A Look Back ... Interesting entries from the
Sandwich Reporter
JUNE
June 9, 1887: Excerpts from a long obituary for John Cook who had passed away on June 4: John Cook was born December 14, 1795 and was one of the few aged men who had come down to us from the last century…
During these later years Mr. Cook has rendered valuable service in furnishing historic data of the early times in Sandwich. He was the younger associate of the old settlers, as they passed down the decline of life, and his memory had become enriched with recollections of those early days, when the old settlers lived in log cabins and rude houses, and contended with the wild tenants of the forest for autumnal harvests, and when the light of consuming forests shone at midnight like beacon fires from the mountain slopes.
June 16, 1887: Bro. Dorr of the (Carroll County) Pioneer gives the following graphic account of the last term of Probate Court: “There was quite a large attendance at Probate court last Tuesday at West Ossipee, especially of the mosquito family, and they were mighty full of business and always approached business end first. They managed to monopolize considerable of the time of the Court as well as others. They were determined to be masters of the situation, and the fight was long and bitter, and in the end the floor was strewn with dead skeeters. Administration upon their estate will probably be begun at the next term, for after death comes Probate court.” [The Carroll County Pioneer had the greatest motto ever for a newspaper: “The Pioneer endeavors to remove the underbrush from the forest of humanity.” SHS-ed.]
June 6, 1889: Try the celebrated Asbestos Paints, a full assortment at Heard’s.
The Secretary of the Board of Agriculture (has released reports for 1888 as follows): Sandwich, pounds of butter made, 103,500; pounds of cheese, 200; pounds of wool grown 4,215; tons of ensilage fed, 90; tons of commercial fertilizer used, 100; cash from summer boarders, $6,500.
As we were returning from temperance meeting last Sunday evening, we saw a young man, hardly more than a boy, laying in the gutter near the Centre, in a beastly state of intoxication, and unable to walk without help. How long he laid there we do not know, but we learned later that two companions assisted him to his house.
(Advertisement) Geo. Beede offers 10 hives of Italian bees for sale. Now is the time to buy and save your honey crop. It will pay. Combines pleasure and profit. Easy to manage. Nothing patented. Any boy or girl can do it. Instructions for first year free to anyone buying bees or fixtures. Price from $5.00 up.
June 11, 1891: It is expected that we will soon have a telephone line in operation from this town to Meredith, connecting there with the Laconia system.
An exchange says that the first woman honored with equal position and pay with men professors is Harriet Cook of Cormell, who holds the chair of history at that university. Miss Cook was a former resident of this town and a cousin of John O. Cook, and is well known to many of our older people. The town has reason to feel proud of her success.
June 25, 1891: Frank Atwood had new peas and potatoes for his dinner yesterday, Wednesday, raised on his farm.
S.H. Dorr has a shade tree on his farm near the house whose trunk, three feet from the ground is seventeen feet in circumference and whose spread of branches cover an area of sixty-nine square feet. This tree has grown from a small willow twig placed there some sixty or more years ago by Mrs. Ambrose who then lived on that place. To sit in its shade by the roadside on a hot summer day is cool and refreshing. It affords a fine resting place for man and beast. [Samuel H. Dorr lived in the house many of us remember as Switzer’s on Squam Lake Road just up from Great Rock Road. SHS ed.]
June 4, 1896: Sandwich is bound to keep up with the times as much as possible and the latest innovation is in the shape of better mail and stage service. The mail line between West Ossipee and Meredith has been divided and we now have a mail which leaves Center Sandwich at 5 o’clock in the morning, North Sandwich at 5.45, South Tamworth at 6.30, arriving at West Ossipee at 7.30, in season for the early morning mail to Boston, and returning leaves West Ossipee at 1.30 or on the arrival of morning mail from Boston. This arrangement makes it very convenient for passengers coming on the noon train to reach South Tamworth and North and Center Sandwich. [The times here are interesting; it took 45 minutes by stage to get from the Center to North Sandwich, another 45 minutes to South Tamworth and then an hour to West Ossipee. Just think about that when you’re zipping over Routes 113 and 25 next time! SHS ed.]
We learn that another cottage is to be built right off, near the one constructed by Mr. Stewart. [These would be the cottages near the top of Diamond Ledge. SHS ed.] The parties are three New York ladies, the Misses Hammond, who are now boarding at Diamond Ledge Farm, [A.C. Atwood’s] [Today’s 158 Diamond Ledge Road]. We are glad to welcome to our town people of the above class; their presence is an uplift to our townsfolks. Wherever cultivated, intellectual people sojourn, only for a portion of the year, beneficial influence is observant; we wish not less, but many more of the same kind would choose to make Sandwich their summer home… [For a charming vignette of the Diamond Ledge summer colony check out the SHS 21st Excursion, stop #38 at the Moulton Farm. SHS ed.]
June 7, 1900: Cider received some hard raps at the temperance meeting Sunday evening. No doubt this beverage is the curse of Sandwich, judging from the extent of its use.
Whiteface - Frank Grant burned a kiln of coal last week. They used to burn them frequently within the writer’s recollection. But the use of that dug from the earth killed out that industry.
June 1, 1903: Mercury registered 24 degrees Sunday morning. Ice as thick as window glass was seen in many places.
During these later years Mr. Cook has rendered valuable service in furnishing historic data of the early times in Sandwich. He was the younger associate of the old settlers, as they passed down the decline of life, and his memory had become enriched with recollections of those early days, when the old settlers lived in log cabins and rude houses, and contended with the wild tenants of the forest for autumnal harvests, and when the light of consuming forests shone at midnight like beacon fires from the mountain slopes.
June 16, 1887: Bro. Dorr of the (Carroll County) Pioneer gives the following graphic account of the last term of Probate Court: “There was quite a large attendance at Probate court last Tuesday at West Ossipee, especially of the mosquito family, and they were mighty full of business and always approached business end first. They managed to monopolize considerable of the time of the Court as well as others. They were determined to be masters of the situation, and the fight was long and bitter, and in the end the floor was strewn with dead skeeters. Administration upon their estate will probably be begun at the next term, for after death comes Probate court.” [The Carroll County Pioneer had the greatest motto ever for a newspaper: “The Pioneer endeavors to remove the underbrush from the forest of humanity.” SHS-ed.]
June 6, 1889: Try the celebrated Asbestos Paints, a full assortment at Heard’s.
The Secretary of the Board of Agriculture (has released reports for 1888 as follows): Sandwich, pounds of butter made, 103,500; pounds of cheese, 200; pounds of wool grown 4,215; tons of ensilage fed, 90; tons of commercial fertilizer used, 100; cash from summer boarders, $6,500.
As we were returning from temperance meeting last Sunday evening, we saw a young man, hardly more than a boy, laying in the gutter near the Centre, in a beastly state of intoxication, and unable to walk without help. How long he laid there we do not know, but we learned later that two companions assisted him to his house.
(Advertisement) Geo. Beede offers 10 hives of Italian bees for sale. Now is the time to buy and save your honey crop. It will pay. Combines pleasure and profit. Easy to manage. Nothing patented. Any boy or girl can do it. Instructions for first year free to anyone buying bees or fixtures. Price from $5.00 up.
June 11, 1891: It is expected that we will soon have a telephone line in operation from this town to Meredith, connecting there with the Laconia system.
An exchange says that the first woman honored with equal position and pay with men professors is Harriet Cook of Cormell, who holds the chair of history at that university. Miss Cook was a former resident of this town and a cousin of John O. Cook, and is well known to many of our older people. The town has reason to feel proud of her success.
June 25, 1891: Frank Atwood had new peas and potatoes for his dinner yesterday, Wednesday, raised on his farm.
S.H. Dorr has a shade tree on his farm near the house whose trunk, three feet from the ground is seventeen feet in circumference and whose spread of branches cover an area of sixty-nine square feet. This tree has grown from a small willow twig placed there some sixty or more years ago by Mrs. Ambrose who then lived on that place. To sit in its shade by the roadside on a hot summer day is cool and refreshing. It affords a fine resting place for man and beast. [Samuel H. Dorr lived in the house many of us remember as Switzer’s on Squam Lake Road just up from Great Rock Road. SHS ed.]
June 4, 1896: Sandwich is bound to keep up with the times as much as possible and the latest innovation is in the shape of better mail and stage service. The mail line between West Ossipee and Meredith has been divided and we now have a mail which leaves Center Sandwich at 5 o’clock in the morning, North Sandwich at 5.45, South Tamworth at 6.30, arriving at West Ossipee at 7.30, in season for the early morning mail to Boston, and returning leaves West Ossipee at 1.30 or on the arrival of morning mail from Boston. This arrangement makes it very convenient for passengers coming on the noon train to reach South Tamworth and North and Center Sandwich. [The times here are interesting; it took 45 minutes by stage to get from the Center to North Sandwich, another 45 minutes to South Tamworth and then an hour to West Ossipee. Just think about that when you’re zipping over Routes 113 and 25 next time! SHS ed.]
We learn that another cottage is to be built right off, near the one constructed by Mr. Stewart. [These would be the cottages near the top of Diamond Ledge. SHS ed.] The parties are three New York ladies, the Misses Hammond, who are now boarding at Diamond Ledge Farm, [A.C. Atwood’s] [Today’s 158 Diamond Ledge Road]. We are glad to welcome to our town people of the above class; their presence is an uplift to our townsfolks. Wherever cultivated, intellectual people sojourn, only for a portion of the year, beneficial influence is observant; we wish not less, but many more of the same kind would choose to make Sandwich their summer home… [For a charming vignette of the Diamond Ledge summer colony check out the SHS 21st Excursion, stop #38 at the Moulton Farm. SHS ed.]
June 7, 1900: Cider received some hard raps at the temperance meeting Sunday evening. No doubt this beverage is the curse of Sandwich, judging from the extent of its use.
Whiteface - Frank Grant burned a kiln of coal last week. They used to burn them frequently within the writer’s recollection. But the use of that dug from the earth killed out that industry.
June 1, 1903: Mercury registered 24 degrees Sunday morning. Ice as thick as window glass was seen in many places.
MAY
May 6, 1886: A Massachusetts paper says; “since the tirades by the press upon the cruel fashion of ornamenting ladies headgear with beautiful birds, we have noticed a decided change, and it is not so much the style now for a lady to adorn herself with innocent songsters that have been skinned alive to retain the color of their plumage.”
May 19, 1886: Squam Lake was never higher than it is at the present time.
Apple trees are in blossom, the fields are assuming their beautiful greenish tint, the tree putting forth their leaves, and the much needed rain has come.
May 27, 1886: Apple trees presented a fine appearance in blossom last Sunday. The day was termed “White Sunday”.
The White Mountain Express will commence running June 28; Lady of the Lake and Mount Washington steamers will make their first trip June 1.
May 16, 1889: As A.E. Tappan was plowing his field one day last week he ploughed up a piece of silver money dated 1716. We do not know the nationality of the piece, but think it is Spanish. It is a trifle larger than an American quarter of a dollar but not so thick, and is in a good state of preservation. (Abram Edwin Tappan lived at today’s 272 Little Pond Road)
Squam Lake –
A good time to fish for perch.
Full blossoms of Apple and plum tees this year
Mr. Otis Cook has put his lambs on the island to keep the grass and weeds down. (Kent Island – SHS ed.)
Mr. Shepard has commenced to move his logs from this end of the lake to Ashland. The steamer is doing the towing.
May 30, 1889: Speaking of catching big trout, Hubbard Leach, of South Tamworth, says that several years ago he and three other men caught a trout out of Squam Lake that weighed 37 ½ pounds, and he can prove it by two living witnesses. The trout was sold for $25.00 and sent to Boston.
May 5, 1892: The annual report of the state board of health for 1891 shows 7,368 deaths reported, being 19.56 per 1000 of population. Consumption caused 825 deaths, pneumonia 703, heart disease 568, apoplexy and paralysis 514, old age 410, and cholera infantum 319. (For comparative purposes, in 2022 the death rate in NH was 10.76% with a raw total of 14,700 deaths statewide. The population of NH increased by about 1,000,000 people between 1890 and 2020. SHS –ed)
94 dogs in town April 1st, and the owners of only six of them had taken out a license May 1st. The law says all dogs shall be licensed on or before May 1, or the owner may be fined $10 and costs. The Town Clerk will be in his office next Saturday for the purpose of issuing licenses to all who may desire, and a “dog killer” will be appointed on or before the 10th of the month to look after all unlicensed dogs.
May 12, 1892:
FOR SALE
The best mountain pasture in Carroll County, known as the Natt Hubbard pasture.
Inquire of
Chas Blanchard
John D. Hidden Executors
Chas. H. Remick
(This pasture was off the Mountain Road above the Hubbard Cemetery up the Weed Brook valley towards Black Snout Mountain in the Ossipees. SHS –ed.)
May 6, 1897: Wanted! Stock to take in the Hubbard pasture. Wm. McCloskey, Sandwich, NH
The location of the telephone line from here through South Tamworth, Tamworth Village, Chocorua to Conway and Ossipee is progressing finely. We are glad of it. (The line came from Laconia and Meredith to Center Sandwich earlier in the year, SHS – ed.)
Bicyclers are especially interested in a law passed at the last session of the legislature which makes it an offence, with a penalty of $20, to place upon any street, road, alley or public place, any article liable to injure the feet of children or animals or the tires of bicycles. This includes cinders, glass tacks and other rubbish. This is aimed especially at the man or woman with a malicious intent, but the intent is presumed from the act of placing material where it is liable to work injury to person or property.
May 24, 1900: One week from tomorrow, bright and early, rain or shine, Samuel B. Smith will start out with a long string of questions as to your name, age, pedigree, occupation, etc., and the only way to get rid of him will be to answer his questions as quickly as possible. The ordinary mortal will have about twenty-eight questions to answer while the business and professional men will have many more. Some of them seem unnecessary but Uncle Sam says he requires the information, so we might as well make up our minds to answer them promptly, and thus get through with them all the sooner. (This was the 1900 Federal Census. The population of Sandwich in 1900 was determined to be 1707, a decrease of 17.3% from 1890. SHS –ed.)
May 19, 1886: Squam Lake was never higher than it is at the present time.
Apple trees are in blossom, the fields are assuming their beautiful greenish tint, the tree putting forth their leaves, and the much needed rain has come.
May 27, 1886: Apple trees presented a fine appearance in blossom last Sunday. The day was termed “White Sunday”.
The White Mountain Express will commence running June 28; Lady of the Lake and Mount Washington steamers will make their first trip June 1.
May 16, 1889: As A.E. Tappan was plowing his field one day last week he ploughed up a piece of silver money dated 1716. We do not know the nationality of the piece, but think it is Spanish. It is a trifle larger than an American quarter of a dollar but not so thick, and is in a good state of preservation. (Abram Edwin Tappan lived at today’s 272 Little Pond Road)
Squam Lake –
A good time to fish for perch.
Full blossoms of Apple and plum tees this year
Mr. Otis Cook has put his lambs on the island to keep the grass and weeds down. (Kent Island – SHS ed.)
Mr. Shepard has commenced to move his logs from this end of the lake to Ashland. The steamer is doing the towing.
May 30, 1889: Speaking of catching big trout, Hubbard Leach, of South Tamworth, says that several years ago he and three other men caught a trout out of Squam Lake that weighed 37 ½ pounds, and he can prove it by two living witnesses. The trout was sold for $25.00 and sent to Boston.
May 5, 1892: The annual report of the state board of health for 1891 shows 7,368 deaths reported, being 19.56 per 1000 of population. Consumption caused 825 deaths, pneumonia 703, heart disease 568, apoplexy and paralysis 514, old age 410, and cholera infantum 319. (For comparative purposes, in 2022 the death rate in NH was 10.76% with a raw total of 14,700 deaths statewide. The population of NH increased by about 1,000,000 people between 1890 and 2020. SHS –ed)
94 dogs in town April 1st, and the owners of only six of them had taken out a license May 1st. The law says all dogs shall be licensed on or before May 1, or the owner may be fined $10 and costs. The Town Clerk will be in his office next Saturday for the purpose of issuing licenses to all who may desire, and a “dog killer” will be appointed on or before the 10th of the month to look after all unlicensed dogs.
May 12, 1892:
FOR SALE
The best mountain pasture in Carroll County, known as the Natt Hubbard pasture.
Inquire of
Chas Blanchard
John D. Hidden Executors
Chas. H. Remick
(This pasture was off the Mountain Road above the Hubbard Cemetery up the Weed Brook valley towards Black Snout Mountain in the Ossipees. SHS –ed.)
May 6, 1897: Wanted! Stock to take in the Hubbard pasture. Wm. McCloskey, Sandwich, NH
The location of the telephone line from here through South Tamworth, Tamworth Village, Chocorua to Conway and Ossipee is progressing finely. We are glad of it. (The line came from Laconia and Meredith to Center Sandwich earlier in the year, SHS – ed.)
Bicyclers are especially interested in a law passed at the last session of the legislature which makes it an offence, with a penalty of $20, to place upon any street, road, alley or public place, any article liable to injure the feet of children or animals or the tires of bicycles. This includes cinders, glass tacks and other rubbish. This is aimed especially at the man or woman with a malicious intent, but the intent is presumed from the act of placing material where it is liable to work injury to person or property.
May 24, 1900: One week from tomorrow, bright and early, rain or shine, Samuel B. Smith will start out with a long string of questions as to your name, age, pedigree, occupation, etc., and the only way to get rid of him will be to answer his questions as quickly as possible. The ordinary mortal will have about twenty-eight questions to answer while the business and professional men will have many more. Some of them seem unnecessary but Uncle Sam says he requires the information, so we might as well make up our minds to answer them promptly, and thus get through with them all the sooner. (This was the 1900 Federal Census. The population of Sandwich in 1900 was determined to be 1707, a decrease of 17.3% from 1890. SHS –ed.)
APRIL
April 4, 1889: The “C” supper at the Masonic hall last Tuesday was well attended and a success financially and otherwise. Below will be found the menu:
Corned Cow Cranberries
Corn Crums Corn Cake
Corned Cucumbers
Churned Cream
Circle. Cup. Chocolate.
Caramel. Cream
Custard. Cream. Chocolate.
Caramel. Cocoanut.
Coffee
April 11, 1889: Smelts are running.
The ice is all out of Little Pond.
The ice still remains in Squam Lake but it is not strong enough to walk on unless you have as much faith as Mr. Cook and his men who came from the island (Today’s Kent Island – SHS ed.) Saturday evening, for they came in a boat part of the way and on pontoon the rest on very poor ice.
April 7, 1892: It looks as though sugar making is about over for the season. Not more than half a crop on an average is reported.
April 5, 1894: The old school house near Little Pond was taken down last week. (This was located on the small piece of land between the fire hydrant and the boat launch – SHS ed.)
Did you see the northern lights last Friday evening? They were exceptionally brilliant and beautiful.
Last Saturday evening at about 10 o’clock we were visited by quite a heavy earthquake, which waked up many people and rattles stove covers and dishes.
April 26, 1894: There has been a lot of fun for the boys and men around the shore of the lake the past few nights, with the net and the torch in hand and the smelts running. A large party from Meredith and Laconia enjoyed the sport. This is all right, but when they tear down four or five rods of high board fence and break down a nice woodbine, as a party of four young men from Meredith did for F.H.P. Abbott Monday night or Tuesday morning for the sake of making a big fire, it doesn’t appear just right.
April 12, 1900: The weight of the snow crushed in half the roof of the Durgin Bridge at North Sandwich.
J. A. Marston and son have completed their seasons work at verbena basket making, unless further orders are received. (These would have been wooden baskets for hanging verbena on your porch or house. - SHS ed.)
The following program will be given at the next regular meeting of Mt. Israel Grange Thursday evening, April 19: Music, orchestra; reading, “The Stock in the Tieup,” Geo. W. Thompson; music; concert selection, “Dream Waltzes;” the old time kitchen. Topic, “What crop, or what branch of farming is the most profitable, and why?”. An answer expected from each brother present. Music. “Joe Larue’s moose hunt,” by a Frenchman from Maine.
(At the March 18th Town Meeting this year (2023) the Moderator noted that there were two births listed in the Town Report as against 28 deaths and that this didn’t seem like a sustainable business model. The Town Clerk advised us later that there had been an additional two births in Town last year, but that the parents chose not to have them listed in the Report, which is allowed. So that brought the totals up to 4-28. Just to compare, in the 1900 Town Report there were 17 births and 17 deaths listed, an even swap. -SHS ed.)
April 3, 1902: A nice lot of maple sugar was made in a short time. Alonzo McCrillis reports a ton, L.C. Ambrose sixteen hundred; John Cartland two hundred gallons of syrup. Sugar and syrup brought good prices, Mr. Ambrose receiving as high as eighteen cents a pound for sugar cakes.
B. & M. R. R., Northern Division.
Trains leave West Ossipee as follows: For North Conway – 12:48, 5:10 p.m. / For
Boston – 7:58 a.m., 4:48 p.m.
April 4, 1904: The dwelling house of George Brown (Today’s 122 Brown Hill Road – SHS ed.) caught fire on Wednesday afternoon. But for the heroic efforts of Mrs. Brown, who was alone at the time, it would soon have gotten beyond control. Mr. Brown happened to return in time to supplement her efforts and it was drowned out. The trouble commenced around the chimney. (For more on the Brown family saga, see ‘Murder on Brown Hill’ by Jon Taylor in the SHS 100th Annual Excursion. –SHS ed.)
Corned Cow Cranberries
Corn Crums Corn Cake
Corned Cucumbers
Churned Cream
Circle. Cup. Chocolate.
Caramel. Cream
Custard. Cream. Chocolate.
Caramel. Cocoanut.
Coffee
April 11, 1889: Smelts are running.
The ice is all out of Little Pond.
The ice still remains in Squam Lake but it is not strong enough to walk on unless you have as much faith as Mr. Cook and his men who came from the island (Today’s Kent Island – SHS ed.) Saturday evening, for they came in a boat part of the way and on pontoon the rest on very poor ice.
April 7, 1892: It looks as though sugar making is about over for the season. Not more than half a crop on an average is reported.
April 5, 1894: The old school house near Little Pond was taken down last week. (This was located on the small piece of land between the fire hydrant and the boat launch – SHS ed.)
Did you see the northern lights last Friday evening? They were exceptionally brilliant and beautiful.
Last Saturday evening at about 10 o’clock we were visited by quite a heavy earthquake, which waked up many people and rattles stove covers and dishes.
April 26, 1894: There has been a lot of fun for the boys and men around the shore of the lake the past few nights, with the net and the torch in hand and the smelts running. A large party from Meredith and Laconia enjoyed the sport. This is all right, but when they tear down four or five rods of high board fence and break down a nice woodbine, as a party of four young men from Meredith did for F.H.P. Abbott Monday night or Tuesday morning for the sake of making a big fire, it doesn’t appear just right.
April 12, 1900: The weight of the snow crushed in half the roof of the Durgin Bridge at North Sandwich.
J. A. Marston and son have completed their seasons work at verbena basket making, unless further orders are received. (These would have been wooden baskets for hanging verbena on your porch or house. - SHS ed.)
The following program will be given at the next regular meeting of Mt. Israel Grange Thursday evening, April 19: Music, orchestra; reading, “The Stock in the Tieup,” Geo. W. Thompson; music; concert selection, “Dream Waltzes;” the old time kitchen. Topic, “What crop, or what branch of farming is the most profitable, and why?”. An answer expected from each brother present. Music. “Joe Larue’s moose hunt,” by a Frenchman from Maine.
(At the March 18th Town Meeting this year (2023) the Moderator noted that there were two births listed in the Town Report as against 28 deaths and that this didn’t seem like a sustainable business model. The Town Clerk advised us later that there had been an additional two births in Town last year, but that the parents chose not to have them listed in the Report, which is allowed. So that brought the totals up to 4-28. Just to compare, in the 1900 Town Report there were 17 births and 17 deaths listed, an even swap. -SHS ed.)
April 3, 1902: A nice lot of maple sugar was made in a short time. Alonzo McCrillis reports a ton, L.C. Ambrose sixteen hundred; John Cartland two hundred gallons of syrup. Sugar and syrup brought good prices, Mr. Ambrose receiving as high as eighteen cents a pound for sugar cakes.
B. & M. R. R., Northern Division.
Trains leave West Ossipee as follows: For North Conway – 12:48, 5:10 p.m. / For
Boston – 7:58 a.m., 4:48 p.m.
April 4, 1904: The dwelling house of George Brown (Today’s 122 Brown Hill Road – SHS ed.) caught fire on Wednesday afternoon. But for the heroic efforts of Mrs. Brown, who was alone at the time, it would soon have gotten beyond control. Mr. Brown happened to return in time to supplement her efforts and it was drowned out. The trouble commenced around the chimney. (For more on the Brown family saga, see ‘Murder on Brown Hill’ by Jon Taylor in the SHS 100th Annual Excursion. –SHS ed.)
MARCH
March 15, 1888: The storm which commenced last Sunday evening and continued until Wednesday was one of the worst for years, blockading the roads and entirely suspending travel. The storm increased in severity all day Monday and the stage was unable to get through on Monday night, and we were shut off from mail communications until Thursday. Many of the roads will be impassible for some time to come and it is with difficulty that people get from one part of town to the other. On Tuesday morning seven from this village started for the North on foot to attend town meeting. (Town Hall was located on Maple Ridge Road near Jim Hambrook’s at that time – SHS ed.) After a weary tramp of nearly three hours, our destination was reached only to find that the meeting had been adjourned. Then came the tramp homeward which about used up the whole of the party including ye editor. In many places the drifts are ten to twelve feet deep and walls and fences are buried up. (This was the Great Blizzard of ’88 that killed 400 people in the northeast and New England. It was a main reason for the burying of utility lines in New York City due to the damage it caused. – SHS ed.)
Owing to a little irregularity in the making out of the check list, the town meeting and adjournment last Tuesday was illegal, and a new warrant has been posted calling for a town meeting on Saturday, March 31.
March 5, 1891: The old Stephen Beede house at the Centre has recently been taken down. (This house was about where the old State garage is today. SHS has a wonderful painting of the house was donated by the Beede Family. SHS ed.)
March 5, 1896: The rain storm here die considerable damage to the roads and bridges and to cellars which are generally flooded. The McGaffey bridge at Whiteface was injured, one of the abutments giving way. Owen Gilman of Laconia, who is teaming from Whiteface keeps his horses at the Durgin place. Towards morning he awoke and heard the water rushing around. Upson going out he was unable to get into the stable, owing to the flood of water inside. He cut into it and found four feet of water which he let out. He had five horses in there with the water to their sides. He removed them to other quarters and they will not be the worse for their experience.
March 12, 1896: Loveland Hines has a cow which recently gave birth to a calf which had two perfectly formed heads, they being joined together at the neck, but it did not live. At a former time the cow, a young one, gave birth to twins.
March 16, 1899: The late town meeting was very quiet and orderly and a credit to our community. How much better than a scene of disorder and intoxication.
The legislature of New Hampshire has, at last, adjourned. We can say that at least they have not done much harm. Our representative, H. F. Dorr, … has been at the front in the effort to obtain better facilities for Sandwich produce in his advocacy of the Electric railroad from Meredith through Sandwich to Ossipee. The charter is granted and we have no doubt that his efforts will be rewarded by the completion of the road in the near future. (The railway would have run along today’s Route 25 in East Sandwich - SHS ed.)
March 7, 1901: The annual town report recently issued from this office shows a reduction of the debt of $2,096.55, leaving the net debt at $11,317.16. The average reduction of the debt for the past fifteen years has been nearly $2,500, and at the present rate the town will soon be freed from this old debt which has been in existence since the close of the Civil War. (During the Civil War, the town incurred significant debt to pay for soldiers bounties to meet the enlistment goals for Sandwich and to help pay for the war. That it was a significant debt can be inferred from the fact that here, 35 years after the end of hostilities, the town was still paying it off. It would be several more years before the debt was completely paid off. – SHS ed.)
March 14, 1904: The Sandwich House did a good business at noon Tuesday (Town Meeting – SHS ed.). Nearly a hundred dinners were served. A. E. Carter also cleaned out his stock of bivalves to the hungry citizens.
It is to be hoped that vote buying and vote selling, as a crime against decency, against manhood and against the state may sometime go out of fashion in this old and honored town. The tales of the old days are told with great relish around the grocery stove, and it is alleged that the party ties are spliced out with greenbacks and dinners to this day. We heard one diner say that he had scarcely emerged from the dinner room when he was hustled back and bidden eat again – which he did. He did not say whether both dinners were eaten for the same political party or not.
Owing to a little irregularity in the making out of the check list, the town meeting and adjournment last Tuesday was illegal, and a new warrant has been posted calling for a town meeting on Saturday, March 31.
March 5, 1891: The old Stephen Beede house at the Centre has recently been taken down. (This house was about where the old State garage is today. SHS has a wonderful painting of the house was donated by the Beede Family. SHS ed.)
March 5, 1896: The rain storm here die considerable damage to the roads and bridges and to cellars which are generally flooded. The McGaffey bridge at Whiteface was injured, one of the abutments giving way. Owen Gilman of Laconia, who is teaming from Whiteface keeps his horses at the Durgin place. Towards morning he awoke and heard the water rushing around. Upson going out he was unable to get into the stable, owing to the flood of water inside. He cut into it and found four feet of water which he let out. He had five horses in there with the water to their sides. He removed them to other quarters and they will not be the worse for their experience.
March 12, 1896: Loveland Hines has a cow which recently gave birth to a calf which had two perfectly formed heads, they being joined together at the neck, but it did not live. At a former time the cow, a young one, gave birth to twins.
March 16, 1899: The late town meeting was very quiet and orderly and a credit to our community. How much better than a scene of disorder and intoxication.
The legislature of New Hampshire has, at last, adjourned. We can say that at least they have not done much harm. Our representative, H. F. Dorr, … has been at the front in the effort to obtain better facilities for Sandwich produce in his advocacy of the Electric railroad from Meredith through Sandwich to Ossipee. The charter is granted and we have no doubt that his efforts will be rewarded by the completion of the road in the near future. (The railway would have run along today’s Route 25 in East Sandwich - SHS ed.)
March 7, 1901: The annual town report recently issued from this office shows a reduction of the debt of $2,096.55, leaving the net debt at $11,317.16. The average reduction of the debt for the past fifteen years has been nearly $2,500, and at the present rate the town will soon be freed from this old debt which has been in existence since the close of the Civil War. (During the Civil War, the town incurred significant debt to pay for soldiers bounties to meet the enlistment goals for Sandwich and to help pay for the war. That it was a significant debt can be inferred from the fact that here, 35 years after the end of hostilities, the town was still paying it off. It would be several more years before the debt was completely paid off. – SHS ed.)
March 14, 1904: The Sandwich House did a good business at noon Tuesday (Town Meeting – SHS ed.). Nearly a hundred dinners were served. A. E. Carter also cleaned out his stock of bivalves to the hungry citizens.
It is to be hoped that vote buying and vote selling, as a crime against decency, against manhood and against the state may sometime go out of fashion in this old and honored town. The tales of the old days are told with great relish around the grocery stove, and it is alleged that the party ties are spliced out with greenbacks and dinners to this day. We heard one diner say that he had scarcely emerged from the dinner room when he was hustled back and bidden eat again – which he did. He did not say whether both dinners were eaten for the same political party or not.
FEBRUARY
February 19, 1891: Chas. W. Donovan, Administrator, will sell the personal estate of Alpheus M. Hall, late of Sandwich deceased, at auction on Wednesday 5he 25th day of Feb., inst., at ten o;clock A.M., consisting of 1 nice black mare with foal, 1 nice 3 years old colt, 1 pr. Oxen 4 years old, 1 pr. 3 years old steers, 1 cow with calf, 7 nice sheep, 3 ½ tons of stable hay, 8 tons stock hay, 45 bu. wheat, oats, corn and pork, 2 wagons, 1 sleigh, 2 harnesses, farming tools, tin sap buckets and sap holders and a good variety of household goods.
(Alpheus built the main house at the Hall Place on Sandwich Notch Road in 1877. His father, Jerry, built the original house there which is now the woodshed of the present house. Alpheus was the father of Moses Hall. Probate records show Moses was paid $3 to dig his father’s grave. SHD ed.)
February 1, 1894: Wednesday morning Ed. Angier was unable to get through to the Centre with the stage and so left his team and took the mail on his back, carrying it a distance of over a mile to the Centre, where he took another team and started on his way rejoicing.
February 10, 1898
Cold, colder, coldest
30 below at the Center last Thursday morning.
Four feet of snow is reported in the woods and it takes the farmers most of the time to keep the
roads passable. We don’t hear the cry for more snow now.
February 17, 1898: Fish commissioner Frank Hughes of Ashland was in town last week looking after the fellows that break the fish and game laws.
It looks like sapping at the time of writing, but of course we shall have some colder weather to pay for this.
February 15, 1904: A party of friends of Moses Hall, who is acting as tenant-in-charge at Rosewood (Today’s Top of the World – SHS ed.) for Miss Lila Wallace of New York City, made him a call to cheer his loneliness Monday evening.
Egg stories seem to be the prevailing fad just now. Hens lay golden eggs this time of year. Moses Hall’s Rhode Island Reds and White Wyandottes have well earned a place beside the North Sandwich biddies and their rivals in Chocorua. Miss Wallace has housed them well and Mr. Hall knows how to coax them in the most approved fashion. His flock of twenty laid 458 eggs from Dec. 16 to Feb. 6.
A long obituary for Enoch Quimby Marston who passed away February 1, 1904 from a stroke. It recounts his service as a soldier, marching across the Isthmus of Panama, and his long years of service as the doctor in Sandwich. He survived his father Elisha, who built the building that houses the SHS Museum, who died at 101 years old by less than 18 months.
Mr. and Mrs. George S. Hoyt gave a very select dinner party Tuesday evening. (Their house is today’s 189 Wentworth Hill Road) A delightful social occasion was enjoyed the the following menu was served and discussed with due appreciation: Oysters on the half shell; Mock Turtle soup; Triscuit crackers; California celery; Columbia River boiled salmon, beech meal sauce; Delmonico potatoes; green peas; Young Chicken a la Maryland, Creole sauce; mashed potatoes; Florida lettuce, French dressing; Lobster in shell, mayonnaise dressing; Queen olives; wild cherry meringue; Florida strawberries, vanilla ice cream; assorted cakes; mixed nuts; layer raisins; Lowney’s bon-bons; followed by French favors containing each a number which drew some prize, from an automobile to a tin whistle. These gave much amusement. Mrs. Hoyt was assisted by Mr. Will Cook, caterer.
They say that the above paragraph is the first chapter of a continued story. The scene of the second chapter is in the drifts between the house of feasting and the Center. The actors are a horse bewildered by the storm and the uncertain footing in the drifts beneath which were growing deeper every minute, and three half exhausted men trying to shovel their way home. Time, somewhere in the vicinity of midnight. The sleigh would persist in summersaults and the wind acted as if it didn’t care. Chapter III shows a midnight attempt in the other direction. Sleigh dash smashed, shafts ditto; drifts all there. Chapter IV. A midnight journey with ox-sled to relieve an overcrowded Wanderers’ Home. Chapter V. Two matrons just could not resist the temptation to stay where Florida strawberries grow, no matter what becomes of their snow-bound husbands in the frozen North. Chapter VI. A telephone call from the Wanderers’ Home, “Hello, is that you? Seen anything of Ed! He left here an hour and a half ago.” Time, Wednesday forenoon. Ed is found, his icy arms encircling a friendly tree down the road. They say it took two hours and a half hours to bring him to. Chapter VII. Joyous home-coming of the Wanderers. Broken family circles reunited. Time, Thursday afternoon. Chapter VIII. The matron of the Wanderers’ Home declares that she will not date her next dinner party in the middle of a blizzard. And they lived happily ever after.
(Alpheus built the main house at the Hall Place on Sandwich Notch Road in 1877. His father, Jerry, built the original house there which is now the woodshed of the present house. Alpheus was the father of Moses Hall. Probate records show Moses was paid $3 to dig his father’s grave. SHD ed.)
February 1, 1894: Wednesday morning Ed. Angier was unable to get through to the Centre with the stage and so left his team and took the mail on his back, carrying it a distance of over a mile to the Centre, where he took another team and started on his way rejoicing.
February 10, 1898
Cold, colder, coldest
30 below at the Center last Thursday morning.
Four feet of snow is reported in the woods and it takes the farmers most of the time to keep the
roads passable. We don’t hear the cry for more snow now.
February 17, 1898: Fish commissioner Frank Hughes of Ashland was in town last week looking after the fellows that break the fish and game laws.
It looks like sapping at the time of writing, but of course we shall have some colder weather to pay for this.
February 15, 1904: A party of friends of Moses Hall, who is acting as tenant-in-charge at Rosewood (Today’s Top of the World – SHS ed.) for Miss Lila Wallace of New York City, made him a call to cheer his loneliness Monday evening.
Egg stories seem to be the prevailing fad just now. Hens lay golden eggs this time of year. Moses Hall’s Rhode Island Reds and White Wyandottes have well earned a place beside the North Sandwich biddies and their rivals in Chocorua. Miss Wallace has housed them well and Mr. Hall knows how to coax them in the most approved fashion. His flock of twenty laid 458 eggs from Dec. 16 to Feb. 6.
A long obituary for Enoch Quimby Marston who passed away February 1, 1904 from a stroke. It recounts his service as a soldier, marching across the Isthmus of Panama, and his long years of service as the doctor in Sandwich. He survived his father Elisha, who built the building that houses the SHS Museum, who died at 101 years old by less than 18 months.
Mr. and Mrs. George S. Hoyt gave a very select dinner party Tuesday evening. (Their house is today’s 189 Wentworth Hill Road) A delightful social occasion was enjoyed the the following menu was served and discussed with due appreciation: Oysters on the half shell; Mock Turtle soup; Triscuit crackers; California celery; Columbia River boiled salmon, beech meal sauce; Delmonico potatoes; green peas; Young Chicken a la Maryland, Creole sauce; mashed potatoes; Florida lettuce, French dressing; Lobster in shell, mayonnaise dressing; Queen olives; wild cherry meringue; Florida strawberries, vanilla ice cream; assorted cakes; mixed nuts; layer raisins; Lowney’s bon-bons; followed by French favors containing each a number which drew some prize, from an automobile to a tin whistle. These gave much amusement. Mrs. Hoyt was assisted by Mr. Will Cook, caterer.
They say that the above paragraph is the first chapter of a continued story. The scene of the second chapter is in the drifts between the house of feasting and the Center. The actors are a horse bewildered by the storm and the uncertain footing in the drifts beneath which were growing deeper every minute, and three half exhausted men trying to shovel their way home. Time, somewhere in the vicinity of midnight. The sleigh would persist in summersaults and the wind acted as if it didn’t care. Chapter III shows a midnight attempt in the other direction. Sleigh dash smashed, shafts ditto; drifts all there. Chapter IV. A midnight journey with ox-sled to relieve an overcrowded Wanderers’ Home. Chapter V. Two matrons just could not resist the temptation to stay where Florida strawberries grow, no matter what becomes of their snow-bound husbands in the frozen North. Chapter VI. A telephone call from the Wanderers’ Home, “Hello, is that you? Seen anything of Ed! He left here an hour and a half ago.” Time, Wednesday forenoon. Ed is found, his icy arms encircling a friendly tree down the road. They say it took two hours and a half hours to bring him to. Chapter VII. Joyous home-coming of the Wanderers. Broken family circles reunited. Time, Thursday afternoon. Chapter VIII. The matron of the Wanderers’ Home declares that she will not date her next dinner party in the middle of a blizzard. And they lived happily ever after.
JANUARY
January 7, 1886: About time to be laying in your supply of ice for the summer season.
Chas. Foss tapped some maple trees during the warm days of this month. The sap ran as fast as it generally does in the spring.
North Sandwich Scraps: There has been considerable going on in the North recently. Last Monday the selectmen were called to one J.T. B who had some 17 casks of cider in the cellar and was in consequence making himself troublesome and abusive as usual. The cider was seized on an execution, and removed from his premises, and preliminary arrangements made to give him a quiet home for a while in the near future unless he does better.
January 2, 1890: Tom Wadleigh of Meredith had his (logging) boom broken by the wind last Thursday night and about 750,000 feet of lumber was scattered nearly all over Lake Winnipesaukee.
All of the butter made by the Sandwich Creamery for the next year has been engaged to Geo. L. Clark or Worcester, Mass. for the use of the Asylum of which he has charge. It takes about 100 pounds per day to supply them.
January 16, 1890
North Sandwich Scraps: Our usually quiet community was startled Saturday morning by learning that the store of Alvah Webster (This was what we refer to as the North Sandwich Store at the corner of Maple Ridge Road and North Sandwich Road -SHS ed.) had been entered the night before by burglars and all the money in the money drawers taken. Mr. Webster estimates his loss between twenty and thirty dollars, all cash. Certain parties are suspected. The entrance to the store was effected by removing a pane of glass from the office window and then removing the fastenings of the window, the way was clear, We trust the guilty parties may be apprehended.
January 11, 1894: Ed. Downs and wife are rejoicing over the advent of a 9 3-4 pound daughter which appeared on the scene of action last Thursday. Ed. says if he cannot raise up a son he has a good prospect of some sons-in-law in the future.
Leverett Felch carried into a warm room a sort of cane which he had picked up in his mill. (Weed’s Mills -SHS ed.) After a short time a beautiful butterfly emerged from her winter quarters. Leverett thinks he shall try and keep it alive, if possible.
January 7, 1897
An Advertisement: Miss Adams is prepared to teach in Latin Caesar, Cicero, Virgil and Ovid. The Roman method of pronunciation taught. German to include Goethe, Schiller and Heine’s poems. Advanced French - Greek and Roman History - Physical and Ancient Geography, and Higher mathematics.
Testimonials from distinguished people.
Miss I. Adams
Centre Sandwich,
New Hampshire
January 21, 1897: Thermometer 40 degrees above Monday morning, 10 degrees below Tuesday morning - and this is a temperate climate.
The long look for snow is at hand and we go to press in quite a heavy snow storm, which will make the loggers and lumbermen rejoice.
Tuesday and Wednesday were extremely cold and disagreeable days to be out in, the thermometer ranging from 12 to 14 degrees below zero both days.
January 5, 1899: Paul Wentworth, F.O. Mason, H.W. Blanchard, A. M. Graves, C.H. Foss F.E. Tilton and Aquila Adams have put in their ice the past week. It was 14 inches thick.
Chas. Foss tapped some maple trees during the warm days of this month. The sap ran as fast as it generally does in the spring.
North Sandwich Scraps: There has been considerable going on in the North recently. Last Monday the selectmen were called to one J.T. B who had some 17 casks of cider in the cellar and was in consequence making himself troublesome and abusive as usual. The cider was seized on an execution, and removed from his premises, and preliminary arrangements made to give him a quiet home for a while in the near future unless he does better.
January 2, 1890: Tom Wadleigh of Meredith had his (logging) boom broken by the wind last Thursday night and about 750,000 feet of lumber was scattered nearly all over Lake Winnipesaukee.
All of the butter made by the Sandwich Creamery for the next year has been engaged to Geo. L. Clark or Worcester, Mass. for the use of the Asylum of which he has charge. It takes about 100 pounds per day to supply them.
January 16, 1890
North Sandwich Scraps: Our usually quiet community was startled Saturday morning by learning that the store of Alvah Webster (This was what we refer to as the North Sandwich Store at the corner of Maple Ridge Road and North Sandwich Road -SHS ed.) had been entered the night before by burglars and all the money in the money drawers taken. Mr. Webster estimates his loss between twenty and thirty dollars, all cash. Certain parties are suspected. The entrance to the store was effected by removing a pane of glass from the office window and then removing the fastenings of the window, the way was clear, We trust the guilty parties may be apprehended.
January 11, 1894: Ed. Downs and wife are rejoicing over the advent of a 9 3-4 pound daughter which appeared on the scene of action last Thursday. Ed. says if he cannot raise up a son he has a good prospect of some sons-in-law in the future.
Leverett Felch carried into a warm room a sort of cane which he had picked up in his mill. (Weed’s Mills -SHS ed.) After a short time a beautiful butterfly emerged from her winter quarters. Leverett thinks he shall try and keep it alive, if possible.
January 7, 1897
An Advertisement: Miss Adams is prepared to teach in Latin Caesar, Cicero, Virgil and Ovid. The Roman method of pronunciation taught. German to include Goethe, Schiller and Heine’s poems. Advanced French - Greek and Roman History - Physical and Ancient Geography, and Higher mathematics.
Testimonials from distinguished people.
Miss I. Adams
Centre Sandwich,
New Hampshire
January 21, 1897: Thermometer 40 degrees above Monday morning, 10 degrees below Tuesday morning - and this is a temperate climate.
The long look for snow is at hand and we go to press in quite a heavy snow storm, which will make the loggers and lumbermen rejoice.
Tuesday and Wednesday were extremely cold and disagreeable days to be out in, the thermometer ranging from 12 to 14 degrees below zero both days.
January 5, 1899: Paul Wentworth, F.O. Mason, H.W. Blanchard, A. M. Graves, C.H. Foss F.E. Tilton and Aquila Adams have put in their ice the past week. It was 14 inches thick.
A Look Back...
Society Friends and Members:
Barbara Pries, who writes the monthly feature on "Sandwich Happening from the Past" .... from our collection of the Sandwich Reporter, has written an interesting piece on the influenza outbreak over one hundred years ago. And now......a look into our past.... (thank you Barbara!!)
The Influenza of 1918-1919 in Sandwich, NH
Notes from The Sandwich Reporter
Commonly, though inaccurately, referred to as the Spanish Flu, the influenza outbreak of 1918 and 1919 was a lethal outbreak of the H1N1 virus. A thorough article in the Sandwich Historical Society's 91st Excursion, written by D. Bruce Montgomery, gives a good summary of the virus and its effects. The following are some excerpts from The Sandwich Reporter during that time period. The first Reporter references to the influenza were to Camp Devens enlistees in May of 1918. There was a quick change of tone from preparing for the Sandwich Fair and the Grange fair in September, then October 10th had a headline for how to prepare for the raging influenza, including not being in groups of more than ten people at a time, as well as a list of students sent home from private schools, and the known sick. Then, in November, it was back to business as usual. The Excursion article lists 13 confirmed influenza deaths in Sandwich in 1918. Other Reporter article references are included here to help give a feeling of the year of war and changing technology - due to length, most references are summarized.
January 1918
Horse races were held at Dinsmore Pond, the Gateway to Sandwich Notch.
The Sandwich owned phone company joined the regional Carroll County Phone Company.
February 1918
Henry Ford vacated a block of office and manufacturing space on Pennsylvania Ave in DC, turning it into government office space in the course of a week.
April 1918
Congress has passed the Sedition Bill which makes it a crime to criticize the President and any member of his cabinet, but one can say any old thing about any member of Congress.
May 1918
From about 30,000 soldiers at Camp Devens, the 1,000 bed hospital was filled. There was separately a two week quarantine for all new enlistees due to influenza risk. The writer said the 'boys' here are cheerful and have learned to live in difficult circumstances. The writer was 'inspired' by some lectures, including "The Cure for Un-Americanism".
June 1918
Pine Blister Rust lecture in Conway.
August 1918
Complaints that the federal government had insisted farmers plant more wheat for military use, and that labor would be sent to plant and harvest. The help was sent for planting, then called back, leaving too much for the farmers to harvest themselves, so they will not be paid, regular crops weren't grown, and the soldiers will not have the wheat.
September 1918
The Employment Service will start recruiting women for manufacturing and other jobs held by men, so the men can be called to war without losing business.
One of our summer residents, Miss Mabel Sturgis of Manchester, Mass, has recently shown her appreciation of our town by making a gift of War Savings Stamps to the value of $100. The stamps have been filed with the Trustees of the Trust Funds and at its maturity are to be used for schools if needed, if not, for roads. Miss Sturgis is now in France doing refugee work.
Planning is in progress for the Grange fair and Sandwich Fairs in October, readers reminded to get their exhibit contributions ready.
October 3
Work was done on the bushes of the fair grounds to prepare it.
The Plymouth Fair was ordered closed.
David Peaslee claims to have dug one hundred potatoes out of one hill.
Cupid has been quite busy at North Sandwich of late with good results. We had much rather hear of this than of the Spanish plague which brings fear and unrest.
On account of the prevailing epidemic which is raging everywhere, the schools are closed.
October 10
The heartfelt sympathy of this part of Carroll County along with the rest of the state, goes out to stricken Berlin which is suffering, as the Berlin Reporter says, "with the worst plague in its history," refering to the widespread epidemic of the Spanish Influenza.
October 17
Obituary of William V. Hussey ... the news of his death was a thunderbolt from a clear sky. He was married last July 4th to Miss Conner of West Ossipee... On the morning of Aug 27, he left home with a number of Ossipee boys for Camp Devens. While in training at this camp he became a victim of the dreadful epidemic that is sweeping the country."
Two weeks ago, Louis Douglas of South Eaton, who was called to service the latter part of August, was brought to his home here for burial, he having been a victim of the prevailing epidemic.
Miss Bernice Burrows is at home from Laconia High School for a few weeks. The school is closed on account of the epidemic.
There are several new cases of the epidemic in the past week. Among the victims of the disease are: Edward Gilman and family, George Gilman, Raymound Steele and family, Mrs. Katharine Blackey, Mrs. Fred Burrows, Arthur Avery's family, Mrs. Stella Blumburg, Mildred Blanchard and Willam Taylor's family.
Mr. Wilbur Quimby is thought to be gaining a little. Rosalie is now quite sick with the same. We should all be very thankful that this fever that is taking hold upon so many may pass our dwelling.
From DC: The influenza epidemic had had a tendency to delay the program of the sub-committee on Americanization, owing to the compulsory closing of the schools and the order prohibiting gatherings of more than ten persons.
October 10 – A front page ad displayed how to avoid the flue and care for those who have it.
The Board of Health of North Conway has decided to keep the ban on schools, movies, churches and other gatherings for another week.
Red Cross calls on everyone to wear gauze masks around the ill, you can get them from the Red Cross or any doctor for free.
There is so much sickness around town that it would be impossible to give a correct list, but among those who are sick are the following: Lewis D. Garland and family, Stuart and Emily Heard, Walter Burrows, Georgie Gault, Mrs. John Tilton, Mrs. Arthur Corliss, Paul Hanson, Natt Burrows, Mrs. Julia Watson and Miss Cordelia Sherman. Although there are many cases, there are not many seriously sick.
The Library will be closed until Oct. 19, on account of the prevailing epidemic.
Miss Louisa Moulton returned from Unionville, Conn. for a brief stay or until the prevailing epidemic is under control.
October 31
Schools have reopened, summer people who escaped back here are leaving again, and the sick are improving.
In Conway, the influenza is leaving behind a sad record of bereavement.
November 7
Linwood Bickford, youngest son of Mr. ad Mrs. George Bickford died after an illness of a few days with influenza. He was fifteen years old. The body was brought back to Center Sandwich for burial.
November 14
All appeared back to usual in print, with concerts, gatherings, and notes about weather.
Barbara Pries, who writes the monthly feature on "Sandwich Happening from the Past" .... from our collection of the Sandwich Reporter, has written an interesting piece on the influenza outbreak over one hundred years ago. And now......a look into our past.... (thank you Barbara!!)
The Influenza of 1918-1919 in Sandwich, NH
Notes from The Sandwich Reporter
Commonly, though inaccurately, referred to as the Spanish Flu, the influenza outbreak of 1918 and 1919 was a lethal outbreak of the H1N1 virus. A thorough article in the Sandwich Historical Society's 91st Excursion, written by D. Bruce Montgomery, gives a good summary of the virus and its effects. The following are some excerpts from The Sandwich Reporter during that time period. The first Reporter references to the influenza were to Camp Devens enlistees in May of 1918. There was a quick change of tone from preparing for the Sandwich Fair and the Grange fair in September, then October 10th had a headline for how to prepare for the raging influenza, including not being in groups of more than ten people at a time, as well as a list of students sent home from private schools, and the known sick. Then, in November, it was back to business as usual. The Excursion article lists 13 confirmed influenza deaths in Sandwich in 1918. Other Reporter article references are included here to help give a feeling of the year of war and changing technology - due to length, most references are summarized.
January 1918
Horse races were held at Dinsmore Pond, the Gateway to Sandwich Notch.
The Sandwich owned phone company joined the regional Carroll County Phone Company.
February 1918
Henry Ford vacated a block of office and manufacturing space on Pennsylvania Ave in DC, turning it into government office space in the course of a week.
April 1918
Congress has passed the Sedition Bill which makes it a crime to criticize the President and any member of his cabinet, but one can say any old thing about any member of Congress.
May 1918
From about 30,000 soldiers at Camp Devens, the 1,000 bed hospital was filled. There was separately a two week quarantine for all new enlistees due to influenza risk. The writer said the 'boys' here are cheerful and have learned to live in difficult circumstances. The writer was 'inspired' by some lectures, including "The Cure for Un-Americanism".
June 1918
Pine Blister Rust lecture in Conway.
August 1918
Complaints that the federal government had insisted farmers plant more wheat for military use, and that labor would be sent to plant and harvest. The help was sent for planting, then called back, leaving too much for the farmers to harvest themselves, so they will not be paid, regular crops weren't grown, and the soldiers will not have the wheat.
September 1918
The Employment Service will start recruiting women for manufacturing and other jobs held by men, so the men can be called to war without losing business.
One of our summer residents, Miss Mabel Sturgis of Manchester, Mass, has recently shown her appreciation of our town by making a gift of War Savings Stamps to the value of $100. The stamps have been filed with the Trustees of the Trust Funds and at its maturity are to be used for schools if needed, if not, for roads. Miss Sturgis is now in France doing refugee work.
Planning is in progress for the Grange fair and Sandwich Fairs in October, readers reminded to get their exhibit contributions ready.
October 3
Work was done on the bushes of the fair grounds to prepare it.
The Plymouth Fair was ordered closed.
David Peaslee claims to have dug one hundred potatoes out of one hill.
Cupid has been quite busy at North Sandwich of late with good results. We had much rather hear of this than of the Spanish plague which brings fear and unrest.
On account of the prevailing epidemic which is raging everywhere, the schools are closed.
October 10
The heartfelt sympathy of this part of Carroll County along with the rest of the state, goes out to stricken Berlin which is suffering, as the Berlin Reporter says, "with the worst plague in its history," refering to the widespread epidemic of the Spanish Influenza.
October 17
Obituary of William V. Hussey ... the news of his death was a thunderbolt from a clear sky. He was married last July 4th to Miss Conner of West Ossipee... On the morning of Aug 27, he left home with a number of Ossipee boys for Camp Devens. While in training at this camp he became a victim of the dreadful epidemic that is sweeping the country."
Two weeks ago, Louis Douglas of South Eaton, who was called to service the latter part of August, was brought to his home here for burial, he having been a victim of the prevailing epidemic.
Miss Bernice Burrows is at home from Laconia High School for a few weeks. The school is closed on account of the epidemic.
There are several new cases of the epidemic in the past week. Among the victims of the disease are: Edward Gilman and family, George Gilman, Raymound Steele and family, Mrs. Katharine Blackey, Mrs. Fred Burrows, Arthur Avery's family, Mrs. Stella Blumburg, Mildred Blanchard and Willam Taylor's family.
Mr. Wilbur Quimby is thought to be gaining a little. Rosalie is now quite sick with the same. We should all be very thankful that this fever that is taking hold upon so many may pass our dwelling.
From DC: The influenza epidemic had had a tendency to delay the program of the sub-committee on Americanization, owing to the compulsory closing of the schools and the order prohibiting gatherings of more than ten persons.
October 10 – A front page ad displayed how to avoid the flue and care for those who have it.
The Board of Health of North Conway has decided to keep the ban on schools, movies, churches and other gatherings for another week.
Red Cross calls on everyone to wear gauze masks around the ill, you can get them from the Red Cross or any doctor for free.
There is so much sickness around town that it would be impossible to give a correct list, but among those who are sick are the following: Lewis D. Garland and family, Stuart and Emily Heard, Walter Burrows, Georgie Gault, Mrs. John Tilton, Mrs. Arthur Corliss, Paul Hanson, Natt Burrows, Mrs. Julia Watson and Miss Cordelia Sherman. Although there are many cases, there are not many seriously sick.
The Library will be closed until Oct. 19, on account of the prevailing epidemic.
Miss Louisa Moulton returned from Unionville, Conn. for a brief stay or until the prevailing epidemic is under control.
October 31
Schools have reopened, summer people who escaped back here are leaving again, and the sick are improving.
In Conway, the influenza is leaving behind a sad record of bereavement.
November 7
Linwood Bickford, youngest son of Mr. ad Mrs. George Bickford died after an illness of a few days with influenza. He was fifteen years old. The body was brought back to Center Sandwich for burial.
November 14
All appeared back to usual in print, with concerts, gatherings, and notes about weather.
Where is it?
Do you recognize this homestead? Email your answers to sandwichhistory@gmail.com.