Milton Observer

By Muriel Bristol (Transcriber) | October 27, 2019

In this year, we encounter a Charles J. Berry’s ninety-second birthday, a barber wanted, Rev. Howard M. Starratt writing a letter, an ice cream-eating champion, a G.A.R. meeting, Mrs. Sarah Jewett adopting a woodchuck, Rev. and Mrs. Howard M. Starratt on vacation, a barber wanted still, the retirement, and then death, of Frank H. Thayer, the Wall Street Crash of 1929, and a boxing match.

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Charles J. Berry of Milton Mills celebrated his ninety-second birthday in Wollaston, MA, as he had in 1927 and 1928. He is here identified as one of the last two members of Milton’s Eli Wentworth Post of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) Civil War veterans’ organization. (C.A. Adams of Milton, NH, attended a G.A.R. meeting in Reading, MA, in June (see below)).

CHARLES JEWETT BERRY HAS 92D BIRTHDAY. QUINCY, Feb. 15 – Charles Jewett Berry, one of the last two surviving member of Eli Wentworth Post, G.A.R., Milton Mills, N.H., old First Regiment, New Hampshire cavalryman and president of the First Regiment Association, which meets annually at the Weirs, N.H., celebrated his 92d birthday yesterday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. William M. Burrell, 114 Beach st., Wollaston, where he is spending the Winter. He has two sous, Clifford A. Berry of East Weymouth and Arthur L. Berry of Portland, Me. He received many congratulations (Boston Globe, February 15, 1929).

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Charles L. Burke advertised again for a barber (who was also a good “bobber”), as he had in 1923 and 1924. He was still looking in September.

MALE HELP WANTED. BARBER WANTED at once; must be good workman and good bobber: good pay. Address C.L. BURKE, Milton, N.H. * (Boston Globe, March 3, 1929).

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Milton Mills’ new Baptist minister wrote to his former parish in Pownal, VT. He mentioned having attended a Boston Garden gospel meeting led by famed evangelist Rodney “Gypsy” Smith, Mabel A. Starratt’s lung ailment being on the mend, and encouraging progress in his work at Milton Mills.

POWNAL. H.M. Starratt, late of this place, now pastor at Milton Mills, N.H., and a student at Gordon college of Theology and Missions writes of attending the recent Gypsy Smith gospel meetings. These were held in Boston Gardens, an auditorium seating 20,000 people and hundreds were turned away for lack of room. The evangelist’s spiritual message has moved Boston he writes. Mrs. Starratt writes of a recent visit to a lung specialist in Boston, who after an X-ray examination pronounced her well on the road to recovery but cautioned against overexertion for some time to come. The course of treatment she has followed for the past year and a half bids fair to make her entirely well in time. Work in the church at Milton Mills is very encouraging. About 185 persons attended the Easter morning service and about the same number witnessed a pageant in the evening. An illustrated lecture on the Holy Land was given on Monday evening by Dr. A.D. Kempton of Broadway Baptist church, Cambridge, under whom Mr. Starratt worked before coming to Pownal. Both wish to be remembered to all local friends and offer a hearty welcome to any that will visit them at Milton Mills (North Adams Transcript, April 12, 1929).

Rev. Howard M. Starratt died in Clerksburg, MA, November 10, 1965. Mabel A. (Bishop) Starratt died in Pownal, VT, September 7, 1995.

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Boston & Maine Railroad crossing tender Charles L. Morrison is here featured as New Hampshire’s statewide ice cream-eating champion.

FINDS GALLON A DAY KEEPS DOCTOR AWAY. Crossing Tender, 75, Likes His Ice Cream. Charles Morrison, B.&M. Vet, Stationed Near Milton, N.H. Special Dispatch to the Globe. MILTON, N.H., May 31 – A gallon a day keeps the doctor away, at least that seems to be the belief of Charles Morrison 75-year-old crossing tender at Lebanon st. crossing of the Boston & Maine, who is without doubt the champion ice cream eater of the State. When not on duty at his little flag shanty, situated but a few feet over the State line in Maine, this hale and hearty veteran of 45 years of service with the B. & M., can be found in an ice cream parlor taking, what he calls, his daily medicine. Morrison says that, outside of his work, his greatest pleasure is derived from eating ice cream, which he firmly believes is the direct cause of his fine physical condition. This is the only bad habit I have, he continued, and many the day, especially in Summer, I consume nearly a gallon of what I call my daily medicine. Morrison was born in Limerick, Me, July 23, 1853, and as a young man moved to Charlestown, Mass, where he married Miss Minnie Savage of that city 38 years ago. After entering the employ of the B. & M. he served 23 years as a freight brakeman, 22 years as a freight conductor and on account of his age was transferred as a flagman to this crossing last September (Boston Globe, June 1, 1929).

Milton’s ice cream vendors in the business directory of 1917 were J.H. Willey’s drug store, at 2 Main street, corner of Silver street; and F.H. Lord’s variety store, at 39 Main street. (There were others at Milton Mills). J. Herbert Willey, druggist, and Harriet A. Lord, were still active on Main street in 1930. Charles Morrison might have obtained his ice cream at either location.

Robert Gray, a contracting carpenter, aged thirty-two years (b. NH), headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twelve years), Marian Gray, aged thirty-one years (b. MA), his children, Marian Gray, aged thirteen years (b. NH), and Charles Gray, aged five years (b. NH), his father-in-law, Charles Morrison, a railroad gate tender, aged seventy-two years (b. ME), and his mother-in-law, Minnie [(Savage)] Morrison, aged sixty-three years (b. MA). Robert Gray rented their house, which cost $8 per month. They had a radio set.

Charles Lafayette Morrison died in Lebanon, ME, May 15, 1941, aged eighty-six years. Merced M. “Minnie” (Savage) Morrison died in Lebanon, ME, December 11, 1946, aged seventy-nine years.

Brian McQuade, a current Milton resident, has also an interest in ice cream, if not Mr. Morrison’s gigantic appetite for it. He wrote a book on the subject, entitled Brian Eats New Hampshire: Ice Cream & Gelato. His book concentrates on NH ice cream vendors who make their product “on the premises.” Milton has also – in season – an ice cream shop, named The Pink House.

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READING. It was G.A.R. Day at the meeting of the Reading Rotary Club yesterday, the special guests being five of the eight members of Post 194. The veterans present were Commander Walter S. Parker, William C.M. Howe, Harland P. Pratt. John Bacheller and John Simpson of Wilmington. Comrade C.A. Adams of Milton, N.H., who is visiting in Reading, was invited to attend. Rev Wesley G. Huber, of the First Baptist Church, spoke (Boston Globe, June 4, 1929).

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Mrs. Sarah Jewett of Milton Mills acquired a pet woodchuck, with the assistance of her dog Stubby, who perhaps had other ideas.

BABY WOODCHUCK MADE PET BY NEW HAMPSHIRE WOMAN. MILTON MILLS, N.H., July 5 – Mrs. Sarah Jewett of this village on June 14 captured a 5-weeks-old woodchuck in a stone wall on her farm and has made a real pet of this animal. Mrs. Jewett, who resides on a 200-acre farm on the outskirts of this town, noticed her dog Stubby trying in great anxiety to tear down a stone wall near the house, and upon going out to investigate, found that be had cornered a small woodchuck. Capturing the scared little animal she took it to the house, made a new home for it in a small cage in the back yard and began to show Master Woodchuck that he was among friends and not enemies. He was especially fond of bananas and within a short time they were indeed pals, Mrs. Jewett being able to handle him as she would a kitten. Whistling and chattering all day long, Lucky Lindy, as she has named him, seems to enjoy his new home although no opportunity is given him to return to his old life (Boston Globe, July 6, 1929).

Lucky Lindy was a namesake for Charles Lindburgh, whose transatlantic flight had taken place just two years earlier (May 20-21, 1927).

Richard I. Jewett, a farmer, aged forty-five years (b. MA), headed an Acton, ME, household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty years), Sarah E. [(Lowd)] Jewett, aged fifty-four years (b. ME). (And Stubby, a dog, and Lucky Lindy, a woodchuck). Richard I. Jewett owned their house. They had a radio set.

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Rev. Howard M. and Mabel A. (Bishop) Starratt of Milton Mills visited her parents in Clarksburg, MA, and his old parish in adjoining Pownal, VT in July and August.

The Pownals. POWNAL. Mrs. Howard M. Starratt, formerly of this village, is spending a few weeks with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank E. Bishop of Clarksburg and expects to call in Pownal before returning to her home at Milton Mills, N.H. (North Adams Transcript, July 11, 1929).

The Pownals. POWNAL. Mrs. Howard M. Starratt of Milton Mills, N. H., spent a few days in town calling on friends (North Adams Transcript, July 22, 1929).

The Pownals. POWNAL. Mr. and Mrs. H.M. Starratt of Milton Mills, N.H., were calling on friends in town Friday and were supper guests of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Rathbun as were also Mrs. Starratt’s grandfather, Dexter Bishop of Clarksburg and his daughter, Miss Grace Bishop. (North Adams Transcript, August 5, 1929).

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Charles L. Burke’s “good pay” of March is set forth here as being $25 per week, plus commissions. He appeared (with wife Lillian M. Burke) in the Milton directory of 1930 as having a garage and being a hairdresser, in Milton.

MALE HELP WANTED. BARBER wanted at once, must be good hair cutter, $25 a week and commission. Address C.L. BURKE, Milton, N.H., Lock Box 3. 2t* s4 (Boston Globe, September 4, 1929).

Chas. L. Burke, a barbershop barber, aged forty-six years (b. NH). headed a Milton houshold at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty years), Lillian [(Dennett)] Burke, aged forty years (b. US). They resided in a rented house on North Main Street, for which he paid $10 per month. They had a radio set. Census taker Mildred D. Horne enumerated their household between those of Howard Sceggell, a fibre mill laborer, aged twenty-five years (b. NH), and John A. Downs, an odd jobs laborer, aged sixty-eight years (b. NH). Just beyond John A. Downs appeared J.D. Willey, a general store retail merchant, aged seventy-six years (b. NH), and James H. Willey, a general store manager, aged fifty-five years (b. NH).

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Frank H. Thayer, son and successor of shoe manufacturer Noah B. Thayer, gave over to Herbert Posner as of the beginning of November. His retirement was a short one, as he died but a month later.

Frank H. Thayer, a shoe manufacturer, aged fifty-six years (b. MA), headed a Boston, MA, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household inlcuded his wife, Alice U. Thayer, aged forty-nine years (b. IL), and his children, Louise Thayer, aged fifteen years (b. MA), and Richard W. Thayer, aged thirteen years (b. MA). They resided in a rented apartment at 535 Beacon Street.

BOSTON MAN TO QUIT E. ROCHESTER SHOE PLANT. ROCHESTER, N.H, Sept 25 – A new organization is being formed to take over the firm of N.B. Thayer & Co., shoe manufacturers at East Rochester. The firm name will be continued, but announcement has been made that the new concern will take over the business on Nov 1. Frank H. Thayer of Beacon st., Boston, whose father originally started the company and who has been the active head of the company, will retire, and the place will be taken over by Herbert Posner of the large firm of Dr. A. Posner & Co., of New York and Brooklyn, whose shoes tor several years have been manufactured at East Rochester. Stock to the amount of $150,000 is being issued and will be taken by Roy M. McQuillen of East Rochester, the president of the company, Mr. Posner and the salesforce and employes of the company in equal amounts. No change is to be made in the executive personnel of the company. The capacity of the East Rochester factory will be greatly increased, following the reorganization after Nov 1 (Boston Globe, September 26 1929).

FRANK H. THAYER. Frank H. Thayer, treasurer and general manager of N.B. Thayer & Co. Inc., shoe manufacturers of East Rochester, N H, died at his home, 282 Beacon st., Saturday afternoon, after an illness of five weeks. He was born at South Weymouth, Mass, Jan. 4, 1864, the son of Noah Blanchard and Lucy (Newcomb) Thayer. His father was one of the pioneer shoe manufacturers of this country and he himself was very widely known in the shoe and leather trade. Surviving him are his wife, Alice (Waterman) Thayer; a son, Richard W. Thayer, and a daughter, Mrs. Francis Tilden Nichols (Boston Globe, December 9, 1929).

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A major stock market crash began on “Black Thursday,” October 24, 1929, and continued through “Black Tuesday,” October 29, 1929. It recovered partially, but continued to fall between April 1930 and July 1932.

CAPITAL SHOCKED BY STOCKS CRASH. Officials of Administration Frankly Worried. Federal Reserve Board Officers Silent After Meeting. Special Dispatch to the Globe. WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 – The Administration, individually and collectively, was dumbfounded and worried today as descending stocks crashed through all opposition, with ominous financial and political forebodings to the Government. In the face of the near-panic the Federal Reserve Board, the Governments machinery for stabilizing finance, continued its silence. There was a formal meeting of the board this morning, but none after the first break in prices and the succeeding downward sweep. Administration officials do not know why a secondary reaction could assume such proportions or know what they can do about it. They fear the trend of the last two weeks will leave political scars, whether deserved or not, that no amount of political salve or optimistic financial reports will obliterate. Their greatest fear is that publlc financial morale might be broken in a way that will not permit psychological mending for months to come.

Many Rumors Current. The continued silence of the Federal Reserve Board has brought many rumors. One of the most current is that members feel the best the board can do is encourage member banks to ease credit by buying Liberty Bonds and other Government securities in which their present holdings are comparatively small, thus allowing the purchase price to be thrown to the cause of stemming the bear rush. Since this would be done with no publio announcement, it is believed here that such buying has been in progress for more than a week. President Hoover has had his say, expressing confidence in the condition of basic industries in general. The Reserve Board and Treasury officials also have made announcements along similar lines. Now they are perplexed at the immediate devastating reaction to statements that were to them more in the form of cold analysis than of optimistic predictions.

Officials Reticent. Government officials today declined to give public explanations or individual views. A secondary reaction was ejected, but not a repetition of the smash of last week. Taking for granted their concern over the market situation itself, they are now tor the first time frankly worried about the effect on business and industry aside from all speculation and manipulation. The Treasury has brought its figuring on financial and business on predictions to a standstill. Two weeks ago it was prepared to present a rosy forecast for the remaining two-thirds of the fiscal year. Now officials admittedly do not know what to report to the White House, not only about what business should do but what industry actually will he doing when Congress meets In December (Boston Globe, October 29, 1929).

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In a slate of boxing matches sponsored by the Dover Athletic Club, in the Dover Town Hall, Emile Vachon of Milton “stopped” Phil Chester of Dover.

Emile J. Vachon married in Milton, October 26, 1925, Emma Phoebe Custeau, he of Somersworth, NH, and she of Milton.

SHARKEYS PROTEGE SUFFERS DEFEAT. Tiger Dixon Stops Joe Vincha in Dover Bout. Special Dispatch to the Globe. DOVER, N.H., Oct. 31 – Jack Sharkey’s protege, Joe Vincha, Lithuanian heavyweight amateur champion, was stopped by Tiger Tom Dixon of Dover in the third round of the main bout of the Dover A.C. show tonight in the Town Hall. Both Sharkey and John Buckley, Sharkey’s manager, accompanied Vincha here, appearing before the largest attendance at a boxing show in this town in three years. The first round was a draw. In the second Dixon’s superior punching began to weaken his opponent. Vincha dropped just before the bell. In the next round Vincha was out on his feet and Manager Buckley tossed a towel into the ring. Bob Cecchetti of Madbury won a six-round decision over Jimmie Wilde of Waltham In the semifinal. In another six-rounder Tommy Mallon of Dover knocked out Buddie Nichols of Portsmouth in the fourth round. Young Gaffney of Dover and Young Sharkey of Portsmouth fought a four-round draw. In the opening bout Emile Vachon of Milton, N.H., stopped Phil Chester of Dover in the third round (Boston Globe, November 1, 1929).

Emile Vachon, an odd jobs laborer, aged twenty-five years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of five years), Emma Vachon, aged twenty-four years (b. NH), and his children, Joseph A. Vachon, aged three years (b. NH), Robert A. Vachon, aged two years (b. NH), and Theresa Vachon, aged one year (b. NH). Emile Vachon owned their house on the Wakefield Road (near its intersection with North Main Street), which was valued at $600. They had a radio set.

Regrettably, this young Milton husband and father died in Frisbee Hospital in Rochester, NH, October 8, 1932, of severe burns sustained accidentally when he “started a fire with gasoline, building burned down.”

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Previous in sequence: Milton in the News – 1928; next in sequence: Milton in the News – 1930

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References:

Find a Grave. (2014, October 12). Charles Lafayette Morrison. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/137146911

Find a Grave. (2015, December 5). Emile Joseph Vachon. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/155744317

Find a Grave. (2015, August 7). Frank Herbert Thayer. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/150294761

Find a Grave. (2015, September 5). Rev. Howard M. Starratt. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/151883874

Find a Grave. (2013, August 14). Sarah L. Jewett. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115419144/sarah-l-jewett

Wikipedia. (2019, September). Charles Lindburgh. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Lindbergh

Wikipedia. (2019, June 20). Rodney “Gipsy” Smith. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodney_%22Gipsy%22_Smith

Wikipedia. (2019, October 26). Wall Street Crash of 1929. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wall_Street_Crash_of_1929

By Muriel Bristol (Transcriber) | October 24, 2019

In this year, we encounter a G.A.R. birthday party, the death of a candy man, a Milton Mills minister departing, another Milton Mills minister arriving, and a Milton Mills postmaster appointed.

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Charles J. Berry of Milton Mills celebrated his ninetieth birthday in 1927, and here celebrated his ninety-first birthday in the G.A.R. post at Wollaston, MA, where he was wintering with his daughter and her family.

CAKE AND 91 CANDLES FOR CHARLES BERRY. QUINCY, Feb. 14 – Charles J. Berry, 91, a Grand Army veteran of Milton, N.H., entertained Paul J. Revere Post, G.A.R., at a luncheon this afternoon which combined both the spirit of his birthday anniversary and St. Valentines Day. Mr. Berry spends his Winters with his daughter, Mrs. William M. Burrell of 114 Beach st., Wollaston, and that is how he happened to have the Quincy Grand Army men as guests instead of his comrades of Eli Wentworth Post of Milton, N.H. The luncheon was served in Grand Army Hall by Mrs. Dora Ferguson of Wollaston and one of the features of the table was a birthday cake which held 91 candles. Mayor McGrath and Ex-Mayor Bradford made addresses in which they complimented Mr. Berry on attaining such a ripe old age in such a vigorous physical condition. Mr. Berry was born in Milton Mills, N.H. He served in the Union Army in the 1st New Hampshire Cavalry and was allowed the rare privilege of bringing his horse home with him. Mr. Berry is an ardent radio fan. His favorite diversion along the radio activities is listening to the news broadcasts from the studio of the Boston Globe, He has three children, Mrs. William M. Burrell of Wollaston, Clifford A. Berry of East Weymouth and Arthur L. Berry of Portland, Me. (Boston Globe, February 15, 1928).

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Milton Mills native Charles F. Simes died in Philadelphia, PA, August 21, 1928, aged seventy years.

He was born in Milton, April 28, 1858, son of George E. and Ann E. Simes. He left Milton circa 1880-81. He was already a superintendent, presumably for the Forbes-Haywood Company, when he married in Taunton, MA, October 4, 1882, Anna C. Burbank, he of Chelsea, MA, and she of Taunton.

Charles F. Simes became a successful candy manufacturer. The following article from 1921 described his Boston Confectionery Company factory on Main street in Cambridge, MA, as it was from when he became its president in 1900 until he sold out to H.D. Foss & Company in 1921. (He became vice-president of the enlarged new H.D. Foss & Company).

BOSTON CONFECTIONERY COMPANY. Since the purchase of this company the Boston factory of H.D. Foss & Company has been moved to the new location in Cambridge and the several businesses are being carried on in Cambridge at 814 Main Street. A branch office is maintained at 41 Union Square, New York City. The Foss products will be marketed direct to the retailers as in the past, and the brands previously made by the Boston Confectionery Company will be distributed through the jobbing trade, as formerly. The origin of the Boston Confectionery Company dates back to 1892 when the business was first established by H.F. Sparrow on Hampshire Street. It was incorporated as the H.F. Sparrow Company in 1896. C.F. Simes became president of the company in 1900; in 1908, having outgrown the Hampshire Street plant, the company consolidated with the Lydian Confectionery Company, and moved into its present quarters, and became known as the Boston Confectionery Company. The building at that time was about one-third the size of the present factory, which is one of the most modern and up-to-date in equipment that can be devised. The hospital is under the supervision of a graduate nurse, with the latest appliances. On the same floor is a fully equipped cafeteria, 50 by 100 feet, where the help is supplied with good food practically at cost of production. The company’s products, under the brand names “Quality” and “Premier” Chocolate have a national distribution and also considerable foreign output (Cambridge Chronicle, October 8, 1921).

BOSTON CONFECTIONER. CHARLES F. SIMES. DIES. Charles F. Simes, who died in Philadelphia Tuesday after a short illness, was born in Milton Mills, N.H., on April 29, 1858. He came to Boston as a boy and learned his trade with the Forbes-Haywood Company. Since then he had been prominently connected with the candy business in Boston for 47 years. He was past president of the National Confectioners Association, past president of the Confectioners Club of Boston. and member of Soley Lodge, A.F. & A.M., Somerville. He leaves a wife, Anna Burbank Simes; two daughters, Mrs. Robert H. Harding and Mrs. Ralph D. Nickerson, and a brother, Albert Simes. Funeral services will be held at 32 Barnum st., Taunton, tomorrow, at 2:30 p m. (Boston Globe, August 22, 1928).

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In the following two articles we witness a changing of the guard at the First Baptist Church of Milton Mills. The Rev. Carl R. Bartle accepted a call to move from Milton Mills to Whitman, MA, while the Rev. Howard M. Starratt accepted a call to move from Pownal, VT to Milton Mills.

PASTOR IN MILTON MILLS ACCEPTS WHITMAN CALL. WHITMAN, Sept. 2 – Rev. Carl R. Bartle of Milton Mills, N.H., today accepted the call recently extended him by the First Baptist Church here and will assume his pastoral duties the last of the month. Rev. Mr. Bartle is a graduate of the Gordon Bible School of the class of 1924 and received the degree of bachelor of theology. He returned the next year for graduate work. He was for a time pastor of the Woodville Chapel of Wakefield and the Hill Memorial Church of Allston. He has been pastor for the past three years at the Milton Mills Free Baptist .Church at Milton Mills, N.H. (Boston Globe, September 3, 1928).

Carl R. Bartle married in Farmington, NH, September 25, 1928, Dora E. Austin, he of Milton Mills and she of Farmington. Rev Arthur Jefferies of Milton performed the ceremony. Bartle was a clergyman, aged twenty-six years (b. Preston, NY, son of Chester U. and Julia E. (Fells) Bartle). Austin was at home, aged thirty-two years (b. Somerset, MA, daughter of Ulysses E. and Mary L. (Fogg) Austin).

Carl R. Bartle, a Baptist minister, aged twenty-seven years (b. NY), headed a Whitman, MA, household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of one year), Dora E. Bartle, aged thirty-three years (b. MA). They resided in a rented house at 670 Washington street, for which they paid $30 per month. They had a radio set.

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Howard M. Starrett married in Coeur d’Alene, ID, December 22, 1923, Mabel A. Bishop, both of Spokane, WA. Mrs. George Marvin and Eliza Thompson witnessed the ceremony, which was performed by Baptist minister Rev. Fred H. Thompson of Coeur d’Alene.

POWNAL. Howard M. Starratt, pastor of the Baptist church for a little more than a year, has left for Boston where he will resume his theological studies at Gordon college [Hamilton, MA] and serve as pastor of the church at Milton Mills, N.H. Mrs. Starratt will remain about ten days at the home of her parents in Clarksburg before going to the new home which is on the border line between New Hampshire and Maine. Last Friday evening the Christian Endeavor Society tendered them a reception at Rightholme and presented a Sterling silver cream ladle. Saturday afternoon the Pownal Center people entertained them at the town hall and presented a gift of money. The Ladies’ Auxiliary of the church in this village gave a check as a parting gift, following the morning worship yesterday, Dr. W.A. Davison of Burlington, Vt., is taking steps toward securing a new pastor for the local church (North Adams Transcript, November 20, 1928).

Howard M. Starratt, a Baptist clergyman, aged thirty years (b. MA), headed an Acton, ME, household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of seven years), Mabel A. Starratt, aged twenty-seven years (b. MA). They resided in a rented house. They had a radio set.

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We have seen before that postmasters were political appointees. Here is reported Republican President Calvin “Silent Cal” Coolidge’s appointment of John E. Horne as postmaster of Milton Mills. We might infer that John E. Horne was likely a Republican also.

Postmasters Elsewhere Named. The President today sent to the Senate the following nominations for postmaster: Sharon, Mass., Robert A. Clark; Springfield. Mass., James P. Smith; Wenham, Mass., Ethel V. Cook; Milton Mills, N.H., John E. Horne; Plaistow, N.H., Maude B. Duston (Boston Globe, December 10, 1928).

John E. Horne, a retail dry goods merchant, aged fifty-three years (b. ME), headed a Milton (“Milton Mills Village”) at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his [second] wife (of four years), Gertrude C. Horne, aged thirty-three years (b. IA), his child, John E. Horne, Jr., aged thirteen years (b. NH), and his mother-in-law, Amy H. Coombs, aged sixty-nine years (b. Canada (Eng.)). John E. Horne owned their house on Main Street (near its intersection with School Street), which was valued at $2,500. They had a radio set.

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Previous in sequence: Milton in the News – 1927; next in sequence: Milton in the News – 1929

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References:

Find a Grave. (2013, August 2). John Everard Horne. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/114788057

Find a Grave. (2018, April 26). Maj. Charles Jewett Berry. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/189182567

Find a Grave. (2012, January 13). Rev. Carl R. Bartle. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/83377452

Find a Grave. )2015, September 5). Rev. Howard Manuel Starratt. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/151883874

Warner Homestead. (2019). A Sweet Find: Chocolate Tongs from the Warner Site. Retrieved from warnerhomestead.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/SVA_2013_04_Archaeology_SparrowChocolate.36171924.pdf

Wikipedia. (2019, October 16). Calvin Coolidge. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvin_Coolidge

Wikipedia. (2019, September 25). Pownal, Vermont. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pownal,_Vermont

Wikipedia. (2019, September 28). Whitman, Massachusetts. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitman,_Massachusetts

Winton, Horace B. (1908). Confectioners’ and Bakers’ Gazette. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=gNdOAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA40-IA23

By Muriel Bristol (Transcriber) | October 20, 2019

In this year, we encounter Charles J. Berry’s ninetieth birthday, another Milton Mills sled dog team, a long-distance identification, Thomas Farmer’s eightieth birthday, the Pomona Grange meeting at the Nute Ridge Grange, a Porter Ice Company fire, another train death, Prohibition punishing hard cider, a Milton Mills farm for sale, sufficient insufficient addresses, a Milton poultry farm for sale, a train hitting a car, and a greedy gobbler.

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The newspapers loved always a centenarian, and Charles J. Berry of Milton Mills was a contender. In this installment, we learn of him working in the grocery business with Ira Miller at Milton Mills, his Civil War cavalry service, and his years running a horse-drawn trolley car between Charlestown and Cambridge, MA. We will hear of his birthday again in 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, and 1934.

His father, James Berry, a farmer, aged fifty-three years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton Mills P.O.”) household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Eliza G. Berry, aged forty-eight years (b. NH), Mary A. Berry, aged twenty-five years (b. NH), Charles Berry, a farmer, aged twenty-three years (b. NH), Nathl. S. Berry, a farmer, aged seventeen years (b. NH), and Clara A. Berry, aged fifteen years (b. NH). James Berry had real estate valued at $5,500 and personal estate valued at $100. The census enumerator recorded their household between those of Joseph Coleman, a farmer, aged sixty-eight years (b. NH), and Elbridge W. Fox, a farmer, aged twenty-five years.

MILTON MILLS, N.H., MAN OBSERVES 90TH BIRTHDAY. QUINCY, Feb. 14 – Charles J. Berry of Milton Mills, N.H., is observing his 90th birthday today at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Annetta Burrell at Wollaston. His son, C.A. Berry of Portland, Me., was among those who assisted in the celebration. Mr. Berry is a member of the Grand Army post of this city. He served during the Civil War with the New Hampshire cavalry, having enlisted at Portsmouth. Capt. Berry ran a horse car in the old days between Charlestown and Cambridge. He was educated in the public schools of Milton Mills and later at Tilton Seminary, Tilton, N.H. In 1857 he was engaged in the grocery business with Ira Miller of Milton Mills. Capt. Berry was the son of James and Eliza (Jewett) Berry (Boston Globe, February 14, 1927).

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Melvin Hurd took Dr. Harry E. Anderson’s sled-dog team (of the previous year) to bring a supply of milk into Milton Mills.

Odd Items From Everywhere. During a bad snowstorm in Milton Mills, N.H., Dr. Anderson’s dog team was the only available milk team to be had. Owing to the drifts in the roads, no milk was brought into town. Mervin Hurd, driver of the team, went out into the country and brought in three large cans of milk from a farm (Boston Globe, March 15, 1927).

Dr. H.E. Anderson advertised in the Milton directory of 1912. His office and home were at 42 Main street (corner of Church street) in Milton Mills. He registered for the WW I draft in Milton Mills in June 1917, and he entered the army from there in 1918. He resided in Somersworth, NH, in 1929.

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Donald E. Bickford died when the truck in which he had hitched a ride collided with an automobile in Danvers, MA. He was identified only by the initials inside a ring that he wore.

Edward S. Chipman, a leather-board finisher, aged fifty-two years (b. MA), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Bertha M. Chipman, aged fifty-two years (b. NH), his children, Clara E. Chipman, aged fifteen years (b. NH), Lois M. Chipman, aged thirteen years (b. NH), and Bessie L. Bickford, a widowed shoe-shop finisher, aged thirty-one years (b. NH), and his grandchildren, Donald E. Bickford, aged eleven years (b. MA), and Rita B. Bickford, aged ten years (b. MA). Edward S. Chipman owned their house on Upper Main Street in Milton Village.

IDENTIFIED AS D.E. BICKFORD. Radio Broadcasts Clear Up Auto Death. DANVERS, March 17. – The body of a young man who died at the State Hospital following an automobile accident Monday was identified last night by Mr. and Mrs. Arthur C. Cleaves of 75 Perrin st., Roxbury, as that of their nephew, Donald Edwin Bickford of Milton, N.H. The identification was brought about through radio broadcasts that an unidentified young man had died at the hospital and the initials on a ring were given as the only possible means of identification. The young man had been working in Boston and lived with his mother at 115 Hemenway st., and on week-ends had visited his grandmother at Milton, N.H. His folks had urged him not to make the trip to Boston by asking for automobile rides, but he is said to have answered that other fellows were doing it and there was no danger in it. It was stated he boarded a truck at Portsmouth, N.H., driven by Frank Salemmi of Somerville. He suffered a fractured skull when the truck was in collision with an automobile owned and operated by Arthur Merton Jr. of 84 Robbins st., Watertown. The body will be taken to Milton, N.H., for burial (Boston Globe, March 17, 1927).

His maternal grandmother was Bertha M. (Drew) Chipman of Milton. His mother was Bessie L. (Chipman) Bickford of Boston, MA [widow of Thomas]. His maternal aunt was Alta D. (Chipman) Cleaves of Roxbury, MA.

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Thomas Farmer, a house carpenter, aged seventy-two years (b. England), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Mary Farmer, aged sixty-six years (b. England). He owned their house, free-and-clear. He had immigrated in 1850 and had been naturalized in 1880; she had immigrated in 1858 and had been naturalized in 1880.

FARMER COUNTS FAMILY BY DOZEN. Man 80 Years Old Member of Family of 24 Children – Many Twins and Triplets. MILTON MILLS, N.H., April 8. Three times two and two times three is the accounting Thomas Farmer, who observed his 80th birthday Wednesday, gives for a part of his parents’ large and long-lived family. I mean, he explained, there were three times two of us (three pair of twins) and two times three of us (two pairs of triplets) and a dozen singles, making a total of 26 in our family, including father and’ mother. Two dozen children! Mr. Farmer, who at four-score years enjoys excellent health, was himself one of [the] twins. He was born in England, the son of John and Elizabeth (Wigfall) Farmer. He came to this country at the age of two and has lived most of his life in New England, having worked 12 years in a New Haven car barn, as well as in Rhode Island and in New York. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias order (Brattleboro Reformer, April 8, 1927).

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The eastern NH regional grange meeting took place again at the Nute Ridge Grange in West Milton. A similar meeting had taken place in April 1924.

POMONA GRANGE MEETS AT WEST MILTON. WEST MILTON, N.H., April 28 – Eastern New Hampshire Pomona Grange met today with Nute Ridge Grange with a large attendance. At a closed session in the morning, the fifth degree was conferred on a class of candidates, and at 1:30 p.m. Mrs. Annette Smith of Strafford Center, member of the home economics committee of the State Grange, held a conference. A public meeting followed. The invocation was by Rev. Franklin Parker, pastor of the Community Church, the address of welcome by Edwin Henderson, master of Nute Ridge Grange, and the response by Archie Emerson of Somersworth, steward of Eastern New Hampshire Pomona Grange. There were vocal solos by Mrs. Grace Mooney Stevens of Rochester, readings by Mrs. Annette Smith of Strafford Center and an essay by Mrs. Sadie Ham of Rochester. “The Cornucopia,” Pomona Grange paper was written by Mrs. Grace Hurd of East Rochester, lectures of Eastern New Hampshire Pomona Grange. (Boston Globe, April 29, 1927).

Only days before this Pomona grange meeting, Nute Ridge Grange master Edwin D. Henderson married in Exeter, NH, April 24, 1927, Ruth F. Gerrish, both of Rochester, NH. He appeared in the Rochester directories of 1924 and 1929, as a farmer, boarding at the farm of his father, Horace L. Henderson, on Chestnut Hill Road, in Rochester, NH.

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Prior to this fire, Milton’s ice industry experienced other ice house fires in at least the years 1902, 1909, and 1922.

MILTON, N.H., ICEHOUSE DESTROYED BY FIRE. Loss to Porter Ice Company of Boston $100,000 – Starts Forest Fire, Threatening Cottages. MILTON, N.H., May 3 – At an early hour today fire broke out in the large ice house of the Porter Ice Company of Boston from an unknown cause, destroying it. Damage is $100,000. There are 12 ice houses under one roof, all of which were filled with ice. Assistance was summoned from Rochester and the motor apparatus made the run of eight miles in 20 minutes. Many Summer houses were threatened. The fire was stopped within 15 feet of the Summer home of Maurice Hayes of Watertown, Mass. The fire jumped the pond, starting a forest fire which was subdued without much damage by a large gang. The ice houses are on the shore of Milton Three Pond. Some of the ice may be salvaged (May 3, 1927).

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Milton native Alphonse Franklin Dore died instantly when he was struck by a Boston-bound train. Other pedestrians met similar fates in July 1896, February 1916, and February 1924.

Alphonse F. Dorr appeared in the Milton directory of 1905, as a farmer, with a house at 65 Prospect Hill Road., Lebanon side. Alphonse F. Door appeared in the Milton directory of 1917, as a farmer, whose house was the 8th one on Prospect Hill Road, Lebanon side.

Alfranzo F. Dorr, an ice laborer, aged forty-five years (b. NH), headed a Lebanon, ME, household at the time of the  Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Augusta M. Dorr, aged forty-three years (b. NH), and his boarder, Floyd Thibeault, aged seven years (b. ME). He owned their house on the Milton Road.

MILTON, N.H., MAN KILLED BY TRAIN. MILTON, N.H., May 3. – At 6 a.m. today Alphonse Dore, 52, employed on the crusher at the plant of the Standard Sand and Gravel Company, was at work between two cars on a side track. He stepped in front of train 2930, from Sanbornville to Boston, and was instantly killed. The train was in charge of conductor David Bentham and Engineer Harry McCrillis. Medical Referee Dr. Forrest L. Keay pronounced death due to accident. Dore leaves a wife and two brothers (Boston Globe, May 3, 1927).

In Milton records, Alfranzo F. Dorr, of Lebanon, ME, laborer, died in Milton, NH, May 3, 1927, aged fifty-three years, ten months, and seventeen days. His cause of death was given as “shock, haemorrhage, and multiple fractures (he was struck by a locomotive).” Forrest L. Keay, M.D., Medical Referee for Strafford County, reported the death.

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A Milton Mills man ran afoul of Prohibition through having fifty gallons of hard cider in his possession.

EDITORIAL POINTS. And now a man at Milton Mills, N.H., has been sentenced to pay $100 fine and serve three months in the House of Correction for the possession of 50 gallons of hard cider. What are our New England farmers coming to? (Boston Globe, June 16, 1927).

The tyranny of Prohibition had already proven to be a failure, but had six more years to run. (Other people are not your property).

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AUCTIONS. REAL ESTATE. N.H. BOULEVARD FARM AT AUCTION. ON August 3rd at 2 p.m., a beautiful farm of 215 acres, located on Union Road, Milton Mills, N.H., known as the Philbrick Farm, will be sold to the highest bidder; it’s a going, stocked farm, hay in bam, crop in ground; it is a farm with features very seldom found on other farms. Communicate with SAM DREW, Milton, N.H. (Boston Globe, August 1, 1927).

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Here are related a couple of anecdotes about postal authorities delivering insufficiently addressed mail. The two examples provided were NY Governor Alfred E. “Al” Smith, and William H. Hills, who wrote a column for the Boston Globe under the pseudonym “Ed Pointer.”

EDITORIAL POINTS. From Kilkenny, Ireland, Gov. Smith received a postcard addressed thus: AL, N.Y., U.S.A. but a while ago Ed Pointer received two letters, one from Milton, N.H., and the other from Woburn, with the envelope addressed simply: “Ed Pointer” – only that and nothing more (Boston Globe, September 13, 1927).

Postal Clerks Generally Are Very Keen. The fact that a post card directed to “Al, N.Y., U.S.A.,” went without delay to Gov. Smith of the Empire State isn’t so surprising. A while ago letters mailed from Woburn and Milton, N.H, with nothing on the envelope but just “Ed Pointer,” made their way unerringly to the desk of the writer of the Boston Globes editorial paragraphs; while in years gone by missives from far away carrying for an address only the portrait made famous in advertisements came as surely to our famous shoeman, W.L. Douglas, as if they had borne his full name with Brockton, Mass, added for good measure. Postal clerks just eat up such blind addresses and call for more. – Brockton Enterprise. After all. Gov Smith needn’t feel so puffed up over receiving a post card addressed “Al, N.Y., U.S.A.” Ed Pointer of the Boston Globe says he has received two letters, one being from Milton, N.H., addressed simply “Ed Pointer.” We’ll bet, however, that none of the mail clerks who handled these letters was the one who a few years ago sent a big printed envelope, addressed in quarter-inch letters, “Rochester, New Hampshire, The Rochester Courier,” and mailed from West Lebanon, Me, six miles away. to Rochester, N.Y. – Rochester (N.H.) Courier (Boston Globe, September 20, 1927).

The actual address of the popular – even so far away as Milton and Rochester, NH – exchange editor William H. “Ed Pointer” Hills was care of the Boston Globe, 244 Washington street, Boston. His home address was at 41 Belmont street, Somerville. He died in Somerville, MA, November 7, 1930.

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MONEY-MAKING COMBINATION. 75-Ft. Greenhouse and 23-Acre POULTRY FARM. ONLY $4000, $1000 down; this is located only ¾ mile from Milton. N.H., 3 miles from Farmington, N.H., and about 5 miles from Rochester. N.H.; can sell all kinds of plants, flowers and vegetables that can be produced; wonderful for raising poultry, very big demand from hotels and roadside stands nearby. 8-room 1½-story cottage house, maple shade trees, 30×40 barn, clapboarded; garage; poultry house and A1 greenhouse, painted, 30×75: close to convenience and State road; No. 502. shown from our Farmington. N.H., office. K. of P. block, tel. 63-4. O.C. BAXTER. Mgr. CHAMBERLAIN & BURNHAM. Inc., 294 Washington st., Boston (Boston Globe, October 27, 1927).

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Prior to this accident, trains struck motorcars at other Milton level crossings in June 1917 and August 1920.

TRAIN HITS AUTO AT SOUTH MILTON, N.H., MAN INJURED. SOUTH MILTON, N.H., Dec. 20 – As the Wolfeboro-Rochester gas train, in charge of engineer Charles Leighton and conductor Isaac Hall was passing over the grade crossing in this place today, it struck the rear of an automobile owned and operated by Arthur Downs of Grove st., East Rochester, turning the machine over three times and wrecking it. Mr. Downs clung to the wheel and escaped with severe cuts from flying glass and bruises. This crossing, situated on the White Mountain Boulevard, is protected by a wig-wag signal (Boston Globe, December 21, 1927).

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Clifton E. Hersom of Milton Mills is here said to have had a more than usually dumb turkey.

THIS PRIZE GOBBLER SHORTENED LIFE BY EATING TOO HEARTILY. Special Dispatch to the Globe. MILTON MILLS, N.H, Dec 22. Lately a lot of scientists have been trying to convince us that dumb critters can think. Maybe turkeys don’t come in the critter category but they sure do shine in the matter of dumbness. Here’s a specific instance of deep thought on the part of a Grade A gobbler.

The particular turkey that we’re concerned with is more than usually dumb. He’s only two months old, but in that time unaided by any human agency he has made himself the heavyweight champion of the C.E. Herson farm. This, mind you, despite the fact that Christmas was in the offing all the time. If a turkey can think why does he accumulate 35 pounds of succulent light and dark meat before a holiday?

It looks as though the scientists who say that dumb critters are there on the “pick up” in their mental processes will have to call in an alienist and frame up a temporary insanity or suicidal mania defense in this case.

We might feel bad for our obese and feathered friend if it were not for the fact that he is the possessor of the meanest disposition in seven counties. You can’t touch him with a 10-foot pole, he’s that exclusive. And fight! He’ll fight at the drop of a hat (Boston Globe, December 23, 1927).

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Previous in sequence: Milton in the News – 1926; next in sequence: Milton in the News – 1928

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References:

Find a Grave. (2018, April 26). Charles J. Berry. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/189182567

Find a Grave. (2014, November 24). Edwin D. Henderson. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/139195709

Find a Grave. (2018, April 28). Harry E. Anderson. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/161764838

Find a Grave. (2013, August 10). Thomas Farmer. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115217221

Wikipedia. (2019, September 19). Al Smith. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Smith

By Muriel Bristol (Transcriber) | October 17, 2019

In this year, we encounter hand-fed birds, a Milton Three-Ponds horserace, a sled-dog craze, and a fire at the Travelers’ Rest.

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It must have been a cold snowy winter for wild birds to eat from the hand.

Odd Items from Everywhere. Several in Milton Mills, N.H, are feeding the robins and pheasants, and they report that the birds are so hungry that they will eat from the hand (Boston Globe, February 20, 1926).

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Fred Young’s trotter Early Dreams raced against Belvin at Milton Three-Ponds, as it had against Peter C. in the previous year.

Hoof Prints. Early Dreams, owned by Fred Young of Farmingham [SIC], N.H., and Belvin, owned by Eugene Littlefield of Berwick, Me., have been matched for $100 a side to race at Milton Three Ponds next Saturday (Boston Globe, March 15, 1926).

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A Milton Mills sled dog “craze” sounds like it might have been fun, for sledders and dogs alike. It sounds also like another indication of a cold snowy winter.

Odd Items From Everywhere. Milton Mills. N.H., has been seized with the sled dog craze and everything from a hound pup to a police dog is being trained in some kind of harness for sled work. One of the latest to enter the ranks is a hound puppy which is enticed into drawing his coach by someone running ahead of him holding a hot dog. He has eaten frequently m his training when he outran his trainer. A common sight about the town is a dog running home dragging a pair of skis to which is hitched an empty dry goods box, the rider having been left in a snowdrift (Boston Globe, March 22, 1926).

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Here we find the first newspaper mention of a Milton fire department, as opposed to a factory fire team or the Rochester fire department.

There were two Fred Downs in Milton: Fred Downs, son of Albert Downs, who lived at Plummer’s Ridge, and Fred Charles Downs, son of Arthur Downs, who lived at Milton Three Ponds village.

Fred C. Downs, an ice company laborer, aged forty-two years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Census. His household included his wife, Eva M. [(West)] Downs, aged thirty-four years (b. NH), and his children, Arthur F. Downs, aged fourteen years (b. NH), Hazel M. Downs, aged twelve years (b. NH), Annie V. Downs, aged eleven years (b. NH), Raymond F. Downs, aged five years (b. NH), and Doris E. Downs, aged eight months (b. NH). They resided in a rented house on Remick Street, in Milton village. (Remick, from 22 Silver and Church, in 1917; Church, from 32 So. Main to Silver).

MILTON, N.H., HOUSE DESTROYED BY FIRE. MILTON, N.H., Dec. 7 – The story-and-a-half house of Fred Downs, Main and Silver sts., was destroyed by fire early this morning and the loss will amount to $3000. Mr. and Mrs. Downs were away at the time and nothing was saved. The Fire Department responded to an alarm and the fire pump from Rochester was sent to the scene. The origin of the fire is unknown. The Fire Department kept the fire from spreading to other buildings. The place is known as “The Travelers’ Rest” and Mr. Downs caters to tourists in the Summer (Boston Globe, December 7, 1926).

Charles F. (Eva M.) Downs appeared in the Milton directory of 1930, with a house on Charles street.

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Previous in sequence: Milton in the News – 1925; next in sequence: Milton in the News – 1927

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References:

Find a Grave. (2013, May 24). Eva M. Downs. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/130305339

 

By Muriel Bristol | October 13, 2019

In researching other Milton businesses, details of several Milton restaurants have emerged. Miss Elsye Maud Wallace established her Ye Ragged Robin Tea Shop, which appears to have been Milton’s second restaurant. (LaRochelle’s lunchroom in Three Ponds village appears to have been the first). Miss Wallace opened her tea shop around 1914 and it remained a going concern through at least 1922 (and probably as late as 1929).

Ye Ragged Robin Tea Shop occupied a refurbished one-story four-room cottage on Plummer’s Ridge, opposite the schoolhouse there. (Site of the so-called “Blue House” that sold at a tax auction this year). Miss Wallace, her sister, Alice J. Wallace, both theatrical ladies, and their widowed mother, Addie M. (Gilman) Wallace, resided initially right in the building. One of the rooms was given over to the tea shop, and the cooking took place in its kitchen. Additional tables stood out on the lawn.

The ladies catered to the tourist trade traveling up and down the White Mountain Highway or “Boulevard.” It was advertised as being on the Yellow Line to the White Mountains. (The “Yellow Line” refers to the yellow and black bands painted on utility poles to mark the White Mountain Highway’s route).

The Proprietor: Miss Elsye M. Wallace

Elsye Maud Wallace was born in Milton, December 7, 1884, daughter of Dr. William F. and Adelaide M. “Addie” (Gilman) Wallace. Her sister, Lydia J. “Josie” Wallace, was born in Milton, November 15, 1886, but died in Bradford, NH, November 19, 1892. Her youngest sister, Alice J. Wallace, was born in Bradford, NH, July 23, 1893.

William F. Wallace, a physician, aged fifty years (b. NH), headed a Plaistow, NH, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of seventeen years), Addie M. Wallace, aged fifty-one years (b. NH), and his children, Elsie M. Wallace, at school, aged fifteen years (b. NH), and Alice J. Wallace, at school, aged six years (b. NH). Addie M. Wallace was the mother of three children, of whom two were still living. They rented their house.

Elsye M. Wallace of Plaistow, NH, attended the New Hampton Literary and Biblical Institute in 1903. (They listed her residence as Rochester, NH, in 1905). Miss Wallace took positions in teaching initially – mostly voice instruction – but she embarked also upon a singing career.

In October 1904, the Boston Globe ran a contest for a $25,000 educational fund. The contest winner would be the contestant that received the greatest number of ballots (clipped from the newspaper). Her former classmates at the New Hampton Literary [and Bible] Institute promoted her candidacy.

New Hamptonites. Attention! Vote Counter – send in your votes for an old New Hamptonite, Miss Elsye M. Wallace. She’s In to win, so help her along. Enclosed find 40 votes. From one N.H.L.I. Graduate (Boston Globe, October 3, 1904).

Elsye M. Wallace appeared in the Rochester directory of 1905 as a teacher, boarding at 39 Leonard street.

NEWS OF THE GRANGE. What Branches of the Order Are Doing. REPORTS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE. Eastern N.H. Pomona held its twenty-second annual farmer’s festival, July 31, at the New College, Durham, where a basket picnic was served on the lawn, the college buildings and grounds inspected and, at half past two the audience of 300 people was called to order in the Gymnasium by Frank Smith, Farmington, master, who introduced Mrs. Lizzie Lyman Fall, Milton, lecturer, who had charge of these exercises: Invocation by the Rev. John C. Sanderson, Lansing, Mich.; welcome by Prof. F.W. Rane, master of Scammell grange; response by Geo. R. Drake, the first master; Elsye Wallace sang “Under the Rose” and responded to a recall with “The Slumber Boat”; address by H.O. Hadley, State Master, on “The Benefits of Organization”; John McDaniel Lee, recited “Christmas at Black Rocks” and “The Bewitched Cloak”, Miss Wallace sang “The Jean” and there were remarks by Richard Pattee, lecturer of Plymouth State Grange (Portsmouth Herald, August 7, 1906).

Her father, Dr. William F. Wallace, died in Rochester, NH, September 5, 1906. Addie M. Wallace applied for a Civil War widow’s pension, October 15, 1906, based upon her late husband’s service in the Eighteenth NH Infantry.

Elsye M. Wallace taught in Southbridge, MA, during the 1907-08 academic year. She received a salary of $182.00. Southbridge also reimbursed her expense outlay of $15.59 for a set of music charts.

New Hampton, NH, held an Old Home Day festival on August 22, 1908, at which Miss Wallace performed.

The Bristol Cornet Band entertained the crowd with music throughout the day, which concluded with a musical event at Chapel Hall featuring violin and piano soloists and singing of several soprano solos by Miss Elsye M. Wallace of Rochester and Boston.

Miss Elsye Wallace of Boston, MA, appeared as a vocalist in a list of performances of the works of composer Mrs. H.H.A. Beach in 1908. She sang “O Were My Love You Lilac Fair.”

HAMPTON BEACH. Mr. and Mrs. Harry L. Priest and Miss Elsye M. Wallace, formerly of Rochester, were recent visitors in the Radcliff hotel from Plaistow. Miss Wallace is a well known vocalist and a pupil of Mrs. Helen Allen Hunt of Boston (Portsmouth Herald, June 14, 1909).

Elsye M. Wallace taught as a Voice instructor at Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, IA, in the 1909-10 academic year. She appeared in the Buena Vista College Bulletin of that year among its faculty members.

ELSYE M. WALLACE. Professor of Voice. Graduate of New England Conservatory 1906, studied with Mme. Sargeur Goodelle one year, with Mme. Ellis-Dexter three years.

John A.P. Harlan, own income, aged sixty-six years (b. IL), headed a Storm Lake, IA, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of forty-one years), Laura Harlan, aged sixty-five years (b. OH), and his roomer, Elsye M. Wallace, a voice music instructor, aged twenty-five years (b. NH). Laura Harlan was the mother of six children, of whom three were still living. He owned their house at 406 Otsego street, free-and-clear.

Miss Wallace sang at J.W. Greeley’s Dreamland Theater on Congress Street in Portland, ME, in February 1911. The industry periodical Variety reviewed her performance as having “pleased” the audience as a part of the “strongest bill this season.”

PORTLAND, ME. Portland (J.W. Greeley, mgr.; agent U.B.O.; rehearsal, Monday 10). – Australia Four, strong feature; Great Basalera, pleased; Irene Dillon, hit; Catherine Cronin Trio, clever; Rathskellar Trio, well received; Elsye M. Wallace, pleased. Strongest bill this season. Buffalo Bill’s “Wild West” is booked here June 12. HAROLD C. ARENOVSKY (Variety, February 1911).

PORTLAND, ME. PORTLAND (J.W. Greeley, mgr.; agent; U.B.O.; rehearsal, Monday 10). – “Aviator Girl,” strong feature; Allor & Barrlngton, laughing hit; Rathskeller Trio, tremendous; Gregsons, classy; Dan Mason & Co., well received; Elsye M. Wallace, pleased (Variety, March 1911).

Addie M. Wallace appeared in the Rochester directory of 1912, as a widow, with her home at 18 Silver street. Her daughter, Miss Elsye M. Wallace, appeared as having her home also at 18 Silver street.

HAVERHILL. The annual sale and fair of the Ladies’ Society of the Universalist Church was held at the Atkinson, N.H. Town Hall yesterday afternoon and evening. The drama “The Sunny Glen” was presented and Miss Elsye Wallace contributed vocal solos last evening (Boston Globe, November 19, 1913).

AMUSEMENTS. At the Lyric. For this week the Lyric offers a special program of good moving pictures, showing the famous Mutual features, which include the popular Keystone comedy subjects, the “Mutual Girl,” and some of those excellent. American Western pictures and during the week the late Mutual weekly, the latter showing the very latest news events of the country. Miss Elsye Wallace, lyric soprano, has been engaged as soloist, offering selections at each performance. Three shows will be given daily at 2.15, 7.30, and 9. The hot weather of the past week proved, beyond a doubt, that the cold air plant at the Lyric is a real success, for even on the hottest day the theater was cool and comfortable. The Lyric should be an ideal place to drop into at any time, enjoy some good pictures and escape the heat (Fitchburg Sentinel, June 15, 1914).

Ye Ragged Robin Tea Shop – 1914-c1929

Miss Elsye M. Wallace opened Ye Ragged Robin Tea Shop in or around 1914. She provided details of the shop, its creation, and its menu in a 1922 interview (“Making a Living in the Country”: excerpted below). She, her sister, and their mother appear to have lived in the shop, as late as 1917, but later to have run it from Rochester. She continued to pursue her singing career during the winters, working largely as a vaudeville singer, or “theatrical” actress. The tea shop was a fair-weather enterprise, which makes sense, as the automobiles of the time had limited winter capabilities.

The tea shop’s name might have been inspired by the wildflower of the same name – the Ragged Robin (Lychnis Flos Cuculi) – or by a popular musical with the same name of a few years previously.

“Ragged Robin,” the successful Irish play being presented this season by Chauncey Olcott is adding fresh laurels to the wreath of that ever popular star. Mr. Olcott has a budget of new and beautiful songs, there is a fine cast and a wealth of handsome scenery and costumes (Washington Herald, January 2, 1910).

Ye Ragged Robin Tea Shop’s sign featured a silhouette of a robin sitting on a branch.

Addie M. and Elsie M. Wallace appeared together in the Rochester directory of 1917 as having moved to Milton. (The prior directory was that of 1912, i.e., their relocation took place between the editions of 1912 and 1917). Addie M. Wallace appeared in the Milton directory of 1917, as a widow, who had her house at the R.R.T.S. [Ragged Robin Tea Shop], on Plummer’s Ridge, opposite the schoolhouse. Her younger daughter, Alice J. Wallace, had her home there, while her elder daughter, Elsye M. Wallace, appeared as proprietor of Ye Ragged Robin Tea Shop, on Plummer’s Ridge, opposite the schoolhouse.

Rolf Alexander Osterman of Milton registered for the WW I military draft in Milton, June 5, 1917. He was a farm laborer, aged twenty-six years, employed by James F. Doe of Milton. He was of medium height, with a medium build, gray eyes, and light brown hair.

Elsye M. Wallace married in Plaistow, NH, August 16, 1918, Rolf A. Osterman, both of Rochester, NH. He was a soldier, aged twenty-seven years, and divorced. He was born in Lynn, MA, February 16, 1891, son of John L. and Lilly (Scott) Osterman.

William H. Wingate, a shoe factory supply man, aged forty-eight years (b. NH), headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Laura M. Wingate, aged forty-seven years (b. NH), his children, Gladys Wingate, a bookkeeper, aged twenty-two years (b. NH), and Carlton Wingate, a machine shop machinist, aged twenty years (b. NH), his mother-in-law, Addie M. Wallace, aged sixty-eight years, his brother-in-law, Rolf Osterman, a theater actor, aged thirty-four years (b. RI), and his sisters-in-law, Alsie M. Osterman, a theater actress, aged thirty-six years (b. NH), and Alice J. Wallace, a theater singer, aged twenty-six years (b. NH). They resided at 18 Silver street.

Alice J. Wallace married in Milton, November 2, 1920, Phillip A. Kimball, he of Union [Village, Wakefield,] NH. and she of Rochester, NH. He was a physician, aged thirty-one years (b. Tamworth, NH); she was in the Theatrical trade, aged twenty-seven years (b. Bradford, NH). Rev. Owen E. Hardy of Milton performed the ceremony. Phillip A. Kimball was born in Tamworth, NH, October 8, 1889, son of Samuel O. and Sarah F. (Gilman) Kimball.

Elsye Wallace and her husband performed with Orth and Coleman’s Tip Top Merrymakers at the Oneonta Theater in Oneonta, NY, beginning in December 1920. The company performed a bill of musical comedies, with vaudeville acts between them. She was billed in the vaudeville portion of the program as one of the Three Queens of Song and, possibly, was a member also of the Faust Trio (performing High-Class Operatic Selections). Oysterman Rolf was one of the Two Nifty Boys (Oneonta Star, December 23, 1920).

The same company performed at The Palace theater in Olean, NY, in March 1921. It was billed as an Engagement Extraordinary, with A Direct Carload of Genuine “Pep,” Palatably Served. It “Introduced” Lewis Orth, Al Coleman, Jack Ryan, Rolf Osterman, George Barker, O.P. Murphy, Miss Elsye Wallace, Miss Lillian, Miss Rose Bentley, Miss Velma Lee, and “a Gay Galaxy of Girlies.” Al Lemons appeared as The World’s Champion Wooden Shoe Dancer. The main event here, as in Oleonta, was Lew Orth’s seven-act Big Musical Scream “In Phun Inn”: “The Palace’s Most Pretentious Program” (Olean Evening Herald, March 21, 1921).

Making a Living in the Country. THE tourist of to-day, who rushes through the country at top speed, is not looking for a big hotel where he may leisurely eat a course dinner but for quiet spot along the highway, where he may be quickly served with delicious vegetables fresh from the garden, cool salads, drinks tinkling in tall thin glasses, or varieties of dainty sandwiches which the wayside tea house affords. Seven years ago, with almost no capital, absolutely no experience, and very little encouragement from my friends, I opened a little tea room on the road to the Mountains in New Hampshire, and called it “Ye Ragged Robin Tea Shop.” The one-story house had only four rooms, but it was over a hundred years old, quaint, and in good condition. Paint and paper did wonders to the interior. In the north room, which I planned to use for my tea room, I put white curtains with blue and white checked gingham overhangings at the windows, and high, straight-backed chairs, as old as the house, were cushioned in the same material. (See page 35). Blue and white rag rugs were used on the painted floor. On one side of the room was a cupboard, in which I placed my dishes. Modern they were, but of a pattern reminding one of the posy-decked china of our grandmothers. Gradually I have added to my store and often my guests exclaim at the “old-fashioned” ware they glimpse through door. Next the cupboard is a tiny fireplace, on whose long mantel are candlesticks reminiscent of Colonial days. An old mirror by the entrance door is favored by ladies who may wish to adjust hat or veil on leaving. As the room was tiny and the capacity limited, I decided to put tables outside under the maples in front of house, where, on hot days the traveler can enjoy the view of hill and lake and the glimpse of gardens through trees.

I HAVE learned by experience, through traveling about the country during the winter months, that the most pretentious meal may be spoiled by unpleasant surroundings and the simplest lunch seem a feast, when served daintily on pretty china, with spotless linen, sparkling glass, and the added brightness of fresh flowers. The kitchen is, of course, the most important part of the ménage. Mine is small, but doors and windows keep it cool and well lighted. As coal and gas are not available, the cooking is done on a big wood-burning range and a kerosene stove. My dishes are all cooked to order, and the wood makes a quick and very hot fire at the time when it is most needed. We depend wholly on tourists, and the number can never even be guessed at. They arrive at all hours, and expect one to be prepared to serve them at a moment’s notice. I am glad to say we have never disappointed them. Business men, hurrying back from weekend visits on Monday morning, are glad to stop for crisp bacon and eggs, and a pot of steaming coffee, or one of those deliciously browned omelets which have helped to make our place popular with them. Tea rooms will always appeal to women, but a wafer-like sandwich and a pot of tea will never satisfy our masculine friends. To win over the men you must provide something more substantial. One of our specialties is good coffee. We make it fresh for every guest, buying the whole bean and grinding it as it is used. Served with thick cream, it is an ever-satisfying accompaniment to breakfast, and a fitting climax to any lunch. 

THE question of help has always been a serious one with me. I believe it is essential that the girls who serve should not only know how to place the dishes correctly on the table, but that they should also possess a pleasing personality, making the guests feel at home. I always supervise the work in the kitchen, so that everything which is served will be up to the standard. We have tried to make our little place attractive on the outside as well, by planting masses of flowers; and among these, of course, are ragged robins. Every year the garden blooms in profusion from early spring until after the frosts. As the demand is also growing for quarters where tourists may spend the night, we have decided to build screened sleeping porches for use this year. Our advertising consists of our road signs, with the little red robin on them, post cards of the house, and our space in the ALA Green Book. But the best advertisement of all is good food, quick service, and home atmosphere. As you leave our little tea room, you will see in the guest book the names of friends from all over this country and the old world; and if ever you come to see us, we hope you will agree with the English gentleman who wrote after his name: “A delightful place to stop for a dainty lunch.” ELSYE WALLACE OSTERMAN

Boston attorney Robert G. Dodge and his wife, Alice W. (Childs) Dodge, stopped at the “Ragged Robin, Milton, N.H.,” on their silver wedding anniversary, September 11, 1925, and posed for photograph there (Spieldenner, 2011 (p. 287)).

Elsye M. Osterman of Milton divorced Rolf A. Osterman of Milton in Strafford County, NH, October 19, 1928. She accused him of adultery. She had her name changed back to Elsye M. Wallace in Strafford County Probate Court in 1929.

Afterwards

Rolf A. Osterman appeared in the Milton directory of 1930, as having a house at Union, R.D. [Rural Delivery]. Elsye M. Wallace did not appear in 1930, nor did Ye Ragged Robin Tea Shop. Her sister, Alice J. (Wallace) Kimball, and mother, Addie M. (Gilman) Wallace, were living in Bristol, NH, clear across the state.

Philip Kimball, a physician, aged forty-one years (b. NH), headed a Bristol, NH, household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of ten years), Alice J. Kimball, aged thirty-seven years (b. NH), his child, Wallace O. Kimball, aged eight years (b. NH), and his mother-in-law, Addie M. Wallace, a widow, aged eighty-one years (b. NH). They resided in a rented household, for which they paid $20 per month. They had a radio set.

Dr. Phillip A. and Alice J. (Wallace) Kimball, their son, Wallace O. Kimball, and her mother, Addie M. (Gilman) Wallace, moved from Bristol, NH, to Union village, in Wakefield, NH, before November 1933. Addie M. (Gilman) Wallace died in Wakefield, NH, November 16, 1933, aged eighty-four years.

Rolf Alexander Osterman of Milton registered for the WW II military draft in Milton, April 27, 1942. He was aged fifty-one years and employed by Mr. William Stanton, 114 Charles Street, Rochester. His mailing address was the Scenic Theater, Rochester, NH. He was 5′ 4″ tall, weighing 174 pounds, with blue eyes, brown hair, and a light complexion.

Elsye Wallace Osterman, of Milton, NH, sold her Ye Ragged Robin Tea Shop property to Harold E, and Elvira E. Raynor, both of Malden, MA, for $1 and “other valuable considerations,” October 9, 1947. (The US Revenue Tax on the transaction was $3.30). It was described as “a certain tract of land with the buildings thereon, called the ‘Tea House,’ situate in said Milton on Plummer’s Ridge, so called” (Strafford County Deeds, 552:129).

Elsye M. Wallace appeared in the Boston directories of 1947, 1948, and 1953, as having a house at 1435 Commonwealth avenue in Allston, Boston, MA.

Ralph Osterman appeared in the Rochester directory of 1948, as an employee of the Colonial Theatre, with a house at 6 North Main street (apartment 206).

Elsye M. Wallace submitted a claim to the Social Security Administration, April 11, 1950. She died December 21, 1953.

Rolf A. Osterman died in Rochester, NH, in June 1969. Alice J. (Wallace) Kimball died in Springfield, MA, July 1, 1971.

References:

Find a Grave. (2011, September 6). Addie Mary Gilman Wallace. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/76091487/addie-mary-wallace

Find a Grave. (2013, August 4). Alice Wallace Kimball. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/114908331/alice-kimball

Find a Grave. (2013, August 4). Elsye Wallace. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/114938019

Find a Grave. (2011, September 6). William F. Wallace, M.D. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/76091489

Musical Courier Company. (1908). Musical Courier: A Weekly Journal Devoted to Music and the Music Trades. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=pS5MAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA2-PR13

Spieldenner, Sharon (2011). Guide to the Greenwood Farm Collection, 1840s to 1993. Retrieved from thetrustees.access.preservica.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/72/2018/03/GFMSCOLL1_findingaid.pdf

Town of Southbridge. (1908). Reports of the Town Officers of Southbridge for the Year Ending February 1, 1908. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=DelOAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA50

Weirs Times. (2017, August 24). Homecoming Day Came to Stay in New Hampton. Laconia, NH: Weirs Times

Wikipedia. (2019, September 24). Lychnis Flos Cuculi. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lychnis_flos-cuculi

Woman’s Home Companion. (1922, April). Making a Living in the Country. How These Women Met the Opportunity. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=Euo9AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA2-PA36

By Muriel Bristol (Transcriber) | October 10, 2019

In this year, we encounter the death of Leander M. Nute, a horserace at Milton Three-Ponds, high waters brought by heavy rains, Rev. Arthur Jeffries accepting a call, the Bunker Hill sesquicentennial, a toddler’s drowning, a suicide, waitresses wanted, Harry Pinker’s close call, and the return of a lost pin.

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Violin maker Leander Munroe Nute, a first cousin to Lewis Worster Nute, died in Portland, ME, on February 9. He was born in Milton, April 16, 1831, son of David and Lavina (Cook) Nute.

LEANDER M. NUTE, 94, DEAD AT PORTLAND. Oldest Dartmouth Graduate and a Violin Maker. PORTLAND, Me., Feb. 9 – Leander M. Nute, 94, oldest Dartmouth graduate, a violin maker, died this morning. Leander M. Nute was born in Milton, N.H., in 1831. After leaving school he taught for a time in the Pittsfield, N.H., Academy. He then entered Dartmouth, getting credit for one year on account of his teaching. He was graduated from the college in 1854 and had been for several years the sole survivor of his class. After leaving college he took a scientific course and thought that he wanted to be a railroad builder. His first job was on a project to run a railroad line from Saratoga to Sacketts Harbor. This was a failure, and the young man went West and worked in Michigan and Iowa. He then returned to the East and went into business as a shoe manufacturer in Berwick, Me., living in Somersworth, N.H. When he retired at the age of 68 he had 250 men on his payroll and his output was 1200 pairs a day. Then Mr. Nute decided to start a new career – one which perhaps had been for years his heart’s desire. He began making violins. Twenty years later he won first honors with one of his violins – his 278th – in the State competition of the Maine Violin Makers’ Association. For more than 20 years before his death Mr. Nute had made his home in Portland, Me. He had a shop there where he made his violins. Specimens of his work went all over the East. Mr. Nute was a Mason. His wife died many years ago (Boston Globe, February 9, 1925).

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Trotter Early Dreams appeared in horse races as early as July 1915, and as far away as Detroit, MI. Early Dreams once won a $5,000 race.

Hoof Prints. Early Dreams, 2:03¾, and Peter C., 2:19¼, have been matched for a return race $100 side for next Saturday at Milton Three Ponds, N.H. Early Dreams is owned by Fred Young of Farmington and Peter C. by Frank Osgood of Rochester (Boston Globe, February 23, 1925).

Fred Young, a shoe shop sole layer, aged thirty years (b. NH), headed a Farmington, NH, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Maude M. [(Young)] Young, aged twenty-nine years (b. NH), and his child, Doris M, Young, aged eight years (b. NH). They resided in a rented house on Silver Street Road.

Frank H. Osgood, a livery stable proprietor, aged fifty-nine years (b. NH), headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Elizabeth I. Osgood, aged thirty-seven years (b. NH), his children, Ernest L. Osgood,  U.S. Army sergeant, aged twenty-three years (b. NH), and Donald G. Osgood, aged nineteen years (b. NH), and his lodgers, Frank Scicalo, a barbershop barber, aged twenty-seven years (b. MA), and Frank Salice, a barber shop barber, aged thirty-seven years (b. Italy).They resided in a rented house on South Main Street.

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Heavy March rains required the removal of dam flashboards, but did not demand removing machinery belts.

SALMON FALLS FLOODED AS MILTONS PONDS FILL. EAST ROCHESTER, N.H., March 23. The heavy rainfall of the past 36 hours has caused Salmon Falls River to go on a rampage. The three ponds at Milton, which feed the Salmon Falls, have reached a high point and it was necessary this noon to remove flash-boards from the dam. Ice commenced to go out of the ponds this afternoon. The river lacks only a few inches of flowing over the abutments of the dam at Cocheco Company power house. Lowlands above the dam are completely inundated, while the interval below the brick mill is rapidly being flooded. Tonight mill officials stated that it had not been necessary to remove the belts at the mill. The only damage that the storm has done thus far is to leave rural roads in bad condition. In the North Rochester section at the Spaulding Pond, four rows of flash-boards were removed from the dam (Boston Globe, March 30, 1925).

Heavy rains washed away the flashboards of the Kennebunk Manufacturing Company dam at Milton Mills in December 1923.

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Rev. Arthur Jeffries left the First Baptist Church in Athol, MA, to accept a call from Milton.

ATHOL CHURCH CALLS REV. H.T. JOSLYN. Formerly Was Minister at Charlestown. Word has been received from Athol that Rev Howard T. Joslyn, a former pastor at the First Baptist Church, Charlestown, has been extended a call to occupy the pulpit of the First Baptist Church in that town. Since the resignation of Rev. Arthur Jeffries, to accept a pastorate at Milton, N.H, the Athol church has been without a Lutheran pastor (Boston Globe, April 4, 1925).

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Luther B. Roberts, of Milton Mills, and William P. Farnham, of Lynn, MA, both attended the Battle of Bunker Hill sesquicentennial celebrations. Their grandfathers had participated in the battle.

GRANDSON OF BUNKER HILL SOLDIER HERE. Luther B. Roberts, Milton Mills, N.H., Is Nearly 80. Luther B. Roberts of Milton Mills. N.H. nearly 80 who has been visiting relatives near Boston, is a grandson of John Roberts who fought in the Battle of Bunker Hill. His grandfather was born in 1753 at Dover Point. N.H., where the Roberts’ ancestors settled on land they bought from the Indians in 1673. John Roberts came to Boston in 1774 just in time to join the Revolutionary forces at Bunker Hill. He served for two years and was one of the men sent to Montreal by way of Lake Champlain. While on this trip he stopped at a hospital where an older brother, Moses, had died and there he found the man who had attended his brother in his last illness and who had buried him. Moses served in the French and Indian War. John Roberts married in 1778. There were 10 children. Luther’s father, Jere, was next to the youngest. John Roberts lived to be 93. His son, Jere, outlived all the other children and passed his 85th birthday. Mr. Roberts, who has been visiting his niece, wife of Speaker Hull of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, is going home to Milton Mills in a day or two but he will return to witness the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill in Charlestown, June 17. He is active, his mind is as keen as ever and he has been mentally lively always, At his age he does look back a bit and reflects about friends. Luther Roberts was born in Waterboro in 1845. He learned his A B C’s in a red schoolhouse. “I’ve come from driving an ox team when I was 16 to see all the great improvements that there are now,” he says. He has been in active mercantile life. In 1878 he was a member of the New Hampshire legislature. In 1915 and 1916 he was in the legislature in Maine, representative from Portland. For four years he was a member of the Supreme Lodge of the order of Knights of Pythias. He and his wife, who was Nellie C. Berry, live now at the Berry homestead. Their one child living is Mrs. Eva Roberts Wood of White Plains, N.Y., who has two children. William R., and Janice. (Boston Globe, April 9, 1925).

Agusta Berry, aged eighty-four years (b. NH), headed a Milton Mills household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. Her household included her brother-in-law, Luther B. Roberts, a lumberman, aged seventy-four years (b. ME), and her sister, Nellie C. Roberts, aged seventy-five years (b. NH). Augusta Berry owned their house on Main Street in Milton Mills Village free-and-clear.

“HARDLY A MAN IS NOW ALIVE.” (By International News Service.) Milton Mills, N.H., June 24. William P. Farnham, eighty-six, of Lynn, Mass., is the only man on record who can remember having seen and talked with a survivor of the battle of Bunker Hill. He visited the grave of his grandfather, a revolutionary soldier, to refresh his memory in order to help entertain the guests of the Bunker Hill day celebration in Charleston, Mass. (Huntington Herald (Huntington, IN), June 24, 1925).

William Farnham, a shoe factory cutter, aged eighty years (b. ME) headed a Lynn, MA, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. He resided at 97 Essex Street.

See Milton in the News – 1860, regarding William P. Farnham’s grandfather (and Milton in the News – 1909, for a reprise). See also Milton in the News – 1877 (and Milton in the News – 1894), regarding his paternal aunt, Joanna Farnham, and her nesting trunks.

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Idroiga L. “Edith” Pasjkowska, daughter of Joseph E. and Mary (Kenpskoi) Pasjkowska, died in an “accidental drowning” at Depot Pond, August 12, 1925, aged four years, five months, and seventeen days. She had been visiting in Milton for four days at the time of her death.

REVERE GIRL 4, LOSES LIFE AT MILTON. N.H. MILTON, N.H., Aug. 12 – Miss Edith Podeski, from Revere, Mass. was drowned at Depot Pond today. She was 4 years of age, and was on a vacation in care of Mrs. Conley of 98 Proctor av., Revere. The child wandered from the cottage where she was stopping, and a search resulted in the finding of the body in a few feet of water. The body was brought ashore by Raymond Boyle of Rochester (Boston Globe, August 13, 1925).

FOUR LOSE LIVES IN NEW ENGLAND WATERS. WILLIAM IRVING BOYCE, 17, Roxbury, at Foxboro. MARGARET McNAY. 13, of Manchester, N.H., at Crystal Lake. EDITH PODESKI, 4, of Revere, at Milton, N.H. HAROLD BRIDGHAM, 45, of Maine, at Sunset Lake, South Braintree (Boston Globe, August 13, 1925).

Henry J. Connolly, a fish store salesman, aged thirty-eight years (b. MA), headed a Revere, MA, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Margaret Connolly, aged thirty-six years (b. MA), and his children, Mary H. Connolly, aged thirteen years (b. MA), Elizabeth E. Connolly, aged eleven years (b. MA),and Margaret G. Connolly, aged seven years (b. MA). They resided in a mortgaged house at 98 Proctor Avenue.

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Ernest O. Day, of Acton-side in Lebanon, ME, shot himself with a revolver in the early hours of August 13, 1925.

Ernest O. Day, a sawmill laborer, aged thirty-five years (b. ME), headed an Acton, ME, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Beatrice R. Day, aged thirty-three days (b. ME), and his children, Alice M. Day, aged thirteen years (b. ME), and Harlan W. Day, aged ten years (b. ME). They resided in a mortgaged house on the South Acton Road (near its intersection with the Springvale Road).

MILTON MILLS, N.H., MAN TAKES OWN LIFE. MILTON MILLS, N.H., Aug. 13 – Ernest A. Day, 28, a farmer of this town, shot and killed himself with a revolver about 2 o’clock this morning. His home was at Mothers Corner. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Day (Boston Globe, August 13, 1925).

BRIEF BITS OF WORLD NEWS. Kills Self at So. Acton. Sanford, Me. Ernest Day, 40, killed himself by shooting himself through the left temple with a revolver at his home In South Acton. He leaves a wife and one son (Portsmouth Herald, August 15, 1925).

We cannot know why at this remove – who can know another’s heart? – but it is a fact that he and his wife were at odds, and that his daughter had died in May (after the birth of her own daughter). He may have been ill, perhaps painfully, incurably ill..

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Union’s Tox-a-Way Inn sought three refined girls to work as waitresses. The Tox-a-Way Inn was a 200-year-old wayside inn that had reopened in 1924 under new management (who had a Milton Mills telephone number).

ATTRACTIVE TEA SHOPPE AT UNION. One of the most attractive Tea Shoppes and Auto Inns has opened at Union, N.H., known as Tox-A-Way Inn. Its furnishings are wonderfully attractive, cuisine most excellent and entirely different than usually found at such places. There is nothing in New England that will compare with it. Kitchen is all electrically equipped with electric ranges, broilers, toasters, percolators, waffle irons, etc. All the furniture was made to order, being reproductions of old Windsor Colonials. It has a large dining room for regular guests finished in dark birch, a large tea room finished in colonial gray, and private dining rooms, the chambers are furnished in Belgian gray oak and birch, many of the rooms having running hot and cold water. It is sure to be not only popular with autoists and friends entertaining, but will prove a most attractive place for fishermen and hunters. It is under the management of Mrs. J.R. Huey and Mrs. Robert Smith, her daughter. 1t j17 (Portsmouth Herald, July 17, 1924).

WANTED. WANTED – 3 refined girls for waitresses at Tox-a-Way Inn, Union, N.H. Tel. Milton Mills 35-21 or Ports. 297-6 (Portsmouth Herald, August 20, 1925).

The refined girls hired here would have waited upon inventor Thomas A. Edison, orchestra leaders Paul Whiteman and Jacques Renard, Mrs. Susanna Tarkington (wife of author Booth Tarkington), and governors of both Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

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Frank L. Smith was going too fast on the steep down-grade on Wiggin Hill when his car went into a ditch and turned turtle. (One of the few driving restrictions of 1906 was reducing speed when proceeding downhill).

AUTO CRASHES CLAIM TOLL OF FIVE DEAD. Five May Die as Result of Injuries – Quincy Man Crushed Beneath Car on Way to New Hampshire. NORTH WAKEFIELD, N.H., Aug. 23 – Frank L. Smith, 44 years old, of 79 Glendale road, Quincy, was instantly killed; Mrs. Clara Isora Dustin of Tremont st., Quincy, and Mrs. Henry T. Cushman, now of Milton Mills, N.H., and recently of Boston, received minor injuries when a large touring car in which they were riding overturned on Wiggin hill shortly after 8 o’clock this morning. According to witnesses of the accident Smith was driving at high speed. Attempting to lessen the speed of the machine in order to negotiate the steep down grade he applied the brakes. The machine went into a ditch. Smith was crushed beneath the overturned car. The two passengers were thrown clear. Mrs. Dustin sustained a fractured arm, cuts about the head and face, and Mrs. Cushman suffered with body bruises. Little information could be obtained about Smith other than he lived in Quincy and was employed as an auditor. The automobile bore a Massachusetts registration plate 110,012 (Boston Globe, August 24, 1925).

Frank L. Smith, a shipyard bookkeeper, aged thirty-eight years (b. MA), headed a Quincy, MA, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Elizabeth J. Smith, aged thirty-five years (b. MA), and his children, Hazel L. Smith, aged fourteen years (b. MA), and Elizabeth Smith, aged thirteen years (b. MA). They resided in a rented dwelling at 118 Sagamore Street.

Despite Clara Isora Duncan’s injuries being characterized as minor ones, she died in the Rochester Hospital, on Charles Street in Rochester, NH, September 15, 1925, aged forty-nine years, two months, and twenty-one days. Her primary cause of death was a general sepsis of wounds on her back; the contributing causes were a fractured left elbow, fractured right clavicle, wounds on her forehead and her whole back, which were macerated and had become infected. (Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928, but it was not in general use until 1942).

Mrs. May E. (Thayer) Cushman, who was bruised only, was the sole long-term survivor. She and her husband were living in Farmington, NH, in 1930.

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BOY BURIED IN SAND CAVE AT MILTON. Milton Mills, Sept. 4 – The sudden collapse of the top of a cave which he and four young companions had been digging, almost cost the life of little Herman Pinker yesterday afternoon, when he was buried several feet deep. His companions dug furiously for a few minutes, but seemed to make no headway. One of them, Lester Marsh, ran to his home and summoned his brother, Ithal, who finally reached the boy. He was still breathing, but was unconscious. He was hurried to his home, where he was revived by a pulmotor (Portsmouth Herald, September 4, 1925).

Lester E. Marsh, aged fourteen years at this time, and his older brother, Ithiel E. Marsh, aged sixteen years, were children of George W. and Eva M. (Burrows) Marsh of Acton, ME.

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Edward L. Osgood married (2nd) in Lebanon, ME, May 24, 1925, Edith M. Whitehouse, both of Lebanon.

The new Mrs. Osgood is here said to have been sorting potatoes when she found another woman’s gold pin. (Properly prepared and stored potatoes may last for between four and nine months).

PIN, LOST SIX YEARS, FOUND IN POTATO. Special Dispatch to the Globe. MILTON, N.H., Dec. 15 – While sorting a few potatoes at her home yesterday Mrs. Edward L. Osgood found a large gold pin attached to one of them. The pin, which was made from a gold piece, bore the date 1888 and the initial W. Inquiries resulted in the information that the pin had been lost in her garden nearly six years ago by Mrs. Eliza Wentworth of Sanbornville, N.H. It was returned to the owner (Boston Globe, December 16, 1925).

Mrs. Eliza M. (Hanson) Wentworth, the source of the potatoes, had presumably lost her gold pin in her potato field, nearly six years before. It had attached itself there to her 1925 crop and passed thereby on potatoes sold to Mrs. Edith M. (Whitehouse) Osgood. (The two women may have been related: Mrs. Wentworth’s mother had been also an Edith Whitehouse: Edith (Whitehouse) Hanson.

Eliza M. (Hanson) Wentworth, widow of Fred M. Wentworth, and a forty-eight year resident of Sanbornville, Wakefield, NH, died in Milton, April 11, 1926, aged sixty-three years, nine months, and seven days. She died of cancer, with which she had been afflicted for eight months, i.e., from about the harvest time of the potatoes in which her gold coin pin was discovered. M.A.H. Hart, M.D., of Milton, reported her death.

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Previous in sequence: Milton in the News – 1924; next in sequence: Milton in the News – 1926

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References:

Find a Grave. (2012, June 19). Eliza M. (Hanson) Wentworth. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/92202617

Find a Grave. (2013, September 1). Ernest O. Day. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/92953470/ernest-o-day

Find a Grave. (2015, May 23). Leander M. Nute. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/146875372

Find a Grave. (2013, August 16). Luther B. Roberts. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115578547

Wikipedia. (2019, October 6). Booth Tarkington. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Booth_Tarkington

Wikipedia. (2019, October 1). Paul Whiteman. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Whiteman

Wikipedia. (2019, September 12). Thomas Edison. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Edison

YouTube. (1931, October 17). As Time Goes By – Jacques Renard (Paul Munn, vocal). Retrieved from www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsbld2jLzTc

Youtube. (1933, September 11). It’s Only A Paper Moon – Paul Whiteman (Peggy Healy, vocal). Retrieved from www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbB4Qgw6jZw

By Muriel Bristol (Transcriber) | October 6, 2019

In this year, we encounter the annual ice harvest, a poultry farm for sale, another train death, the police chief hospitalized, an ice worker returned home, a barber sought, ice horses auctioned, a grange meeting, a Rochester fire truck’s response, a drowning death, a dancing policeman, another visit from the fisher queen, Rev. H.E. Whitcomb visits Haverhill, the death of “ice king” John O. Porter, Kittery Boy Scouts camping, a fruit farm for sale, a barber sought still, the Grand Master Workman’s visit, hound dogs for sale, Rev. H.E. Whitcomb returned from Haverhill, Rev. Newell W. Whitman called away, a Milton Mills fire, and NH scholastic test scores.

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Warmer weather in greater Boston again favored Milton’s ice industry, which “enjoyed” zero weather.

NEW HAMPSHIRE ICE FOR BOSTON. Harvesting Begins This Week on Milton Ponds. Lakes Frozen to Depth of About 12 Inches. Product Will Be Shipped in Freight Cars. Special Dispatch to the Globe. MILTON, N.H., Jan. 19 – For the next few weeks there will be more than usual activity in the ice harvesting business in this town and Sanbornville by reason of the very thin ice on the ponds in the Bay State, causing dealers to look elsewhere for their supply. To relieve the situation in Boston it is planned to ship ice by freight to the city not only from Milton Three Ponds, and Sanbornville, but from Mt. Major and other points along Lake Winnipesaukee. Ice in this section is about a foot thick, and ice cutting will begin the coming week. With good weather and normal conditions the work should be completed in a month or six weeks. Hundreds of men will be employed among the Boston firms which will harvest ice in this vicinity are the Boston Ice Company, Metropolitan Ice Company and the Porter Milton Ice Company. There has been some zero weather the past few weeks, and many mornings the thermometer has registered only a few degrees above that point. Fifteen inches is the desired thickness for ice cutting (Boston Globe, January 20, 1924).

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William Sears Perry sought to sell his Milton poultry farm on the [Nute] Ridge Road in West Milton.

REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS. BUYS FOR OCCUPANCY. The E.A. Strout Farm Agency, Inc., reports the sale of the 40-acre poultry farm of Willard S. Perry on the Ridge road at Milton, N.H., to Elizabeth A. Varney. There is a six-room frame house with modern improvements, a large barn and several other outbuildings. Included in the sale is a large amount of machinery, tools and other personal property. (Boston Globe, February 7, 1924).

Willard S. Perry, a general work laborer, aged fifty-three years (b. MA), headed a Bridgewater, MA, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Clara L. Perry, aged forty-five years (b. MA), and his children, Evering E. Perry, aged fifteen years (b. MA), Lillian E. Perry, aged eleven years (b. MA), Charles T. Perry, aged ten years (b. MA), and Walter L. Perry, aged seven years (b. MA). They owned their house at 314 Pine Street free-and-clear.

Willard S. Perry died in Brewster, MA, September 11, 1925. Clara L. (Howland) Perry died in West Milton, NH, February 23, 1955.

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A Boston Ice Company worker was killed while crossing the railroad tracks. (A Porter Ice Company foreman met a similar fate in 1916).

SNOW-BLINDED MAN KILLED ON CROSSING. Melville Cameron, Lynn, Train Victim. Special Dispatch to the Globe MILTON, N.H., Feb 10 – Blinded by snow, Melville Cameron, 60, of Lynn, Mass, walked onto a crossing near the ice house of the Boston Ice Company this afternoon and was killed by a train. Cameron was walking with two other employes of the ice company: Eli Doucette and John Goode. Doucette got across the crossing safely. Goode drew back just in time.

LYNN, Feb. 10 – Melville Cameron, who was killed today when struck by a train in Milton, N.H., had been a resident of this city three years, coming here from Wakefield. He lived at 52 Waterhill st. with his daughter, Gladys (Boston Globe, February 11, 1924).

Melvin Cameron appeared in the Lynn city directory of 1920, as a driver, rooming at 700 Western avenue. A Melville Cameron, with a house at 52 Waterhill street, appeared in Lynn city directories of 1921, 1923, and 1924.

According to Milton vital records, Melvin Cameron, an ice plant worker, aged fifty-eight years, died accidentally when he was “struck by R.R. train,” February 10, 1924. He had resided in Milton for two weeks; his previous residence, i.e., his actual residence, being Lynn, MA. M.A.H. Hart, MD, reported the death. Cameron was buried, at least temporarily, in a receiving tomb in Rochester, NH.

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Police Chief Arthur F. Remick was hospitalized from injuries he sustained in felling a tree.

FALLING TREE STRIKES MILTON POLICE CHIEF. Rochester, March 3 – Chief of Police Arthur M. Remick of Milton is in a serious condition at the Rochester hospital with his name on the danger list as the result of an accident. He was at work felling a large tree and misjudged the direction in which it fell, with the result that he was struck in the face and pinned underneath the tree (Portsmouth Herald, March 3, 1924).

Arthur F. Remick, a house carpenter, aged thirty-eight years (b. MH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Angie E. [(Page)] Remick, aged thirty-one years (b. NH), his children, Anly D. Remick, aged eight years (b. NH), Florence M. Remick, aged six years (b. NH), Marguerite E. Remick, aged four years (b. NH), Bessie M. Remick, aged one year (b. NH), and his grandfather, Charles H. Durrell, a widower, aged eighty-four years (b. NH). Arthur F. Remick owned their house on Lower Main Street in Milton Village.

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Another recently-married young Kittery man spent some time in Milton’s ice industry. (Similar to his neighbor, Allen Barker, in the previous year).

KITTERY NEWS. Myron Woods has returned home from several weeks at Milton, N.H., where he was employed on the ice fields (Portsmouth Herald, March 4, 1924).

Charles M. Woods married in Dover, NH, May 6, 1922, Dorothy A. Bowdoin, he of Boston, MA, and she of Kittery, ME. He was a student, aged twenty-one years; and she was aged twenty years.

C. Myron Woods, a navy yard electrician, aged twenty-eight years (b. ME), headed a Kittery, ME, household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Dorothy A. Woods, aged twenty-seven years (b. ME), and his children, Mary E. Woods, aged six years (b. ME), and Barbara L. Woods, aged four years and five months (b. ME). They rented their part of a two-family dwelling at 34 Whipple Road, from his parents, Charles E. and Julie E. Woods, both aged fifty-three years.

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Charles L. Burke advertised still for a barber, as he had in the previous year. His offer now included a commission. He was still looking in September.

MALE HELP WANTED. BARBER WANTED – First-class, good wages and commission. C.L. BURKE. Milton, N.H. 3t* mh27 (Boston Globe, March 27, 1924).

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Milton ice companies typically sold off their horses once their annual ice harvest was complete. (Similar auction sale advertisements may be seen in 1912, 1914, and 1918).

AUCTION SALES OF HORSES AND CARRIAGES. MCKINNEY BROS. Brighton Sale and Exchange Stable Draft. Business, Family and Saddle Horses and Pony Outfits. 421 MARKET ST., BRIGHTON. TELEPHONE BRIGHTON 0058. ONE LOAD of good Indiana horses in matched pairs and single horses, varying In weight from 1300 lbs. to 1800 lbs., as good as can be found; 10 head of good acclimated horses, weighing from 1300 to 1600 lbs., ready for hard work. REGULAR AUCTION SALE WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, AT 1 P.M. 75 head of good second-hand horses of all descriptions, consigned by teaming, trucking and expressing firms in and around Boston; some very useful horses among these consignments; wagons, tip carts and harness of all descriptions. AT 3 P.M. 12 head of horses from the Porter Milton Ice Co. that have been used this Winter at their plant at the Weirs and Milton, N.H.; some extra good horses in good condition. D.L. McKinney, L.L. Hall. Auctioneers (Boston Globe, March 30, 1924).

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The regional grange held a meeting at the Lewis W. Nute Grange in Milton. Baptist Rev. George H. Chambers gave an opening prayer and Grange Master Leroy J. Ford gave a welcoming address.

Leroy J. Ford, a farmer, aged twenty-eight years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Ella B. [(Bliss)] Ford, aged thirty-four years (b. CT). They resided in a rented house at the Plummer’s Ridge Road.

EASTERN N.H. POMONA GRANGE MEETS AT MILTON. MILTON, N.H., April 24 – Eastern New Hampshire Pomona Grange met today with Lewis W. Nute Grange, with a large attendance. A public session was held in the afternoon and was opened by singing by the patrons of the local lodge, followed by prayer by Rev G.H. Chambers of Milton and the addresses of welcome by Leroy J. Ford, master of Lewis W. Nute Grange. The response was by Past Master James B. Young of Rochester, after which the following question was discussed: “Resolved, that the State and Federal acquisition of forest lands should not be encouraged or permitted unless means are provided for the annual payment of taxes thereon to the towns, equaling the rate of tax levied under the same valuation as if privately owned.” The disputants were Charles D. Colman, Jr., Charles W. Varney and Charles H. Ward of Rochester and Albert H. Brown of Strafford. There was an address on “Neighbors” by Mrs. Edna Crewe of Dover, director of the Dover Neighborhood House; vocal solos by Harold Lincoln and Miss Agnes Rogers of Rochester, readings by Arthur W. McDaniel of Nottingham and the reading of the “Cornucopia,” Pomona Grange paper, by John S. Kimball of Rochester. A closed session was held in the evening, when the fifth degree was conferred (Boston Globe, April 25, 1924).

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From this item we learn that Rochester, NH, had now motorized fire trucks, rather than horse-drawn ones, and that they responded to Milton fires.

AMONG THE FIREMEN. At a recent fire in Milton, N.H., the motor trucks from Rochester made the trip at eight miles in record time and laid 3000 feet of hose (Boston Globe, June 29, 1924).

Rochester fire trucks responded also to a serious Milton Mills fire in November.

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Elmer John Martin, of 46 Pond Street, Georgetown, MA, aged forty-five years (b. August 28, 1873), registered for the WW I military draft in Georgetown, MA, September 12, 1918. He worked as an ice laborer. His nearest relation was Delia Martin, also of 46 Pond Street, Georgetown, MA. He was of medium height, with a medium build, light blue eyes, and dark brown hair.

DROWNED YESTERDAY IN NEW ENGLAND. JOSEPH P. LUCEY, 25, of Melrose, at Graniteville. JAMES BURBINE, 7, at Andover. ELMER MARTIN, at Milton, N.H. MISS IDA E. FOSTER, 30, at Portland, Me. ANDREW MORIARTY, 12, at Enfield Falls. Conn. THOMAS MORIARTY, 10, at Enfield Falls, Conn. GEORGE MARR, 10, at New London, Conn. (Boston Globe, July 14, 1924).

According to Milton vital records, Elmer Martin died in an “accidental drowning (while in bathing),” July 13, 1924. He was a laborer, aged fifty years (b. Westville, NH), who had lived in Milton for ten [SIC] years.

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Rochester’s Ex-City Marshal had been primarily a barber. In this year, he engaged in a dance contest at the Milton pavilion against a much younger railroad signalman. (It brings to mind former White House spokesman, Sean Spicer, and his surprising foray onto “Dancing with the Stars”).

Rochester, N.H., Ex-Police Chief Will Jazz It Up As Result of Challenge. ROCHESTER, N.H., July 22. Tomorrow evening at the pavilion at Milton Three Ponds, there will be a challenge dancing contest between Ex-City Marshal Charles M. Cook and partner and Leo Brennan and partner, as the result of a wager (Boston Globe, July 22, 1924).

Charles M. Cook, a barber, aged forty-six years, headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Nancy M. Cook, aged forty-five years (b. Nova Scotia), and his children, Florence E. Cook, aged twenty-two years (b. NH), Mildred M. Cook, a public school teacher, aged twenty-one years (b. MA), and Edna W. Cook, aged seventeen years (b. NH). They resided in a rented house at 85 Wakefield Street.

Dennis Brennan, a railroad signalman, aged fifty-five years (b. Ireland), headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Catherine Brennan, aged fifty-three years (b. NH), his children, Elizabeth Cook, a shoe shop stitcher, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH), Leo Cook, a railroad signalman, aged twenty-two years (b. NH), Josephine Cook, a shoe shop packer, aged twenty-one years (b. NH), and Alice Cook, aged ten years (b. NH), his son-in-law, John Berry, a bleachery bleacher, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH), and his daughter, Mary Berry, aged twenty-six years (b. NH). They resided at 6 Bryan Street, which they owned free-and-clear.

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Miss Hazel White, the prodigious eight-year-old angler of September 1916 (now aged sixteen years), returned to Milton for a week’s vacation. (She had visited also in the previous year).

KITTERY NEWS. Miss Hazel White is the guest of friends at Milton, N.H., for the week (Portsmouth Herald, August 7, 1924).

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Rev. Harvey E. Whitcomb and his family visited his sister, Bertha C. (Whitcomb) Wells, in Haverhill, MA.

HAVERHILL. Mrs. George Wells is entertaining her brother, Rev. Whitcomb and his wife and daughter from Milton Mills this week (Groton Times, August 8, 1924).

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Here we bid farewell to ice magnate John Oliver Porter of Marblehead, MA, who had retired several years previously. His first appearance in a Milton business directory was in that of 1892.

DEATH OF JOHN O. PORTER, MARBLEHEAD BUSINESS MAN. MARBLEHEAD, Aug. 13 – The death of John O. Porter in Boston this morning was received here with great surprise. It was reported that his death was due to acute indigestion, which came on suddenly yesterday. Mr. Porter, who was the head of the Porter Ice Company of this town, was born In Ipswich and received his education there. He came to Marblehead about 55 years ago, and was the owner of much real estate as well as a large livery stable. He was a member of Atlantic Lodge, I.O.O.F., and also the Massachusetts Ice Dealers’ Association. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Mary Porter; one daughter, Mrs. James Skinner, and one son, Charles Porter (Boston Globe, August 13, 1924).

JOHN O. PORTER OF MARBLEHEAD DEAD. MARBLEHEAD, Aug 13 – Stricken with acute indigestion while on a business trip to Boston Tuesday afternoon. John O. Porter, 73, one of the wealthier citizens of this town, died at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital shortly after 1 this morning. He was born in Ipswich, but came to live in Marblehead In 1873, entering the business of harness making in a small shop at the foot of Tucker st. Later he entered the livery business, and in the early 80’s became an ice dealer. Up to four years ago, when he retired, he was one of the leading ice dealers in this section, having large holdings on ice properties in Milton, N.H., and Brookfield. Recently he has been interested in real estate. A wife, a son and a daughter survive him (Boston Globe, August 14, 1924).

DEATHS. PORTER – In Marblehead [SIC], suddenly, August 13, John O. Porter, 73 years of age. Funeral from the Universalist Church, Marblehead, Friday, at 2 p.m. (Boston Globe, August 14, 1924).

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The Boy Scouts of America were a relatively new organization. It had been founded in February 1910, and Federally chartered in June 1916.

KITTERY NEWS. The Kittery troop of Boy Scouts will leave Sunday morning at 8 for Milton, N.H., to spend one week in camp (Portsmouth Herald, August 22, 1924).

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The Brown Brothers fruit farm on White Mountain “Boulevard” sold to Daniel D. Steele, with all its appurtenances.

THE REAL ESTATE MARKET. OUT-OF-TOWN SALES. An important sale closed at Milton, N.H., is through the Chas. G. Clapp Company. It involves the large fruit farm of Brown Bros, on White Mountain boulevard, there being 150 acres. There is also an apple orchard of 1600 trees and other fruit. The buildings comprise a large mansion house, bungalow, barns, etc. A large amount of personal property was included in the sale. Daniel D. Steele buys for improvement and occupancy (Boston Globe, August 24, 1924).

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Barber shop proprietor Charles L. Burke’s “good wages” of March are set forth as being $25 per week, plus commissions. (This represented a 19% increase over the $21 offered in October 1919).

MALE HELP WANTED. BARBER WANTED – At once, must be good workman, steady job, $25 and commission. C.L. BURKE, Milton, N.H. Sud3t* au31 (Boston Globe, September 1, 1924).

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Grand Master Workman Thomas H. Canning visited a number of local A.O.U.W. lodges, including Milton’s Strafford Lodge. G.M.W. Canning resided in Boston, MA, and oversaw A.O.U.W. activities in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire. He had been also a leader for many years in the Knights of Labor.

Ancient Order United Workmen. Grand Master Workman Thomas H. Canning will visit Aurora Lodge of Claremont, N.H., Monday evening. Mt. Support Lodge of Lebanon, N.H., Tuesday evening, Winnipiseogee Lodge of Franklin and Belknap Lodge of Tilton, N.H., Wednesday evening, Granite Lodge of Laconia, N.H., Thursday evening, Strafford Lodge of Milton, N.H., and Rochester Lodge, Friday evening, and Marlboro Lodge, Saturday evening. The Minute Men and Women of Salem and vicinity will hold a demonstration meeting Sept. 17 (Boston Globe, [Sunday,] September 7, 1924).

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Two local residents offered hound dogs for sale. (Other residents had sold dogs in 1917 and 1918).

DOGS, CATS, PETS, ETC. FOR SALE. BLUE-TICKED RABBIT HOUND, thoroughly broken; 2 year old; 18 inches high. L.W. WESTON, Milton Mills, N.H. (Boston Globe, September 14, 1924).

Lewis W. Weston, a farming teamster, aged forty-three years (b. NH), was a hired man in the Milton household of Allie J. Laskey, a general farmer, aged seventy years (b. NH), at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. They resided on Branch Hill Road.

DOGS, CATS, PETS, ETC. COON HOUNDS. GOOD as lives; one pair, fox and rabbit proof; trial allowed; the real goods. A.H. STACKPOLE, Milton Mills, N.H. (Boston Globe, September 21, 1924).

Arthur H. Stackpole, a salesman, and his wife, Bertha Stackpole, resided in West Lebanon, ME, in 1930.

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Rev. Harvey E. Whitcomb returned from Haverhill, MA, to his home at Willow Mills, i.e., Milton Mills.

HAVERHILL. Rev. Harvey Whitcomb, who has been helping at W.G. Atkins’, has returned to his home in Willow Mills (United Opinion (Bradford, VT), October 10, 1924).

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Rev. Newell W. Whitman received and accepted a call to a Congregational church in Ashby, MA.

ASHBY. Rev. Newell Wordsworth Whitman, who was recently called to the pastorate of the Orthodox Congregational church in Ashby, has moved with his family into the parsonage. He came to Ashby from Milton, N.H., where during the three years as pastor of the Congregational church he has done constructive work building the church financially and numerically. His most notable achievement was the federation of the Baptist and the Congregational churches in town. Next Sunday Mr. Whitman will preach on “New birth – the greatest fact in a man’s life work. What it is; what it does; how to get it” (Fitchburg Sentinel, November 7, 1924).

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Milton Mills suffered a serious fire in the early hours of Thursday, November 20. The Townsend mill firemen and those of Rochester, NH, responded to the fire.

Among the affected properties were those of Milton Mills druggist, E.W. Emerson, and his drug clerk, Fred Carswell. (See more about Eugene W. Emerson in 1913; and Fred Carswell in August 1914).

FIRE SWEEPS MILTON MILLS. Houses Destroyed in New Hampshire Town. MILTON MILLS, N.H., Nov. 20. Several barns and houses, as well as a large pile of lumber, were a complete loss to their owners as the result of a fire in this town at 5 o’clock this morning, which caused a damage estimated at $17,100. Help was called from Rochester, 18 miles away, and the Fire Department at the Townsend Mills in the village also responded and aided the local firemen to fight the blaze. It took the Rochester fire apparatus just 20 minutes to reach the scene. The fire started in a blacksmith shop on Main st. owned by John E. Horn and occupied by Hiram Burrows. Fanned by a strong wind, the wooden building was soon a roaring furnace, and sparks and embers had spread to an adjoining pile of lumber valued at $300, which made ready fuel for the flames. The blaze then spread to a two-story house with a french roof owned by Arthur Flye of Arlington, Mass., and occupied by Fred Carswell and his wife and son. The house was of wooden structure and was soon blazing on all sides and the Carswell family made frantic efforts to move their valuables to the street. The structure was badly burned and the household effects were a complete loss. It is said that there is $1600 insurance on the property. The fire then spread to a barn 50 feet by 40 feet and only a shell was left standing. The flames continued to spread, in spite of the work of the firemen, and caught the buildings owned by Luther B. Roberts, which included a long house and a barn. The house was occupied by George Fogg. The sparks and embers then ignited the cottage house owned by Henry Townsend and occupied by Robert Alexander. The roof and windows caught fire and soon the structure was beyond saving. Another barn nearby, which was stocked with about $200 worth of furniture, the property of E.W. Emerson, also caught fire from the flying burning debris, and that, too, was soon a roaring furnace. At this point the combined efforts of the firemen checked the flames. It was one of the worst fires this town has ever known and the smoke could be seen for miles around. Persons who came to watch the firemen turned firemen themselves and aided the fire-fighters. Although no cause is given, it is said that a fire was left burning in a stove in the blacksmith shop over night, and that in some manner the inside of the structure caught fire. The firemen from the Townsend Woolen Mills ran lines of hose from the mills and pumped water at the rate of 800 gallons a minute onto the burning buildings (Boston Globe, November 20, 1924).

N.H. State News. Milton Mills was visited by a $17,000 fire Nov. 20 which burned down six buildings and damaged three others (Groton Times, November 28, 1924).

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N.H. State News. Recent tests in 8th grades in the state schools, taken by 5,000 pupils, showed an average of 67.42 in spelling with 76 towns having an average of 75, or better. Tests in arithmetic showed that 8th graders in New Hampshire this year are better than 9th graders of Springfield, Mass., were in 1846, for they did the same examples and had an average of 49.29 against an average in Springfield in 1846 of 29.41 (Groton Times, November 28, 1924).

In the latest available test results – those of 2016-17 – New Hampshire’s eighth grade reading average was 58%, and its eighth grade mathematics average was 45%. (Milton’s eighth grade reading average was 20%, and its eighth grade mathematics average was 11%, in 2016-17).

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Previous in sequence: Milton in the News – 1923; next in sequence: Milton in the News – 1925

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References:

Find a Grave. (2013, January 28). John O. Porter. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/104301616/john-o_-porter

NH DOE. (2019). NH School and District Profiles. Retrieved from my.doe.nh.gov/profiles/profile.aspx?oid=&s=&d=&year=&tab=testresults

Wikipedia. (2019, September 24). Ancient Order of United Workmen. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Order_of_United_Workmen

Wikipedia. (2019, September 9). Knights of Labor. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_of_Labor