The Elisha Marston House
Home of the Sandwich Historical Society
This building was built ca. 1850 and was the home of "Uncle" Elisha Marston (1801-1902) and "Aunt" Lucy Marston (1806-1882).
The Elisha Marston House Museum and Gift Shop is located at 4 Maple Street in Center Sandwich, NH.
Elisha Marston was in born in Moultonborough, September 9, 1801. His father was John Marston, who was born in Hampton, NH and his mother was Nancy, daughter of General John Moulton of Hampton. His father was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and drew a pension for injuries received during his time at war. His parents moved to Sandwich in 1811, at which time there were fewer than a dozen houses in what is now known as the "Center".
At the age of 15, Elisha was apprenticed to James Hoag "to learn the tanner's trade". He remained with Mr. Hoag for five years, and then started in business himself. He carried on the tanning business from 1823 to 1863, when he began the manufacture of shoes and continued the same until 1881. Elisha also owned rental and investment properties. He also listed himself at one time as a farmer.
He was married in 1829 to Miss Lucy Sophia Ferris, a well-educated woman, who received a teacher’s certificate at age 14. Together, they had six children, two of which died in infancy.
In an interview with the Boston Daily Globe on August 22, 1892 at age 91, Elisha stated:
"I have lived under every president but Washington and can remember the war of 1812 quite plainly."
"For many years after I came to this place there was not even a stage line through here, and when the stages began to run to North Conway they went through what is known as the 'Lower Corner' and our nearest post office for many years after was at this place, two miles away."
"I can well recall the time when railroads were not even thought of, and I used to go to Boston with a team of horses and get my green hides to tan."
"When I used to go to Boston with my team there was not a railroad of any kind in the country. Many wonderful inventions have been wrought by man since then. I visit my son in Lowell every year and I have ridden there upon the electric cars and like them very much."
"This is where I think there has been no improvement over the old style. People live too high nowadays and health is sacrificed. We used to live well in old times having brown-bread, pork, beans and plain and simple foods, good enough for anyone."
"For many years after I came to this place there was not even a stage line through here, and when the stages began to run to North Conway they went through what is known as the 'Lower Corner' and our nearest post office for many years after was at this place, two miles away."
"I can well recall the time when railroads were not even thought of, and I used to go to Boston with a team of horses and get my green hides to tan."
"When I used to go to Boston with my team there was not a railroad of any kind in the country. Many wonderful inventions have been wrought by man since then. I visit my son in Lowell every year and I have ridden there upon the electric cars and like them very much."
"This is where I think there has been no improvement over the old style. People live too high nowadays and health is sacrificed. We used to live well in old times having brown-bread, pork, beans and plain and simple foods, good enough for anyone."
After Elisha's wife died in 1882, his youngest son, Enoch Q. (1847-1904), came back to Sandwich in 1884 to practice medicine and to care for his father at the family home. Dr. Marston graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1876, and practiced at the Tewksbury Almshouse. Then he was in charge of the women's ward in the hospital for the insane in Worchester, Massachusetts, where he served three years. Dr. Marston was a community leader and was appointed Health Officer to the town of Sandwich in 1888 and a Mason in 1884. He was greatly interested in historical and genealogical research. He brought with him his wife, Emma, an accomplished musician and a teacher of music. Before their marriage, Emma was a copiest in the State House in Boston. The Marstons were also very active in the community, especially in the library which was housed in their home for some years.