Long ago I was given a copy of J.R.R. Tolkien’s other book, the Silmarillion. No movie has been made to date – you would have to read it. Early in the story, a Hephaestus-like demi-god Aüle anticipated his creator’s intentions and made his own creatures, the dwarves, without authority. He was rebuked by his creator for having done so.
For thou hast from me as a gift thy own being only, and no more; and therefore the creatures of thy hand and mind can live only by that being, moving when thou thinkest to move them, and if thy thought be elsewhere, standing idle. Is that thy desire?
Last Monday’s meeting of the Milton Board of Selectmen (BOS) had an almost mythological moment in the “Other Items That May Come Before the Board” portion of the meeting.
Before they vanished last July into a month-long series of workshop meetings, the BOS gave “guidance” to the Town department heads to prepare their budgets based upon salary increases of 2% for merit and 1.7% in Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) [!!!].
And then the BOS’ thoughts turned elsewhere. And it would seem that their creatures, the Town department heads, lacking their own volition, then stood idle in the matter of their annual CIP Plan submissions. Sound a bit familiar?
Chairman Thibeault: Another item that has come up is a request from the Planning board for an extension on the CIP process, and I’ll ask Bruce to speak to this.
Town Planner Bruce Woodruff: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, I’m Bruce Woodruff, Town Planner. The Planning Board has requested extra time to present their annual Capital Improvement Program report to you. As you know, the policy document that you approved does state that the report has to come to you in that first week in September. What I wanted to tell you is that the … all of the submission documents from all the various people that propose Capital Improvement projects didn’t get to the Planning Board until just before August 6th of this year, and they were all supposed to be in by … the middle of June.
Selectman Rawson: Hmm.
Town Planner Woodruff: Now, we are catching up a little bit. And, as I said, we were supposed to begin to review all of those compiled project submissions starting on July 2nd. We didn’t get all of these until August 6th, so there’s about a month and four days that we’re behind at this point. And so, really, what the Planning Board is asking is this: they’re asking to change this deadline date for submission from September 5th to October 16th, which coincides with the day after their required Public Hearing on the Capital Improvement Program.
Selectman Rawson: I’m fine with that.
Chairman Thibeault: I’m fine with that. I make a motion to grant the Planning Board an extension for the CIP submission of October 16th.
Selectman Rawson: I’ll second that.
Chairman Thibeault: All in favor?
Entire BOS: Aye.
Chairman Thibeault: Alright. Next up is approval of minutes.
Returning to the BOS “guidance” for 2% merit increases. Would you say these Town department heads turned in a particularly meritorious performance in that matter of their CIP submission deadlines?
And the Town Planner? He appears by his own statement to have pretty much spent a month and four days just tapping his foot, waiting for the Town departmental submissions. Or perhaps he is simply too polite to mention publicly his constant dunning of Town department heads during that period. Or perhaps he warned the BOS in a timely manner that its creatures were standing idle past their deadline?
As we have just seen, none of that constitutes a Town problem. We’ll just put off the deadline. The BOS is unanimously “fine with that.” Think no more about it.
They would feel just the same if you missed your tax payment by a month and four days. Right?
Right, they would have no problem with your being late either. No interest penalties. Because missing a deadline would be the same for you, as it might be for any other creature, say, even a Town department head. You might deserve a merit increase too. Well, in context, for you it would have to be a merit tax cut.
I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by. – Douglas Adams
References:
Tolkien, John R.R. (1977). The Silmarillion. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2001
In this rather full year, we encounter Milton liquor licenses, a Portsmouth warm spell, the Hotel Milton for sale, summer boarders wanted, multiple barbers sought, an ice foreman wanted, a Teneriffe Mountain farm for sale, a new Methodist minister, the passing of a Townsend brother, a visit from a Grand Foreman, a State road foreman wanted, a fish story confirmed, vampers wanted, a Milton Mills city slicker, ice carefully loaded, a blacksmith shop for sale, a goose honks high, bureaucratic obstacles, ice workers injured, and a new Free Baptist minister.
This was also the year in which the Seventeenth Amendment was ratified and the Federal Reserve bank created. (It being neither Federal nor a Reserve).
Even after the liquor law reforms of 1903, retail alcohol sales were still tied to drug stores. (One could wet one’s beak also at a hotel saloon bar). Here a regional sales directory identifies liquor licenses granted to Milton residents.
New Hampshire Licenses [Liquor Licenses]. MILTON, N.H. Emerson, Eugene W., Main St., P.O. Milton Mills, 5th. Willey, James Herbert, Main & Silver Sts., 5th (Denehy, 1913).
J. Herbert Willey Advertisement, 1912
James P. Willey, an odd jobs machinist, aged fifty-eight years (b. NH) headed a Milton household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of thirty-five years), Frances R. [(Davis)] Willey, aged fifty-five years (b. ME), and his son, J. Herbert Willey, a drug store pharmacist, aged thirty-four years (b. NH). Francis R. Willey was the mother of one child, of whom one was still living, i.e., J. Herbert Willey.
James Herbert Willey kept his drug store at 2 Main street in Milton, at the corner of Silver street. (He lived upstairs from the store in 1912 and 1917). As one may see in his 1912 advertisement, his stock included drugs, chemicals, toilet articles, perfume, candy, fine cigars, and graphophones. Not mentioned were postcards: he published some of the old Milton postcards that you may see around. And liquor.
Graphophones were an alternate brand or type of phonograph player, competitive with Edison’s phonograph. One assumes that Willey sold the latest graphophone cylinders or records too. (Al Jolson’s You Made Me Love You topped the charts in September 1913).
Jas. H. Willey replaced Joseph H. Avery as Milton postmaster, July 26, 1913. Postmaster appointments were political plums. Avery, having received his appointment under Theodore Roosevelt, was likely a Republican, while Willey, having received his appointment under Woodrow Wilson, was likely a Democrat. At any rate, Willey was postmaster until March 1922, i.e., until the presidency of Republican Warren G. Harding. (In the Milton section of the Dover directory of 1917: Milton Post Office, J. Herbert Willey, postmaster, 10 Main, near Silver).
Milton Store Interior (Cigars in Glass Case) – 1915
Eugene Willis Emerson was a tonic bottler or bottler in Rochester, NH, through 1902, then a registered druggist there in 1905. A “tonic” was a medicinal concoction. Many of the early soft drinks had pretensions of having at least some tonic qualities. Coca Cola, which had cocaine in it, and “Dr.” Pepper, come to mind. Older New England residents, especially those from the greater Boston area, may still refer to soft drinks as “tonic.”
Eugene W. Emerson was a registered druggist at Milton Mills as early as 1907.
E.W. Emerson Advertisement, 1912
E.W. Emerson kept his drug store in 1912 at 44 Main street, at the corner of Church street, in Milton Mills. (He resided at 4 School street, near the Central House hotel). His advertisement offered much the same stock as J. Herbert Willey, plus stationary. Emerson’s Pharmacy had also a Rexall-brand license or franchise and a telephone connection. And liquor.
(J.H. Willey had become also a Rexall vendor by 1917. The Dollar General chain announced in March 2010 that it would sell Rexall-brand medications in its stores).
HAVING A FINE TIME. New Hampshire Druggists Making Most of Their Stay at New Castle. The members of the New Hampshire Pharmaceutical Association, who are in session at the hotel Wentworth, New Castle, are having a very enjoyable time. This morning nearly one hundred members of the party made a trip to the Isles of Shoals on steamer Juliette and partook of dinner at the Appledore. The day was an ideal one for the seagoing trip and was greatly enjoyed by all who participated. At the business meeting held this morning the following officers were elected; President, Eugene W. Emerson, Milton Mills; vice presidents, P.H. Boire of Manchester, H.S. Parker of Ashland; secretary, Charles G. Dunnington, Manchester; treasurer, Howard Bell, Derry; auditor, John Marshall, Manchester; executive committee, H.E. Rice of Nashua, Charles G. Dunnington of Manchester, C.E. Tilton of Portsmouth. This evening occurs the annual banquet of the. Association and Governor Samuel D. Felker is expected to be the principal speaker (Portsmouth Herald, June 27, 1913).
Hannibal Powers Robbins, a Milton Mills druggist, likely worked at Emerson’s Pharmacy in or around 1910. Fred E. Carswell did so from 1912 through 1917. (See Milton in the News – 1914).
Eugene W. Emerson died in Milton Mills, March 9, 1927. James H. Willey died in Rochester, NH, April 27, 1946.
Warm weather in Portsmouth, NH, obliged its ice dealers to purchase their ice from Milton’s Ice Industry.
ICE SITUATION GETTING SERIOUS. Local Dealers Have to Purchase Supply from Elsewhere. Local ice dealers do not like the weather they have had so far this winter, as it is bad for their business. A prominent ice dealer states that the outlook for ice in this city at the present time is decidedly poor. All of the dealers exhausted their supply some time ago and have been obliged to purchase ice from Milton, N.H., parties. Usually by this time of year the local dealers have a portion of their ice crop harvested. They are however hoping for colder weather so that the usual supply of ice can be harvested for the market (Portsmouth Herald, January 8, 1913).
The intrepid John O. Porter was happy to oblige any and all takers.
FOR SALE. THIS YEAR’S CROP OF ICE LOADED ON CARS AT TRI-ECHO LAKE, MILTON, N.H. Address JOHN O. PORTER, Milton, N.H, or Marblehead, Mass. (Boston Globe, January 22, 1913).
BUSINESS CHANCES. HOTEL FOR SALE. 35 ROOMS with all modern improvements, livery connected, doing a paying business; good reasons for selling. Apply to CHAS. A. JEFFERIES, Hotel Milton, Milton, N.H. (Boston Globe, May 25, 1913).
Milton Mills’ Grand Oak Farm pitched to what rusticators wanted: an elevated ridgeline situation, good farm food, mountain views, and fishing.
SUMMER RESORTS. New Hampshire. SUMMER BOARDERS WANTED at Grand Oak Farm, Milton Mills, N.H., Fox Ridge; fresh eggs, milk, vegetables, berries, plenty to eat, good fishing, nice view of mountains – terms $7 per week. Address MRS. W.J. STARR, Milton Mills, N.H. (Boston Globe, June 8, 1913).
Immigrant Arthur Marchand advertised for barbers to help him in his barber shop. Milton and Milton Mills had each several barber shops and, evidently, rather brisk competition for first-class barbers for the local haircutting and shaving market.
Arthur Marchand was born in Thetford Mines, Quebec, Canada, February 25, 1873, son of Lazare and Celinire (Roy) Marchand.
Arthur Marchand would declare in his naturalization papers (dated September 1900), that he had arrived at Milton Mills, NH, in March 1886, and was then aged thirteen years. Edwin L. Leighton and James G. O’Laughlin, both of Milton, vouched for him. There may have been some back-and-forth for a time, as he was enumerated at St. Antoine de Tilly, Quebec, Canada, in 1891.
Arthur Marchand and Phelanise Vallee
He married in Milton, NH, November 26, 1893, Phelanise “Fanny” Vallee. She was born in Canada, March 29, 1875, daughter of Michel and Emma (Grenier) Vallee.
For some reason, Marchand appeared in two census enumerations, and in his own newspaper advertisements, under the more anglicized name “Marshall.” (Directories have “Marchand see Marshall”).
Arthur Marshall, a leatherboard mill operative, aged twenty-six years (b. Canada (Fr.)), headed a Milton (“Milton Village”) household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of seven years), Fannie Marshall, aged twenty-five years (b. Canada (Fr.)), and his children, Ora Marshall, aged five years, Oscar Marshall, aged four years, Alphonse Marshall, aged two years, Flora Marshall, aged one year, and Edgar Marshall, aged seven months. He owned their home, but with a mortgage. Arthur Marshal had immigrated to the U.S. in 1887; his wife had immigrated in 1879. Fannie Marshal was the mother of five children, of whom five were still living.
Marchand/Marshall began work in Milton’s mills, including probably the Milton Leather Board Company’s mill, but he setup a barbershop on his “own account” sometime between 1905 and 1909. In the Milton section of the Dover directory of 1909, he was “Marshall, Arthur, barber, Main, off Leb. bridge, cor. Toppan.” (Close to the Milton Hotel, which was at “Toppan, cor. Charles”).
Arthur Marshal, a barber (own shop), aged thirty-seven years (b. Canada (Eng.)), headed a Milton (“Milton 3-Ponds”) household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of sixteen years), Fannie Marshal, aged thirty-five years (b. Canada (Eng.)), and his children, Ora Marshal, a shoe shop folder, aged fifteen years (b. NH), Oscar Marshal, aged fourteen years (b. NH), Alphonse Marshal, aged twelve years (b. NH), Florence Marshal, aged eleven years (b. NH), Edgar Marshal, aged ten years (b. NH), Goodyear Marshal, aged eight years (b. NH), Ernest Marshal, aged six years (b. NH), Gladys Marshal, aged four years (b. NH), Alice Marshal, aged two years (b. NH), and Doris Marshall, aged nine months (b. NH). The census enumerator recorded their household between those of Charles A. Jeffrey, a hotel landlord [Milton Hotel], aged thirty-seven years (b. Canada (Eng.)), and Anna M. Brock, a boarding-house keeper, aged thirty-nine years (b. NH). Arthur Marshal was a naturalized citizen, who had immigrated to the U.S. in 1883; his wife had immigrated in 1889. Fannie Marshal was the mother of ten children, of whom ten were still living. (There would be an eleventh).
Marchand/Marshall Barber Shop, “Main, off Leb. bridge, cor. Toppan”
Arthur Marshal advertised widely for barbers – plural – in July 1913. A photograph of the interior of his shop shows at least three barber chairs.
MALE HELP WANTED. BARBERS wanted at once, $13 per week. Address ARTHUR MARSHAL, Milton, N.H. 2t jy16 (Boston Globe, July 16, 1913).
He, or possibly one of his competitors, sought still for at least one more barber six weeks later. There were such competitors: Charles L. Burke, barber and pool room, Main at Cocheco dam, house do.; Fred S. Hartford, barber, pool room and deputy sheriff, Main, near Leb. bridge, bds. Dora M. Downs, 58 Main, in 1912 (Lewis S. Nute was a barber in Hartford’s shop). There were other barbers at Milton Mills.
MALE HELP WANTED. BARBER WANTED, first-class workman, steady, good pay. Box 52, Milton, N.H. dSU4t au30 (Boston Globe, August 30, 1913).
Marshall had earlier offered $13 per week, presumably for a six-day week. In Boston, barbers working the busy Saturday shift only were being offered between $4.50 and $5.00 for that one day’s work. Perhaps he thought a half-day off might sweeten the deal?
MALE HELP WANTED. BARBER WANTED – Steady job, ½ day off; $13 per week, sober man only need apply. ARTHUR MARSHALL, Milton, N.H. (Boston Globe, November 27, 1913).
Arthur Marshall, barber, removed to Rochester, N.H., in 1916. There he reverted to being Arthur Marchand, hairdresser, 17 So. Main Street [Rochester], in 1917.
Arthur Marchand died in Rochester, NH, January 22, 1928. Phelanise (Vallee) Marchand died in Rochester, December 22, 1934.
The J.R. Downing Ice company, whose founder had died in 1911, sought a local foreman to manage its Milton ice plant. The candidate in whom they were interested would be a man of understanding.
MALE HELP WANTED. WANTED – Foreman for ice plant located at Milton, N.H.; one who understands loading ice into cars from the house, and general work around the plant; steady work for right man. Apply J.R. DOWNING CO, 128 Kenrick st., Brighton, Mass. dSu4t Jy17 (Boston Globe, July 17, 1913).
Frank Tasker was superintendent of the Downing Ice Co. in 1917. He boarded at 22 So. Main. His wife, Florence L. Tasker, had a summer residence with Mrs. A.R. Lyman on So. Main. (One may infer perhaps that she kept their house elsewhere and joined him in the summers).
A fair-sized farm on Mount Teneriffe went on the market.
THE REAL ESTATE MARKET. FOR SALE – On Teneriffe Mt., in Milton, N.H., 90 acres land and farm buildings, view from 10 to 60 miles in all directions: Middleton, Ossipee and White Mts.; grand place for Summer home for people of means, or industrial school for boys, etc. For particulars address Box 54, Union, N.H. (Boston Globe, July 20, 1913).
Rev. Scott Foster Cooley came to Milton in late 1912 or early 1913. The few newspaper accounts of he and his new wife during his tenure seem largely to do with their visits away.
His wife, Mrs. Amelia A. “Amy” Cooley, visited her father, Henry Allen of Ferrisburg, VT, in May 1913.
FERRISBURG. Mrs. Scott Cooley of Milton is visiting her father, Henry Allen (Orwell Citizen (Vergennes, VT), May 15, 1913).
Rev. and Mrs. Scott Cooley of Milton visited his mother, Mrs. Julia Cooley of Peacham, VT, in July 1913.
PEACHAM. Rev. and Mrs. Scott Cooley of Milton, N.H., are visiting Mrs. Julia Cooley (St. Johnsbury Republican, July 23, 1913).
Rev. Scott F. Cooley, a YMCA employee, resided in Vergennes, VT, when he registered for the WW I military draft, September 10, 1918. (He was tall, with a medium build, dark eyes and dark hair). He was pastor of the Methodist Episcopal churches of both Vergennes and Ferrisburg, VT, in May 1922 (Burlington Free Presse, May 29, 1922).
Rev. Scot F. Cooley died in Hinesburg, VT, January 28, 1942. Amelia A. (Allen) Cooley died in Burlington, VT, October 31, 1972.
Here we bid farewell to Frank Albert Townsend. He was born in Milton Mills, July 5, 1855, son of woolen manufacturer John Townsend. As such, he had been also a brother of woolen manufacturer Henry H. Townsend, and uncle to Henry’s son, woolen manufacturer John E. Townsend.
He resided in Needham, MA, in 1900, where the census enumerator recorded his occupation as “capitalist.” That is to say, in the parlance of the day, he was a man who understood finance, business, investing, and entrepreneurship.
He died in Brookline, MA, July 29, 1913, aged fifty-eight years and twenty-four days.
BROOKLINE. The funeral of Frank Albert Townsend will be held tomorrow. Mr. Townsend was 58 years old and was born at Milton Mills. N.H. He was a retired business man (Boston Globe, July 31, 1913).
A Grand Foreman (GF) of the Ancient Order of United Workmen (AOUW) made a presumably grand entrance at Milton’s Strafford Lodge. (Milton’s AOUW Hall was at 25 Main, near the Lebanon bridge).
NEWS OF INTEREST TO THE MYSTIC ORDERS. Ancient Order United Workmen. Thomas H. Jameson, GMW, will visit Watch City Lodge of Waltham Wednesday evening. Frank W. Waite, GF, will visit Strafford Lodge of Milton, N.H., Wednesday evening. Rochester, N.H. Lodge will receive a visit from Frank W. Waite, GF, Thursday evening (Boston Globe, August 3, 1913).
The Ancient Order of United Workmen was not just a social club. It had its origin as a “fraternal benefit society,” in fact, it was the first to employ what would become a common feature of such social organizations. Each member contributed a dollar to a fund, which would be paid out for any member’s illness or death. At which point, the members would pay in an additional dollar to replenish the fund. (Not unlike non-ACA faith-based insurance arrangements today).
Robert E. Nolan, a contractor’s superintendent, aged thirty-seven years, married in Sanbornville, NH, July 17, 1911, Mildred A. Bragdon, a housekeeper, aged thirty-one years, both resident in Milton, NH. He was born in Middleboro, MA, June 17, 1874, son of William and Ella (Flynn) Nolan. She was born in Milton, November 28, 1878, daughter of Stephen M. and Lydia E. (Downs) Bragdon.
MALE HELP WANTED. WANTED – Foreman for constructing State road, must understand all details of macadam. Apply by mail to ROBERT E. NOLAN, BOX 28, Milton, N.H. 2t au5 (Boston Globe, August 5, 1913).
All of this suggests that Nolan was improving and paving the Milton stretch of the newly-designated White Mountain Highway, between 1910 and 1913.
Robert Ernest Nolan, of 16 Webster Street, Middleboro, MA, aged forty-four years, registered for the WW I military draft in Middleboro, September 12, 1918. He was then employed as a shoemaker by the George Keith Shoe Company, Perkins Avenue, Brockton, MA. His nearest relative was Mildred L. Nolan, of 16 Webster Street, Middleboro. He was short in height, and stout of build, with blue eyes and brown hair.
Lt. Bruce McConnell of the Boston Police Department told some fish stories, but had the fish to back up his tales.
AROUND THE TOWN. Lieut. Bruce McConnell of Station 4 is an amateur fisherman who proves his statements by producing the goods. Recently he returned from his bungalow at Milton, N.H., with the results of his fishing trip, including a quantity of two-pound white perch, pickerel and black bass (Boston Globe, August 8, 1913).
Vampers wanted at the Milton Shoe Company.
MALE HELP WANTED. WANTED – Cylinder vampers on women’s, misses’ and children’s work. Good pay. Steady work. Conditions good. Apply to MILTON SHOE COMPANY, Milton, N.H. dSu4t au21 (Boston Globe, August 24, 1913).
On one occasion at least, the usual Boston script was flipped: a Milton Mills man was among the Boston city slickers stealing women’s pocketbooks.
Policeman Edward C. Fitzgerald of Station 5 arrested John Herbert, aged 35, who claimed to live in South Framingham, and Daniel Hendricks, of Milton Mills, N.H., charging them with the larceny of two pocket books from Annie Connolly of 287 Shawmut av., and Bertha Toner of 484 Tremont st. There was a small amount of money in each pocket book. One of the pocket books was found on Herbert, when arrested, but he swore it belonged to him. The husband of the Connolly woman identified the pocket book as one he bought and gave to his wife. At the station house a key of the front door of the house where the Connolly woman lives was found on Herbert. Hendricks made a complete denial of having stolen any pocketbooks last night, or ever before. He met Herbert last night for the first time. Judge Wentworth found them both guilty, Herbert on two counts and Hendricks on one. He sentenced Herbert to six months and Hendricks to three months in the House of Correction (Boston Globe, August 27, 1913).
Ice, ice, ice, carefully loaded on your railroad car by John O. Porter’s men.
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES. ICE. ICE. ICE. For Sale – Do you know that we have excellent ice in carload lots carefully loaded at Milton, N.H. Write for prices and rates. John O. Porter, Marblehead. Mass. (Hartford Courant, August 30, 1913).
In 1912, Milton had as blacksmith Ira W. Duntley, who had a blacksmith and horseshoeing shop on Main street, opposite the Town Clerk’s office (house 3 South Main street, at the corner of Silver street). His advertisement described his shop’s location alternately as Main Street, at the Dam.
Ira W. Duntley Advertisement – 1912
Ira W. Duntley had been a Milton blacksmith (in his father’s blacksmith shop) since at least 1860. He was seventy years of age in 1913. His wife was ill and would die in Milton, January 1, 1914. His heirs were two daughters. He had good reasons, as the old advertisers were wont to say, to sell his Milton blacksmith shop and tools.
BUSINESS CHANCES. HORSESHOEING and blacksmith shop for sale; good tools, power drill, band saw and planer, run by gas engine; all work one can do; practically no competition. Address Box 240, Milton, N.H. SSu (Boston Globe, September 27, 1913).
But it was no sale. Ira W. Duntley, blacksmith, died in Milton, March 20, 1916, aged seventy-four years, still possessed of his blacksmith shop.
BUSINESS CHANCES. BLACKSMITH SHOP for sale or to let in Milton, N.H., formerly owned by I.W. DUNTLEY, only shop in town, estab. 75 years. R.A. McINTOSH, Melton [SIC], N.H. dSu3t je24 (Boston Globe, June 24, 1916).
Robert A. McIntosh was daughter Addie C. (Duntley) McIntosh’s husband. (He sold Gents’ Furnishings at 28 Main street). Elijah P. Oakes was operating a blacksmith shop on Lake Side road, Lebanon side, near the bridge, Milton, in 1917.
The Boston Globe published sheet music in its regular Sunday edition. Associated with those publications was a column soliciting requests, as well as general queries regarding songs and poems. On this occasion, an editor replied to an anonymous query from Milton, NH, asking for source information about a common weather saying.
SONGS AND POEMS WANTED – Daily Globes containing the following songs and poems will be mailed to you on receipt of 8 cents in stamps or money; Sunday Globes for 9 cents in stamps or money. Both Daily and Sunday Globes of following dates may be purchased at Globe Counting Room.
Milton, N.H. – It is not known where the saying. “For everything is lovely and the goose honks high,” written “For everything is lovely and the goose hangs high,” originated. Editor (Boston Globe, October 5, 1913).
The editor was right about the saying’s obscure origins. Many supposers place it in the category of weather doggerel, such as a red sky at night predicting the following day as a sailor’s delight. It is supposed that high-flying honking geese are a fair weather sign, as it is supposed that they fly lower in poor weather.
As Shakespeare had it in his Midsummer Night’s Dream: “The course of true love never did run smooth.” Two local lovers encountered bureaucratic obstacles on their way to the altar.
Carl Edwin Pinkham was born in Milton, August 22, 1886, son of James D. and Sarah A. (McGonigle) Pinkham.
James D. Pinkham, a news dealer, aged forty-three years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton 3-Ponds”) household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty-three years), Sarah Pinkham, aged forty-five years (b. Ireland (Eng.)), and his child, Carl Pinkham, a merchant, aged twenty-nine years (b. NH). Sarah Pinkham was the mother of two children, of whom two were still living.
In 1912, James D. Pinkham, news dealer, Main, had his house at 6 Silver street in Milton. Carl E. Pinkham, groceries, P.O. Building, board with him at 6 Silver street. Another brother, Harold B. Pinkham, was a student at Dartmouth College, with a home address at 6 Silver street.
Maud Malpas Carter was born in Wilmington, MA, daughter of Fred M. and Barbara E. (Cole) Carter.
Fred M. Carter, an ice company superintendent, aged fifty-three years (b. MA), headed a Lebanon, ME, at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of thirty-two years), Barbara E. Carter, aged fifty-three years (b. England), and his children, Maud M. Carter, aged twenty-five years (b. MA), Philip N. Carter, aged sixteen years (b. MA), Maxwell B. Carter, aged fourteen years (b. MA), and Dorothea Carter, aged eleven years (b. MA).
In 1912, Fred M. Carter was “supt. U.I. Co, ice houses, h. near do., Leb. side.” That is to say, he was the superintendent of the Union Ice Co.’s ice houses, which were situated on Milton’s Lebanon side, i.e., across the Lebanon Bridge. His daughter, Maud M. Carter was a sub telephone opr, 30 Main, bds. Leb. side, i.e., she lived still at her father’s house.
So, Carl E. Perkins kept a grocery store on Main street, near the Milton Post Office, and lived nearby on Silver street. Maud M. Carter worked at the Milton telephone exchange, at 30 Main street, and lived across the Lebanon bridge. She probably shopped at his grocery store. He likely spoke with her when he made phone calls. As Zelda Gilroy would have had it, they had propinquity working for them.
HONEYMOON ALL PLANNED. But Carl Pinkham of Milton, N H, and Maud Carter of Maine Had Trying Time With Five-Day Law. Carl E. Pinkham’s experience in trying to be married Saturday night to Maud M. Carter became known at the Courthouse yesterday. He came from Milton, N.H., she from Lebanon. Me. They filed their marriage intention in the office of the Town Clerk at Milton, N.H. and thought that sufficed for them to be married in Boston. They came here Saturday afternoon with the purpose of being married by Rev. Herbert S. Johnson but they struck a snag in the law requiring them to live here five days before they could be married. Their honeymoon was all planned. It was suggested that a judge of the Probate Court might permit a waiver of the statutory provision relating to five days. They saw Edward McGlenen, city registrar, but he could not help them save by way of suggestion as to what they could do. They went to the home of Judge Grant of the Probate Court in the Back Bay. He told them that if Arthur W. Dolan, register of probate, could be found and they filed a petition asking for a waiver of the five-day period in a legal manner, he would issue a decree thereon. They then went in search of Mr. Dolan and found him at his home in Charlestown. In the pouring rain he came to the Courthouse at 8:30. accepted the petition which was made out in his office, and then the couple went back to Judge Grant, who issued the necessary decree. They then went to a minister and were married (Boston Globe, October 28, 1913).
Carl Edwin Pinkham, a merchant, aged twenty-seven years, married in Boston, MA, October 25, 1913, Maud Malpas Carter, aged thirty-two years, he of Milton and she of Lebanon, ME. The official Milton record has their ages reversed (as does the official Boston record). It also states that they filed their marriage intentions on October 18; that would have been in Milton, as stated in the newspaper article. Rev. Herbert S. Johnson of (69 Bay State Road) Boston performed the ceremony. Milton Town Clerk Harry L. Avery recorded the marriage on October 28, 1913. The marriage was recorded also in Maine.
Carl E. Pinkham, a wholesale grocer, aged thirty years (b. Milton, NH) registered for the WW I military draft in Laconia, NH, June 5, 1917. He resided at 65 Lincoln street, in Laconia, NH. He was tall, with a slender build; and had blue eyes and brown hair (slightly balding). He was married. He claimed an exemption due to his occupation.
The North Shore Ice Delivery Company of Lynn, MA, received its Massachusetts incorporation in March 1912.
Massachusetts Corporations. Charters were issued last week to the following new Massachusetts corporations: The North Shore Ice Delivery Company, Lynn, $285,000; George H. Stackpole, Mial W. Chase, Charles E. Chase. William O. Swan. William G. Codman, John D. Urquhart, Julian Swan. Henry K. Fleming, Howard C. Fleming, Wilbur A. Coolidge. Frank J. Gould (Boston Globe, April 7, 1912).
Massachusetts Progressive Republican Attorney General James M. Swift of Fall River, MA, initiated a lawsuit against the newly incorporated New England Ice Delivery Company. (Lizzie Borden was his next-door neighbor). The New England Ice Delivery Company was created primarily as a retail delivery service. The attorney general accused their parent firms of “combining,” i.e. conspiring, to sell their ice to their commonly-owned delivery company at fixed prices.
MOVE AGAINST LYNN ICEMEN. Atty. Gen. Swift Asks for Injunction. Dissolution of Combination Sought in His Bill. Engages Special Counsel to Act in the Case. The Attorney General has filed a bill in equity against, certain ice companies of Lynn as a test case of the value of the law regarding restraints of trades and combinations. The following statement in relation to the case has been made by Atty. Gen. Swift: “After careful consideration and investigation of the facts concerning the ice situation In certain localities where some evidence appeared of agreements or combinations, particularly in Boston and its suburbs, Cambridge, Somerville, Maiden, Worcester, Springfield, New Bedford, Fall River, Lawrence, Quincy, Melrose and Lynn, I have concluded that the Lynn situation offers the best opportunity to test the value of the law of this Commonwealth in regard to restraints of trade and combination. “I therefore filed today a bill in equity against the North Shore Ice Delivery Company, Lynn Ice Company, Coolidge Ice Company, Independent Ice Company, Z.J. Chase Ice Company, Glenmere Ice Company and the Brown Pond Ice Company, and the officers and members of these various concerns, doing business in the city of Lynn, asking for the dissolution of the combination and of the North Shore Ice Delivery Company as a corporation, and an injunction against their carrying out a contract entered into among them, and for other necessary relief to restore the ice business in Lynn to a lawful basis. “The pressure of other work in the department has made it necessary to have additional counsel so that this case may be pushed to a conclusion as rapidly as possible. I have engaged Lee M. Friedman of Boston, who has made a special study of this branch of the law, to act as special counsel in the prosecution of the case.” The complaint charges that on or about April 1, 1913. an agreement was entered into between the companies mentioned above to create a monopoly in the ice business in and around Lynn. The contract between the companies provides that all of the ice produced by them shall be sold to the North Shore Ice Delivery Company for $1 per ton. The defendants in the case are Mial W. Chase, Charles E. Chase, George N. Chase, Edward E. Chase, Julian L. Swan. Henry E. Fleming. Howard C. Fleming of Lynn, John D. Urquhart. William G. Codman of Peabody. George H. Stackpole, William O. Swan, Wilbur A. Coolidge. Frank G. Gould, Hiram Miller, Dennis F. Reardon, Albert Wyer of Lynn (Boston Globe, September 13, 1913).
Superior Court Judge Jenney threw out the Attorney General’s case in September 1914 (Boston Globe, September 12, 1914).
Meanwhile, two of the North Shore Ice Delivery Company’s Lynn ice workers were seriously injured while working at its Milton ice house.
LYNN MEN BADLY HURT. Failing Machinery Broke Staging on Which They Were Working at Milton, N.H., Icehouse. LYNN, Dec. 5 – As the result of an accident which occurred at a Milton, N.H., icehouse this forenoon, Henry Dwyer of 519 Chestnut st. and Payson Carter of 90 Timson st. were brought to their homes in this city this afternoon, suffering from serious injuries. Dwyer had a fractured arm, a dislocated shoulder, and complained of injuries to his head. Carter’s injuries consisted of three fractured ribs, a dislocated wrist. and bad cuts on his head. After they were taken to their homes they were attended by physicians. The men were at work 28 feet above ground, making repairs to the outside of an icehouse owned by the North Shore Ice Delivery Company. According to their statements to the police, a big wheel, used in harvesting ice, fell from the top of the run, struck the staging upon which they were at work and caused them to fall to the ground, where the wheel and parts of the staging fell upon them. The injured men were given temporary treatment by a Milton physician and were placed aboard a Lynn-bound train. No word of their coming was received by the police, and the first intimation that was received of the accident was when a call for an ambulance was received from the Boston & Maine station (Boston Globe, December 5, 1913).
Henry Dwyer, an ice man, resided at 189 Eutaw avenue, in the Lynn directory of 1913, and at 519 Chestnut, in that of 1914. Payson Carter, a driver, boarded with his parents and four sisters at 90 Timson street, in the Lynn directory of 1914.
MALE HELP WANTED. Ice Drivers Wanted. THREE drivers who can furnish best of references, Union Company, bring letters of recommendation if possible. Apply at the main office, 333 Union st., Lynn, Mass, NORTH SHORE ICE DELIVERY CO. dSu3t my27 (Boston Globe, May 29, 1916).
Payson E. Carter followed his father in becoming a machinist at the Lynn River Works plant of the General Electric in 1916. He reported no disabilities when he registered for the WW I military draft on 1917.
Rev. George Barnet Southwick of Madison, ME, accepted a Free Baptist pastorate in Milton Mills, NH, effective January 1, 1914.
Skowhegan, Me., Pastor Leaving. SKOWHEGAN, Me. Dec. 23 — Rev. George B. Southwick has resigned his pastorate of the Madison Free Baptist Church, to take effect Jan. 1, having accepted a pastorate in Milton, N.H. He has been pastor of the Madison Church for about three years, and under his leadership the church edifice has been extensively remodeled and cleared from debt. Mr. Southwick came to Madison from Dale, N.Y. He was a member of the class of 1890 of Cobb Divinity School of Bates College (Boston Globe, December 24, 1913).
Rev. George B. Southwick, pastor of the Milton Mills Free Baptist Church, resided at 27 Lebanon street, Acton Side, Milton Mills, in 1917.
Rev. George B. Southwick, a Baptist church clergyman, aged fifty-six years (b. NY), headed an Epsom, NH, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Flora W. Southwick, aged forty-eight years (b. NY), and his child, Ruth A. Southwick, aged fourteen years (b. NH).
In this year, we encounter local ministers discussing socialism, leather repairers wanted, some useful horses, a mill fire, the smell of gas, some queries, summer boarders wanted, a drowning death, and some innovative concrete beaters.
Rev. Dr. Earle B. Cross of Dover’s Central Ave. Baptist Church gave a lecture at a Ministers’ Association meeting held in Rochester, NH. Two ministers from Milton attended.
Ministers Meet at Rochester, N.H. ROCHESTER, N.H., Jan 23. The Ministers’ Association of Dover and vicinity held a session yesterday to the Methodist Church. The speaker was Rev E.B. Cross of Dover, subject “Socialism,” which was discussed generally. Those in attendance were Revs. Clarence Pike of Milton, Lewis Dexter of Wolfboro, J.W. Williams of Milton Mills, E.W. Ricker of Alton, J.R. Dinsmore of East Rochester, A.M. Parker of Somersworth, Isaiah Pinkham of West Lebanon, Me., D.G. Vogt and E.B. Cross of Dover, E.W. Cummings of Gonic and C.H. Percival, S.D. Church, W.A. Paige, F.H. Leavitt and William Warren of Rochester (Boston Globe, January 23, 1912).
Rev. Clarence E. Pike came to Milton from Ashland, MA, as Congregational minister in 1911, and he remained into 1915.
Clarence E. Pike, a Congregational church minister, aged fifty-two years (b. ME), headed an Ashland, MA, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty-three years), Caroline E. [(Thompson)] Pike, aged fifty-two years (b. NH), and his daughter, Florence C. Pike, aged nineteen years (b. MA). They were enumerated on a supplemental sheet and their household bore the notation “not in the directory.” This presumably meant the Ashland directory, which was evidently used as an aid for the enumerator.
Rev. James Wilmarth Williams (Photo: R. Wilmot)
Rev. James W. Williams was pastor of the Free Baptist Church in Gray, ME, in 1907.
James W. Williams, a clergyman, aged fifty-five years (b. RI), headed an Acton, ME, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of nine years), Rachel E. [(Siddall)] Williams, aged forty-nine years (b. RI), his step-children, Ruth S. Richards, aged seventeen years (b. RI), and Mervyn E. Richards aged fifteen years (b. RI); his children, Phebe U. Williams, aged seven years (b. PA), Paul A. Williams, aged six years (b. PA), and Philip W. Williams, aged five years (b. ME).
Rev. James W. Williams was pastor of the Free Baptist Church in Milton Mills in 1912. He resided in 1912 at 27 Lebanon road, Acton side, Milton Mills. He had removed to Jackson, NH, by 1914.
MINISTER AND SON KILLED. Train Strikes Sleigh In Which They Are Riding During Snowstorm. North Conway, N.H., Jan. 6. Rev. J.W. Williams, 57, pastor of the Free Baptist church at Plymouth, was instantly killed and his son, Carl [Philip], 11, died two hours later of a fractured skull received when the sleigh in which they were driving was hit on a grade crossing by a passenger train. The horse was killed, and the sleigh demolished. There was a driving snowstorm, but the signalman who saw them coming waved his white flag and shouted, but without avail. Williams was a native of Providence, and a lineal descendant of Roger Williams (Fitchburg Sentinel, January 6, 1917).
The Milton Shoe Company sought patent and Russia leather repairers. Russia leather had an extra tanning step in which birch oil was rubbed into its reverse side.
MALE HELP WANTED. WANTED – Patent leather and Russia leather repairers; to experienced help steady work and good wages are guaranteed; living expenses moderate. Apply to MILTON SHOE COMPANY, Milton, N.H. ssu (Boston Globe, February 3, 1912).
The Milton Shoe Company claimed that Milton’s cost of living was moderate.
Ten horses used in Milton’s ice industry went on the auction block in Boston, MA, on Wednesday, March 20, at 3 PM.
McKinney Bros. & Co., Brighton Sale Stables, 217 Friend St. Regular Auction Sale Wed., Mar. 20, 1912. 26 HEAD of country horses shipped by George McKinney, Wabash, Ind., who informs us that this is a mixed lot of No. 1 horses: heavy draft, fire dept., express, milk wagon and farm chunks in matched pairs and single horses weighing from 1100 to 1800 lbs. each; all well broken and ready for all kinds of work; we have the weight and quality that we advertise to show to our customers when they call at 217 Friend st. WEDNESDAY, 3 P.M. We shall sell 10 head of horses consigned by the Union Ice Co., 17½ T wharf, Boston, that have been used the past winter at the company ice plant at Milton, N.H.; all good, young, useful horses right out of hard work. AFTER THE ABOVE, we shall sell a lot of second-hand horses consigned by various firms and private parties that will be described at sale. D.L. McKinney, L.L. HALL, Auctioneers (Boston Globe, March 17, 1912).
The Milton Leather-Board Company mill burnt again on Wednesday, March 20. It had burnt previously ten years earlier.
Its proprietor, Seth Franklin Dawson, Jr., was born in Lawrence, MA, June 17, 1879, son of Seth F. and Lizzie A. (Cottle) Dawson. He married (1st) in Lawrence, MA, March 24, 1909, Edith Willard Ackerman, he of Lawrence and she of Warsaw, NY. He was a manufacturer and she a teacher.
Seth F. Dawson, Jr., a leatherboard manufacturer, aged forty years (b. MA), headed a Milton (“Milton 3-Ponds”) household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of one year), Edith W. Dawson, aged twenty-three years (b. NY), his daughter, Seth B. Dawson, aged three months (b. NH), and his mother-in-law, Eugenia [(Van Wormer)] Ackerman, aged fifty-eight years (b. NY). The census enumerator recorded their household in a rented house situated between those of Charles Bodwell, aged fifty-three years (b. ME), and Emma E. Looney, a widow, aged fifty-six years (b. NH). (Bodwell was formerly proprietor of the Milton Hotel).
Milton Leather-Board Advertisement, 1912
Milton Leather Board Company Mill Burned. MILTON, N.H., March 23, 1912. – Fire early last Wednesday destroyed the big mill of the Milton Leather Board Company, and caused a loss that will reach $100,000. Fifty employees of the company were thrown out of work by the fire. Starting from a cause not yet determined, the blaze spread with great rapidity, and soon the whole mill was enveloped. The fire brigade of the mill assisted the Milton fire department in fighting the flames, but the building was doomed from almost the start of the fire. When the fire was discovered there were six persons working in the mill, who escaped and gave an alarm. The fire was discovered by workmen on the third floor, near a large fan, and is supposed to have been caused by a hot box connected therewith. The building was 200×90 feet, three stories high, built of wood. It was owned by S.F. Dawson & Son. Mr. Dawson is president of the Leather Board Company. There is no fire company in town, and it is thought that the property would have been saved with proper apparatus. The company lost its plant on the same site in 1902, and is undecided in regard to rebuilding. It has many large orders on hand (Lockwood, 1912).
As before, construction of a new mill on the same site began very soon after the fire. (See October below).
Found Overcome by Gas. HAVERHILL, April 14 – P.F. Fall of Milton Mills, N.H., was found overcome by gas in a room at a hotel on Essex st. this afternoon. He was removed to the Hale Hospital, where tonight he was pronounced out of danger. Fall registered at the hotel last evening, and this afternoon the odor of escaping gas was traced to Fall’s room (Boston Globe, April 17, 1912).
J.W. Morse of Milton queried a Boston Globe column regarding the six largest states. (Alaska, purchased from Russia in 1867, was then a territory, but not a state).
WHAT PEOPLE TALK ABOUT. Anonymous communications will receive no attention, nor will any notice be paid those of undue length. Denominational or sectarian questions will not be acceptable.
Six Largest States. Editor People’s Column. Will you kindly print in your column the names and area of the six largest states in the Union? Milton, N.H., J.W. Morse.
In the same column, a Boston correspondent asked a question concerning the loss of R.M.S. Titanic, which had sunk in the early hours of April 15, 1912.
The R.M.S. Titanic’s Iceberg (Photo by Chief Steward of the Prinz Adalbert)
Icebergs as Life Rafts. Editor People’ Column. When the officers of the Titanic could not launch all their lifeboats, why could not the icebergs be made to serve the purpose of life rafts? Capt. Johansen of Arctic fame is said to have saved himself and some of his crew on detached and floating ice floes. Lorenzo White. Boston (Boston Globe, May 2, 1912).
After striking the iceberg, R.M.S. Titanic moved on past it for quite some distance, miles even. To transfer the passengers would have involved using the lifeboats as shuttles between the Titanic and the iceberg-life raft. The Titanic sank in just 2 hours, 40 minutes after striking the iceberg. There would not have been enough lifeboats or time to row a round-trip convoy to the iceberg and then reload the remaining passengers on the returned lifeboats.
Mrs. N.H. [Louise] Thompson advertised for some summer rusticators. She even prepared advertising circulars.
Nathaniel H. Thompson, an odd-jobs farmer, aged forty-eight years (b. MA), headed a Milton household at the time of the Thirteen (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of six years), Louise Thompson, aged thirty-six years (b. MA). Each had been married before.
SUMMER RESORTS. New Hampshire. MEADOW BROOK FARM, In Milton, N.H. – Boarders wanted; send for circulars for particulars. MRS. N.H. THOMPSON, Milton, N.H. (Boston Globe, June 16, 1912).
N. Howard Thompson kept a summer boarding house on Silver street, at Cross road, 2 miles out, in 1912.
Herbert W. Dore was born in East Wakefield, NH, February 8, 1860, son of Hanson L. and Mary (Morrison) Dore. He married in Farmington, NH, October 10, 1884, Flora E. Burnham.
Herbert W. Dorr, a shoe factory tree-r, aged fifty years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton 3-Ponds”) household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty-seven years), Flora [(Burnham)] Dorr, aged forty-seven years (b. NH), his daughter, Essie O. Dorr, aged eighteen years (b. NH), and his granddaughter, Lillian R. Dorr, aged eight years (b. NH). Flora Dorr was the mother of six children, of whom three were still living. They resided in a rented house, and their household was enumerated on the same page as James H. Rines, a town policeman (see Milton’s Men of Muscle in 1900), aged fifty-three years (b. NH) and Ira W. Duntley, a general shop blacksmith, aged sixty-eight years (b. NH) (see Milton Businesses in 1905-06).
H.M. DORE DROWNED. Boys Drifting in Boat at Milton, N H, Caused Him to Swim – Cramps Fatal. MILTON. N.H., June 28 – Herbert M. Dore, aged 45, was drowned in Milton Three Ponds this noon. With two boys visiting him he was fishing off shore and the youngsters were in a boat that drifted from its moorings some distance before Mr. Dore discovered it. Mr. Dore removed his clothing and started to swim to the boat, but was seized with cramps and sank before aid could reach him. The body was recovered. He was married and is survived by a wife and three children (Boston Globe, June 29, 1912).
The Milton Leather-Board Company had already built new reinforced concrete buildings seven months after its fire. (See March above). The new building had also the first-ever reinforced concrete beater tubs.
The First Concrete Beater Tubs in the World. It appears that the reinforced concrete beater tubs which are being built by the Aberthaw Construction Company, of Boston, in the new reinforced concrete buildings of the Milton Leatherboard Company, Milton, N.H., are the first beater tubs to be made of the modern structural material. Generally, beater tubs have been made of wood and lined properly. The proposed beater tubs are four in number, and have overall dimensions 26 feet 8 inches long by 13 feet 2 inches wide, making them larger than any wooden tubs which have heretofore been built. It is stated that the adoption of reinforced concrete for this purpose will have many decided advantages, and the results obtained with this material will be looked forward to with interest. The new main building of the Milton Leatherboard Company is 185×70 feet, with two stories and basement. Adjoining is a raw stock room, 120×40 feet, and 30 feet high. I.W. Jones, of Milton, N.H., is the engineer (Lockwood, October 1912).
Ira Wilbur Jones was born in Milton, June 10, 1854, son of George H. and Lucy J. (Varney) Jones. He married in Milton, September 29, 1886, Lucie C. Wentworth, both of Milton. She was born in Milton, circa 1867, daughter of George C.S. and Mary E. Wentworth. He was a wheelwright. Rev. Frank Haley performed the ceremony.
I.W. Jones Advertisement, 1902
Ira W. Jones, a hydraulic engineer, aged forty-five years (b. NH), headed a Lebanon, ME, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of thirteen years), Lucia C. Jones, aged thirty-two years (b. NH), and his children, Nettie Jones, at school, aged thirteen years (b. NH), and Mary Jones, at school, aged eight years B. NH). He owned their farm free-and-clear. Lucia C. Jones was the mother of two children, of whom two were still living.
Ira W. Jones of Lebanon ME, was a promoter of the Milton & Lebanon Building Association, when it was founded in February 1904. I.W. Jones appeared as a civil engineer (and under other headings) in the Milton section of the Dover Directory of 1905-06.
Jones was consulting in Montpelier, VT, in August 1907.
Ira W. Jones, a hydraulic engineer, aged fifty-five years (b. NH), headed a Lebanon, ME, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty-four years) Lucia C. Jones, aged forty-three years (b. NH), his daughter, Mary C. Jones, aged eighteen years (b. NH), and his brother-in-law, Eugene H. Wentworth, a stove works foreman, aged thirty-five years (b. NH).
I.W. Jones Advertisement, 1912
Ira W. Jones graduated from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Worcester, MA. He was employed in 1911 as a mill engineer at Milton, NH, along with fellow WPI graduate, Harold P. Conklin, who was his draftsman (Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 1911).
His engineering office was situated on Main Street, opposite the Lebanon Bridge, in 1912. (That office had one of Milton’s ninety-six telephone connections in that year (Milton Mills excluded)). His daughter, Mary C. Jones, was a stenographer in his office. His house was at 10 Bridge Street, Lebanon Side, where Mrs. Jones gave piano lessons. Another daughter, Nettie W. Jones, was a milliner. (See also References for James M. Snyder’s Partial Portfolio of Jones’ engineering projects).
Ira W. Jones died April 7, 1946. Lucia C. (Wentworth) Jones died September 3, 1949.
The Milton Board of Selectmen (BOS) have posted their agenda for a BOS meeting to be held Monday, August 19.
The BOS meeting is scheduled to begin with a Non-Public session beginning at 5:00 PM. That agenda has one Non-Public item classed as 91-A3 II (c).
91-A:3 II (c) Matters which, if discussed in public, would likely affect adversely the reputation of any person, other than a member of the public body itself, unless such person requests an open meeting. This exemption shall extend to any application for assistance or tax abatement or waiver of a fee, fine, or other levy, if based on inability to pay or poverty of the applicant.
The BOS intend to adjourn their Non-Public BOS session at approximately (*) 6:00 PM, when they intend to return to Public session.
The Public portion of the agenda has New Business, Old Business, Other Business, and some housekeeping items.
Under New Business are scheduled four agenda items: 1) Fire Station Driveway Parking Repairs (N. Marique), 2) Casey Road Restrictions and Parking (K. Golab), 3) Milton Mills Flag Pole Replacement Request (R. Graham) and 4) September Meeting Schedule Adjustment (due to Labor Day Weekend).
Fire Station Driveway Parking Repairs (N. Marique). Hello, DPW? When you are out repairing roads, could you repair our driveway also? Otherwise, I’d have to make an expense request.
Casey Road Restrictions and Parking (K. Golab). We saw this before as a request for authorization of a neighborhood yard sale.
Milton Mills Flag Pole Replacement Request (R. Graham). Apparently another expense request.
Strictly speaking, there is no requirement that Milton Mills have a public flagpole at all. While Milton Mills does abut the State o’ Maine, it is nowhere close to Canada. There is little danger of anyone wondering if Milton Mills is still within the territory claimed by the United States of America.
Now, if Milton Mills were to secede from Milton, for which I understand there is some sentiment, this could be an agenda item at their first BOS meeting. Hint: all it took to create Milton in 1802 was 900 people and a church. You have both, and much more besides.
September Meeting Schedule Adjustment (due to Labor Day Weekend). Pro forma. Does anyone imagine that the BOS will not be giving themselves a Labor Day Weekend?
Under Old Business are scheduled four items: 5) Town-Owned Properties Update, 6) Auction Property Status 7) Law Firm Selection and 8) Budget Process.
Town-Owned Properties Update. Still with us (and some still dilapidated), unless a property auction is to be scheduled.
There was that request for divine intervention in the matter of the old fire station because the BOS missed its warrant deadline. Then the BOS missed the NH House divine intervention filing deadlines. But NH Senator Bradley obliged, after a fashion. There is a “sale pending” sign out there now.
Auction Property Status. If this is not a scheduling request, then the status is no property auction scheduled.
Law Firm Selection. Hopefully, the BOS have selected a law firm that knows that the Town cannot invent beach restrictions, put their signs on State highways (all of Milton’s major streets), sell fire stations without voter authorization, or do any of the other things that have had to be reversed.
Budget Process. Presumably, this concerns the Joint Budget Committee-Board of Selectmen hearings regarding departmental budgets that were discussed at prior meetings.
Unless, the BOS intends to reverse the “guidance” for tax increases that it gave at its last meeting. Regrettably, that has been their “process” for far too long. This could be its chance to begin righting its course.
Other Business That May Come Before the Board has no scheduled items.
Finally, there will be the approval of prior minutes (from the BOS workshop meetings of July 11, 2019, July 15, 2019, and July 18, 2019, as well as the regular Bos Meeting of July 15, 2019), the expenditure report, Public Comments “Pertaining to Topics Discussed,” Town Administrator comments, and BOS comments.
The Town Administrator has planned comments about an Economic Development Committee (EDC) Recording Clerk request. Because the Town needs another expense item on its budget.
After the Public session, the BOS meeting is scheduled to continue with another Non-Public session beginning at 5:00 PM. That agenda has one Non-Public item classed as 91-A 3 II (c).
The United States was created during its revolution as a loose confederacy of independent states, which then were drawn closer together under the constitution of 1789.
The federal government could not tax citizens of states directly. It could impose tariffs on foreign goods and it could vote “direct taxes.” Direct taxes were apportioned to the states by the relative sizes of their populations. Each sovereign state would then determine in what manner it would raise its apportioned share within its own borders.
With the exception of a Federal income tax imposed briefly as a Civil War emergency measure (see Milton’s US Excise Tax of May 1864), high tariffs and direct taxes were how the Federal government financed itself for the 120 years between 1789 to 1909.
Enter the Progressives, both Democrat and Republican.
DEMOCRATS’ TARIFF VIEWS.Want the Income Tax and Reduction on the Necessaries of Life. Washington, April 15. – For more than four hours the Democratic members of the senate conferred in an effort to agree upon a policy toward tariff legislation. At the end of that time it was announced that they had decided to support an income tax amendment and would present a solid front against any Republican opposition to an income tax for raising revenue. The conference also went on record favoring a general reduction on tariff schedules, particularly those relating to the necessaries of life (Portsmouth Herald, April 15, 1909).
Income Tax Amendments. Washington, May 22. – The coalition of Democratic senators and “progressive Republicans” has been broken so far as the income tax question is concerned, and amendments on that subject will be presented by Senators Bailey and Cummins (Portsmouth Herald, May 22, 1909).
But these advocates of a more “positive,” i.e., a more active, more powerful, and more intrusive, federal government managed to smooth over any differences. More positivity required more money, a lot more money, than tariffs and direct taxation could hope to provide.
Passed by Congress – July 12, 1909
The U.S. Congress passed a resolution on July 12, 1909, sending the proposed Sixteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution out to the States for ratification.
Sixteenth Amendment: The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.
Twenty-five States ratified the amendment between August 10, 1909, and March 2, 1911.
New Hampshire Rejects the Sixteenth Amendment – March 2, 1911
New Hampshire’s Progressive Republican Governor, Robert P. Bass of Peterborough, NH, pushed hard for passage of the measure. In so doing, he set aside New Hampshire’s own sovereignty in favor of some vague Progressive formulations about the needs of the federal government and the supposed dangers it faced. He asserted also the income tax’s “equity,” using a variant of the socialist dictum “from each according to his ability, to each according to his need.”
Depression-era bank robber Sutton would use that same reasoning some years later. When asked why he robbed banks, he supposedly answered, “Because that’s where the money was.” That is to say that banks, as repositories of money, were the ones best able to satisfy his “needs.”
URGES INCOME TAX. Gov. Bass Sends Special Message to New Hampshire Legislature Favoring Federal Support. CONCORD, N.H., Jan. 19. – Gov. Robert P. Bass today sent a special message to the New Hampshire legislature favoring the ratification by New Hampshire of the income tax amendment to the national constitution. “Loyalty to our country,” said Gov. Bass, “demands that we give to the national government every power necessary to protect and maintain itself under all circumstances and all dangers. An income tax is the most equitable form of taxation, because it draws upon the citizens directly in proportion to their ability to bear the burden.” The matter was made a special order in the house of representatives for next Wednesday. The special committee appointed to investigate the subject of railroad rates in New Hampshire organized today, and voted to employ as counsel Edmund B. Cook of Concord and Sherman E. Burroughs of Manchester (Boston Globe, [Friday,] January 20, 1911).
The New Hampshire House responded to the Governor’s Special request promptly. After 3 o’clock, on Wednesday afternoon, January 25, 1911, Rep. Ahern of Concord moved for a vote on House Joint Resolution No. 1, i.e., ratification of the Sixteenth Amendment.
On a viva voce vote the joint resolution passed and was sent to the Senate for concurrence (NH General Court, 1911).
A viva voce vote was a voice vote. So, no records of any particular yeas and nays would be kept, which was likely very much the point. (Therefore, there would appear to be no way to determine how Milton’s representative voted).
THE PUBLIC DRINKING CUP. New Hampshire Puts Ban on This Germ Distributor. Concord, N.H., Jan. 25. The knell of the public drinking cup in New Hampshire was sounded today when the lower branch of the Legislature, concurring with the Senate, passed a bill to give the state board of health authority to restrict the use of common drinking cups in public places. The bill is along the line of the one passed in Massachusetts a year ago. The House today also passed a bill providing for the registration of all cases of tuberculosis. This bill must go to the Senate before becoming a law. A resolution, ratifying the proposed income tax amendment to the federal constitution was passed by the House by viva voce vote and was sent to the Senate (Rutland (VT) Daily Herald, January 26, 1911).
[Tuberculosis was a health scourge at this time: a highly communicable, incurable, fatal disease. Withdrawing public drinking vessels made perfect sense. Authorizing at the same time an economically cancerous Federal income tax made much less sense].
THE INCOME TAX AMENDMENT. ONE of the results of the political overturn of last fall is the impetus that has been given to the ratification of the federal income tax amendment. This week the senate of North Carolina ratified the amendment by a vote of 42 to 1, and its passage, as far as that state is concerned, is assured. Ohio, which last year under republican auspices rejected the amendment, this year with democrats in control ratified it by an almost unanimous vote. During the year it is not improbable that 24 more states, the required number, will ratify and make the amendment effective. The roll of states that have adopted the amendment includes Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Illinois, Maryland, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas, with North Carolina practically assured. Gov. Bass of New Hampshire has urged ratification and the situation in that state is favorable. Vermont, however, has turned down the amendment. In Maine favorable action is expected. In Massachusetts the house is regarded as favorable to it, and the governor is favorable, but the senate is in doubt. The final adoption of the amendment does not put any income tax law in operation. Congress must pass such a law before there will be an income tax. The legislation might not be passed readily. A graduated tax has been proposed, one that would bear lightly on small fortunes, but draw off a little of the swelling in. swollen fortunes (Boston Globe, January 27, 1911).
INCOME TAX IS APPROVED BY 13. Opposed by Virginia and Rhode Island. Senator Brown Sure States Will Adopt the Amendment. Thirty-Five Must Favor Measure to Do It. WASHINGTON, Jan. 31. – Before the adjournment of several state legislatures now in session the number of states that have ratified the amendment to the federal constitution providing for an Income tax will probably be considerably increased. Already 13 states have approved the Income tax proposition. Idaho being the latest to get onto the bandwagon. Others which have previously put their “OK” on the legislation are Illinois, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Alabama, South Carolina, Texas, Missouri, Kansas and Ohio. One house of the New Hampshire legislature has passed the ratification resolution and it is now before the other house. Virginia and Rhode Island are the only states that have so far refused approval. The majority, of the Virginia legislature thought that the adoption of the amendment would give the federal government and its officials too much authority to pry into the affairs of private individuals and state corporations. To make the amendment effective the ratification of 35 or 36 states – depending on how soon Arizona and New Mexico are admitted to the union – is required. The approval of 35 of the 46 states now in the union would be a three-fourths vote, enough to adopt the amendment. If the number do not ratify before the two territories now in the process of being made into states are formally admitted into the union, the ratification of one additional state will be necessary – three-fourths of 48 being 36. It has taken a year and a half for 13 states to give their approval. Senator Brown of Nebraska formally presented the income tax amendment to the senate June 17, 1909, during the tariff session of congress. Today Senator Brown expressed the belief that not a single state will ultimately withhold its approval. “I am confident,” he said, “that there will be unanimous verdict in favor of the Income tax amendment among the states. I have written to the proper officer of every state, calling their attention to the proposed amendment and pointing out the reasons for its adoption promptly. I have heard from every one of them, and upon their replies I base my expectations that no one will withhold ratification” (Boston Globe, February 1, 1911).
On Thursday, March 2, 1911, NH State Senator Hosford of Monroe moved that the whole Senate vote on accepting the Senate Judiciary committee’s recommendation on House Joint Resolution No. 1. (The Senate Judiciary committee was composed of Senators Charles H. Hosford of Monroe (R) (2nd District), Robert J. Merrill of Claremont (R) (7th), Alvin B. Cross of Concord (R) (10th), Alvin J. Lucier of Nashua (D) (20th), and John Pender of Portsmouth (R) (24th)). The Judiciary committee majority had voted (3-2) to recommend approval of the Sixteenth Amendment.
Nine NH state senators (39.1%) voted to accept that majority report of the Judiciary committee (i.e., indicating that they favored the Sixteenth Amendment): James O. Gerry of Madison (D) (5th District), Robert J. Merrill of Claremont (R) (7th), John W. Prentiss of Walpole (D) (8th), Arthur J. Boutwell of Hopkinton (R) (9th), Windsor H. Goodnow of Keene (R) (13th), Charles L. Rich of Jaffrey (R) (14th), Daniel W. Hayden of Hollis (R) (15th), Alvin J. Lucier of Nashua (D) (20th), and John Pender of Portsmouth (R) (24th).
Fourteen NH state senators (60.9%) voted instead to accept the minority report of the Judiciary committee (i.e., indicating that they opposed the Sixteenth Amendment): John Cross of Colebrook (R) (1st District), Charles H. Hosford of Monroe (R) (2nd), George S. Rogers of Lebanon (R) (3rd), Jonathan M. Cheney of Ashland (R) (4th), Charles H. Bean of Franklin (R) (6th), Alvin B. Cross of Concord (R) (10th), George H. Guptill of Raymond (D) (11th), Haven Doe of Somersworth (D) (12th), Charles E. Chapman of Manchester (R) (16th), Robert Leggett of Manchester (R) (17th), Michael E. Ahern of Manchester (D) (18th), Reginald C. Stevenson of Exeter (R) (21st), John W. Jewell of Dover (D) (22nd), and Clarence H. Paul of Portsmouth (D) (23rd).
NH Senate President William D. Swart of Nashua (R) (19th District) did not vote.
Milton’s state senator was among those that opposed authorizing a national income tax through ratification of the Sixteenth Amendment.
The viva voce vote on the amendment itself broke along the same lines as the votes on the Judiciary committee’s recommendation. The Senate clerk advised the House that the joint resolution had failed.
MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE. A message from the Honorable Senate by its clerk announced that the Senate refused to concur with the House of Representatives in the passage of the following joint resolution sent up from the House of Representatives: House Joint Resolution No. 1, joint resolution ratifying the Sixteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America (NH General Court, 1911).
The Sixteenth Amendment, having failed in the NH Senate, did not “progress” to Governor Bass for his signature.
Income Tax Killed. Concord, N.H., March 3. – The New Hampshire state senate, by a vote of 14 to 9, killed the resolution passed by the house some weeks since ratifying the income tax amendment to the national constitution (Portsmouth Herald, March 3, 1911).
Delaware Gets the “Final Honor” – February 3, 1913
Meanwhile, another ten states approved the amendment between March 16, 1911, and January 31, 1913, for a total of thirty-five of the necessary thirty-six states. At the end there was a bit of a “photo finish” for the “honor” of imposing a national income tax. Progressive President-elect Woodrow Wilson (D) wanted his home state of New Jersey to tip the balance, but New Mexico was also a contender. Unexpectedly, Delaware got in before either of them.
INCOME TAX IS NOW CERTAINTY. Amendment of Constitution Is Voted by States. Delaware Gets Final Honor. Washington, Feb. 4. The action of the legislature of Delaware in ratifying the income tax amendment to the constitution makes it part of the federal organic law. There was a lively race for the honor of being the pivotal state in the ratification of the amendment. To make it effective, the approval of three-quarters of the states was required. Up to yesterday morning thirty-five states had acted favorably and it was expected New Mexico would have the honor of “clinching’ the amendment, as its legislature was expected to take affirmative action yesterday. New Jersey was a close rival, and President-elect Wilson was very desirous that his state should swing first into line, but the fact that the New Jersey legislature did not reassemble until last evening put it at a disadvantage. In the meantime Delaware, which had not been in the limelight, got busy and ratified the amendment, heating out both New Mexico and New Jersey. Shortly after the news of Delaware’s ratification was received a Cheyenne dispatch announced that the Wyoming legislature had also ratified the amendment. The income tax issue was submitted to the states by unanimous vote of the senate and a 317 to 14 majority of the house on July 31, 1909. The amendment submitted was as follows: “That congress shall have power to levy and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several states and without regard to any census or enumeration.” Alabama led off the procession or ratifying states on Aug. 19, 1909, and by the end of 1910 the amendment had been approved by eight states. In 1911 the number was increased to thirty. In 1913, Arizona, Arkansas, Louisiana and Minnesota fell into line, making the total thirty-four, ratification by two more states being necessary to adopt the amendment. The states that have rejected the amendment are Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Utah. Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Virginia have taken no action on the amendment. Congress will enact a law to levy the tax, probably during the extra-ordinary session to be called by President-elect Wilson in March. The tax itself, its provisions and its limitations, are all left to congress. The new law probably would supersede the corporation tax and provide for a tax on all incomes above $5000, although there has been some sentiment in favor of making the limit as low as $4000. Congressional leaders who have been preparing for the final ratification by the states estimate an income tax would bring in about $100,000,000 a year to the government. Now that the tax is provided by the constitution, the proposed excise tax, framed by Democratic leaders in 1912 to meet the supreme court’s decision, which held a former income tax un-constitutional will be dropped, and some of its provisions may be included In the new law (Fitchburg Sentinel, February 4, 1911).
New Hampshire Gets Onto the Bandwagon – February-March 1913
For some reason, Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire felt some need to vote superfluous affirmations after Delaware had already tipped the scale. The bandwagon effect, one supposes.
A newly-elected (November 1912) New Hampshire House passed another viva voce, or voice vote, in favor of passage, on February 18, 1913; and a newly-elected New Hampshire Senate voted – this time giving its approval – 20 in favor, to 2 opposed, on February 19, 1913.
Samuel D. Felker of Rochester (D) was the new governor. He had failed to win election outright and had instead been selected by the legislature. (He was the newly-selected Governor). His signature completed New Hampshire’s after-the-fact ratification process on March 7, 1913.
Enabling Legislation – March 1913
Three states had rejected the amendment outright: Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Utah. In Florida, it passed in just one branch of its legislature. Pennsylvania and Virginia took no action at all.
The Federal congress, being now authorized to impose national income taxes, set forth to do so immediately. In arguing for ratification of the Sixteenth Amendment, its Progressive proponents had claimed originally that it would not affect anyone making less than $10,000 per year. The goal posts moved to $5,000 per year by 1911. After passage, that figure reached down to include those making $3,500 per year.
INCOME TAX DOWN TO $3500. With indications that the proposed Income tax “bill would levy tribute upon all incomes above $3500, Representative Hull has begun the task of forming that measure. There has been a tentative understanding among members of the Ways and Mean Committee that the income tax bill would apply to all incomes above $5000. As the estimates of the revenues under the new tariff law are being made, however, it is suggested that the $5000 exemption will be too high and that an income tax upon incomes to the excess of $3500 will be necessary to supply the deficiency. The new income tax law will absorb the existing corporation tax law which now produces nearly $30,000,000 annually in revenues. In the absence of definite figures by experts of the Ways and Means Committee as to the inroads upon the treasury will be inevitable under the Underwood tariff bill, it is now estimated that the income tax must produce between $125,000,000 and $150,000,000 annually. Originally, Mr. Hull, who is the income tax expert of the House, favored a one per cent tax on all incomes above $5000 designated as earned incomes. On unearned incomes Mr. Hull suggested a 1 1-2 per cent tax, and graduated higher rate (Portsmouth Herald, March 22, 1913).
Those Progressives pushing the Sixteenth Amendment promised a better world for which only the rich would pay. (Aren’t we being told that even now?) In 1913, the somehow villainous ultra-rich were being defined as those making above $3,500 per year ($90,000 in 2018 dollars).
Frédéric Bastiat warned against governmental systems “by which everyone seeks to live at the expense of everyone else.” Margaret Thatcher warned that “eventually, you run out of other people’s money.”
But the Progressives were right, weren’t they? Only the rich have been taxed and Heaven was established here on earth. Well, no, it was Bastiat and Thatcher that were proved right. Income taxation’s definition of the rich “progressed” downwards to include nearly everyone and Heaven still awaits us.
Current Federal income tax schedules – after recent “tax cuts” – reach down to “touch” those making as little as $13,000. (That would have been those who were making as little as $507 per year in 1913).
The second of the ten planks in Karl Marx’s 1848 Communist Manifesto demanded “A heavy progressive or graduated income tax.”
NH General Court. (1911). Journals of the Honorable Senate and the House of Representatives of the State of New Hampshire, January Session, 1911. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=n3BNAAAAYAAJ
In this year, we encounter a new meat market, patent leather repairers wanted, a former business owner seeking employment, the Boston funeral of a Milton-native female physician, a forest fire, ice for sale, a Boston pickpocket, J.R. Downing’s passing, a new team captain, and shoe operatives wanted.
Fred Howard, a shoe factory finisher, aged forty-three years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty-four years), Costilla [(Scruton)] Howard, aged forty years (b. NH). They owned their house free-and-clear, without any mortgage. Costilla Howard was the mother of one child [Effie], of whom one was still living. They were enumerated between the households of Hannah Wentworth, a widow, aged sixty-nine years (b. NH), and Sarah P. Haley, a widow, aged forty-eight years (b. NH).
A. Howard has opened a meat market at Milton, N.H. (National Provisioner, 1911).
Fred Howard kept a meat market on Main street in 1912. His house was at 9 School street. He was also a policeman.
Frank J. Currier, president of the Milton Shoe Company, sought patent leather repairers. Applications to be directed either to the factory in Milton or to his home in Lynn, MA.
MALE HELP WANTED. WANTED – Pat. leather repairers; good pay, steady work. Apply to MILTON SHOE CO., Milton, N.H., or F.J. CURRIER, 16 Greystone Park, Lynn, Sunday. dSu3t d30 (Boston Globe, January 1, 1911).
Some Milton business owner having sold his own business sought a good position in someone else’s enterprise instead.
SITUATIONS WANTED – MALE. WANTED, a good position – having sold my business for the best of reasons, I would like any good position where honesty and push are of value; am an American, 48 yrs. old, of good appearance and the best of habits; would prefer to qualify with a reliable wholesale house or manufactory as a traveling salesman, having had some experience, or any position of trust. P.O. Box 153, Milton, N.H. dSu10t d28 (Boston Globe, January 5, 1911).
Seeking business owners of a similar age in the census of the prior year, we find only Harry L. Avery, a fancy goods salesman, aged forty-six years; George W. Ellis, a laundryman, aged forty-eight years; and James H. Fletcher, a blacksmith, aged forty-seven years. Or someone not self-identified in the census as being a business owner.
Milton native Dr. Ann Sophia (Kenney) (Patch) Lindquist died in Boston, MA in March 1911.
She was born in Milton, circa 1863-64, daughter of Edwin and Mary A. (Wentworth) Kenney. She married (1st) in Farmington, NH, May 7 1884, Fredrick S. Patch, from whom she was divorced (after 1900). She married (2nd) in Boston, MA, April 28, 1905, Dr. Carl A. Lindquist; they were both physicians.
Carl A. Lindquist, a general practice physician, aged thirty-five years (b. Sweden), headed a Boston, MA, household at the time of the Thirteen (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of five years), Ann S. Lindquist, a general practice physician, aged forty-two years (b. NH), and his niece [in-law], Eunice Kenney, aged twelve years (b. NH). They owned their residence in a four-family dwelling at 195 Huntington Avenue.
FUNERAL OF DR. LINDQUIST. Wife of Dr. Carl Lindquist Had Practice in Boston. Private funeral services took place yesterday afternoon for Dr. Ann S.K., wife of Dr. Carl A. Lindquist at the family home, 196 Huntington av. Rev Thomas Van Ness of the Second church, Copley sq. The body was taken to Forest Hills cemetery for interment. Dr. Lindquist died Saturday morning. She was born in Milton, N.H., and received her degree at Tufts medical in 1896. She engaged in practice in this city. Besides her husband she is survived by her father, a brother, and one son (Boston Globe, March 21, 1911).
Sanford and Springvale, ME, as well as Milton Mills, NH, experienced drought and forest fires in the Spring.
LOSS IN SANFORD. ME. Timberland Damaged Fully $10,000 – Fire in Night Reported at Milton Mills, N.H. SANFORD. Me., May 8 – Three fires, which were burning on as many sides of Sanford and Springvale last night, were well in hand today, but it was uncertain how soon further damages would be done when the wind freshened, as the ground was extremely dry and the wells are drying up, so there is little water with which to fight the flames. No buildings were burned, but the timberland damage was estimated at fully $10,000. Timber valued at half this amount was burned on Shaws Ridge in the eastern section of Sanford. A large amount of timber was burned at Milton Mills. N.H., north of Sanford, in the night. No buildings were reported burned (Boston Globe, May 8, 1911).
J.R. Downing & Company offered Milton ice by the train car-load. We know from other sources that each train car would take about thirty tons of ice.
ICE FOR SALE. Ice, in car-load lots, finest quality, situated in Milton, N.H. Apply to J.R. DOWNING & CO., Brighton, Mass. (Portsmouth Herald, August 18, 1911).
An East Milton man – more accurately “Acton Side,” Milton Mills – encountered a Boston city slicker who snatched his wallet.
GETS HIS MONEY BACK. Milton, N.H., Man Makes Friends With Stranger Who Steals His Pocket Book – Latter Goes to Jail. Edward H. Libby, 40, who is known to the police as a wire for the sharpers, who has been in state prison twice for picking pockets, was arrested again last night by policeman William Walsh at the North station, charged with the larceny of $76 from George H. Brackett of East Milton, N.H. Brackett arrived from New Hampshire last night, and Libby met him almost at the gate of the track upon which the train arrived. “I know you; you’re from New Hampshire. I am well acquainted with some of your folks,” spoke up Libby. Then there was handshaking, and Brackett said among other things that he came to Boston to attend the wedding of his brother in Waltham, whom he had not seem for 10 years. Over to a liquor store Libby and Brackett went, where a few drinks were bought. Libby suggested a visit to a moving picture show. But it was not taken. When walking up Canal st., Brackett produced his pocketbook, and while abstracting several bills to be put to immediate use, Libby snatched the wallet and ran. Brackett shouted stop thief, and a man stopped further outcry by saying he was a special officer and he would chase and catch the thief. This “special officer” was acting the part of the wire last night. In court today Libby was sentenced to six months in the house of correction, and Brackett received his money back (Boston Globe, August 18, 1911).
Mary E. Lowd, a widow, aged sixty years (b. MA), headed an Acton, ME, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. Her household included her daughter, Sarah D. Jewett, aged thirty-five (b. ME), her son-in-law, Richard I. Jewett, a home farmer, aged forty years (b. NH), and her servant, George A. Brackett a general farmer, aged forty-one years (b. ME).
Here we bid farewell to Jeremiah Roberts Downing, one of the principal dealers in Milton’s ice industry, who died in Milton in October.
BRIGHTON DISTRICT. The body of James R. [Jeremiah R.] Downing, the well-known ice dealer of this district, who died of pneumonia at Milton, N.H., Tuesday, will be brought home for the funeral services which will be held at the home, 128 Kendrick st. tomorrow afternoon at 2 o’clock. Rev. Dr. William Allen Knight of the Brighton Congregational Church will officiate. The body will be sent to Kennebunkport, Me., Mr. Downing’s native home, for interment. Mr. Downing was on a business trip in Milton and Milbury when stricken. He left Brighton last Thursday. He was in the ice business in Brighton about 35 years. As a very young man he left Kennebunkport and went to New York, where he was employed by the Knickerbocker Ice Company. Later he came to Brighton and bought out a small ice business. At first he supplied the Abbatoyr [abattoir], but a natural business ability led him to increase his trade, until he finally had the entire district. Years ago he cut ice on Chandlers Pond near Lake st., old Frog Pond on Chestnut Hill av., Woolshop Pond on North Beacon st. and on a pond in the Faneuil district. Mr. Downing recently built a barn near his home on Kenrick st., which cost him $30,000. He was 66 years old and stood over six feet in height. His friends say of him that he was as big in heart as he was in body. He is survived by his wife and one son, Jeremiah. The family has a Summer home at Beechwood, Me. (Boston Globe, October 11, 1911).
Jeremiah R. Downing, an ice dealer, aged sixty-five years (b. ME), headed a Boston, MA, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of thirty-eight years), Elvina P. [(Ross)] Downing, aged sixty-four years (b. MA). She was the mother of two children, of whom one was still living. They owned their home at 128 Kenrick Street, free-and-clear, without any mortgage.
The New Hampshire College football team elected Philip Cowell Jones of Milton as its team captain for 1912. (Gov. Fred H. Downs had the college’s name changed to University of New Hampshire (UNH) in 1923).
JONES CAPTAIN FOR 1912. New Hampshire College Football Leader a General Athlete of Mark in the Institution. DURHAM, N.H., Nov. 16 – Philip C. Jones of Milton, N.H., was elected captain today of the New Hampshire College football team for next year. Jones is a star football player and one of the best all-round athletes in the junior class. Jones prepared for college at the Irving School of Tarrytown, N.Y., where he played on the baseball, football and basket-ball teams. Since entering New Hampshire he has played on the football eleven three years, the baseball team two years and the basket-ball team a year. Mr. Jones is also managing editor of The New Hampshire, secretary of the Christian Association and of the Athletic Association. He is a member of Kappa Sigma and the Casque and Casket (Boston Globe, November 17, 1911).
Fred P. Jones, a general farmer, aged fifty years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty-eight years), Emma C. Jones, aged fifty years (b. ME), his children, Robert E. Jones, aged twenty-two years (b. NH), Philip C. Jones, aged eighteen years (b. NH), Elizabeth J. Jones, aged fifteen years (b. NH), and Alice V. Jones, aged thirteen years (b. NH); and his servant, Henry M. Bowens, a farm laborer, aged fifty-five years (b. Canada).
Philip C. Jones became a Presbyterian minister. Rev. Dr. Philip Cowell Jones died in Branford, CT, October 15, 1977.
The Milton Shoe Company sought still for sober, industrious machine operatives with various skills.
TAKE NOTICE. WE WANT pullers-over on Goodyear Welts, outside cutters, stitching-room help; to sober, industrious operatives we will guarantee 300 days’ work in a year at good pay; very cheap rents; best schools in New England. MILTON SHOE COMPANY, Milton, N H. Sud7t n26 (Boston Globe, November 27, 1911).
Milton Shoe Co.’s offer of 330 days works out to fifty six-day weeks in a year. Their claim of Milton having then very cheap rents and the best schools in New England might have been mere advertising puffery, but they apparently made it without fear of contradiction.
In this year, we encounter a fur coat thief, a persistent fire, new mill construction, a beer conviction, cold weather, a blacksmith wanted, ice for sale, a misidentification, shoe workers wanted, and more cold weather.
A Boston man was arrested for the theft of a fur-lined coat from John E. Townsend of Milton Mills. (Townsend was the heir of the H.H. Townsend blanket factory).
ARRESTED IN BOSTON. Fur Coat Thief Captured by the Police of That City. Sheriff Myron Johnson of Union, N.H., was here today on his way to Boston where the police of that city will turn over to him a prisoner arrested on Friday for larceny of a fur coat at Milton Mills (Portsmouth Herald, February 5, 1910).
Houston Case Nol Prossed. DOVER. N.H, Feb 8. The complaint against Jesse G. Houston of Boston of breaking and entering the stable office of John E. Townsend of Milton, N.H., and stealing a fur lined coat valued al $75, was nol prossed today on motion of County Solicitor Dwight Hall. Houston was discharged (Boston Globe, February 9, 2010).
We have seen formerly that a substantial coat was a necessity for motorists driving the relatively open cars of the day. That would be especially the case in February. The “nol prossed” verb derives from the Latin legal term nol prosequi, i.e., despite an indictment, the prosecuter decided not to prosecute the defendant.
John E. Townsend, a woolen blanket manufacturer, aged thirty-nine years (b. NH), headed a Milton [“Milton Mills”] household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of fourteen years), Eda B. [(Lowd)] Townsend, aged thirty-nine years (b. ME), and his children, Henry A. Townsend, aged twelve years (b. NH), and Agnes M. Townsend, aged ten years (b. NH).
Jesse B. Houston, a clubhouse steward, aged forty-six years (b. VA), headed a Boston, MA, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty-two years), Lucy J. Houston, aged forty-three years (b. Canada), and his son, Jesse G. Houston, a private family chauffeur, aged nineteen years (b. MA). They rented their residence in a three-family dwelling at 60 Ruggles Street.
John E. Townsend would die in Milton Mills, September 8, 1914, aged forty-one years, eleven months, and thirty days.
As for the further adventures of the alleged coat thief:
Larceny and Forgery Charged. Jesse G. Houston, arrested late yesterday by special officer Lyons of the Back Bay Police Station, on a larceny charge, had an additional charge of forgery placed against him by Inspector Conboy, when he was arraigned before Judge Murray in the Municipal Court this morning. He was held in $500 on each charge for the Grand Jury. Special officer Lyons arrested Houston on a charge of the larceny of auto supplies worth $67 from a Massachusetts av. auto supply concern on April 12. When he was brought down town it was found that there was a warrant two years old against him on the charge of forging a check for $55 (Boston Globe, May 4, 1915).
The grand jury of 1915 returned “true bills,” i.e., felony indictments, against Jesse G. Houston for larceny, uttering, and forgery (Boston Globe, June 12, 1915). Passing bad checks was usually termed “uttering,” because the one “kiting” or passing the check was considered to be falsely vouching – or speaking – for its validity. Of course, as we have seen earlier, indictments are not convictions.
Coal-seam fires may burn for extended periods of times. There is one in Australia that has burned for at least 6,000 years. The coal bin of the defunct Salmon River Paper company was not a natural coal seam, but had enough fuel to be still burning eight months after ignited.
BIRDEYE VIEWS. Since the paper mill at Milton, N.H., was destroyed by fire last June the fire in the coal bin has never gone out, and on some days the smoke from it may be seen many miles away (Portsmouth Herald, February 10, 1910).
In the aftermath of the Salmon River Paper company’s fire, it was predicted that Spaulding Brothers would build a new mill. They acquired leases for the water privileges formerly enjoyed by burnt Salmon River Paper mill, and others.
BUILDING A NEW MILL. Rochester, Feb. 18. Already a large amount of building material has arrived at Milton for the building of the new mill by the Spaulding Brothers at what is known as the new flume, which place they purchased last fall and have since built a dam. The building will be commenced in the spring when a very large mill, over 300 feet in length three stories high and will be used in making gramophone barns, baskets and boxes which are now being manufactured at the old woolen mill in this city. The mill to be built at the Old Flume will be up-to-date in every way and when running full blast will give about 900 hands work (Portsmouth Herald, February 18, 1910).
Here we have the continuation of the South Milton beer arrest of an Italian immigrant millworker in the prior year. He was arrested as O.D. Berton, indicted as Odberton, and tried as either Attorio or Attonio Di Berto.
DOVER DOINGS. Dover, Feb. 18. The jury in the case of Michael Stanton of Somersworth, charged with liquor for sale, came in with verdict of not guilty. They were out about five hours. The case on trial Thursday was that of Attorio Di Berto of Milton, who was indicted under the name of Odberton, and whose name was later said to be O.D. Berton (Portsmouth Herald, February 18, 1910).
DOVER DOINGS. Dover, Feb. 19. – The trial of Attonio Di Berto, of Milton, who. was charged with keeping liquor for sale, resulted in a verdict of guilty, and the jury returned after being out about three hours. Out of three liquor cases being tried at this term of court two have resulted in convictions. Di Berto was fined $50 and costs on the charge brought against him. Court adjourned until Monday afternoon (Portsmouth Herald, February 19, 1910).
There is every reason to believe that Di Berto was not an accurate rendering of his name either. Had they not locked him up and extracted a substantial amount of money from him, for his victimless crime, it might almost be funny. (See also Milton and the Immigrants – 1910).
A February cold snap was compared to conditions in the Klondike region of the Canadian Yukon. The Klondike, and its severe weather, were well known from its gold rush of 1896-99.
IT WAS COLD ALL RIGHT. Well, it was certainly Klondike weather this morning and again demonstrates that the groundhog knew his game. At Milton the glass registered thirty degrees below zero while at Rochester it was twenty and twenty-eight (Portsmouth Herald, February 25, 1910).
It would seem that the groundhog had predicted six more weeks of winter (at the beginning of the month). These would be ideal conditions for Milton’s ice industry.
MALE HELP WANTED. BLACKSMITH, good shoer and jobber, steady job and good pay. CHARLES E. SMITH, Milton, N.H. dSu8t* mh18 (Boston Globe, March 18, 1910).
Mr. J.O. Porter’s Marblehead Ice Company ice was selling for 70¢ per ton Freight on Board (F.O.B.) in August 1910.
FOR SALE. ICE. FOR SALE, best quality, F.O.B. Milton, N.H.; freight to Boston 70c per ton; R.R. weights; price right. JOHN O. PORTER, Marblehead, Mass. (Boston Globe, August 20, 1910).
A Milton Italian immigrant “fit the description” of a Somersworth Greek immigrant who was wanted for murder.
SUSPECT NOT CAPSALIS. Man Resembling Alleged Slayer of Mrs. Capsalitsa Caught in Milton, N.H., But Released. SOMERSWORTH, N.H., Aug. 26. Acting City Marshal Thomas Joyal received word from Milton officials last that they had arrested on suspicion, a man whom they thought to be the Somersworth Greek, Nicholas Capsalis, alias Capsalakos, the alleged murderer of Maritsa Capsalitsa, his aunt. The suspect answered the description of Capsalis and looked like the latter’s published portrait. Marshal Joyal sent three officers to Milton in an automobile to identify and bring the prisoner here, should he prove to be Capsalis. They found, however, that the suspect was not Capsalis but was an Italian who bore a very strong resemblance to him. The suspect was released and the Somersworth officers returned after midnight. The story spread rapidly all over this section this morning that Capsalis had been captured and the police were besieged all the morning with telephonic inquiries and a stream of callers at headquarters (Boston Globe, August 26, 1910).
The Milton Shoe company had renewed its operations and hiring in the prior year. It would remain active through at least 1912. (It went into receivership in 1915).
SITUATIONS WANTED – MALE. WANTED – Closers, stayers, lining makers; good wages; steady work. Apply to MILTON SHOE CO., Milton, N.H. (Boston Globe, December 3, 1910).
The Salmon River Paper company of Milton burned down in June 1909. (As seen above, its coal bin was still smoldering). Its proprietor, William S. Lowe, decided not to rebuild. He removed instead to Kansas City, MO. Here he was sued by Harry A. Waldron.
Harry A. Waldron Recovers $3553. PORTSMOUTH, N.H., Dec. 8 – In the superior court this morning the jury in the action of Harry A. Waldron of Boston against W.S. Lowe of Kansas City, formerly manager of the Salmon River paper company, at Milton, returned a verdict of $3553 for the plaintiff, Waldron sued to recover $2900 which he alleged was owed him by Lowe (Boston Globe, December 8, 1910).
Harry A. Waldron, a paper mill supplies broker, aged thirty-nine years (b. MO), headed a Boston, MA, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of one year), Elinor M. Waldron, aged thirty-four years (b. Canada (Eng.), and his boarder, Mary C. Richards, a school teacher, aged thirty-eight years (b. MA). They resided in a rented house at 20 March Avenue.
NEW HAMPSHIRE FRIGID. Mercury Ranges at Different Points from 4 Below at Portsmouth to 20 Below at North Conway. PORTSMOUTH, N.H., Dec. 31. This morning was the coldest of the present season, the glass being 4 below In the city and near-by towns. Reports from points along the Conway branch of the B & M R.R. are as follows: North Conway 20 below. Madison 21, Conway 18. Whittier 16, Sanbornville 12, Jewett 6, Union 18, Milton Mills 18, Ossipee 16 (Boston Globe, December 31, 1910).
Here we find an amusing tale of a surfeit of pumpkin pie received during a Thanksgiving journey from Portland, ME, to Cambridge, MA. This early automobile trip included a stop in Milton, NH.
Milton having just in the prior year become the southern terminus of the White Mountain Highway stretch of the state’s new Eastern Route.
[Ed. note: Progressive Pie was a party game originating in the 1890s. It was sort of a musical chairs with servings of pie.]
PROGRESSIVE PIE. Why Two Standard Delicacies Were Put on the List of Things Untouched by a Thanksgiving Guest.
The hostess looked chagrined as her guest left his generous section of pumpkin pie untouched.
She had only known him a short time, but her husband had insisted on bringing him out for Thanksgiving dinner.
“His folks are all away,” he explained, “and it would be tough if he had to dine at the club.”
Now she was awfully proud of that pie and to think that it was left begging hurt her dreadfully. And he hadn’t even taken a sip of the cider, the cider that uncle Ben sent all the way from Maine. The two crowning touches of her dinner were completely ignored.
True, he had eaten heartily of the turkey and fixin’s, but he might at least have made a bluff at eating her pie. It wasn’t courteous, but she couldn’t take her eyes off of that slice of golden goodness, and finally she said in a plaintive voice, “You don’t care for pie?”
“Madam, I don’t, came the prompt response.- That is, I don’t care for pumpkin pie. Any kind of pie but pumpkin pie. Apple, peach, plum, cranberry pie, lunch counter pie of any description but pumpkin. Pumpkin is my pet aversion, my bete noir.
“I know this is good pie and I should like to honor you by eating it, but never again will a morsel of pumpkin pie pass these lips without the use of an anesthetic.
“And I also include cider with the pie. The very sight of the combination makes gooseflesh on my spine, gives me palpitation of the medulla oblongata, produces chills followed by rapidly rising temperature.
“Madam, listen to my sad, sad story. You and your husband have been good enough to entertain me on this festal day and I know that you will not betray my confidence.
“When I was a small boy I adored pie. Pumpkin pie would make me forsake tops, marbles, three old cat or any of childhoods pleasures. And cider – why, madam, cider seemed to talk to me through stone walls. I would play hookey and hide in the storeroom with a straw and suck the liquid sweetness from the bung. My love for pumpkin pie and cider amounted to an obsession.
“Pardon these tears, but I find it hard to control my feelings as I recall the great change that came over me. It was just a year ago this morning that I was in Portland. I had just finished a business deal and was anxious to come to Cambridge and dine with a dear old aunt whose cooking would cause our worthy President to class her with Aunt Delia.
“As I was starting to the depot I met Tom Potts in his touring-car. He was just about to make the run to Boston and enticed me away from the certainties of railroad travel. In a moment of thoughtlessness I fell. We started at 8 o’clock after I had wired my aunt that I would be in Cambridge in time for dinner.
“I had indulged in a lunch counter breakfast and the sharp tang of the fall air whetted my appetite before we got well under way. We were about 15 miles out of Portland when a rusty nail reached up and bit a slice out of one of the tires.
“Tom may be able to drive a car, but he can’t qualify as an expert mechanician. It took him a couple of hours to get a new tire on and we had a nice audience before we were through.
“An old farmer with worsted whiskers watched us and offered suggestions. The only reason that I didn’t slay him was that just before we got under weigh he went to the house and returned with a bundle of hot pumpkin pie and a pitcher of cider. Now that was right where I lived and Tom and I made short work of it.
“Nearing Milton, N.H., the engine got hot and we had to make another stop. It was dinner time all along the line, and a hospitable farmer appeared at the roadside with a Thanksgiving offering of hot pumpkin pie and a pitcher of cider. And said offering was sacrificed on the altars of our appetites.
“At Portsmouth we were way behind time and I wired the aunt that I would be late getting in, but to save dinner. And two miles out of Portsmouth we picked up the little brother to the puncture we had met earlier in the day. Before we had that tire mended we were presented with hot pumpkin pie and cider by a dear old lady who just couldn’t think of anybody missing out on such delicacies on Thanksgiving.
“I was beginning to crave turkey and onion dressing and celery and bread when we ran into a culvert near Powwow river. We sprained something and while Tom was rubbing liniment on the running gear the afternoon wore well along and we had a caller. He was a nice old chap and said that he was sorry that we didn’t break down earlier so he could have asked us in -to dinner. He assured us that the girls were redding things up, but he insisted that we have some of his cider and pumpkin pie. Now for once in my life I had had enough pumpkin pie, likewise cider, but 1 didn’t have the moral courage to refuse.
“The next stop happened about 30 miles from Boston. We ran out of gasoline, and Tom trudged off to get some. He left me to guard the machine, and told me that if I got hungry before he returned that I would find some lunch under the back seat. I got hungry all right, and a little later I opened up the hamper and found a nice pumpkin pie, and one of those keep-it-hot or cold bottles, filled with – cider.
“It’s really too sad to speak about, and when Tom came back to the car he found me with my head bowed in grief and my salt tears splashing on the varnished tonneau.
“We made 10 miles on the next spurt, and then sat in the mist where the roads crossed, and were about to toss a coin to see which road should take when we heard somebody coming. He was a nice old codger and gave us the cheering information that we were off of the right track. Said if we’d wait a minute he’d get us a map.
“And then he reappeared out of mist, like Ganymede [cup-bearer of the Olympic gods], bearing cider and pumpkin pie. He had forgotten the map. We forgave him when he sent his son with us to the proper turn and we finally came in sight of Cambridge.
“My spirits began to rise, and while I didn’t expect to find the sizzling turkey intact on my aunt’s table, I knew that I could do justice to anything in the line of solid food, even if I had to eat it off the ice chest. I wasn’t as ravenous as I have been, but while a steady diet of pie and cider may be filling it is not always satisfying.
“Tom’s little machine was working beautifully now and he ran right up on the lawn by the side door. I looked through the window and saw aunty bobbing about and I was blessing her for the dear good cook that she was.
“Tom spilled a couple of honks out of the horn and saw aunty scurry to the door. She stood against the light and called out a welcome to us. We readily assured her that we were there and ready for dinner.
“And now, madam, comes the saddest part of this sad, sad tale. ‘Bob,’ said aunty, ‘I kept dinner waiting three mortal hours and then uncle and the boys got so hungry that they couldn’t wait a minute longer, and when they sat down to the table they just cleaned that turkey to the last bone. But never you mind. I’ve saved some pumpkin pie and cider for you.’
“And when they brought me to I found myself unable to look at pumpkin or an apple without tremors.
“Madam, If you will pardon me, I will pass the pumpkin pie and cider but I would take another little slice of that dark meat and some stuffing” (Boston Globe, November 24, 1910).
Here is extracted the Milton business listing section from the Dover Directory of 1905-06. This Milton business listing is more comprehensive than many that have been available to us in prior years.
The bolded upper-case entries (with page numbers) were those that had purchased supplementary advertisements. We may deal with those advertisements in a separate article.
The abbreviations used were defined elsewhere in the directory as A.S.M.M. (or A.S., M.M.) for Acton [ME] Side; Far. for Farmington, NH; Leb. for Lebanon, ME, as in Lebanon, Lebanon Bridge, and Lebanon Side (Leb. s.); M. for Milton; M.M. for Milton Mills; p o for Post Office (or n p o for near Post Office); and prop. for proprietor.
MILTON
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
EMBRACING
A Classified List of all Trades, Professions and Pursuits in Milton, for the years 1905-06, arranged Alphabetically for each Trade, thus exhibiting, at a glance, the full address and Special Business of its Citizens.
Twenty miles northwest of Dover. R.R. stations at Milton, Union and Hayes, on B.&M. R.R., northern division. Milton Mills four miles from Union, stage twice daily. It was originally a part of Rochester. Incorporated June 11, 1802. Farming and manufacturing are the principal employments. Area, 25,000 acres. Population, 1,625.
For the first time in human history, man landed on the moon on Sunday, July 20, 1969. Michael Collins remained in moon orbit with the command module, while two others descended to the surface in the lunar module. Edwin E. “Buzz” Aldrin served as the lunar module pilot of Apollo 11.
Apollo 11 launched from the Kennedy Space Center at 9:32 am on July 16, 1969.
It took 2 years to locate the appropriate location for landing. Neil Armstrong was the first to set foot on the lunar surface, followed 19 minutes later by Aldrin.
These men located and brought back to Earth, 47.5 pounds of lunar material. The astronauts returned on July 24, 1969, after spending 8 days in space.
There were and are many celebrations for this 50th anniversary. This past January, the U.S. Mint released a 50th anniversary coin.
August 1 – New Moon
The new moon begins a two-week waxing (or increasing) phase that culminates in the full moon. Once visible, this would be a superb time to view other celestial events because the waxing crescent is visible in the evening sky.
August 8 – Venus at Perihelion
During which Venus is at its closest approach to the sun, a distance is 107,477,000 km. (66,783,111 miles).
August 9 – Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation
Mercury reaches elongation at 18.3 degrees from the sun. It might be viewed at dawn depending upon the weather conditions at that time.
August 12, 13 – Perseid Meteor Shower
The Perseid Meteor showers come from a debris stream that surrounds the 133-year orbit of the Swift-Tuttle comet. Beginning in 1865, a young filament from the stream gives a mini peak display before the maximum shower occurred. At peak, meteor rates may reach 60 or more per hour.
These particles slam into Earth’s atmosphere so fast that it doesn’t take a large particle to put on quite a fantastic show. Actually the meteors are no bigger than a grain of sand or a pea. The show is produced by the kinetic energy that changes to heat caused by friction in the upper atmosphere,
Although these may not be that prolific this August due to the full moon, there should be 10-15 meteors per hour … a substantially lesser amount that in other years like 2016.
This month’s shower should be at its strongest right after the comet passes along the portion of its orbit that meets the Earth’s orbit as well as after it passes near the sun.
August 14 – Venus at Superior Solar Conjunction
While not visible with the Sun in the sky, Venus may be seen passing through the evening sky.
August 15 – Full Moon
August 30 – New Moon
Having two new moons in the same calendar month happens only once in every two to three years. (New moons are not lit, so there is nothing lunar to see).
“Nearing Milton, N.H., the engine got hot and we had to make another stop. It was dinner time all along the line, and a hospitable farmer appeared at the roadside with a Thanksgiving offering of hot pumpkin pie and a pitcher of cider. And said offering was sacrificed on the altars of our appetites.
“And then he reappeared out of mist, like Ganymede [cup-bearer of the Olympic gods], bearing cider and pumpkin pie. He had forgotten the map. We forgave him when he sent his son with us to the proper turn and we finally came in sight of Cambridge.
“And now, madam, comes the saddest part of this sad, sad tale. ‘Bob,’ said aunty, ‘I kept dinner waiting three mortal hours and then uncle and the boys got so hungry that they couldn’t wait a minute longer, and when they sat down to the table they just cleaned that turkey to the last bone. But never you mind. I’ve saved some pumpkin pie and cider for you.’
Milton Observer 