 Main, M.M. – See page 798

General Stores.

  • Flye, Arthur M., 41 Main, M.M.
  • FOX, ASA & SON, Milton Mills – See page 797
  • Lowd, F.H., 7 Main, M.M.
  • WILLEY, J.D., Main – See p 793

Gents’ Furnishings.

  • FOX, ASA & SON, Milton Mills – See page 797
  • Horne, J.E., 25 Main
  • LOVERING, G.S., 27 Church, M.M. – See page 798
  • Mason, H.S., Main, Milton

Grain and Feed.

  • EDGECOMB, C.R., 41 Leb rd, A.S., M.M. – See p 796

Grist Mill.

  • EDGECOMB, C.R., 41 Leb rd, A.S., M.M. – See p 796

Grocers.

  • BLAISDELL, S.G., Main, opp Leb bridge – See page 793
  • Flye, A.M., 41 Main, M.M.
  • FOX, ASA & SON, Milton Mills – See page 797
  • HALL, W.C. & CO., Charles – See page 793
  • Knight, E.G., Milton
  • Lowd, F.H., 7 Main, M.M.
  • MUCCI, N. (fancy), 44 Main, M.M. – See page 798
  • WHITEHOUSE BROS., Main – See page 792
  • WILLEY, J.D., – See p 793

Hairdressers.

  • Hargraves, William F., Milton
  • PAGE, ROBERT, Milton Mills – See page 797
  • Stackpole, C.A., Main, Milton

Hardware.

  • FOX, ASA & SON, Milton Mills – See page 797
  • MURRAY, DANIEL, Milton M. – See p 797
  • WILLEY, J.D., – See p 793

Harness Makers and Repairers.

  • Page, Joseph, Main, opp depot
  • Sanborn, Frank M., Milton Mills

Hats, Caps, etc.

  • FOX, ASA & SON, Milton Mills – See page 797
  • Horne, J.E., Milton Mills
  • Mason, H.S., Main

Hay Dealers.

  • WILLEY, J.D., – See p 793

Horseshoer.

  • RUDD, ALFRED A., 20 Main, M.M. – See p 796
  • DUNTLEY, IRA W., Main – See page 791
  • WENTWORTH, J.E., 71 Main – See page 798
  • YOUNG, J.C., Milton Mills – See page 795

Hotels.

  • CENTRAL HOUSE, J.H. Lord, Milton Mills – See page 796
  • MILTON HOTEL, C.L. Bodwell – See page 791
  • MILTONIA HOUSE, C.H. Prescott – See page 795
  • PHOENIX HOUSE, F.M. Chamberlin prop – See page 792
  • “THE SANDS” (summer), Milton pond, F.M. Chamberlin – See page 792

House Decorators.

  • GILMORE BROS., Milton – See page 791
  • MILLS, W.F., Milton Mills – See page 796

Ice Cream and Soda.

  • LIBBY, E.T., Milton Mills – See page 797

Ice Dealer (Retail).

  • CLEMENT, JOHN B., Plummer’s Ridge, M. – See page 795

Ice Dealers (Wholesale).

  • Downing, J.R.
  • Marblehead Ice Co.
  • Union Ice Co.

Insurance Agents.

  • Gage, J.M., Main, opp drug store.
  • MARSH, FORREST M., Milton Mills – See front cover

Jewelry and Watches.

  • LIBBY, E.T., Main, Milton Mills – See page 797

Justices of the Peace.

  • AVERY, B.H., 21 So. Main – See page 792
  • AVERY, H.L., Main – See page 791
  • FOX, E.F., Milton Mills – See page 797
  • FOX, E.W., Milton Mills – See page 797
  • Goodwin, G.H., W. Milton
  • JONES, CHARLES H., So. Main, 1 mile out – See page 793
  • MARSH, F.L., Milton Mills – See front cover
  • PLUMMER, B.B., Plummer’s Ridge – See page 795
  • Wentworth, L.H., W. Milton

Ladder Mfr. (Steel).

  • Cantelo Mfg. Co., Avery bldg, Lebanon side, M.

Ladies Furnishings.

  • HART, LENA M., Main n p o – See page 791

Laundry Agents.

  • Hargraves, W.F., Main
  • Knights, E.G., Main
  • LIBBY, E.T., Milton Mills – See page 797
  • PAGE, ROBERT, 22 Main, M.M. – See page 797
  • WILLEY, J.H., Main cor Silver – See page 795

Lawyers.

Leather Board Mfrs.

Libraries.

  • Milton Free Public Library, John U. Simes, librarian (600 volumes), Milton Mills
  • Nute Library, Mrs. F. Haley, librarian, Milton

Lumbermen.

  • AVERY, JONES & ROBERTS – See page 791
  • EDGECOMB, C.R. (dealer and sawyer), M. Mills – See page 796
  • Plummer, G.L. (p o Union)

Machinist.

  • PLUMMER, HAZEN, 28 Silver – See page 794

Manufacturing Companies.

  • BOYNTON SHOE CO. (shoes), Milton Mills – See page 794
  • United Box Board and Paper Co. (paper and card board)
  • SPAULDING, J. & SONS CO. (leather board and counters) – See page 794
  • TOWNSEND, H.H. (Estate), (blankets), Milton Mills – See page 794

Market Gardener.

  • FALL, G.G., So. Main – See page 792

Masons and Plasterers.

  • Rines, T.G., Remick av., Milton

Milkmen.

  • AVERY, B.F., 21 So. Main – See page 792
  • Buck, Herman L., Springvale rd, A.S., M.M.
  • Hapgood, W., Milton Mills
  • HAYES, L.C., So. Milton – See page 795
  • NUTE, GEORGE E., Nute Ridge, Milton, See page 792

Millinery.

  • Betts, E.E. Miss, Milton Mills
  • Corkery, Daisy G., Main
  • Horne, Olive A. Mrs., M.M.

Mill Supplies.

  • Mayo, L.S. & Sons Co., picker sticks, levers, arms, etc., Leb. side, M. – See page 348

Music Teachers.

  • DICKEY, M.S. (piano), 13 So. Main – See page 795
  • Jones, F.P. (piano), Plummer’s Ridge, M.
  • Kimball, Annie M. (piano), 10 Maple
  • Wentworth, Mary A. (piano), 35 Church, M.M.

Newspapers and Periodicals.

  • LIBBY, E.T., at p o M.M. – See page 797
  • PINKHAM, N.G., Main, Milton – See page 793

Notaries Public.

  • FOX, E.F., Milton Mills – See page 797
  • FOX, E.W., Milton Mills – See page 797
  • Looney, Walter E., 54 So. Main, Milton
  • MARSH, FORREST L., Milton Mills – See front cover
  • Wentworth, G.C.S., Main, M.

Oysters, Clams, Etc.

  • HORNE, C.A., Main, opp Leb. bridge – See page 795
  • WENTWORTH, E.L., 14 Mill, Milton – See page 792

Painters (Sign).

  • SHULMAIER, H.R., 15 Allens, Berwick, Me. – See Somersworth page 323

Painters and Paperhangers.

  • Connolly, T., Milton Mills
  • MILLS, WILLIAM F., Milton Mills – See page 796
  • Pinkham, Thomas H., 9 Maple
  • GILMORE BROS., 15 Silver and 14 So. Main – See page 791
  • Toppan, J.Q.A., M. Hotel, Toppan

Paints and Oils.

  • FOX, ASA & SON, Milton Mills – See page 797
  • WHITEHOUSE BROS., Main, M. – See page 792
  • WILLEY, J.D. – See page 793

Paper Mfrs.

  • United Box Board and Paper Co., off So. Main, Milton

Physicians.

Plumber.

  • MURRAY, D., Milton Mills – See page 797

Pool Rooms.

  • Hargraves, William F., Main

Provisions.

  • BLAISDELL, S.G., Main – See page 793
  • HORNE, C.A., Main, off Leb. bridge – See page 795
  • Pike, R.S., Milton Mills
  • Wentworth, George E., Main

Railroad.

  • BOSTON & MAINE R.R. – See page 34

Saw Mills.

  • AVERY, JONES & ROBERTS – See page 791
  • EDGECOMB, C.R., Leb. rd, A.S., M.M. – See page 796
  • Plumer, G.L., p o Union

School.

  • Milton Grammar School, R.M. Looney, 8 Church, Milton
  • Nute Free High School, C.E. Kelley, principal, 15 Far. rd, Milton

Soap Mfrs.

Stables.

  • CHAMBERLIN, F.M. – See page 792
  • LORD, J.H., Milton Mills – See page 792
  • MILTON HOTEL STABLES, Charles – See page 791

Stoves and Tinware.

  • MURRAY, D., Milton Mills – See page 797

Teamsters and Truckmen.

  • CLEMENT, JOHN B., Milton – See page 795
  • Pinkham, J.D., 8 Silver, Milton

Telephone Company.

  • N.E. TELEPHONE & TELEGRAPH CO. – See page 35

Toilet Articles.

Undertaker.

Wheelwrights.

  • DUNTLEY, IRA B., Main – See page 791
  • PRESCOTT, A.O., A.S., M.M – See page 798
  • RUDD, A.T., (iron work), 20 Main, M.M. – See page 796
  • WENTWORTH, J.E., 71 Main, M.M. – See page 798

Wood Dealers.

  • AVERY, B.F., 21 So. Main – See page 792
  • AVERY, JONES & ROBERTS, Main, Milton – See page 791
  • BODWELL, C.S., Milton Hotel, Toppan – See page 791
  • CLEMENTS, JOHN B., Milton – See page 795
  • Downs, H.W., 7 Silver, Milton
  • HAYES, L.C., So. Milton – See page 795
  • JONES, C.A., So. Main – See page 793
  • Jones, F.P., Plummer’s ridge
  • Pinkham, J.D., 8 Silver, M.

Woolen Goods Mfr.

Previous in sequence: Milton Businesses in 1904; next in sequence: Milton Businesses in 1909

References:

Bass and Company. (1905). Dover, Somersworth, Rochester, and Strafford County, N.H., Directory, 1905. Dover, NH: Bass and Company, 466 Central Avenue.

Milton and the Immigrants – 1910

By Muriel Bristol | July 28, 2019

In perusing the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census schedules for Milton, as I am wont to do, I came across a rather unusual enumeration from a leather-board factory in South Milton.

The census enumerator, Bard B. Plummer, visited the site on April 23, 1910. He passed from the household of “Henery” B. Hayes, a farmer (home farm), aged fifty-six years (b. NH), to that of the mill superintendent. (Recorded on Page 3 of 32 Milton pages).

William A. Dickson, a leather-board mill superintendent, aged thirty-five years (b. MA), headed a Milton [“Milton-Town”] household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of sixteen years), Hattie Dickson, aged thirty-four years (b. MA); his children, Marion I. Dickson, aged fourteen years (b. MA), Hazel M. Dickson, aged five years (b. NH), and Carolyn P. Dickson, aged two years (b. NH); and his in-laws William V. Newell, aged sixty-six years (b. MA), and Lucy H. Newell, aged sixty-six years (b. MA). The Newells had been married forty-six years, during which time she had been the mother of five children, of whom four were still living.

So far so good. Mr. Plummer passed next to a sort of worker’s hotel, dormitory, or barracks. Some forty leather-board mill laborers “boarded” there. They were all recorded as Alien immigrants, i.e., they were not yet Naturalized citizens. None of them spoke English. He gave their non-Yankee names a serious mangling.

[Ed. note: Recording the citizenship status of alien immigrants in the census was neither new nor unusual].

Plummer enumerated first the head of household, Thomas Peatri, aged thirty-four years (b. Greece). He had been longest in the U.S., having arrived in 1900. Under the CITIZENSHIP column, he was classed still as an Alien, i.e., not yet Naturalized. One supposes he had acquired in ten years some English and knew our little ways, and that was why he was taken to be “Head.” The others were all “Boarders.”

Next came nine other Greeks, also Aliens who had arrived between 1906 and 1909. Their names were mangled as Alec Porpas, aged twenty years (b. Greece), Uperslatey Kenaser, aged thirty years (b. Greece), John Punplato, aged thirty-eight years (b. Greece), Alcano Yunjar, aged nineteen years (b. Greece), George Stocklin, aged thirty-seven years (b. Greece), Spenta Chacton, aged eighteen years (b. Greece), John Delussule, aged forty years (b. Greece), Apostola Dumas, aged twenty-four years (b. Greece), and James Prapleton, aged twenty-six years (b. Greece).

Plummer hit a brick wall when he recorded the next twenty-six leather-board mill workers. Where he should have continued with the “NAME of each person whose place of abode on April 15, 1910, was in this family,” he instead wrote down their distinguishing numbers, #1 through #26, as issued them by the mill, and the explanation:

Impossible to get any thing from them more [-illegible-] for their names or any thing else.

They were all recorded as Aliens, who had immigrated between 1908 and 1910. A different and presumably later hand, perhaps that of Plummer’s census supervisor, noted that

These Greeks could not be enumerated better as they are only known as numbers in the factory and are going and coming every few days.

Finally Plummer enumerated four Italian workers who had names, although he recorded mangled versions of them: Antonio Dumnrio, aged twenty-five years (b. Italy), Giuseppe Palmapo, aged twenty-one years (b. Italy), Sauda Oamfans, aged eight years (b. Italy), and Aemelio De Bartolemo, aged twenty-two years (b. Italy). They too were all recorded as Aliens, who had immigrated between 1906 and 1908.

Previously, we have seen these Greek mill laborers – or some others using their numbers – when they aided the victim of Milton’s Murderous Lover – 1907. (The newspapers gave different versions of her French Canadian name in nearly every article).

We should note in closing that one of New Hampshire’s early settlers was “John Ammisoone the Greek,” who was at Great Island [now New Castle], NH, as early as 1659. God only knows his true name. His many descendants go by the name Amazeen.

My mother Thetis tells me that there are two ways in which I may meet my end. If I stay here and fight, I will not return alive but my name will live forever: whereas if I go home my name will die, but it will be long ere death shall take me. – Homer, the Illiad

References:

Noyes, Sybil, Libby, Charles T., and Davis, Walter G. (1991). Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Company

Milton in the News – 1909

By Muriel Bristol (Transcriber) | July 25, 2019

In this rather full year, we encounter an offer of Porter ice fresh from the pond, a Federal income tax proposed, a poverty ball, a fire at the Salmon River Paper mill, Ralph Farnham freshly remembered, a shoe magnate’s will proved, a power-boat injury, the Milton Shoe company resuming work, lady sales agents wanted, a realtor’s advertisement, a Boston Ice company conflagration, shoe stitchers wanted, a Women’s Relief Corps inspection, a backstabbing on a state highway road-gang, penstock boilermakers wanted, and a beer arrest (with that name confusion again).

This was also the year of Milton and the Eastern Route – 1909.

Milton ice merchant John O. Porter offered a discount price for ice taken directly from the pond.

ICE. BEST QUALITY, now loading from water; price right; large or small contracts. JOHN O. PORTER, Milton, N.H. (Boston Globe, February 22, 1909).

This option would save him the storage costs, which his client would then take upon himself, thus allowing Porter to sell his ice with the “price right.”

At the national level, Democrat U.S. Senators decided in this year to put forward a constitutional amendment that would authorize Federal income taxation.

DEMOCRATS’ TARIFF VIEWS. Want the Income Tax and Reduction on the Necessaries of Life. Washington, April 15. – For more than four hours the Democratic members of the senate conferred in an effort to agree upon a policy toward tariff legislation. At the end of that time it was announced that they had decided to support an income tax amendment and would present a solid front against any Republican opposition to an income tax for raising revenue. The conference also went on record favoring a general reduction on tariff schedules, particularly those relating to the necessaries of life (Portsmouth Herald, April 15, 1909).

Ironically,  their announcement came on April 15. It was proposed originally to “touch” only a handful of millionaires. We all know how that has “progressed” over time.

A Poverty Ball was a low-cost social event to which attendees were expected to wear their old clothes. Such costume balls were common from the 1890s through the 1930s. (“Terpsichorean” means dancing).

Odd Items from Everywhere. At a poverty ball given by the Terpsichorean club of Milton, N.H., the dancers were obliged to copy the order on plain baggage tags from a poster on the wall. All the refreshments the tired couples got during the intermission was cold water and ice cream. The ice cream was served on paper plates, and there was but one plate to a couple (Boston Globe, June 5, 1909).

The most ragged couple at a poverty ball might win a prize. People dressed too well might be fined. In this case, other frills have been omitted too. There were no dance cards: attendees are using baggage tags. (Might it have been held at the train station?) Refreshments were minimal and served on paper plates.

THE COUNTRY DANCE. The dance held at country homes, or the small summer or winter resort begins at an earlier hour than the dance in the city, and is more informal. In summer men often wear flannels and girls simple little evening dresses. The whole affair, including supper, is laid along simple lines, although, of course, in the matter of invitations, as well as the principles of etiquette, a dance in one place is the same as a dance in another. Special features, and, consequently, greater fun, are more possible at the country dance than at the formal city affair. The barn dance, the masquerade, a “Poverty Ball” where even the family dog questions ragged but picturesque costumes, the Mother Goose party, Calico Ball – all these are possible to the country hostess and may be entirely impromptu. Refreshments should be correspondingly simple (Lutes, 1923).

William S. Lowe was born in Missouri, circa 1855. He married in St. Luke’s Church in Denison, TX, August 6, 1878, Margaret E. “Maggie” Hughes. They lived in Texas, as late as 1880, Missouri, circa 1882-83, Ohio, circa 1884-85, and Lima, Missouri, in 1900.

William S. Lowe was president of the Salmon River Paper Company, in Milton, NH, from about 1905. He took up a paper mill described (in 1909) as having been established “about thirty years” before. (The Milton Manufacturing Co. appeared as a paper manufacturer in the Milton business directories of 1887, 1889, 1892, 1894; the Strafford Paper Co. so appeared in 1898; C.D. Brown & Co. in 1901; and the United Box Board and Paper Co. in 1904 (where our sequence currently ends)).

SALMON RIVER PAPER CO. (W.S. Lowe, Pres. and Treas.; M.H. Lowe, Vice Pres.; C.L. Lowe, Sec.) S.P., at mill. Two 800-lb., two 1200-lb., and one 2800-lb. Beating and three Jordan engines; one Four Cylinder and forty-seven Dryers. Water and Steam. Widest trimmed sheet, 75 inches. 48,000 lbs., 24 hours. High Grade Patent Whites and Colors, Single and Double Lined Manilas for Lithographic Work and Clay Coating; also Paraffined, Waxed and Waterproof Boards (Vance, 1908).

Note that the Salmon River Paper Company’s Vice President was Lowe’s wife, Maggie Hughes Lowe, and its Secretary was his middle daughter, Clara Louise Hughes.

W.S. Lowe was one of many manufacturers that lobbied a Congressional committee for a removal or reduction of wood tariffs in November 1908.

MILTON, N.H., November 16, 1908.

COMMITTEE on WOOD PULP IMPORTERS, New York.

GENTLEMEN: Regarding the tariff on mechanical and chemical wood pulp, this company is very much opposed to any increase of the duty; it would work an unnecessary hardship on consumers. We are paying now $42 for unbleached sulphite, the highest price I can remember. The duty on mechanical pulp should be taken off entirely. The price of this commodity is not regulated by duty but entirely by the water supply, and the ability of the grinders to operate. A drought creates high prices; plenty of water power, low prices. It is a low-priced product normally and the high freight rates from Canada and elsewhere makes a sufficiently high natural duty to always give domestic pulp an advantage of from $2 to $4 per ton. Yours truly, W.S. LOWE, Treasurer (U.S. House, 1908).

Fire destroyed the Salmon River Paper company on the night of Friday, June 10, 1910.

PAPER MILLS BURN. Salmon River Plant Loss Will Be $100,000. Fire at Milton, N.H., Due to Boiler Room Chimney. ROCHESTER, N.H., June 10 – One hundred employes were thrown out of employment and a property loss of $100,000 was caused by the destruction by fire of the Salmon River paper mills in the town of Milton, eight miles from this place, tonight. The blaze is supposed to have started about the chimney in the boiler room of the factory, which was a two-story wooden building. A heavy rain had wet the roofs of adjoining buildings and saved them from catching. W.S. Lowe of Portsmouth was the proprietor of the plant. The business was the manufacture of paper novelties. Mr. Lowe had partial insurance on the property (Boston Globe, June 11, 1909).

Fire Destroys Paper Mills. Milton, N.H., June 11. – One hundred hands were thrown out of employment and a property loss of $100,000 was caused by the destruction by fire of the Salmon River paper mills The blaze is supposed to have started in the boiler room {Portsmouth Herald, June 11, 1909).

MIGHT BUILD IN PORTSMOUTH. If the Water Power Supply Was Right for His Needs. W.S. Lowe, proprietor of the Salmon River Paper company’s plant at Milton, stated to a Herald reporter this morning that [it] is doubtful if he rebuilt his plant there. Said he: “I wish Portsmouth had water power near at hand. I should like to build my mill here as I would have a good labor market which is a question at Milton.” The fire started in the oil and waste house. The plant which was burned at Milton on Thursday night, was built about thirty years ago, and had been several times repaired. The equipment, however, was up to date, the paper machine having been installed six years ago at a cost of over $40,000. There were six beater engines and jordans in the mill. The power was mostly water, but there were two engines, one about 200-horse power, the other of half the size. The large one ran the paper machine, the small one helped in times of low water. About forty men were employed in two shifts, fifteen on the night shift, the others by day, with a pay roll of 500 to $800 per week (Portsmouth Herald, June 12, 1909).

W.S. Lowe did not rebuild. He returned instead to Missouri before year’s end. William S. Lowe, a paper manufacturer, aged fifty-five years (b. MO), headed a Kansas City, MO, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of thirty-two years), Margaret Lowe, aged fifty-one years (b. Canada (Eng.)), his children, Clara Louisa Lowe, aged twenty-eight years (b. MO), and Edna Lowe, aged twenty-six years (b. OH). Margaret Lowe was the mother of three children, of whom three were still living. They resided in a rented house at 2615 Forest Street.

MEANS A NEW MILL. Clash is Averted Between Two Big Companies. Great Falls and Spauldings Settle Water Privileges. MILTON. N.H., Aug. 9. – The threatened legal clash between the Great Falls manufacturing company of Somersworth and the J. Spaulding & Sons Co. of North Rochester, over the water privilege at the old flume, just below where the mill of the Salmon river paper company was burned last May [June], has been averted by the leasing of the water privilege by the Spauldings from their upper mill to the site of the burned mill. As a result the Great Falls company this morning called off its crew that was set at work last month to build a dam for a proposed electric power station. On this site the Spauldings will erect a leather board mill that will employ 500 hands. They are also negotiating for the water privileges held by the United boxboard and paper company under a lease from the Great Falls manufacturing company that runs until 1923. These rights include the site of the burned paper mill. As the paper company has no further use for the privilege it is understood that it will shortly sublet it to the Spaulding company. This will mean another mill for Milton. The Great Falls company owns the entire water privileges of the river from its mills at Somersworth to the Milton ponds (Boston Globe, August 10, 1909).

A Milton revolutionary soldier, Ralph Farnum – who had been the last living veteran of the Battle of Bunker Hill – was freshly remembered in a queries column of the Boston Globe, as he had been in articles printed during his final Boston visit in 1860, in which he had an audience with the King of England.

Last Survivor of Bunker Hill. To the Editor of the People’s Column – In answer to your request in the Globe of June 22, the last survivor of the battle of Bunker Hill was Ralph Varnum. A number of people of Milton, N.H., saw him take the team at that time, and one of them was named Samuel T.W. Duntlly. Ralph Varnum is buried in Acton, Me., and Eli Wentworth post 80 [89], G.A.R. places a flag on his grave every year. Milton, N.H. George I. Jordan (Boston Globe, June 29, 1909).

Farnum “took the team” in the sense that he served in the revolutionaries’ baggage train.

Then shall our names, Familiar in [their] mouths as household words, … Be in their flowing cups freshly remember’d. – Shakespeare, Henry V, Act IV, Scene III

Publication of probate information, even that of ordinary decedents, was a commonplace in newspapers of the past. In this case, the legatee in question was N.B. Thayer, founder of the N.B. Thayer & Co. shoe firm, which had a factory at Milton.

Noah Blanchard Thayer was born in Weymouth, MA, January 6, 1830 son of Nicholas and Thais (Shaw) Thayer. He married Lucy M. Newcomb. She was born in Randolph, MA, August 2, 1833, daughter of Samuel and Lucy L. (Blanchard) Newcomb. She died in 1895.

N.B. Thayer & Co. shoe manufacturers appeared in the Milton business directories of 1892, 1894, 1898, and 1904 (where our sequence currently ends).

Noah B. Thayer was one of six men who stood as sureties for the Weymouth tax collector’s $30,000 bond in March 1893. That tax collector paid off his mortgage, put all his property in his wife’s name, and skipped town with the remaining tax money. A “Bad Check Was Left Behind as Souvenir” (Boston Globe, December 5, 1894).

Noah B. Thayer, a shoe mfr., aged seventy years (b. MA), headed a Weymouth, MA, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his daughter, Carrie McBride, a widow, aged thirty years (b. MA), his grandchildren, Edwin T. McBride, at school, aged six years (b. MA), and Margarie McBride, aged four years (b. MA), and his servant, Julia Keefe, a servant, aged twenty-four years (b. MA).

N.B. Thayer & Co., Inc., had “big” shoe factories at East Rochester and Milton, N.H., which were said to be “among the busiest in the country” in 1908 (Boot & Shoe Recorder, 1908). He died in Weymouth, MA, June 29, 1909.

WILL OF NOAH B. THAYER. Weymouth Man Leaves Bequests of $3000 for Son and Daughter. DEDHAM. July 10 – The will of the late Noah B. Thayer of Weymouth has been filed with the Norfolk registry of probate. The will was drawn April 27, 1906, and an accompanying codicil was drawn Sept 6, 1906. By the will $3000 is left to one son, Frank H. Thayer. To one daughter, Carrie M. McBride, is left $3000, and all the household goods and furniture. The remainder of the property is left to the children, Frank H. and Elmer F. Thayer and Carrie M. McBrlde. Frank H. Thayer is suggested for executor (Boston Globe, July 10, 1909).

Power-boats would have been a relatively recent development on the Three Ponds. It would seem that the injury was received inside the boat.

Boy Hurt in Power Boat. MILTON, N.H., Aug. 9 – While going from Northeast pond to Milton station early this morning Chester Batchelder, aged 12, of Lynn, caught his leg under the propeller shaft of the power boat and had the flesh badly torn and the bones broken. He was taken to the Lynn hospital (Boston Globe, August 10, 1909).

Ralph C. Bachelor, a shoe shop foreman, aged forty-two years (b. MA), headed a Lynn, MA, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his (second) wife (of eleven years), Bertha J. Bachelor, aged thirty-nine years (b. MA), and his children, Chester F. Bachelor, aged sixteen years (b. MA), and Everett B. Bachelor, aged fourteen years (b. MA). They resided at 20 Rand Street, which home they owned free-and-clear.

The Milton Shoe Co. appeared in Milton business directories of 1901, but not in that of 1904 (where our sequence currently ends). Here they are resuming production after a long hiatus.

HAD LONG BEEN IDLE. Factory of the Milton, N.H., Shoe Company Resumes Operations. MILTON, N.H., Aug. 13 – The large factory of the Milton shoe company, which has long been idle, has resumed operations. About 400 persons are employed (Boston Globe, August 13, 1909).

MALE HELP WANTED. WANTED – Two first-class vampers; steady work and extra good pay. Apply to MILTON SHOE CO., Milton, N.H. (Boston Globe, September 13, 1909).

Charles C. Keene may have been superintendent at the factory at this time. (He resigned from that position in August 1912 (Boot & Shoe Recorder, 1912)). The Milton Shoe Company, of Milton, N.H., manufacturers of children’s shoes, reportedly went into receivership in 1915.

The Warranty Shoe Manufacturing Company, at Milton Mills, sought lady shoe sales agents. These advertisements appeared in newspapers published in Norwich, CT, Boston, MA, and Barre, Burlington, Montpelier, and Rutland, VT.

WANTED. LADY AGENTS wanted. Hustlers earn $15 to $18 per week. Write us. Warranty Shoe Mfg. Co., Milton Mills, N.H. (Burlington Free Press, August 18, 1909).

A Milton realtor sought to sell property of all sorts, including even livestock, anywhere in New Hampshire. Apparently, it was to be done by mail.

THE REAL ESTATE MARKET. If you have a Store, Farm, Timber Lot or Live Stock anywhere in N.H., for sale, address Box 75, Milton, N.H. (Boston Globe, October 3, 1909).

Sparks from a passing B&M railroad locomotive caused a serious fire at the Boston Ice Company during the evening of Saturday, October 9.

Here we learn that the Boston Ice Company had also tenements for its employees, as did other firms in town. The ice company’s ice houses, stables, and tenements were situated at modern Utah Way.

NEW ENGLAND BRIEFS. The plant of the Boston ice company at Milton, N.H., with 13 houses, a stable and four loaded railroad cars was destroyed by fire last night. Treas. F.J. Bartlett in Boston last night estimated the loss to be about $75,000. Employes in nearby tenements had hard work to save their homes (Boston Globe, October 10, 1909).

One hopes that the horses (if any there were) got out of the stable. Rebuilding began soon after the fire.

The Andrews-Wasgatt Company, of Everret, MA, shoe manufacturers, who had advertised in the prior year for vampers, were seeking stitchers.

FEMALE HELP WANTED. STITCHERS on all parts of misses’ shoes. ANDREWS, WASGATT CO, Milton Mills, N.H. (Boston Globe, October 28, 1909).

Mrs. Emily E. “Emma” (Miller) Looney, acting in her capacity as Department President of the [Women’s] Relief Corps, was to inspect the State Relief Corps. The Women’s Relief Corps was the women’s auxiliary of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R) Civil War veterans’ organization. (Her husband, the Hon. Charles H. Looney, had died in Milton Mills, April 23, 1902).

Personals. Department President Mrs. Emma E. Looney of Milton, N.H., will inspect the State Relief Corps on Friday afternoon, at G.A.R. hall (Portsmouth Herald, October 29, 1909).

Emma E. Looney, a widow, aged fifty-six years (b. NH), headed a Milton [“Milton 3-Ponds”] household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. He household included her children, Walter Looney, a clerk at Central House, aged thirty-two years (b. NH), Robert M. Looney, a grammar school teacher [principal of the Milton Grammar school in 1905], aged thirty years (b. NH), Harry N. Looney, a shoe factory cutter, aged twenty-seven years, and John H. Looney, aged twenty-four years (b. NH). She owned their house free-and-clear, without any mortgage. [They resided at 54 South Main street in 1905].

A state road-gang laborer on the new Eastern route state highway perpetrated a serious assault upon another laborer.

STABBED IN THE BACK. Man Known Only as Philip, from Boston, Victim of Row at Milton, N.H. – Police Seek Joseph Crapna. MILTON, N.H., Nov 23. As the result of a row among laborers employed on the new state highway, a man who is known only by his first name, Philip, is suffering from a stab in the back, inflicted, it is alleged, by Joseph Crapna, aged 30, who escaped after the encounter, and who is being sought by Chief of Police James Rines. The affray occurred late Sunday night at lodgings in the Hart building. It is said that liquor flowed freely, and that the principals became excited over some old trouble. Philip had only recently joined the men, coming here from Boston. During the altercation Crapna suddenly pulled a stiletto, it is said, and stabbed Philip in the upper portion of the back, making an ugly gash near the shoulder blade. Crapna quickly disappeared. The victim bled profusely, but it is reported he will recover (Boston Globe, November 23, 1909).

There do not seem to have been any follow-up articles, so it might be that Joseph Crapna was never apprehended.

Penstock work would be work upon the sluice gate or water intake structures of a dam, of which Milton had several.

MALE HELP WANTED. TWO BOILERMAKERS wanted at once for penstock work at Milton, N.H. L. DOUGHTON, Milton, N.H. (Boston Globe, December 16, 1909).

Mr. L. Doughton has proven somewhat difficult to pin down. He may have been a mill superintendent or possibly an out-of-town dam contractor of some sort.

As we have seen, several factories in Milton had their own tenements, or residences, on their grounds for worker housing. A number of Italian and Greek immigrant workers were so domiciled in South Milton. (We encountered them previously helping the victim of Milton’s Murderous Lover in 1907).

On this occasion, we encounter an Italian immigrant factory worker running afoul of New Hampshire’s restrictive liquor licensing. We may recall that their factory housing was situated two miles out from Three-Ponds village. He had some bottles of beer, which he either vended or gave away to some of the other workers with whom he resided. For that he was arrested for “keeping liquor for sale,” which violated several aspects of the liquor law.

(If one were working a ten to twelve-hour workday, six days a week, and marooned in a workers’ tenement in the woods of South Milton, one might consider it a beneficial service, rather than otherwise, to have access to a bottle of beer after a hard day’s work).

Beer Seized at Milton, N.H. ROCHESTER, N.H., Dec. 23. Deputy Sheriff Frank I. Smith and Deputy Sheriff Elmer Clark of Dover and Deputy Sheriff William Hartford and policeman Harrison Rhines of Milton raided the boarding house of Demarta Odberton at Milton Tuesday night and seized a quantity of beer. Yesterday, before Judge Lawrence V. McGill, he was charged with keeping malt liquor for sale and was held in $200 bonds for the superior court (Boston Globe, [Thursday,] December 23, 1909).

Apart from the absurdities attendant to the liquor laws, we may again experience the hilarity arising from the various officials’ utter inability to comprehend the accused’s Italian name. The accused’s name was definitely not Demarta Odberton, nor anything like that.

We shall encounter the unfortunate Mr. Odberton, under yet other names, as he passes through the various court proceedings of the following year.

Previous in sequence: Milton in the News – 1908; next in sequence: Milton in the News – 1910

References:

Chilton Company. (1908). Boot & Shoe Recorder. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=CPAxAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA58

Chilton Company. (1912). Boot & Shoe Recorder. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=vto-AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA4-PA21

Find a Grave. (2008, October 5). Noah Blanchard Thayer. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/30324570

Lutes, Della T. (1923). The Gracious Hostess: A Book of Etiquette. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=W6YvAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA212

U.S. House of Representatives. (1908). Pulp and Paper Investigation Hearings, April 25, 1908. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=Q91CAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA3193

Vance Publishing Corp. (1908). Lockwood’s Directory of the Paper and Stationary Trade. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=6A8AAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA94

Wikipedia. (2019, January 24). Henry B. Quinby. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_B._Quinby

Wikipedia. (2019, July 12). Penstock. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penstock

 

Milton and the Eastern Route – 1909

By Muriel Bristol (Transcriber) | July 21, 2019

In 1909, New Hampshire’s governor and his council chose the routes through which proposed (and legislatively-authorized) western, middle, and eastern state highways would run.

The news articles quoted here identify forthrightly the motivations of those making the choices. Their objects were more political than strictly economic or geographic ones: providing road access for less-developed low-population northern areas of the state, at the expense of taxpayers in the remainder of the state.

That the final selections addressed primarily political purposes, rather than purely engineering ones, was evidenced by the large attendance of the “prominent men” of the affected areas, and the “considerable pressure” that they brought to bear. The opinions of accomplished engineers were not mentioned as being relevant at all.

The prominent men of the northern logging industry and the Boston & Maine railroad would have had their “say” also. (The Conway branch of the B&M railroad aligned more closely with the route ultimately chosen). A cynic might suppose that it was their say that was dispositive.

The various possible Eastern route alternatives, which must have concerned Milton most nearly, ran largely over existing roads, at least so far as the mountain “notches.” As such, the choices were mostly a question of State officials “claiming” or “designating” particular existing roads as being henceforth “their” own state highway.

The routes passed over at this time would become state highways eventually. The chosen Eastern route took on the name “White Mountain Highway” at the Rochester-Milton town line.

In late July 1909, the governor and his council had not yet decided whether or not the Eastern route would run from Rochester through Milton, Wakefield, Ossipee, Tamworth, and Albany to Conway, as it does now. It might have run instead from Rochester through Farmington, New Durham, to Alton (as NH Route 11 runs now), then to Wolfeboro, Tamworth, Albany, and Madison to Conway.

GOVERNOR AND COUNSEL LISTEN TO ARGUMENTS FOR ROAD LOCATION. Governor Henry B. Quinby and the members of his council were in Concord Wednesday and gave up most of their time to a hearing of all parties interested in lay-out of the boulevard on the east side of the state authorized by the highway bill passed the last session of the legislature. There are to be three of these trunk lines, the east side, the central and the west side, and to date the route of the former seems to be the most seriously in dispute. From the coast the location of the road to Rochester is agreed upon. On leaving Rochester, however, the question is how shall it reach the mountains, the objective point of all the highways. There are two routes suggested, one through Milton Mills, Wakefield and Ossipee, and the other through Farmington, New Durham, Alton and Wolfboro, and then via Tamworth and Albany to Conway, or via Ossipee and Chocorua to Conway; or through Ossipee and Madison to Conway. The great interest in the proposition was shown by the large attendance of prominent men representing the towns through which it is desired the road should pass, which compelled the use of the supreme court room in the state library building. The hearing opened at 11:00 o’clock with the governor and the advisers occupying the bench and working under the notice that ten minutes would be given to the claims of each town interested. It took until nearly two o’clock before the final word had been said and an adjournment taken (Portsmouth Herald, July 22, 1909).

By mid-September 1909, the governor and his council made up their minds to continue the Eastern route from Rochester through Milton, rather than through Farmington. Milton was not specifically mentioned in the article, although it is what lies between the mentioned locations of Rochester and Wakefield.

ROUTES FOR THE STATE HIGHWAYS. The Big Undertaking of the State of New Hampshire. CONCORD, Sept. 18. – The governor and council at their meeting on Friday took up the location of the West Side road and, after considerable discussion, established the route, thereby completing the designation of the three trunk lines, as provided by act of the last legislature, and for the construction of which $1,000,000 was appropriated.

The road, as determined by them begins at the state line between Northfield, Mass., and Hinsdale, N.H., passes through Hinsdale, Winchester and West Swanzey to Keene; thence through Gilsum, Lempster and Goshen to Newport; thence through Croyden and Grantham to Hanover; thence following the Connecticut river, passes through the villages of Lyme and Orford, Piermont, Haverhill to Woodsville; thence through Bath and Lisbon villages lo Littleton; thence from Littleton over the hill by the Glessner estate to Bethlehem street; from Bethlehem street to the Twin Mountain House; thence from the Twin Mountain House to Whitefield, continuing through Lancaster, Northumberland, Groveton, Stratford and Columbia to the northerly terminus of the line at Colebrook.

There has been much pressure brought to bear upon the governor and council for other routes as well as for the route selected by them, and particularly from the vicinity of Rindge and Fitzwilliam, as well from Claremont and Newport. The route from Keene to Newport is through many small towns and over a country that has no means of transportation except over the highway. Besides furnishing better transportation facilities for the towns, this road it is believed, will open for development the territory that has previously been little known. There are no forbidding grades on the route, and there is plenty of material along the entire route for construction.

The middle road, previously selected, will enter the state at Nashua and have its northern terminal in a junction with the west side road at Twin Mountain, its route taking it through Manchester, Concord, Franklin, Laconia, Plymouth, Woodstock and other towns.

The East side road, also previously selected, will follow the ocean boulevard to Portsmouth, thence via Dover, the edge of Somersworth, Rochester, Wakefield, Conway, Pinkham Notch, Berlin, Errol and Dixville Notch, to Colebrook, which will be the terminal of both the Eastern and the Western roads.

The Crawford Notch road between Glen and Twin Mountain will afford a route through the heart of the mountains from the East road to the junction of the middle and West roads (Portsmouth Herald, September 9, 1909).

All of this was mirrored at the Town level. Historically, most New England roads have been privately built, for their owners’ purposes, and then, at some point, “accepted” by their respective Towns as being Town roads.

If we didn’t have state coercion, the argument runs, there would be no roads. There’d be a Sears store over there, and your house over here, and everyone involved would be standing there scratching their heads. – Thomas Woods

See also Milton, Straight Thru (North), in 1918, Milton and the Spaulding Turnpike, and Trip to Wildcat Shortened

References:

Wikipedia. (2019, January 24). Henry B. Quinby. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_B._Quinby

Wikipedia. (2019, July 14). Logrolling. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logrolling

Wikipedia. (2019, June 25). New Hampshire Route 16. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Hampshire_Route_16

 

Milton in the News – 1908

By Muriel Bristol (Transcriber) | July 18, 2019

In this year, we encounter another Massachusetts ice shortage, a farm worker wanted, a Nute High school field trip, Rev. Dickey’s correspondence, and vampers wanted at Milton Mills.

This was also the year of the Hennessey kidnapping.

Massachusetts’ own ice harvest was again marginal, with Milton’s ice harvest again cited as one of its alternate sources.

ICE FAMINE THREATENING. Massachusetts So Far Has Very Little. Cutting in Progress to North With Fair Thickness. Cape and Rhode Island Districts Worst Off. Three weeks will probably settle the fate of the ice crop in New England for 1908. Ice dealers to the north of Boston are fairly confident of securing an ordinary supply, but to the south conditions are far from satisfactory. Last year at this time the ice houses were full and the companies were putting ln extra supplies. A considerable quantity of this surplus is still on hand and an attempt will be made to carry It over, notably about 250,000 tons on the Penobscot belonging to the American Ice company. There is also considerable last year’s ice in other parts of New England, but the small dealers are nearly cleaned out and are becoming anxious about the crop. The average thickness of the ice north of the Massachusetts line and 20 miles inland is about 10 inches. In some sections it runs to 12 or 13 Inches, and a little has been harvested. In the Berkshire hills and the Green mountains there is of course no danger of a famine, and dealers in other parts of Vermont see no cause for alarm, although lake Champlain is not yet closed in. Cutting has begun at Agawam, Mass., near Springfield with nine inches; at Milton, N.H., with 12 Inches; at Montpelier, Vt., with 12 inches; and at Holden, near Worcester, with 11 inches. It Is along the coast from Portsmouth, N.H., south that the famine threatens, especially at Plymouth, along cape Cod, and in Rhode Island. The average thickness of the ice on the ponds about Middleboro is not more than a few inches and some of the larger ponds are not frozen except along the edges. There is no ice at all on cape Cod. Dealers in those sections say that if the ponds and lakes do not show 8 or 10 inches by Feb 10 the local crop will again be a failure and that New Hampshire and Maine will have to furnish the supply for the summer. In former years the ice companies along the Penobscot harvested two or three million tons and the work gave employment to thousands of men. The capacity of the houses of the American ice company on the Kennebec at the present time is less than 500,000 tons, as many of the plants have been burned or gone into decay. The same is partly true of those on the Penobscot (Boston Globe, January 20, 1908).

MALE HELP WANTED. MAN wanted to do general work on farm. Address E.L.S., Milton, N.H; Box 229 (Boston Globe, February 20, 1908).

Here we find Nute High School Principal Clarence E. Kelley and Mrs. Mary B. (Plummer) Wallingford escorting fourteen students on a week’s trip to Washington, DC.

FOR WASHINGTON TRIP. Seventy-One Tourists Leave Boston Tonight for National Capital. Fifteen students and an instructor from the Milton, N.H., high school, 71 tourists from various parts of this state, 9 from Rhode Island, 7 from other parts of New Hampshire than Milton, and 2 from New York will start this evening on an excursion to Washington organized by George E. Marsters of 298 Washington st. The party will be conducted by Frank W. Lund. and the stayawav sightseeing will continue for one week. Here are the names of the fortunate ones: Miss Eliza L. Baker, Miss Josie M. [Calkins] Clakins, Miss Inez M. Colbath, Miss Elva M. Gowan, Miss S.B. Hutchins, Miss Rosamond E. Piper, Miss Marlon Tuttle, Miss Frances G. Wadleigh, Mr. Paul G. Baker, Mr. L.S. Drew, Mr. C.F. Hayes, Mr. C.P. Moulton, Mr. C.E. Piper, Mr. Dana C. Tuttle, Mr. Clarence E. Kelley, Mrs. Mary B. Wallingford, Milton, N.H. high school; Mr. and Mrs. C.W. Jenness, Farmington. N.H.; Mr. Horace J. Batchelder. Haverhill; Mr. Frank J. Batchelder, Haverhill; Mrs. E.B. Parsons, Springfield; Miss Josephine F. Ellis, Winthrop Beach; Miss Florence J. Weddleton, Chelsea; Mrs. S.J. Hatch, Boston; Mrs. L.A. Coombs, Shelburne: Mrs. W.H. Wright, Roxbury; Miss Maude R. Wright, Roxbury: Mrs. G.H. Hayes, Winthrop; Miss A.H. Hayes, Winthrop: Miss E. McWane. Newtonville; Mrs. Robert B. Edes, Newton; Miss Grace Montgomery, Newton; Mrs. J.H. Jones, Dorchester; Mrs. A.W. Hole, Dorchester; Mrs. Walter White, Malden; Mr. Wm. Murphy, Roxbury; Mr. Wm. D. Murphy. Roxbury; Mr. Thomas J. Murphy, Roxbury; Mr. and Mrs. H.N. Tucker, Boston; Mrs. F.B. Pratt, Boston; Mrs. G.O. North, Boston; Mrs. Geo. Lane, Winthrop; Mr. E.W. Marshall, Portsmouth, N.H.; Mrs. E.W. Marshall, Portsmouth, N.H.; Mrs. Geo. E. Miller, Suncook, N.H; Master J.G. Seaver, Woburn; Mrs. C.B. Holmes, Boston; Mrs. J.H. Robinson, Boston; Mr. Henry McCarty, Boston; Mrs. Henry McCarty, Boston; Mrs. M.B. Green, Boston: Miss Rebecca Bent, Somerville; Miss Emma B. Willcomb, Maynard; Mrs. L. Anderson, Boston; Mrs. A.B. Shepard, Andover; Miss Georgia Shepard, Andover; Miss Floretta Vining, Hull; Mrs. Edward Clark, Hull; Mrs. George Bates, Boston; Mrs. Adelia Page, Dorchester; Mrs. J.L. Gibbs, Waltham; Miss Grace T. Richards, Dorchester; Mrs. R.E. Page, Arlington; Miss Cora Watts, East Boston; Mrs. A.M. Gove. Dorchester; Mrs. Charles T. Crane. Braintree; Mrs. Belle Austrup, Worcester; Mrs. George Beane, Worcester; Miss Flora M. Scott, Worcester: Mrs. J.L. Scott, Worcester; Mr. and Mrs. George F. Morgan, Cambridge; Mr. and Mrs. S.C. Colbath. Alton, N.H.; Miss Mary Hallissey, Dorchester; Miss Alice R. Capen, Boston; Mrs. J.W. Ryan, Dorchester; Miss R.B. Ryan, Dorchester; Miss G.L. Ryan, Dorchester; Mr. and Mrs. A.S. Harriman, Haverhill; Mr. and Mrs. C.C. Dexter, Lowell; Mrs. A.F. Dearborn, South Acton; Mr. L. Coffin, Newton; Mr. I.A. McManus, Newton; Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Bates, Leominster; Mrs. C. Hemenway, Worcester; Mrs. Rufus Dixon, Worcester; Mr. and Mrs. W.L. Kirschner, New York; Mr. L.S. Whalen, Dorchester; Miss Susie Manchester, Newport, R.I.; Miss Lillie Manchester, Newport, R.I.: Miss Louise Goffe, Newport, R.I.: Miss Kate Stratford, Newport, R.I., Mr. Walter Sherman. Newport, R.I.; Mr. Harry Alger, Newport, R.I.; Mr. J. Paul Cozzens, Newport, R.I.; Mr. William Weaver, Newport, R.I.; Mr. Robert Shepley, Newport, R.I.; Messrs. Leland and Lawton, Boston; Mr. A.E. Clary, Boston; Miss Catherine Paulint (Boston Globe, April 17, 1908).

George E. Marsters ran a Boston tourist agency. His advertisements mentioned his representing foreign and American steamship lines, railways, hotels and resorts. He was willing to arrange tours under escort, private cars, foreign money, exchange, drafts, and letters of credit. He would have arranged for the escort, Frank W. Lund, who was himself a ticket, tourist, or travel agent, resident in Nashua, NH, as early as 1902.

Mrs. Wallingford was likely along as chaperone. She was the widow of Samuel W. Wallingford, who had died in 1899. She appeared as a farmer, aged fifty-five years (b. NH), in the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. Her household included her sister, Frances W. Twombly, aged forty-nine years (b. NH), and her brother-in-law, John Twombly, a retired physician, aged fifty-one years (b. NH). Neither sister had any children.

Jessie Calkins, aged thirteen years (b. ME); Elva Gowan, aged nine years (b. NH); Rosamond E. Piper, aged eleven years (b. NH), and her brother Charles E. Piper, aged ten years (b. NH); Charles T. Hayes, aged nine years (b. NH), were all Milton students, although not yet attending the high school, at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. They would have been aged between seventeen and twenty-one years at the time of the Washington trip.

Not all of Nute High school’s students necessarily lived in Milton. Nute High school also admitted “tuition students” from elsewhere. Iniz M. Colbath, aged ten years (b. NH); Lyle S. Drew, aged nine years (b. NH); Blanche S. Hutchins, aged ten years (b. NH); Dana C. Tuttle, aged eleven years (b. NH), and his sister, Marion Tuttle, aged nine years (b. NH), and Fanny G. Wadleigh, aged nine years (b. MA), all resided in Wakefield, NH, in 1900.  They would have been aged between seventeen and nineteen years at the time of the Washington trip.

Carroll P. Moulton, aged ten years (b. NH), resided in Ossipee, NH in 1900. Eliza L. Baker, aged twelve years (b. VT) and her brother, Paul G. Baker, aged ten years (b. VT), resided in Vergennes, VT, in 1900. They would have been aged between eighteen and twenty years at the time of the Washington trip.

Rev. Francis, former pastor of Ludlow, MA’s First Congregational church read out some letters from another former pastor, Rev. Myron P. Dickey of Milton.

GIVES LUDLOW $10,000. Old-Home Sunday Cheered by C.D. Rood. Many People Attend First Congregational Church. LUDLOW CENTER, Aug. 9. Just 275 persons attended “Old-home Sunday” at the First congregational church today and of those 21 men and 18 women were more than 60 years of age. An important matter was the receipt of a letter from Charles D. Rood stating that he had forwarded $10,000 for the benefit of Ludlow. The anthem “Invitation,” sung by a large chorus in the back gallery, began the service, and as they used to do, the congregation turned and faced them. Rev. Mr. Francis, pastor from 1895 to 1905, presided. He read letters from Rev. M.P. Dickey of Milton, N.H. a former pastor, and Mrs. Julius P. Bodfish of Washington, D.C. Rev. Mr. Rice of Agawam spoke. The congregation took their dinner under the trees (Boston Globe, August 10, 1908).

The Andrews-Wasgatt shoe company of Everett, MA, set up a branch factory in Milton Mills in this year. (They had experienced a strike at their Everett plant in 1907).

FEMALE HELP WANTED. VAMPERS on flat bed machines. ANDREWS-WASGATT CO, Milton Mills, N.H. (Boston Globe, December 27, 1908).

One of its partners, Herbert P. Wasgatt took his seat as alderman-at-large and chairman of the board of aldermen in Everett in January 1909 (Boston Globe, January 5, 1909).

The Andrews-Wasgatt company appears to have been active at Milton Mills through at least 1913 (Shoe & Leather, 1914; Boston Globe, January 7, 1924). Timson and Company, of West Epping, NH, purchased Andrews-Wasgatt’s Milton Mills factory in 1915 and moved their operation there.

Previous in sequence: Milton in the News – 1907; next in sequence: Milton in the News – 1909

References:

Shoe and Leather Reporter Company. (1914). Shoe and Leather Reporter Annual. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=st0-AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA284

 

Milton and the Hennessey Kidnapping – 1908

By Muriel Bristol (Transcriber) | July 14, 2019

A sensational Charlestown, MA, kidnapping case ended with the kidnapper’s capture in a Milton barbershop. The kidnapped woman steered the kidnapper to Milton, as she had relatives here and was familiar with it.

(The victim’s name was not Eva Tanford, as given in the initial report, nor was she aged seventeen years).

SAYS FORCED TO GO AWAY. Eva Tanford States G. Galella Made Threat. Declares He Compelled Her to Go to Milton, N.H., With Him. Man Arrested, But He Will Be Released. Milton, N.H., May 16. Weeping and wailing and trembling with fright, pretty 17-year-old Eva Tanford of Charlestown, MA, told a startling story last evening to Mrs. Fred M. Chamberlin, wife of the proprietor of hotel Chamberlin, where she and a man had registered shortly before.

Chamberlin, Fred M.
Fred M. Chamberlin, near the Milton train station (Photo: Dianne O’Neill)

Fred M. Chamberlin, a hotel keeper, aged forty-two years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton Village”) household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of fourteen years), Grace M. [(Dicey)] Chamberlin, aged thirty-two years (b. NH), his children, Guy Chamberlin, at school, aged twelve years (b. NH), and Pearl Chamberlin, at school aged six years (b. NH), his servant, Albert F. Downs, a hotel servant, aged fifty-two years (b. NH), and a boarder, D.L. Perkins, a paper mill operative, aged forty-six years (b. Unknown).

Mrs. Chamberlin had been attracted to the room assigned to the girl by the latter’s cries, and on her way upstairs she met the man coming down. As soon as he was out of hearing, the girl told Mrs. Chamberlin that her companion had forced her to come to Milton by threatening to shoot her, and after their arrival at the hotel had threatened to kill her then and there unless she consented to marry him at once. The man, it is said, is Granaro Calella, aged 27, an iron molder, who lived in Charlestown the last seven years and who became enamored of the Tanford girl about a year ago, at which time he sent back to Italy his wife and seven [several?] children.

The authorities (and the newspapers) seemed to have a great deal of trouble in comprehending Italian names. The accused kidnapper’s name was Genaro Colella. He was an Italian immigrant, aged twenty-seven years, who had emigrated from southern Italy to the United States, “about” seven years before, i.e., circa 1901. He was married already, with several children. He had sent his wife back to Italy “about a year previously, i.e., circa 1906-07.

McClung Catalog - Twisters
Police Twisters

Mrs. Chamberlin immediately had her husband notify the police of what had occurred. A half-hour later Calella was placed under arrest in the barber shop of Fred Hartford, on Main st., by policeman J. Harris Rines. Calella was plentifully supplied with weapons. There was taken from him at the police station a loaded 38-calibre revolver, a stiletto having a blade nearly a foot long, two rawhide blackjacks and a pair of police twisters, also a supply of cartridges.

Fred Hartford, a barber, aged thirty-two years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“3-Ponds Village”) household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of eighteen years), Hattie E. [(Downs)] Hartford, aged thirty-nine years (b. NH), his mother-in-law, Doris M. Downs, a widow, aged sixty-two years, and his brother-in-law, Fred Downs, a shoe factory leather worker, aged twenty-six years (b. NH). Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Theresa A. Gerould and Anna F. Berry, Nute High school teachers, and that of James D. Parkham, a news dealer, aged forty-three years (b. NH).

The charge on which he is held is assault with attempt to murder. As soon as the arrest was made the Charlestown authorities were notified.

Miss Tanford’s story, as told to a Globe reporter, is substantially as follows: Thursday night Miss Tanford attended a wake in Charlestown. On her way home, about 4 yesterday morning, when passing the foundry of Osgood & Withery, 3 Sherman st., Calella, who is employed by that concern, came out of the shop, and demanded that she accompany him at once to Boston. She refusing, he drew a revolver and threatened to shoot her unless she consented to so. Fearing he would carry out his threat she went with him. He had evidently planned the affair and waited for her return from the wake, as he was dressed in traveling clothes.

On their arrival in Boston, Miss Tanford says. Calella urged her to board a train with him for New York. This she refused to do, but he renewed his threats, and to safeguard herself as far as possible, she suggested that they come to Milton, where she has relatives. She thought that by getting him to come here, she might effect her escape.

In the course of her conversation. Miss Tanford said she was a niece of Lieut. John Dobbin of station 14, Brighton, Mass.

Actually, she was Lt. Dobbyn’s sister-in-law. (His wife was Mary E. (Counihan) Dobbyn, Milton’s lifesaving heroine of 1902).

The two arrived here on the 4:09 p.m. train and went to the hotel where they registered under their own names, but gave Farmington as their place of abode. Later they went out for a walk and Calella began urging the girl to marry him, she says. The girl was seen weeping by persons on the street and was overheard to say: ‘”What will mother say, now that you have brought me up here?”

So insistent was Calella that Miss Tanford go with him to a minister and be married, and so resolute was she in her refusal, that on their return to the hotel. Miss Tanford says, Calella confronted her with his drawn knife and said: “You marry me, or you will never leave this place alive.” Calella. after making the threat, went out to get shaved. It was at this time Mrs. Chamberlin was attracted by the girl’s crying.

Miss Tanford says that Calella had boarded at her home in Charlestown about a fortnight a year ago. and since that time has been urging her to marry him. and has written her many letters. She says he declared in the presence of her mother that he would steal her, unless the latter consented to their marriage.

At the lockup, in broken English, Calella admitted to the Globe reporter that he intended to marry the girl. Said he:

“I brought her to Milton and was going to marry her or kill her.”

He said he came to this country from southern Italy seven years ago and had a wife and seven children, whom he sent back to Italy about a year ago. He declared that the girl’s family was on good terms with him and that they had been teaching him English. He says the girl is 27, but she looks to be no older than she claims, 17.

Miss Tanford. after Calella’s arrest last night, went to the home of a distant relative, John O’Loughlin, a mile and a half above this village, where she passed the night. Her immediate relatives are expected here this afternoon.

John Loughlin, an ice company foreman, aged fifty-four years (b. Ireland), headed a Milton household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty-nine years), Ellen Loughlin, aged fifty years (b. Ireland), his children, Margaret A. Loughlin, aged twenty-seven years (b. MA), Celia Loughlin, aged twenty-two years (b. MA), and Robert E. Loughlin, handling ice, aged nineteen years (b. MA), and his grand-nephew, John Waxson, handling ice, aged thirteen years (b. NY).  They lived in close proximity to the household of Thomas B. Hamilton, an ice dealer, aged thirty-five years (b. Canada (Eng.)).

It developed today after the Strafford county authorities had been notified of Calella’s arrest by the local police, that there was insufficient ground for a charge of attempted murder of Miss Eva Tanford, and that he would be released (Boston Globe, May 16, 1908).

At which point we learn that the kidnapped woman’s name was not Eva Tanford at all, but Josephine F. (Counihan) Hennessey. She was born in Charlestown, MA, circa 1876-77, daughter of Edward and Elizabeth (Hand) Counihan. (Mrs. Dobbyn, Milton’s lifesaving heroine of 1902, was her sister).

Josephine F. Counihan married in Boston, November 27, 1900, John F. Hennessey.

TO BRING CALELLA BACK. Patrolman Hoy Goes to Milton, N.H., to Get Alleged Kidnapper of Mrs. Josephine Hennessy. Mrs. Josephine Hennessy of 3 Dorrance st, Charlestown. who caused the arrest of Granara Calella. a night watchman at an iron foundry near the girl’s home, for threatening her life and forcing her to run away with him to Milton, N.H., for the purpose or marrying her, reached home at a late hour last night with her brother, and today is confined to her home. All effort on the part of newspaper men and friends to talk over the case with the girl has been unsuccessful, as she has been urged to rest herself so that she will be able to appear in court against Calella when he is brought to Charlestown and arraigned in the municipal court of that district. She has also been warned against speaking to newspaper men, and these instructions have been faithfully obeyed. Capt. Yeaton had a long talk with the young woman upon her arrival in Charlestown as a result of which an application for a warrant for Calella’s arrest was made to the clerk of the court and granted on a charge of kidnapping Mrs. Josephine Hennessy. Patrolman James Hoy of the Charlestown police station, with the warrant, was instructed to go to Milton. N.H. and he started on the first train this morning for that town to take Calella from the custody of Chief Rhines of that town. Officer Hoy will not arrive in Boston before tonight as the train service is limited from Milton, N H to Boston. His prisoner will be arraigned in court tomorrow morning (Boston Globe, May 18, 1908).

Mrs. Hennessy Still in Milton, N.H. Mrs. Josephine Hennessy, the 27-year-old daughter of Mrs. Everett [Edward] Counihan of 3 Dorrance st, Charlestown, is still under the care of a physician and friends in the home of James O’ Loughlin at Milton, N.H., being in a highly nervous and excitable condition since, as she alleges, her life was threatened In Charlestown by Granuro Calella, a 28-year-old Italian, unless she would go with him to New York and marry him. It is not definitely known by the relatives of the young woman In Charlestown when she will leave Milton for home (Boston Globe, May 18, 1908).

ON KIDNAPPING CHARGE Calella is Held in $10,000. at Charlestown in Hennessy Case. Woman in Court, Veiled, But Did Not Testily. G. Calella. who is accused of threatening Mrs. Josephine Hennessy. 27 years old, of 1 Temple st. Charlestown. last Friday morning, while armed with a 38-caliber revolver, policeman’s billy, two knives and a razor, was arraigned before Judge Bragg In the Charlestown municipal court this morning on a on-charge of kidnapping Mrs. Hennessy on the street. Patrolman James Hoy, who brought Calella back from Milton, N.H., where he had been arrested, appeared against Calella this morning and told the judge about the case. Patrolman Hoy exhibited the revolver, cartridges and some other equipment. Lieut. John Dobbyn of division 14, a brother-in-law of Mrs. Hennessy, also spoke to the judge. When the clerk of the court read the charge against Calella to him, the defendant nodded his head, but did not

Continued on the Seventh Page.

ON KIDNAPPING CHARGE. Continued From the First Page.

Colella, G..jpgspeak. The court held Calella in $10,000 bail for appearance before the superior criminal court. Calella didn’t have any one to put up that amount of bail for him and was committed to the county jail. Calella is 27 years old, and has been employed as night watchman at the foundry of Osgood & Witherly on Sherman st., Charlestown. He boarded at 3 Hildreth pl., Charlestown. The house where Mrs. Hennessy lives with her mother is next door to the foundry. Calella is said to have become infatuated with Mrs. Hennessy because her family had treated him courteously. It is said he misconstrued the young woman’s politeness and began making love to her. Last Thursday, according to patrolman Hoy, Calella wrote Mrs. Hennessy a letter, after having professed his love for her in vain, and in the letter said, according to the way it was read in court this morning: “My eyes blind for you. Me shoot you some time. If you don’t come in to see me some time will kill you Friday, girl. First me kill you; last I kill myself. Me catch you, me kill you if you do not love me, me kill you. Me crazy for.” As the police tell the story, Mrs. Hennessy went to a wake Thursday night. At 4 o’clock Friday morning, when she was on her way home, she asserts that Calella met her in the street near her house and threatened to kill her if she did not accompany him. He took her to a hotel near the North station and menaced her with the revolver, club, the razor and knives. Mrs. Hennessy is married. Calella has a wife and several children in Italy. He insisted on her going to New York with him to be married. Mrs. Hennessy asserts that she was so frightened that she dared make no outcry, but she partly promised to accede to Calella’s wishes if he would take her to Milton, N.H., where she has friends. Calella, she says, took her to Milton, and after taking her to a hotel again threatened her with death unless she married him. Then Calella went out to get shaved preparatory to the ceremony. After he had left the hotel, the landlady heard Mrs. Hennessy crying and the young woman told her of her troubles, with the result that Chief of Police Rhines was notified and he arrested Calella. The disarmament was safely accomplished. The mother of Mrs. Hennessy was notified. She went after her daughter and patrolman Hoy went after Calella with a warrant. Mrs. Hennessy was in court this morning, but wasn’t called upon to testify. She wore two veils, and kept them down so that the photographers couldn’t get a snap shot. At the conclusion of the proceedings in court Mrs. Hennessy was escorted out through a side door by Lieut. Dobbyn, who put her aboard a car for her home (Boston Globe, May 19, 1908).

BEFORE INSPECTORS. G. Calella is Measured, Photographed and Finger Printed at Police Headquarters. G. Calella, who was arrested by patrolman James J. Hoy of the Charlestown police station at Milton, N.H., yesterday on a charge of abducting Josephine Hennessey of Dorrance st., Charlestown, was brought back to this city early last evening. This morning, following roll call at the bureau of criminal investigation, he was paraded before the inspector and measured, photographed and fingerprinted. This morning at headquarters Calella said: “Josie is a very nice girl,” and he tried to spell her name when the reporters were taking notes. In reference to the abduction charge he would say nothing, making strange gestures when he was questioned by the police. When Hoy arrived at Milton, N.H., yesterday, where Calella was being held for the local police, he found that the prisoner had waived his extradition rights and was willing to return to Boston without going through the usual formalities. He passed last night at the Charlestown police station. This morning, following his appearance at Headquarters, he was taken back to Charlestown. The prisoner is short in stature. He is 28 years old. He is said to have threatened the Hennessy woman with a revolver the morning when it is alleged that he compelled her to accompany him to the Granite state (Boston Globe, May 19, 1908).

CALELLA NOT GUILTY. Judge Orders the Verdict on Kidnapping Charge Action Based on Testimony of Mrs. Hennessey, the Complainant. Gerara Calella of Charlestown, accused of kidnapping Mrs. Josephine Hennessey, wife of John Hennessey, May 14, was found not guilty by a jury in the superior criminal court yesterday by order of Judge Pierce. Calella is a night watchman in the foundry adjoining the house where Mrs. Hennessey lives. Mrs. Hennessey claimed that the defendant stopped her on her way home May 14 and compelled her to go with him. He had a revolver with which he intimidated her, she said. He later took her to a hotel in Boston, then to Lynn, and then to Rochester and to Milton. N.H. She was hysterical at times on the stand, and also rather dramatic in her manner. At the close of her evidence the court said that on her own testimony he felt it necessary to ask the jury to return a verdict of not guilty because if a verdict of guilty were returned he would set it aside (Boston Globe, June 11, 1908).

Judge Pierce’s directed verdict of Not Guilty – based upon the alleged victim’s testimony – must surely have been a surprise.

Elizabeth Counihan, a widow, living on her own income, aged sixty-eight years (b. MA), headed a Boston, MA, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census, Her household included her daughter, Josephine Hennessey, aged thirty-four years (b. MA). They shared a two-family dwelling on Temple Street with the household of Phillip J. Timmons, a street railroad flagman, aged forty years (b. MA).

Several men named Genaro Colella resided in the Boston area, although mostly they came in later years. One whose characteristics best seem to match the newspaper accounts would later petition for US citizenship in Boston, MA, March 20, 1933. He had been born in Montemiletto, Avellino, Italy, in February 1879. He stated that he had arrived in Boston, MA, April 26, 1902, on board the steamship Vancouver. His wife, Tomassina [(Palma)] Colella, was born also in Montemiletto, in August 1878, and they married in Montemiletto in 1898. She arrived in 1905. They had three children: Clementina Colella (b. Italy, April 25, 1900), Antoinette Colella (b. Italy,  May 24, 1902), and Italia Colella (b. Boston, July 9, 1906 [July 10, 1905]).

Josephine F. (Counihan) Hennessey died in Somerville, MA, April 16, 1949 (Boston Globe, April 18, 1949).

References:

Wikipedia. (2019, February 8). Montemiletto. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montemiletto

Milton in the News – 1907

By Muriel Bristol (Transcriber) | July 11, 2019

In this year, we encounter a temporary worker, more Arctic weather, a Milton invalid, a dancing rabbit novelty, a Milton minister in Portsmouth, Mrs. Demeritt still seeking her au pair, and some hydraulic consulting.

This was also the year of Milton’s murderous lover.

Victor W. “Vic” Stewart was born in Hardwick, VT, February 16, 1874, son of William H.H. and Emma J. (Wakefield) Stewart. He married in Hardwick, November 25, 1896, Lulu L. Meader. She was born in Walden, VT, January 8, 1874, daughter of Stephen and Priscilla Meader.

Victor W. Stuart, a granite cutter, aged twenty-six years (b. VT), and his wife (of three years), Lulu L. Stuart, a dressmaker, aged twenty-six years (b. VT), lodged at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census in the Hardwick, VT, household of William Taylor, an attorney, aged thirty-six years (b. VT).

HARDWICK. Vic Stewart, who has been working in Milton, N.H., has returned home (St. Johnsbury Republican, January 8, 1907).

Mr. Stewart worked probably on one of Milton’s ice-harvesting crews, although he might conceivably have been employed temporarily in a shoe or leather-board factory. (He made it home to Hardwick just in time for his wife’s birthday).

Victor W. Stuart, a granite shed lumper, aged thirty-six years (b. VT), headed a Hardwick, VT, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of thirteen years, Lulu L. Stuart, aged thirty-six years (b. VT), and his niece, Priscilla E. McGinnis, aged three years (b. NH). Lulu was not a mother. They owned their home on North Main Street (with a mortgage).

Victor Wakefield Stewart, of Hardwick, VT, aged forty-four years, registered for the WW I military draft in St. Johnsbury, VT, September 12, 1918. He worked for George B. Shepman, of Hardwick, VT, as a teamster and sawmill hand. His nearest relative was his wife, Lulu M. Stewart, of Hardwick, VT. He was described as a tall man, with a medium build, blue eyes, and brown hair.

Lulu L. (Meader) Stewart died in Hardwick, VT, March 5, 1945. Victor W. Stewart died in Hardwick, VT, August 13, 1955.

Milton Mills experienced some Arctic weather, even colder than that of 1904.

DOWN TO 50 BELOW. That is the Report From West Ossipee, N.H. – Many Towns Report 40 Below. PORTSMOUTH, N.H., Jan 24 – Reports from points along the Conway division of the Boston & Maine railroad show that this morning was the coldest for years. At Conway Junction it was 40 below, Milton Mills 42, Union 40, Wolfboro 32, Tuftonboro 40, Pine River 46, Madison 42, West Ossipee 50, Conway Center 47, Jackson 36, Conway 40, Great Works 42. All existing records for low temperature in this city were broken when at 7 a.m. in several places about the West End, the thermometer registered 28 below zero and at the street railroad car barn it was 32 below. The extreme low temperature threw train schedules on the B&M RR away out of the regular time, the freight trains being several hours late, while passenger trains were considerably off. From north of here reports have been received that it was the coldest for half a century. Greenland was 20 below and Newcastle, on the harbor front was 10 below, the coldest for 50 years (Boston Globe, January 24, 1907).

A Milton invalid corresponded with others through the Each and All Society pages published in newspapers.

OBJECTS AND AIMS OF EACH AND ALL. PERHAPS some of you, seeing this page for the first time, wonder just what the Each and All Society really is; what there is about its aims and objects to create so widespread an interest among “young girls of all ages.” The society was founded in February, 1905, with Christine Terhune Herrick for its president and with an almost instant membership of girls from nearly every State in the Union and in Canada. Its object is to help girls help themselves by developing their talents into something the world wants; to solve difficult problems – the sort a girl wants a calm, unbiased, out-of-the family opinion upon and to promote the exchange of general help. Any girl may belong. There is no red tape about it. The sending of your name for membership gives you the range of every opportunity the society boasts. And Mrs. Herrick stands ready to welcome, to advise and to help.

From a Shut-In. I hasten to answer your call for letters from shut-ins. I have been confined to my bed for fifteen months with spinal trouble the result of an injury. I enjoy the Each and All page so much, and I have been meaning to send a message to my sister shut-ins for some time, as I cannot take up a great number of correspondents. It costs too much of the strength I am so carefully trying to win back, to say nothing of expense, so I have thought of sending a wee message of hope through you.

You ask what I most long for. Well, just now it is for a return to health so that I can take my proper place in the home. A family in which there are a number of growing boys and girls needs a mother that can be “up and doing,” especially when the income is so limited as ours. I covet strength, also, that I may work and earn money to help lift the heavy burden of debt left by my illness, and that of two of the children, who had a long run of typhoid last winter. I wish I had means to have a specialist come to see me.

Some day I shall need a wheel chair, I am sure; and I like pretty, dainty things. I love to read, and should be glad of some of the reading matter offered, and this is enough of my longings. If it is best for me to have any of them gratified, the way will be opened. I am sure. Now for what helps:

First and foremost, “God is our refuge and strength.” I don’t want to preach to the sisters, but there is a Heavenly Father and a Friend who never forgets even the least of His helpless, suffering children. Next, I count a strong determination to get better, D.V. [Deo Volente: God Willing]. By will power and work I have regained the use of my right hand. At Christmas time it was paralyzed – only a little power left in the thumb. My doctor told me the other day that I might feel proud of that hand, as it was only my own persistent efforts that had brought it back as supple as ever, only still a little weak. I worked, darning stockings, trying to scribble – I had enough strength left in my thumb to hold a pencil or needle against the contracted, helpless fingers. I opened out the hand and slept on it. As power began to come in, I played imaginary “five-finger” exercises on the bed quilt and wiggled my fingers in all possible shapes; so that now I can sew, knit, crochet, and write fairly well. Work is a blessing. I find and I do not feel quite such a burden as long as I can mend all the stockings, sew on buttons, do a little light sewing, etc. Just now I am knitting a sweater for one of the girls. I want to take up my writing again, but have not felt equal to a very great effort as yet. 

I love music so well and hear little. I used to play the piano, and wish I could get a guitar now. I think I could play it as I can a banjo. Once I had a great pleasure. A very fine violinist came and played for me all one evening. Another time a neighbor brought in his graphophone. There’s a hint for you girls – so many pianos lie silent in homes when elderly or sick people would love to have you play for them, an hour or two; or you could take your guitars, graphophones or other instruments. If you have a musicale, go out in the “highways and bring In the halt and maimed,” who are doubtless too proud to even hint how music will do to make them forget their miserable condition. A.L.P. (Milton, N.H.) (Los Angeles Times, February 3, 1907).

A Mrs. F.J.N., of Milton, N.H. was also an Each and All Society correspondent (Los Angeles Times, February 10, 1907; April 28, 1907).

A Milton Mills entrepreneur set themselves up as a mail-order distributor of novelties and toys. In this case, the novelty advertised appears to have been a wind-up dancing rabbit.

WANTED – AGENTS. AGENTS WANTED – Dancing rabbit, latest and cutest thing out; ever changeable; always amusing; price 25c. MILTON NOVELTY CO., Milton Mills, N.H. (Indianapolis News, February 9, 1907).

A nearly identical advertisement included the additional information that the dancing rabbit was made of rubber.

AGENTS WANTED. DANCING RABBIT. Made entirely of rubber; latest and cutest thing out; ever changeable, always amusing. 25¢. Illustrated catalogue free. McNeil & Co.. Kenosha, Wis. 171 (Des Moines Register, December 1, 1907).

Various department and other stores around the country included dancing rabbits among their Easter toys and novelty advertising.

Easter Novelties Shown in Basement in Great Numbers. Easter rabbits, 5¢ to $1.25; Dancing rabbits, 49¢ to $1.00, Jumping rabbits, each 25¢; Walking chickens, each 25¢; Fox chasing chickens, 25¢; Easter baskets, 5¢ to 75¢; Downy little ducks, 5¢ to $1.00; Color for eggs, 6 shades, 5¢ (Carlisle Evening Herald (Carlisle, PA), March 22, 1907).

It might be said that the dancing rabbit toy “had legs.” In 1946, the Habob Company of 41 West 19th Street, New York, NY, included them among its offerings: novelty pencil boxes, fire chief hats, bulk bubble pipes, plastic aeroplanes, nose catchers, dancing rabbits, pistol clappers, Old Maid card games, bead dolls, and tattoo transfers (Chain Store Publishing Company, 1946).

Rev. Charles D. Osborne of Milton, NH, was the guest preacher at Portsmouth’s Pearl Street Free Baptist Church on Sunday, June 2, 1907.

Pearl Street Free Baptist Church. Preaching at 10.30 by Rev. Charles D. Osborne of Milton, N.H. Subject, “A Great Secret.” Evening service at 7.30, conducted by Rev. Mr. Osborne. Subject, “The Prince of Healers and How to be Healed.” Everybody welcome (Portsmouth Herald, June 1, 1907).

Mrs. Demeritt sought still for her au pair, as she had in the previous year. This time, she wrote to the Each and All Society mentioned above.

A Chance for Some One. l would like to ask if all the women and girls of today have become “office help,” or if there is none between the ages of 30 and 60 who would be willing to “keep house” in a quiet place, with a good home and good wages and with her rights fully considered? Mr. M.A.D. (Milton, N. H.).

Here is an opportunity for some woman. I hope the right one may get it. She would, of course, be glad to exchange references (Los Angeles Times, June 23, 1907).

Ira W. Jones, Milton’s home-town hydraulic engineer was off consulting in Montpelier, VT.

ENGINEER’S REPORT. Hydraulic Expert Again Visits Kinney’s Mills. I.W. Jones, hydraulic engineer, of Milton, N.H., went back to his home last night after making another inspection of the water privileges owned by Messrs. Corry, Deavitt and Frost at Kinney’s mills. A contour map has been prepared showing the various sources of water supply and the lowest points in that neighborhood where it would be possible to erect power plants. Mr. Jones has reported to the syndicate his observations on the various dam sites, the possibilities of each and the probable cost of construction. It is reported that Mr. Jones is very favorably impressed .with the water privileges owned by the syndicate. The Montpelier men have not yet decided how large a plant they will put in. They can do two things, the first, build a plant that will supply their street railroad with possibly a small amount of juice for sale, or build a large plant with plenty of juice for sale. Such a development will involve the investment of a large amount’ of money (Montpelier Evening Argus, August 28, 1907).

Previous in sequence: Milton in the News – 1906; next in sequence: Milton in the News – 1908

References:

Find a Grave. (2012, July 8). Arthur J. Marcoux. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/93325461

Wikipedia. (2019, July 7). Christine Terhune Herrick. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christine_Terhune_Herrick