By Muriel Bristol (Transcriber) | October 18, 2018
Edwin A. Charlton’s 1857 description of Milton, “as it is”:
Milton, Strafford county. Bounded north-west by Middleton and Wakefield, east by Salmon Falls River, which separates it from Lebanon, Maine, and south-west by Farmington and New Durham. Area, 25,000 acres. Distance from Concord, 40 miles north-east, from Dover, 20, north-west. Salmon Falls River washes its whole eastern border for a distance of 13 miles. A branch of this river passes through its northern extremity. Milton Pond lies at the foot of Teneriffe Mountain – a bold and rocky elevation, which extends along its eastern section. The soil is generally good, the surface somewhat broken, and affords excellent pasturage. The inhabitants are mostly engaged in farming.
Milton Mills – John Townsend, proprietor; capital, $50,000; manufacture flannels; have 18 looms and 1200 spindles. Amount manufactured per annum, $90,000. Do. [Ditto] stock used per annum, 120,000 pounds wool. Number of operatives, 35.
This town was formerly a part of Rochester, from which it was taken and incorporated June 11, 1802. There are two meeting houses – one Congregational, and one Christian.
Population, 1629. Number of polls, 406. Inventory, $414,982. Value of lands, $236,265. Do. [Ditto] mills and factories, $8500. Do. stock in trade, $10,730. Money at interest, &c, $12,939. Number of sheep, 708. Do. neat stock [cattle], 1264. Do. horses, 189.
Charlton’s nineteenth-century orthography is interesting. He retains some features from the eighteenth century. Numbers in the single thousands do not employ commas. That is reserved only for numbers in the tens of thousands or larger. The traditional abbreviation “do.” is used for “ditto,” which is itself a sort of Latin abbreviation for “as has been said before.” The plural of operators, as in machine operators, is “operatives.” Neat stock would be oxen or heifers.
At last Monday’s Board of Selectmen’s (BOS) Meeting, a silent alarm was triggered. Did you see the flashing red lights behind the dais? During that meeting, the proposed budget totals departed from the actual 2.1% rate of inflation to their usual unsustainable doubling of that, at 3.8%. That is not news. But then, they proceeded from there to an insane near-quadrupling of inflation, at 7.5%. Warning! Collision Alert!
In so doing, the proposed budget increases changed upwards from an Arithmetic Progression into the beginning steps of a Geometric Progression.
Arithmetic Progression
Arithmetic Progression occurs when a number, such as taxes, increases over time at a constant rate. Milton’s tax rate has been following such an arithmetic progression for a very long time. A problem has emerged recently by which the slope of that increase line has been increased. Since that happened, the tax rate has increased by about 5% per year, which has been approximately double the rate of inflation. The function of this would be y = nx, where n = 5 and x = the sequence number of the year. It would chart to the right as a steadily increasing straight line.
A problem arises when wages, i.e., the ability to pay, do not rise either at or above the same rate. A chart of the two lines together would show a gap emerging between them. That gap increases in size as the chart extends out rightwards over time. Each year, the increase amount comes more and more out of the taxpayer’s disposable income, i.e., their “capital.” At each step, the tax burden becomes less sustainable, but in a steady way.
This is bad. This increasing gap will drive you out of your home at sometime in the future. Exactly when will depend upon the rate of increase (the slope) of your particular pay envelope. But, unless your pay rate line is running above the tax increase line, you may run your finger out along the chart from left to right and find the date when you will be driven out.
Geometric Progression
Geometric Progression occurs when a number, such as taxes, increases over time not at a steady rate, but at an increasing rate.
Milton progressed to this type of increase last Monday night. Inflation ran at 2.1% last year. That is where our increase should be, below would be even better. Milton’s Town government budget increases at the end of the prior meeting, by which time they had added up the first two tranches of proposed departmental budgets, were projected to be a 3.8% increase. That is to say, they were on their usual straight line of arithmetic progression, at an unsustainable double the rate of inflation.
But, the addition of those final departmental budgets, as well as receipt of the increases in insurance and retirement rates changed the rate of increase radically. The new rate being discussed was suddenly a 7.5% increase. This begins to be a Geometric Progression, specifically y = 2^x, or 2 raised to the power of x, and the resulting y is successively = 2, 4, 8, etc., times the rate of inflation. (Sorry, this software doesn’t do superscripts). It would chart as a curved line, rather than straight, and curving upward.
The difference between an Arithmetic Progression and a Geometric Progression has to do with the rate of increase. An Arithmetic Progression increases constantly, but at a steady rate, while a Geometric Progression also increases constantly, but at a constantly increasing rate. You are getting into trouble faster.
Will Robinson’s robot should have been shouting “Danger! Danger!” in the background. If you run your finger out along the gap on this new chart, you will find that the gap is getting wider much, much faster. Your home exodus happens much further to the left, i.e., much, much sooner.
This is very bad and getting worse. It is the difference between you driving towards a collision with another car and you driving towards another car that is also driving towards you.
Exponential Progression
Exponential Progression is where the exponent, or power, in the equation is the variable. It would be ever so much worse than Geometric Progression. We probably need not dwell on its mechanics. Essentially, this is where both you and the car driving towards you are both stomping on the gas. And have nitrous turbo boosters or something. Think Venezuela or Zimbabwe, but with snow and no zoo animals to eat. We are on track to be New Detroit, but not yet on the track to be Nueva Venezuela. Not yet.
Is the End Near?
That depends. The breaking point is certainly approaching much more quickly now. Usually, when you arrive at this point, the more rational politicians have long since been blathering about “bending the cost curve.” That is to say, bending it back down to where it should have been all along – back below the rate of inflation.
If you wish to change the course of an ocean liner, or a Town government, the best way is to begin turning very far in advance. (Trucks often have signs that warn the vehicles behind them of their Wide Turns). Town governments have very large turning radii. To turn closer to an obstacle requires a much more exaggerated, even alarming, degree of turn and the application of much greater motive power. Delayed too long, it becomes impossible to turn enough. You hit the iceberg.
To bend the cost curve, the BOS would have to reduce their costs, by a lot. There is no other way. We are far past wide, gentle turns back to reality.
Yes, the various BOS administrations of the past decade or more – all those that approved increases that were double inflation rates – have completely failed us. They should have turned back on the right course long ago – and certainly turned back hard when the recession took hold. But the taxpayers are to blame also for not overriding the Town government. Adult supervision is required.
The last administration might have endorsed the Deliberative Session motion for a 10% cut instead of fighting it. Had they done so, what we face now might be less painful. Instead, they staged a sort of dog-and-pony-show to keep the game going, just a bit longer. It is now apparent that we needed that 10% cut, desperately, in order to turn the ship more smoothly.
Even this current administration wasted the first half of their tenure voting unanimously for every shiny thing. By-Laws, CIP Plans, GIS systems with ongoing annual fees, memberships, lawyers, websites with ongoing annual fees, hiring, more hiring, even COLA.
COLA? Wake up: few in the private sector have experienced COLA for a generation, maybe two. Social Security recipients maybe, but for that they use a special “Chained” CPI that intentionally understates inflation. Their COLA increases, if any, are largely paid over for their Medicare increases, which do not use “Chained” CPI.
This late in the game, the necessary course change will be a jarring lurch. But this runs completely counter to what politicians deeply desire and believe, which is that handing out stuff is beneficial. And organizing the world around them. The French economist Frederic Bastiat famously explained that
The State is the great fiction through which everyone endeavors to live at the expense of everyone else.
Margaret Thatcher put her finger on the problem of this great fiction: eventually you run out of other people’s money.
Will the BOS grit their teeth and turn the wheel hard over? There is reason to doubt it. They might instead use the $1.4 million taken last year – the taxation without representation – to kick the can down the road just a little further. That particular trick might buy as much as two years, longer perhaps if they made changes. But then we would be right back here again when the stolen money ran out, still on the wrong course.
We shall see.
As I write this, I am informed that Ms. Lynette McDougall has called for a brainstorming session at Dunkin’ Donuts, Saturday, at 9:00 AM. She is seeking constructive suggestions, rather than generalized whining. (Not her words).
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.
Oh, excuse me, I was just rereading something. What were we talking about? Oh, yes, last Monday’s Board of Selectmen’s (BOS) Meeting.
The BOS tidied up a bit first. They retracted a prior invalid parking ordinance, authorized crossing guards for Halloween events, added (on a trial basis) an additional concluding Public Comment time, authorized acceptance of Highway Grant money (with its attendant strings), and unsealed minutes from Non-Public Meetings held on July 10, 2018, and September 24, 2018. Well, they unsealed them for Chief Krauss alone.
Therein hangs a tale apparently, but not one about which we will know much more, at least not for now. The July 10 meeting was not posted. It must have been a secret Non-Public Meeting, sort of like a double Non-Public Meeting. The September 24 meeting began as a Public meeting, but adjourned to consider a 91A:3 II (c) matter. That would be something that concerns “Matters which, if discussed in public, would likely affect adversely the reputation of any person.” The BOS surfaced again in order to adjourn again to consider a 91A:3 II (j) matter: “91-A:3 II (j). Consideration of confidential, commercial, or financial information that is exempt from public disclosure.” Finally, they went again into a third Non-Public session under 91A:3 II (c), the one that might adversely affect reputations.
Previously, Ms. Bristol supposed that all this folderol had something to do with abatements. But now, due to this unsealing of the minutes, but for Chief Krauss alone, we know it had to do with the Police. Chairman Thibeault said that
These are being unsealed to be released to the Police Chief because of Police personnel file matters and its not for public release. This is to be compliant with State statutes.
So, something happened, back in the July time-frame, that “would likely affect adversely” reputations, and something that involves also confidential, commercial, or financial information. Did something happen that we need to know about?
From there, they proceeded to the main event, the conclusion of the second round of departmental budget presentations and moving on to the third and final round of budget presentations.
When last seen, the BOS had accepted departmental budget presentations that would move us already above the Federal inflation rate of 2.1% to a CIP plan recommendation of “no more that 3%.” That 3% would itself exact 43% above inflation. But, as they say, “hold my beer.” That was just the recommendation, the actual Cloud-Cuckoo-Land amount “as it stands” was 3.8%, which would exact 81% above inflation (where 100% would be a doubling).
According to the Federal government, your household costs went up 2.1%. Few will have had their incomes rise so much. The Town budget was projected by the Planning board to rise 3.8%. The difference between 3.8% and 2.1% is 1.7%. Assuming you actually got a 2.1% raise, which most did not, it would go entirely to the Town government. They also want an additional 1.7% from whatever you had before the 2.1% raise that you did not get.
Queue up Selectman Lucier:
Selectman Lucier: One thing, I just … can I make a comment before? – you know, we just got, as we sat down here tonight, just got handed insurance adjustments, for health insurance for next year.
Administrator Thibodeau: That’s one of the presentations that we do tonight.
Lucier: Yeah, well. In that … but that ties into everything in the budgets. We’re looking at 236 in $600,000 increase over this year, just in health insurance. You know, that changes a whole bunch of things going on in Andy’s head as far as everything else that we’ve already done. You know, how much, how much can people swallow? I mean this is – we’re already looking at almost a 7.5% increase in, you know, this year’s budget, so …
Vice-chairwoman Hutchings: And the rate of inflation is 3%. We told them that a 3.8%, I think is what was discussed. Is that correct, or am I?
Well no, Vice-chairwoman Hutchings, 2.1% was the actual inflation rate, and the 3% was the Planning Board’s ruinous recommendation to continue spending way above inflation. The 3.8% figure was the completely absurd place, the Cloud-Cuckoo-Land if you will, in which we found ourselves when actual departmental budgets proposals are totaled.
Thibodeau: 3.7.
Hutchings: 3.7%. So … I mean, that’s …
Thibodeau: We just don’t have any control over insurance. All that insurance, and retirement. That’s something … those are the costs we don’t control.
Lucier: I know we don’t have any control over it, but it’s just ….
Hutchings: Out of control.
Lucier: I mean, … I can’t … I don’t know. I’m almost, I leaning almost to say … cap … level fund it and then …. I don’t know …
Thibeault: If you level fund it, I think your insurance is still going to … that’s not really going to solve our issue.
Lucier: Oh, I understand that. But we have some serious issues here. You know, I personally have no problem with the welfare. I mean … I … I’m kind of backtracking, I don’t think we should do any new employees. In the light of things that … I don’t know.
Thibeault: So do we want to table Item 6 discussion and move on to the departments that haven’t presented yet?
The light begins to dawn on Selectman Lucier. Perhaps Vice-chairwoman Hutchings, but she had to go home sick. [Get well soon]. They lack control over insurance rates and retirement expenses. It will come to them when they have time to think about it. Hint: Personnel expenses are your largest cost. The only thing that you do control is the number of employees and their status as either part or full-time employees. That is the only variable with which you can work.
When you are in a hole, you should stop digging. So, hiring is completely out of the question. And capping was due back during the “Great Recession.” When everyone else was seeking new employment, pulling in their belts, and having trouble making ends meet, the Town government just kept right on spending. Do you remember all the foreclosure signs? The Town government barely missed a beat. They took a bit of a check step, just one year with a slower rate of increase, but that was all. Then it was right back to business as usual.
Selectman Lucier, we are way past capping. That was so 2009. And you can forget about hiring. The BOS needs to be cutting, and not little shavings or a little final sanding, but great big whacks. You have said that we are not Wakefield with its ten lakes. Right. It follows that we cannot afford what they can. We should have a tax rate like they do, if not lower. Keep cutting until you get there.
A concerned citizen, Ms. Lynette McDougall, rose to offer some advice during the new secondary Public Comment.
Lynette McDougall. As a taxpayer, I’m kind of appalled at these numbers I’m seeing, you guys. It seems like to me we’re in a management overload or something. We need to do some cutting, somewhere – training people, cross-training people, things of that sort. [Editor’s note: so that you have some coverage after cuts, presumably]. Maybe get somebody professional to show us how to do this, because this is taxpayer’s money going out. I agree with you, if you present this to the taxpayers. I’m surprised they’re aren’t people out there screaming. I’m kind of sad they aren’t. I know you guys are doing the best you can, but we’ve got to have better than this. We’re a small town, this is small, and these expenditures are not small. And I know that’s not your fault, but you should maybe think about having somebody professional, that knows how to do these things, come in and cut some things, because we need to save the people that are here. I’m sorry, that’s all.
As publisher of the Milton Observer, I would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to Mr. Larry Brown.
Mr. Brown highlighted the vital role of local news sources. He read excerpts from a Death of Local News analysis article that was republished in The Week of September 3. He read portions of that paragraph that praised the role of local news in serving as a government watchdog:
Do we still need local news?Only if things like schools, taxes, infrastructure, and government accountability matter to you. Where fewer reporters cover local business and government, … taxes can rise, public officials can indulge their worst impulses. When a local newspaper shutters, that same community experiences increased government waste and inefficiency, … The loss of local reporting also depresses most citizens’ engagement in state and local politics, …
He added that this loss of reporting and lack of engagement can produce voters that are at the fringe rather than representing common interests. He recommended Foster’s Daily Democrat as an example of a valuable local news source.
Perhaps Mr. Brown has not noticed the Milton Observer, which has served also in the role of Milton watchdog so effectively over this last year.
Be that as it may, thanks again for your support of local news sources.
References:
Town of Milton. (2018, October 15). BOS Meeting, October 15, 2018, Retrieved from youtu.be/1C1AS4syCJU?t=7972
Double Jeopardy Doors had a certain counter-intuitive aspect that made it more difficult than it would first seem.
Ask each robot in turn, “What the other robot would answer if it were asked which door led to freedom.” If the robot is the liar, it will answer falsely that the truthful robot would direct you to the death door. If the robot is truthful, it will answer truthfully that the liar robot would direct you to the death door.
The counter-intuitive part is that, when you use that particular question, the two robots will agree. Whichever door they both indicate, go through the other one.
The New-Hampshire Political Manual and Annual Register for the Year 1868 entries for Milton. The compiler gathered his information from data available in 1867.
MILTON, (Originally part of Rochester), incorporated June 11, 1802. Population, 1820, 1232; 1850, 1619; 1860, 1862.
Elsewhere in the directory, we find Milton’s valuation, as of 1864, and its votes in recent elections.
TABULAR STATEMENT BY TOWNS of Distance from Concord, of Vote for Railroad Commissioner, 1867; Population of 1860; Valuation of 1864; and proportion on $1000 of State Tax.
40 [Miles from Concord], Milton, 240 [Votes for Gault], 107 [Votes for Pierce], 1,862 [Population], $453,831 [Valuation], $3.50 [per $1,000 State Tax rate].
For US President, in November 1864, Milton gave 213 votes [66.8%] to incumbent Republican President Abraham Lincoln and 106 votes [33.2%] to Democrat General George McClellan. President Lincoln won the overall election.
For US Representative, in March 1865, Milton gave 247 votes [75.3%] to Republican General Gilman Marston (16 of them from the “soldier vote”), 79 votes [24.1%] to Democrat Marey (1 of them from the “soldier vote”), and 2 [0.6%] “scattering.” General Marston won the overall election.
For NH Governor, in March 1866, Milton gave 215 votes [67.8%] to incumbent Republican Governor Frederick Smythe, and 102 votes [32.2%] to Democrat John G. Sinclair. Governor Smythe won the overall election.
For NH Governor, in March 1867, Milton gave 286 votes [73.0%] to Republican NH Secretary of State Walter Harriman, and 106 votes [27.0%] to Democrat John G. Sinclair. Secretary Harriman won the overall election. (Governor Harriman would be succeeded in office after two terms by former NH State Senator Onslow Stearns).
Under the heading [N.H.] Representatives, Milton had two: Republicans Hiram V. Wentworth and John U. Simes. (Middleton was represented by incumbent Democrat Charles York).
Hiram V. Wentworth occupied House seat 2-42 and lodged during the session at the Eagle hotel in Concord. (Commuting would have been impracticable). Twenty-seven other Representatives lodged there also: sixteen Republicans and eleven Democrats. (Hiram V. Wentworth became one of ten incorporators of the Milton Classical Institute at just about this time).
John U. Simes occupied House seat 5-33 and boarded at G.L. Nutter’s boarding-house in Concord. Three other Republican Representatives, from Dover, Farmington, and Rochester, lodged there also. Wentworth served on the Manufactures committee, while Simes served on the Claims committee.
(Note: Today, Milton and Middleton share a single district with two representatives, versus the two towns having independently two and one representatives, respectively, for a total of three representatives. Increases in population have occurred since then, and have occurred in greater proportions elsewhere than in Milton and Middleton, thus occasioning reduced representation compared with that of the past. (See The Mathematical Limits of Representation)).
The Milton Board of Selectmen (BOS) have posted their agenda for a BOS meeting to be held Monday, October 15.
The meeting is scheduled to begin with a Non-Public preliminary session at 5:00 PM. That agenda has a single Non-Public item classed as 91-A:3 II (j).
91-A:3 II (j). Consideration of confidential, commercial, or financial information that is exempt from public disclosure under RSA 91-A:5, IV in an adjudicative proceeding pursuant to RSA 541 [Rehearings and Appeals in Certain Cases] or RSA 541-A [Administrative Procedure Act].
The sole Non-Public item (the “j” item) might still relate to abatements. Of course, it could be anything at all. Maybe the old fire station still. It has been suggested to us before last time that it might have to do with discussing revisions of employee manuals and employee insurance buyouts, issues that have been mentioned in the open sessions.
The BOS intend to adjourn their Non-Public BOS session at approximately (*) 5:30 PM, when they intend to return to Public session.
The Public portion of the agenda has new business, old business, and the approval of minutes.
Under new business is scheduled 1) Additional Public Comment Discussion (Ryan Thibeault), 2) Halloween Street Crossing Safety Request (Jeffrey Azjicek), 3) Acceptance of Highway Safety Grant (Richard Krauss), 4) Unsealing of Nonpublic Meeting Minutes: 7.10.18 and 9.24.18 (Ryan Thibeault), and 5) Retract Parking Ordinance (Ryan Thibeault).
Some residents have pointed out that under the new By-Law format, having Public Comments at the beginning of the meeting prevents any comments having to do with the meeting itself. They would necessarily lag always behind: commenting only about the prior meeting or general issues. This discussion would explore the possibility of having two Public Comment sessions, one at the beginning and another at the end of the meeting.
The Halloween Street Crossing Safety request may relate specifically to the upcoming Trunk-or-Treat event or to general street-crossing safety on and around Halloween.
Chief Krauss wants the BOS to authorize acceptance of a Highway Safety Grant. He last appeared for this sort of thing in seeking authorization for acceptance of a Federal Seatbelt enforcement grant. It is always wise to beware of grants. They come with attached strings. The granting authority gets to redirect your resources to their ends. But, you still get to fund the long-term expenses for those resources.
The BOS will be lifting the veil from several Non-Public matters from their July 10 and September 24 meetings. Their September 24 Non-Public session dealt with two 91A:3 II (c) matters and a 91A:3 II (j) matter (similar to that that will lead off this meeting). There was no July 10 meeting, unless they mean July 10 of 2017. That meeting was a busy one. Among the matters discussed then was the old fire station.
Retracting prior parking ordinances is a bit of housekeeping. White Mountain Highway is a State highway. Milton has little authority over it, if any. A prior BOS got overly excited and passed a parking ordinance for which they lacked any authority at all. It would be like someone setting dinnertime at your house or arranging the cars in your driveway. This BOS has been wrestling with similar signage and other issues on the State’s White Mountain Highway.
Under old business is scheduled a discussion of the departmental budget submissions of September 24, and October 1. Also departmental presentations previously scheduled, but for which time did not allow: Town Clerk/ Tax Collector, Welfare, Town Administration, and Government Buildings.
Under other business is scheduled the third round of departmental budget presentations. Those will include (time permitting) Sewer, Treasurer, Moderator, Supervisor of the Checklist, Trustees of the Trust Fund, Cemetery, Assessing, Police, Recreation, and Insurance/Benefits.
Finally, there will be the approval of prior minutes, expenditure report, Town Administrator comments, and BOS comments.
Milton has “enjoyed” an unprecedented increase in the size and cost of its Town government for over a decade now. That cost increase has been greater than the official rates of inflation over the same period. It has certainly been increasing faster than the disposable incomes of those who are being taxed to cover it.
Some have characterized this increase trend as an unprecedented “engorgement” of Town government. Now, when a snake swallows a goat or a lion eats a gazelle, they seek some safe spot to lay quietly while they digest their meal. We have the same impulse after Thanksgiving dinner. (Sherlock Holmes never eats while he is on a case). Is it not time for the Town government to take a nap? A good, long nap, long enough for everyone else to wash the dishes.
If Town budgets increase at rates greater than taxpayer incomes do, that necessarily represents a redistribution – a net decrease in taxpayer incomes and a corresponding net increase in the proportion taken by Town government.
Obviously, that can not continue for long – it is the very definition of unsustainable. The trendline of what the Town wants and that of what the taxpayer can afford have long since diverged. Its logical end point is the bankruptcy of the taxpayer.
Anybody following local social media will have seen comments, quite a few of them, from people who have left Milton, who are in the process of leaving Milton, or who feel that they will have to leave Milton soon. That is only anecdotal evidence but, logically, it would have to happen at some point. You might consider these poor souls as our canaries in the coal mine. They serve as a warning that the air is getting bad here.
The supposed point of a Capital Improvement Program (CIP) plan is to prevent individual Town budget “spikes,” of larger-than-usual expenses, by spreading them out over a number of years. That is what we have been told, over and over again.
But, in order to be sustainable, Town budgets should not rise at rates that are greater than the rate of inflation. If the CIP plan consistently recommends an unsustainable spending trendline, one that is consistently rising above the rate of inflation – then the plan is itself just one giant combined “spike.”
Chairman Thibeault read some “highlights” from the CIP at the last Board of Selectman’s (BOS) meeting. Near the end of his recitation:
Chairman Thibeault: The [Planning] Board continues to recommend the potential increase of no more than 3% for year-over-year total capital expenses. This current … for 2018-19 stands at approximately 3.8%.
The Federal government’s year-over-year inflation rate for 2017 (the year upon which this year’s Town budget should be based) was 2.1%. The Planning Board recommended an increase of “no more than 3%.” Obviously, that would be far too much. The additional 3.8% figure, where 2018-29 “stands,” would be nearly double the rate of inflation. Cloud-Cuckoo-Land really.
We are now entering the BOS budget season. Let us establish some performance metrics for them. If their overall budget number comes in larger than last year, then the BOS will have failed. A tax increase will follow.
If their overall budget number decreases, then the BOS will have succeeded. They might accomplish that by cutting expenses. They might also accomplish that by extending their timelines: saving for purchases over a greater number of years. (I see, it would be almost as if you devised some sort of plan that took some account of our ability to pay).
(Have you heard of the experiment in which the ability of children to defer gratification is tested? They are told they can have one candy now but, if they can wait for a period of time, they can have two candies later? Most chose the one candy now. Of course they do).
If their overall budget number remains the same, the BOS will at least have held the line. Taxes will not rise further than their current unsustainable level. If they were to hold the line for a number of years, our incomes might begin to catch up to where we might take a breath.
(Watch for the $1.4 million taken in error last year to re-emerge in some fashion from wherever it has been hiding. It was represented then as a calculation error. That is to say, its taking was never authorized by your vote. The then BOS directed you to the abatement process. A tiny fraction of a fraction of those affected found some relief there. For the rest of you, I have bad news: you got snookered. The current BOS still has the money and has given no indication of returning it).
The BOS might either succeed, succeed partially (by holding the line), or fail utterly. Maybe we should start a town pool. Or, maybe it should be some sort of over-under kind of thing. (I am not much of a gambler). Let’s see, that would be $4,508,365 x 1.038 = $4,679,683. Who wants to bet “over”?
References:
Town of Milton. (2018, October 1). BOS Meeting, October 1, 2018. Retrieved from youtu.be/jLkGCxJjXeg?t=640
We encountered the six and a half pages of the US Excise Tax of May 1864 for its Collection District 1 and Division 8. This was put forward as a temporary tax – a war measure – but we all know there is no such thing as a temporary tax. This particular “temporary” war tax continued well into the 1870s. (We will perhaps examine other years separately in the future).
Division 8 comprised the towns of Alton, Alton Bay, East Alton, and West Alton; Barnstead, Center Barnstead, and North Barnstead; Blue Hill; Farmington; Gilmanton, Gilmanton I.M. [Iron Mill], and South Gilmanton; Middleton; Milton, Milton Mills, and South Milton; New Durham; Strafford, Center Strafford, and Strafford Corner.
There was one entry for an itinerant Dover-based 3d-class pedlar.
Only the entries for Milton, South Milton, and Milton Mills have been excerpted below (Their sequence numbers have been omitted).
ALPHABETICAL LIST of Persons in Division No. 8, in Collection District No 1 of the State of New Hampshire, liable to a tax under the Excise laws of the United States, and the amount thereof, as assessed by George A. Titcomb, Assistant Assessor, and by him returned to the Assessor, of said District, for the month of May – Annual, 1864.
Assessors must be particular to fill all the blanks in this form, as far as practicable, and to classify and number all articles and occupations upon which taxes are assessed to correspond with the entry in the Abstract.
[Page 76]
Bennett, James, Milton, Manufacturer, $10 Class B License, $10 Amount of Tax Due
Drew, Stephen, Milton, Physician, $10 Class B License, $10 Amount of Tax Due
[Page 77]
Fox, Asa & Son, Milton Mills, Retail Dealer, $10 Class B License, $10 Amount of Tax Due
Hanson, William H., Milton, Retail Dealer, $10 Class B License, $10 Amount of Tax Due
Hayes, Barstow, & Co., So. Milton, Manufacturers, $10 Class B License, $10 Amount of Tax Due
Hayes, Lyman, & Perkins, So. Milton, Retail Dealers, $10 Class B License, $10 Amount of Tax Due
[Page 78]
Huntress, William H., Milton, Hotel 8th Class, $5 Class B License, $5 Amount of Tax Due
Huntress, William H., Milton, Retail Liquor Dealer, $20 Class B License, $20 Amount of Tax Due
Huntress, William H., Milton, Livery Stable, $10 Class B License, $10 Amount of Tax Due
Huntress, William H., Milton, 1-Horse Carriage, $1 Rate, $90 Value, $10 Class C Enumerated Articles, $36 Amount of Tax Due
Jewett, Asa, Milton Mills, Retail Dealer, $10 Class B License, $10 Amount of Tax Due
Jones, Charles, Milton, 1-Horse Carriage, $1 Rate, $80 Value, $1 Class C Enumerated Articles, $1 Amount of Tax Due
[Page 79]
Milton Mills Co., Milton Mills, Manufacturers, $10 Class B License, $10 Amount of Tax Due
Plummer, Enoch W., Milton, Stallion, $10 Class B License, [blank] Amount of Tax Due
Plummer, Enoch W., Milton, 1-Horse Carriage, $1 Rate, $75 Value, $1 Class C Enumerated Articles, $11 Amount of Tax Due
Plummer, Joseph, Milton, 2-Horse Carriage, $2 Rate, $150 Value, $2 Class C Enumerated Articles, $2 Amount of Tax Due
Pearl, Joseph, Milton, 2-Horse Carriage, $1 Rate, $80 Value, $1 Class C Enumerated Articles, $1 Amount of Tax Due
[Page 80]
Reed, L.D., Milton Mills, Hotel 7th Class, $10 Class B License, [blank] Amount of Tax Due
Reed, L.D., Milton Mills, Retail Liquor Dealer, $20 Class B License, $30 Amount of Tax Due
Simmes, Bray U., Milton Mills, Retail Dealer, $10 Class B License, $10 Amount of Tax Due
Simmes, John U., Milton Mills, Retail Dealer, $10 Class B License, $10 Amount of Tax Due
Twombly, E.H., Milton Mills, Retail Dealer, $10 Class B License, $10 Amount of Tax Due
[Page 81]
Wentworth, H.V., So. Milton, Horse Dealer, $10 Class B License, $10 Amount of Tax Due
These 23 entries provide a snapshot of the major economic activity in South Milton, Milton, and Milton Mills as assessed in May 1864 – the beginning of the fourth and final year of the Civil War. At least, it provides a snapshot of the major taxable activity.
South Milton had manufacturer Hayes, Barstow, & Co., retail dealer Hayes, Lyman, & Perkins, and horse dealer H.V. Wentworth.
Horse dealer Hiram V. Wentworth (1818-1890) had become a shoe manufacturer by the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. (He was also an incorporator of the Milton Classical Institute).
Milton proper had a single manufacturer James Bennett; a retail dealer William H. Hanson; 7th class hotelier, retail liquor dealer, and livery stabler William H. Huntress; and physician Dr. Stephen Drew.
James Bennett (1816-1894) appeared in an 1865 Dover Directory as a partner in Bennett (James) & Hovey (Thos. C.), shoe manuf. Orchard n. Central, house 8 Orchard.
William H. Hanson (1834-1913) had appeared as a Lebanon, ME, shoemaker in the Eighth (1860) Federal Census and would appear as a Dover grocery clerk in Ninth (1870) Federal Census.
William H. Huntress (1823-1873) had appeared as a Milton shoemaker in the Eighth (1860) Federal Census and would appear as a Milton saloon keeper in the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. He must have established or taken up his 7th-class hotel, saloon, and livery stable at some time between June 1860 and May 1864.
William H. Huntress, Charles Jones (1833-1873), E.W. Plummer (1815-1896), Joseph Plummer (1820-1907), and Joseph Pearl (1786-1867) all had their carriages taxed. These one and two-horse carriages might have been their owners’ personal carriages or they might have been possibly for hire. (Charles Jones was also an incorporator of the Milton Classical Institute).
Jones and the Plummer brothers all appeared together on the same page in the Eighth (1860) Federal Census; they were all farmers, whose post-office district was Milton, while Joseph Pearl, who was also a farmer, had a post-office district of West Milton.
Enoch W. Plummer had his stallion assessed too. No other horses, either stallions or mares, appeared in the Milton tax assessments. It seems unlikely that this was the only stallion in town. Might it have been especially valuable for some reason?
The Great Falls & Conway railroad had begun running through Milton some nine years before this assessment. The station building was still nine years in the future.
Milton Mills had a single manufacturer, Milton Mills Co.; five retail dealers: Asa Fox & Sons, Asa Jewett, Bray U. Simmes, John U. Simmes, and E.H. Twombly; and one 7th class hotelier and retail liquor dealer L.D. Reed.
Asa Fox (1809-1887) appeared as a Milton Mills farmer in the Eighth (1860) Federal Census and as retail grocer in the Ninth (1870) Federal Census.
Asa Jewett (1815-1883) appeared as a Milton Mills farmer in both the Eighth (1860) and Ninth (1870) Federal Censuses.
B.U. Sims (1801-1885) and his son, John Sims, appeared together as Milton Mills merchants in the Eighth (1860) Federal Census and Bray U. Simmes and John U. Simmes appeared separately as Milton Mills retail grocers in the Ninth (1870) Federal Census.
E.H. Twombly (1830-1893) appeared in the Eighth (1860) Federal Census as a Milton Mills merchant and Ezra H. Twombly appeared in the Ninth (1870) Federal Census as Milton Mills Post Master.
L.D. Reed appeared in the Eighth (1860) Federal Census as the landlord of the Milton Mills Hotel. His tenants at that time included a physician (Wm. B. Reynolds), four pedlars, a bread pedlar, and an expressman. His hotel appeared between the households of John L. Swinerton, physician, and E. Osgood, blacksmith.
Lewis D. Reed, aged thirty-eight years, hotel keeper, of Milton, registered for the draft in June 1863. He died in Milton in 1870.
This Milton Mills assessment may be compared with Vulpe’s January 1864 letter in the Farmington Weekly Courier. The Milton Mills Co. of the tax assessment corresponds to John Townsend, Esq.’s superlative flannel mill of the other. Vulpes omits the trader E.H. Twombly, as well as L.D. Reed’s hotel and saloon bar, but mentions “three or four” small grocery vendors and a carting company that the tax assessment omits.
Ten prominent Milton citizens incorporated a private secondary school at Three Ponds Village in Milton, NH, in July 1867. The incorporators included NH Governor’s Councilor (and ex-officio NH State Board of Education member) Charles Jones, Strafford Sheriff Luther Hayes, manufacturers William P. Tuttle and Hiram V. Wentworth, Dr. George W. Peavey, and others.
AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE MILTON CLASSICAL INSTITUTE AT MILTON
Section 1. Corporation name, powers and liabilities. 2. Purposes, location and capital stock. 3. First meeting, how called, etc. Section. 4. Power of Legislature reserved. 5. Repealing clause. 6. Act takes effect on its passage.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
Sect. 2. Said corporation is hereby authorized to establish and maintain at Three Ponds Village, in the town of Milton, in this State, the Milton Classical Institute, a literary and scientific institution heretofore established in said village, for the purpose of the academical instruction of the young in any or all of the branches of education usually taught in any academy; and for that purpose is made capable in law to have, and to hold, and enjoy, all the property, both real and personal, which has been heretofore and is now held and possessed by the said grantees as trustees of said institute, for said purpose, and which may be so held and possessed at the time of the passage of this act; and for this purpose may purchase, erect, and maintain suitable buildings therefor; and may receive and hold by purchase, gift, devise, or otherwise, real or personal estate to an amount not exceeding thirty thousand dollars.
Sect. 3. Any two of said corporators may call the first meeting of said corporation, at said Three Ponds Village, by giving a written or printed notice thereof to each of said corporators, or causing the same to be left at his last and usual place of abode, five days prior to the time appointed for holding the same; at which, or any subsequent meeting called and holden, said corporation may adopt such constitution and by-laws, not repugnant to the constitution and laws of this State, as they shall judge proper to carry into effect the object of this grant, and may choose such officers and trustees as they may deem expedient.
Sect. 4. The Legislature may at any time alter, amend, or repeal this act, whenever, in their opinion, the public good may require it.
Sect. 5. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed.
Sect. 6. This act shall take effect from and after its passage. (Approved July 8 1867).
The Milton Classical Institute occupied a repurposed church building on Main street at Milton Three Ponds, just south of the B&M railroad station. The 1888 “Bird’s Eye” map shows it as a reddish multi-story building set back a bit from Main street (with a whitish number “3” on its roof to the left of its four-pointed tower or spire). It was a bit south (left) of the train station and on the opposite side of the street.
Milton, N.H., 1888. 3. Institute Building; and 7. Station, B.&M. R.R,, Northern Div.
(The same map locates the Congregational church thrice as far south, also on Main street, but between Silver and Church streets).
The Milton Classical Institute was a private secondary school sustained by tuition fees. Most of Milton’s graduating district or “common” school students would not have bothered to study further at such an institution. It had classical courses, modern languages, and scientific studies. Most students sought a bit more education, but there were also among them those few wanting to attend college (in order to enter one of the “learned” professions or the ministry). It would not have been limited to Milton residents.
Dr. John Edmund Scruton (1846-1894) of Union “received his early education at the Farmington (N.H.) High School, at the West Lebanon Academy, and at Milton (N.H.) Classical Institute.” As he received his medical degree at Bowdoin College in 1870, he too must have attended the Milton Classical Institute in its earliest days.
A short biography of Milton merchant and NH State Senator Charles H. Looney (1849-1902) says that he “was educated in the [Milton] common schools and at the Classical Institute of Milton N.H.” The course of his life suggests that he must have attended the Milton Classical Institute not long after its 1867 incorporation. He was already running his own Milton store by 1871.
Mary C. (Ricker) Quimby (1847-1934) was first a student and then a teacher at the Milton Classical Institute, probably prior to her marriage in 1878.
Mrs. Mary C. Quimby, who for 46 years has been a school teacher, observed her 79th birthday in her home at Acton, Me., near her birthplace. Mrs. Quimby was educated in West Lebanon, Me., academy and Milton Institute. In the latter she acted as assistant teacher for two years. She taught her first term of school when 15 years of age [c1862]. Mrs. Quimby’s parents were Daniel and Susan (Hern) Ricker. Mr. and Mrs. Quimby will observe their 48th wedding anniversary the 12th of next month, having married October 12th 1878, by Rev. Hiram Manser (Carroll County Independent, September 17, 1926).
Milton’s famous hydraulic engineer, Ira W. Jones (1854-1946), was said to have “attended the district schools in South Milton, and the Milton High school,” that is to say, he attended the Milton Classical Institute (Scales, 1914).
In her genealogy of the family of John Hayes of Dover, NH, Katherine F. Richmond recounted the following story of how the Milton Classical Institute acquired its school bell (apparently after whatever bell the Union church might or might not have had).
There is a record that he [Joseph Hayes (1783-1872)] loaned a thousand dollars to William Trickey of Milton to buy a bell for the [Crown Point Methodist] church for which Mr. Trickey never paid. When the church building was demolished, the bell was sold by Joseph for sixty dollars, and after serving as a factory bell at “Goodwinville,” [in West Milton,] and as a school bell for the Milton Classical Institute, it finally “came to its own” again in the belfry of the present Free Baptist Church of Milton Three Ponds (Richmond, 1936).
The Milton Classical Institute first opened its doors in 1867 (probably September 1867). Its lead teachers or principals were William D. Ewer, Josephine M. Ham, Jesse P. Bickford, C. Augusta Clements, Allen E. Cowell, Frederick A. Chase (or Chace), Elizabeth J. ((Chamberlain) Hussey) Cowell, and Fannie L. Hayes. Most of these principals would have had an assistant teacher also.
William Dyer Ewer – 1867-68
William Dyer Ewer was born in Vassalboro, ME, January 14, 1835, son of Rev. John Alpheus “Alpheus” and Mary J. (Dyer) Ewer.
Alpheus Ewer, a farmer, aged fifty years (b. ME), headed a Vassalboro, ME, household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included [his second wife,] Betsey Ewer, aged forty-six years (b. ME), Henry A. Ewer, aged fifteen years (b. ME), Charles E. Ewer, aged twelve years (b. ME), Mary J. Ewer, aged five years (b. ME), William D. Ewer, a student, aged twenty-five years (b. ME), and Rhoda Ewer, aged eighty-six years (b. MA). Alpheus Ewer had real estate valued at $1,000 and personal estate valued at $700.
William Dyer Ewer was a Junior at Waterville College in 1860-61, and presumably graduated from there in June 1862.
William D. Ewer married in Waterville, ME, July 12, 1862, Julia F. Hamlin. She was born in China, ME, 1838, daughter of Calvin and Phebe H. (Jordan) Hamlin
He enlisted in Company B of the Maine Sixteenth Regiment, August 14, 1862, in which he served as a sergeant, until mustered out March 5, 1863.
W.D. Ewer appeared in the NH Business Directory of 1868, as principal of the Milton Classical Institute.
W.D. Ewer, a school teacher, aged thirty-five years (b. ME), headed a Sierra (Sierra-ville P.O.), CA, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included J. Ewer, keeping house, aged thirty years (b. ME). W.D. Ewer had real estate valued at $250 and personal estate valued at $50. E.H. Hamlin, a farmer, aged thirty-five years (b. ME), was his neighbor.
Sixtieth Wedding Anniversary Feted. SAN JOSE, July 17. Celebration of their 60th wedding anniversary was observed here last week by Mr. and Mrs. William D. Ewer, beloved residents of this city for a number of years, when a host of their friends gathered to do them honor at their family residence, 1030 Willow street. The venerable old people greeted more than 50 at the reception and both were firm in their confidence that the future holds numerous more anniversaries for them. Mr. and Mrs. Ewer, both natives of Maine, were married in that state just 60 years ago. A number of years later they crossed the continent to California and here have passed many anniversaries together with their wide circle of friends. Despite her advanced age, Mrs. Ewer made her own white-dress with streamers of gold ribbon, which she wore on the occasion of the anniversary. She is 84 years of age and her husband slightly older (Oakland Tribune (Oakland, CA), July 17, 1922).
William D. Ewar died in Santa Clara, CA, January 21, 1927, aged ninety-two years. Julia F. (Hamlin) Ewer died in San Jose, CA, August 11, 1935, aged ninety-six years.
Josephine Mary Ham – 1871-73
Josephine Mary Ham was born in Rochester, NH, circa 1852, daughter of Joseph W. and Sarah H. (Roberts) Ham.
Jos. W. Ham, a farmer, aged forty-four years (b. NH), headed a Rochester (“Gonic”), NH, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Sarah H. Ham, keeping house, aged thirty-eight years (b. NH), Josephine M. Ham, a school teacher, aged seventeen years (b. NH), Abbie J. Ham, at home, aged fifteen years (b. NH), Henry W. Ham, at home, aged five years (b. NH), Edgar J. Ham, aged two months (b. NH), James Ham, aged eighty-four years (b. NH), Abbie M. Ham, aged forty years (b. NH), and Edga[r] B. Curry, aged twenty-seven years (b. MA). Jos. W. Ham had real estate valued at $900 and personal estate valued at $500. James Ham had real estate valued at $2,000.
The NH Register listed the Milton Classical Institute as a Literary Institution in 1871. J.N. Ham appeared in the Milton directory of 1873, as principal of the Milton Classical Institute.
CITY AND COUNTY. The Augusta Journal says that “Mr. Ham who has been elected Principal of Augusta High School is a graduate of Bates College, is Principal of the Classical Institute in Milton N.H., married, about 25 years of age, and said to be a fine teacher.” Mr. H. is a son of Nelson Ham, esq., of this city, and Augusta has been fortunate to secure so good a teacher (Lewiston Sun-Journal (Lewiston, ME), April 11, 1872).
M. Josephine Ham married in Rochester, NH, May 7, 1879, George B. Haley, she of Rochester and he of Barrington, NH. He was a station agent, aged thirty-three years; she was a teacher, aged twenty-seven years. He was born in Lee, NH, December 20, 1846, son of John P. and Lydia A. (Giles) Haley.
George B. Haley, a R.R. station agent, aged thirty-three years (b. NH), headed a Barrington, NH, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Josephine Haley, keeping house, aged twenty-eight years (b. NH).
George B. Haley died in Barrington, NH, August 11, 1923. Mary J. (Ham) Haley died in Barrington, NH, May 25, 1938 aged eighty-five years, nine months, and thirteen days.
The Maine Journal of Education identified Freedom Hutchinson (1847-1922) as a teacher at the Milton Institute for the fall term of the 1872-73 academic year. (His older brother was Liberty H. Hutchinson). That is to say, he was the assistant teacher to the principal teacher.
EDUCATIONAL INTELLIGENCE. Mr. F. Hutchinson, of Auburn, is to teach the fall term of Milton Institute, at Milton, N.H. (Brown Thurston, 1872; Lewiston Sun-Journal (Lewiston, ME), August 3, 1872).
Bates College conferred an A.B. degree upon Freedom Hutchinson, of Auburn, ME, in June 1873 (Boston Globe, June 27, 1873).
Jesse Piper Bickford – 1874-78
Jesse Piper Bickford was born in Newburgh, ME, March 3, 1844, son of George and Ann (Piper) Bickford.
Jesse Piper Bickford, of Newburgh, ME, attended Governor Dummer Academy in Byfield, MA, in 1868-69.
Jesse P. Bickford, of Newburgh, Maine, attended Bowdoin College; he belonged to Bowdoin’s Athenean Society in his freshman (1870) and sophomore (1871) years. Jesse Piper Bickford resided in room 21 of Bowdoin’s M.H. residence during his junior year (1872). He likely would have graduated from Bowdoin College in the Spring of 1874.
The US Commissioner of Education included the Milton Classical Institute in his annual report of 1874, with the newly-minted Jesse P. Bickford as its Principal. The Institute had been both chartered and opened in 1867. It had then one male (Bickford himself) and one female instructor, and sixty-eight students (38 males and 30 females). Sixty-seven students took a classical course of studies, while one took a scientific course of studies. None took a modern languages course. Only one student intended to go on to take a classical course in college.
The Milton Classical Institute appeared in the Milton directories of 1874 and 1875, but without a named principal.
The US Commissioner of Education included the Milton Classical Institute (Principal J.P. Bickford) in his 1875 report. The Institute had been both chartered and opened in 1867. It had then one male (Bickford himself) and one female instructor, and one hundred-thirteen students (57 males and 56 females). One hundred-ten students took a classical course of studies, while three took a scientific course of studies. None took a modern languages course. Three students were preparing to take a classical course in college.
He married Elizabeth “Lizzie” C. Horne of Milton, July 30, 1876. She was born in Massachusetts, circa 1858, daughter of James R. and Abbie A. Horne.
J.P. Bickford appeared in the Milton directories of 1876 and 1877, as principal of the Milton Classical Institute.
Steiger’s Educational Directory listed the Milton Classical Institute of Milton, N.H., in its 1878 edition.
The US Secretary of the Interior included the Milton Classical Institute (Principal J.P. Bickford, A.B.) in his 1878 report. The Institute had been both chartered and opened in 1867. It had then one male (Bickford himself) and one female instructor, and sixty-five students (25 males and 40 females). Forty-one students took an English course of studies, while four took a scientific course of studies. None took a modern languages course. Three students intended to enter college, while two intended to enter a scientific or technical school or college.
Jesse P. Bickford seems to have left Milton shortly after this time. He appeared next in the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. He may have been called home due to his father’s being ill; in fact, his father died in September 1880. (His wife, Lizzie C. (Horne) Bickford, was not present).
George Bickford, a farmer, aged seventy-eight years (b. ME), headed a Newburgh, ME, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Anna Bickford, keeping house, aged seventy-seven years (b. ME), his children, Jesse Bickford, a teacher, aged thirty-six years (b. ME), and Annie E. Bickford, housework at home, aged thirty-two years (b. ME), and his grandchild, Walter H. Bartlett, a clothing & fancy goods storekeeper, aged twenty-five years (b. ME).
J.P. Bickford, of Newburgh, ME, was a guest at the New England House hotel in Boston, MA, in December 1881 (Boston Globe, December 9, 1881).
Jesse P. Bickford died in Bangor, ME, May 26, 1910, aged sixty-six years, two months, and twenty-three days.
C. Augusta Clements – 1878-80
Miss C. Augusta Clements appeared in the Dover, NH, directory of 1865, as the teacher at Dover’s School District #9 schoolhouse. She boarded at 31 Locust street.
Charles E. Hussey taught at the high school, i.e., Classical Institute, in Milton at about this time.
For a year he [Hussey] taught the high school at Milton, N.H. In 1879, he resigned to take the principalship at Rochester (Eaton, 1896).
Miss Clements appeared in the Milton directory of 1880, as principal of the Milton Classical Institute.
The US Commissioner of Education included the Milton Classical Institute (Principal C. Augusta Clements) in his 1880 report. The Milton Classical Institute had been chartered in 1866 [SIC]. It had then no male and two female instructors (including Miss Clements), and forty-eight students (19 males and 29 females). Thirty-six students took an English course of studies, while twelve took a scientific course of studies. None took a modern languages course. None of these students intended to enter college or a scientific or technical school or college.
The US Commissioner of Education reported the Milton Classical Institute, of Milton, NH, as having been “closed.” This information appeared in an addendum to an 1881 List of institutions for secondary instruction, & c. But, as Mark Twain would have it, reports of its demise were exaggerated.
Allen Eustis Cowell – 1881-83
Allen Eustis Cowell was born in Lebanon, ME, July 26, 1862, son Edmond E. and Elizabeth J. (Chamberlain) Cowell of Lebanon, ME. (His mother would be the Mrs. E.E. Cowell of 1887 (below); she was a sister of Samuel G. Chamberlain (1827-1911)).
Edmund E. Cowell, a silver miner, aged fifty-five years (b. ME), headed a Lebanon, ME, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, E. Jane Cowell, keeping house, aged fifty years (b. NH), his son, Allen E. Cowell, at home, aged eighteen years (b. ME), and his mother, Merry Cowell, at home, aged seventy-nine years (b. ME).
A.E. Cowell appeared in the Milton directories of 1881 and 1882, as principal of the Milton Classical Institute.
MILTON. School began May 2, Prof. Cowell, principal, and Mrs. Oren Varney, asst. Mr. C. has given satisfaction in his own state as a teacher, and we think we have got the right man in the right place (Farmington News, May 13, 1881).
By 1894, A.E. Cowell had become the local agent for the Pearl Square Auger Co., of Rochester, NH. This should be read as Pearl “Square Auger,” rather than “Pearl Square” Auger. That is to say, the Pearl company made a auger that bored a square hole.
LOCALS. Mr. A.E. Cowell, agent for the Pearl Square Auger, who has many friends in town, is convalescing from a severe illness at his home at West Lebanon, Me. (Farmington News, October 23, 1894).
Allen E. Cowell married in Rochester, NH, April 25, 1900, Sarah Inez Hayes, both of Lebanon, ME. He was a farmer, aged thirty-seven years (b. Lebanon, ME); she was a lady, aged thirty-three years (b. Lebanon, ME). Rev. John Manter of Rochester performed the ceremony. She was born in Lebanon, ME, in July 1866, daughter of Cyrus W. and Lydia (Furbush) Hayes.
Cyrus W. Hayes, a widowed farmer, aged seventy-six years (b. ME), headed a Lebanon, ME, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his daughter, Inez S. Cowell, aged thirty-three years (b. ME), and his son-in-law, Allen E. Cowell, a farmer, aged thirty-eight years (b. ME). Cyrus W. Hayes owned their farm, free-and-clear.
Allen E. Cowell died in 1929.
Frederick A. Chace – 1883-84
Frederick A. Chace was born in Westport, MA, July 3, 1855, son of Elbridge G. and Susan B. (Macomber) Chace.
Fred A. Chace, a school teacher, aged twenty-six years (b. MA), boarded at the Massachusetts State Reform School for Boys, in Westborough, MA, at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. Luther H. Sheldon, aged sixty-two years (b. MA) was its superintendent, and his wife, Sarah H. Sheldon, aged fifty-eight years (b. MA) was its matron. There were two assistant matrons, a nurse, a turnkey, a clerk, five teachers (including Chace), an engineer, an assistant engineer, three housekeepers, a seamstress, a laundress, two cooks, two dining-room workers, two gardeners, three farmers, four farm workers, a laborer, and a painter. There were one hundred-eighty prisoners, all working in the chair shop, aged between twelve and eighteen years of age.
WESTPORT. The pupils in the Brownell’s Corner school presented their teacher, Mr. Fred A. Chace, with an autograph album at the close of the school term; the parents also testified their appreciation of his services by raising money sufficient to continue the school for another month (Fall River Daily Evening News (Fall River, MA), March 6, 1883)
Fred A. Chase appeared in the Milton directory of 1884, as principal of the Milton Classical Institute.
Frederick A. Chace died in Westport, MA, February 7, 1885, aged thirty years, seven months, and four days.
Mrs. Eliza Jane ((Chamberlain) Hussey)) Cowell – 1886-87
Elizabeth Jane “Eliza” Chamberlain was born in Milton, November 24, 1829, daughter of Samuel N. and Mary (Moody) Chamberlain.
Elizabeth J. Chamberlain married (1st) in Milton, August 24, 1851, Alexander T. Hussey, both of Milton. Rev. James Doldt performed the ceremony. He was born in Acton, ME, August 27, 1827. He died of typhoid fever in Milton, November 15, 1851, aged twenty-four years, two months, and twenty-two days.
Eliza Jane (Chamberlain) Hussey married (2nd) in Lebanon, ME, in February 1858, Edmund Eustis Cowell. He was born in Beverly, MA, circa 1825, son of Isaac and Lucy (Cottle) Cowell.
Edmond E. Cowell received appointments as West Lebanon postmaster, July 16, 1859, and April 7, 1864.
E.E. Cowell, a retail grocer, aged forty-five years (b. ME), headed a Lebanon, ME, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Elizabeth J. Cowell, keeping house, aged forty years (b. NH), Emma J. Cowell, aged eleven years (b. ME), Allen E. Cowell, aged eight years (b. ME), and Lucy N. Cowell, aged four years (b. ME). E.E. Cowell had real estate valued at $3,000 and personal estate valued at $1,000.
Edmond E. Cowell received appointment as West Lebanon postmaster, December 22, 1885.
Mrs. M.K. Cowell was said to have run the Milton Classical Institute in 1886, while Mrs. E.E. Cowell (mother of A.E. Cowell) ran it in 1887. There really was no Mrs. Moses K. Cowell, as he never married. He was at this time a physician in Milton Mills; He died single in Acton, ME, July 8, 1905, aged eighty-two years, four months, and sixteen days. The Mrs. M.K. Cowell of 1886 was likely also Mrs. E.E. Cowell.
LOCALS. An entertainment, consisting of solos, duets and choruses by the Amphion Male Quartette, assisted by Mrs. H.B. White, soprano and accompanist, and a lecture by S.S. Parker upon “Pictures from Books of Stone,” illustrated with the stereopticon, was given at Institute hall, Milton, last week. It was pronounced first-class in every particular (Farmington News, November 30, 1888).
Edmond E. Cowell died in Lebanon, ME, August 3, 1898, aged seventy-three years, nine months, and ten days.
Elizabeth J. Cowell, a widowed farmer, aged sixty-nine years (b. NH), headed a Lebanon, ME, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. Her household included her sister, Elinor M. Ricker, a widow, aged eighty-seven years (b NH). Elizabeth J. Cowell was the mother of three children, of whom two were still living; Elinor M. Ricker was the mother of no children. Elizabeth J. Cowell owned their farm, free-and-clear.
Mrs. Elizabeth J. ((Chamberlain) Hussey) Cowell died at Plummer’s Ridge in Milton (twenty years’ residence), May 18, 1923, aged ninety-three years, five months, and twenty-four days.
Fannie Lawrence Hayes – 1889
Fannie Lawrence Hayes was born in Milton, November 7, 1865, daughter of Luther and Sarah D. (Cochran) Hayes. (Her father had been one of the Institute’s original incorporators).
Luther Hayes, a farmer, aged sixty years (b. ME), headed a Milton household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Nellie R. Hayes, aged thirty-nine years (b. NH), his children, Lyman S. Hayes, at home, aged seventeen years (b. NH), Fannie L. Hayes, at home, aged fourteen years (b. NH), Hattie E. Hayes, aged twelve years (b. NH), Luther C. Hayes, aged ten years (b. NH), and Clarence Hayes, aged two years (b. NH), and his mother-in-law, Rachel F. Morrill, aged seventy-four years (b. NH).
Miss Fannie L. Hayes appeared in the Milton directory of 1889, as principal of the Milton Classical Institute. She would seem to have been its last principal.
MILTON. Miss Fannie L. Hayes, who is teaching school at Haverhill, Mass., will spend her holiday vacation at her home in South Milton (Farmington News, December 30, 1892).
The Boston Globe ran a best or favorite teacher promotion at this time. Students and others might vote for their candidate by clipping ballots from the newspaper which, of course, had the potential of increasing purchases of its newspaper. Miss Fannie L. Hayes of Milton, but then teaching in Haverhill, MA, was a serious contender, at least on the state level. The winner would receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the Columbian World Exposition, in Chicago, IL.
Miss A. Yietta Kimball of Concord, N.H., who led yesterday in that State with 883 votes, and increased her number to 1020 during the day, is displaced by Miss Fannie L. Hayes of Milton, who has 1021 (Boston Globe, January 31, 1893).
Fanny L. Hayes, a school teacher, aged thirty-four years (b. NH), headed a Haverhill, MA, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. Her household included her lodger, Ada B. Berry, a school teacher, aged forty-two years (b. MA). Fanny L. Hayes rented their portion of a two-family dwelling at 272 Washington Street, which they shared with the household of William Martin, a hat finisher, aged thirty-two years (b. England).
Miss Fannie L. Hayes appeared in the Milton directories of 1905, 1909, 1912, and 1917, as a teacher in Haverhill, MA, with a summer residence with E.J. Wyatt, in South Milton. (Edgar J. Wyatt appeared as a farmer at L.C. Hayes, South Milton).
Miss Fannie L. Hayes was principal of Haverhill’s Crowell School during the 1912-13 academic year (but likely before as well).
HAVERHILL. Miss Fannie L. Hayes, principal of the Crowell School, has gone to Milton, N.H., for the Summer vacation. Stanley D. Gray, principal of the Winter-st School, is at Bucksport, Me., where he will remain until September (Boston Globe, June 23, 1913).
Fannie Lawrence Hayes married in Milton, December 25, 1919, Frank Nathaniel Rand, she of Milton and he of Haverhill, MA. He was born in Morrisville, VT, circa 1862-63, son of Alvinza and Fidelia R. (Goodell) Rand. She was a teacher, aged fifty-four years; he was a real estate contractor, aged fifty-six years.
Frank N. Rand, proprietor of a real estate construction company, aged fifty-six years (b. VT), headed a Haverhill, MA, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Fannie L. Rand, a public school teacher, aged fifty-four years (b. NH). Frank N. Rand rented their house on Sandler Place.
Frank N. Rand died in 1939. Fannie L. (Hayes) Rand died in 1953.
Dissolution of the Milton Classical Institute – c1890-91
The Milton Classical Institute did not appear in the Milton directory of 1890. Its hall continued to be used for other purposes. Here NH State Senator David A. Taggart of Manchester, NH, campaigned for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, and Rev. Frank K. Chase of Dover, NH, campaigned for prohibition.
MILTON. Wednesday evening Hon. David A. Taggart spoke at Institute hall. Friday evening Rev. F.K. Chase, of Dover, speaks at the same place in the interests of prohibition (Farmington News, October 24, 1890).
The journal of the NH House of Representatives for the afternoon of Thursday, January 22, 1891, includes the following:
On motion of Mr. Pulsifer of Gilford, the following petitions were recalled from the Committee on Education and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:
Petition of the trustees of the Milton Classical Institute for authority to sell and convey the property of said institute and dispose of the proceeds thereof.
Petition of Ira W. Duntley and 36 others of Milton, praying that authority be granted the trustees of the Milton Classical Institute to sell and convey the property of said institute and dispose of the proceeds thereof.
At which point, it was all over but the conveyancing. Its successor, the Nute High School, opened its doors for the first time on Tuesday, September 8, 1891, with William K. Norton as its principal.
MILTON. Milton Institute, which was once a prominent educational building in this town, is now a thing of the past. The building has been used for school purposes for over thirty-five [twenty-five] years, and on Saturday it was sold at public auction to J.D. Willey for $710. That amount, by vote of the trustees, is to be evenly divided between the two churches. The building, previous to being used as an institute, was the Congregational church, and has stood on its present site for about seventy-five years. It will now be made into a tenement house (Farmington News, September 4, 1891).
Joseph D. Willey kept a general store (and a summer boarding house) at Milton Three Ponds in 1892.
MILTON. J.D. Willey is preparing to move the old institute nearer the road and to change it into a tenement house (Farmington News, September 15, 1893).
There was this sort of eulogy, which was published in a local 1907-08 town directory, as a lead-in to a discussion of the 1891 Nute High School and Library.
The first attempt at the establishment of a high school in Milton was made by the Rev. Ezra S. Anderson, in 1832. The most successful of the earlier institutions, however, was the Classical Institute, classes being held in the old Union meeting-house, remodeled in 1866, for that purpose. Many men of prominence in the community and State, today [1908], point with pride and satisfaction to the early training they received there.
Biographical Review Publishing Company. (1897). Biographical Review: Containing Life Sketches of Leading Citizens of Stafford and Belknap Countries, New Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=C2sjAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA102
Eaton, Chester W. and Warren E. (1896). Proceedings of the 250th Anniversary of the Ancient Town of Redding, Once Including the Territory Now Comprising the Towns of Reading, Wakefield, and North Reading. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=Ke44AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA78
Milton Observer 