"OUR WOMEN OF SANDWICH"
(2020 Summer Virtual Exhibit)
JOAN BERRY COOK
Joan
Photo taken by Geoff Burrows
Born to a carpenter and a teacher, Joan Berry grew up in Sandwich. She attended the Center and Lower Corner one-room schools and graduated from Quimby School. She fondly remembers the 8th grade trip to Boston to see the circus, the first time out of state and to a city for most of the class.
She met Wilbur Cook during the summer of 1950, and they were married in 1954 shortly after he returned from serving the country in Korea. Wilbur had purchased the Arthur Avery farm at the foot of Mt Israel; Joan would say, “what better place to raise a family.” They had a big garden and grew acres of corn that was sold at Glen Smith’s store. Farming is hard work, but there is a sense of accomplishment when the vegetables are canned and stored for the winter, and the freezers are stocked. The farm required all available hands, little ones too. As the three children grew up, they helped to collect sap from the maple orchard, plant and harvest vegetables, pick up and stack hay, feed and care for the cattle, horses, pigs and sheep. Joan believes that this environment and lifestyle contributed to the positive work ethic and character of her children. Upon reflecting on this, I would have to agree and add that I feel that I have encouraged and promoted this with my children as well.
Over the early years crafts and maple sugar cakes were made and sold at the Sandwich Home Industries by Joan. One summer Joan was hired by the “Industries” to pack purchased items for shipping all over the world. This led to work as a sales person, and finally as a bookkeeper for about the last 10 years of her 30-year affiliation with the “Industries.” During the school year Joan drove a feeder bus on a local route and the late bus from Inter-Lakes High School bringing students home from sports and other after-school activities. She also drove elementary band students to Inter-Lakes Elementary School for lessons. She recalls that the students she drove were generally very good, but one afternoon they were particularly rambunctious and after one screamed, Joan pulled over, explained that she could not safely drive with them acting like that and that she would wait until they were ready to go. It was not long when one quiet voice said, “We’re ready Mrs. Cook.”
JOAN COOK FUN FACT!
~ Joan can guide a canoe through flood waters! ~
In the spring the snow melt runs off Mt. Israel, often down the road and into the Bearcamp River at the bridge by the Sandwich Notch Road. At the end of March 1961, following a winter of heavy snow and then warm Spring weather the road flooded and caused the wooden bridge that was there at the time to float around. For almost a week my mother would take me from our driveway and down the flooded road in a canoe to meet the school bus at the Sandwich Notch Road. Also, she planned a birthday party for Heidi and our grandparents and aunt had to come to the party by canoe. ~ Holly Cook, daughter
~ Joan can guide a canoe through flood waters! ~
In the spring the snow melt runs off Mt. Israel, often down the road and into the Bearcamp River at the bridge by the Sandwich Notch Road. At the end of March 1961, following a winter of heavy snow and then warm Spring weather the road flooded and caused the wooden bridge that was there at the time to float around. For almost a week my mother would take me from our driveway and down the flooded road in a canoe to meet the school bus at the Sandwich Notch Road. Also, she planned a birthday party for Heidi and our grandparents and aunt had to come to the party by canoe. ~ Holly Cook, daughter
Every year Joan creates a beautiful calendar highlighting some of her vast collection of photographs. Proceeds from the sale go the upkeep and maintenance of the Lower Corner Schoolhouse, where Joan attended school.
Joan was very involved with her children and assisted in the leadership of Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, and 4-H. She also served as a library trustee and trustee for the Sandwich Historical Social for a number of terms. She has been involved in a variety of projects. She has written two books, the first on the history of the one-room schools for the Sandwich Historical Society, and then 100 Years of Sandwich Fair in celebration of their history. Joan has collected 100s of photographs in numerous categories, including people, places, one-room schools, veterans, local weddings, and the fair to name a few. She hosted an exhibit displaying many of them for several years as a way to share history and to give back to the community.
~ TYPICAL MOTHER ~
During high school I often hiked up Mt Israel after school. One day I let it slip that I would sometimes bushwhack down, making a beeline from the ledges that offer the view of Squam Lake into our field. From then on, she would tell me to stay on the trail because if I fell and didn’t come home, she wanted to know where to look for me. Bill Cook, son, September 2020
During high school I often hiked up Mt Israel after school. One day I let it slip that I would sometimes bushwhack down, making a beeline from the ledges that offer the view of Squam Lake into our field. From then on, she would tell me to stay on the trail because if I fell and didn’t come home, she wanted to know where to look for me. Bill Cook, son, September 2020
Joan in front of the Elisha Marston House barn
DID YOU KNOW JOAN WAS AN INTERNATIONAL CHAMPION?
In the winter of 1968, our family traveled to Bryar Motorsports Park, now NH Motor Speedway, in Loudon to watch some friends compete in the International Snowmobile Championships. One of the men in the group talked my mother into competing in the Powder Puff Class on his snowmobile. Always up for a challenge she agreed to race. Ready to compete with women from across the US and Canada, some of whom followed a race circuit, she found herself among them at the starting line. After an exhilarating and competitive race, to the excitement of the group of friends, she brought the first-place trophy home to Sandwich.
In the winter of 1968, our family traveled to Bryar Motorsports Park, now NH Motor Speedway, in Loudon to watch some friends compete in the International Snowmobile Championships. One of the men in the group talked my mother into competing in the Powder Puff Class on his snowmobile. Always up for a challenge she agreed to race. Ready to compete with women from across the US and Canada, some of whom followed a race circuit, she found herself among them at the starting line. After an exhilarating and competitive race, to the excitement of the group of friends, she brought the first-place trophy home to Sandwich.
Joan on a camel in Morocco.
When Joan dismounted the camel spit at her!
Joan has researched the genealogy for both sides of the family going back to the Mayflower on Wilbur’s side and beyond three Salem witches on her side. As a child, Joan loved geography and would dream of visiting exotic places around the world. After retiring, she and Wilbur lived that dream making many trips across the globe; they particularly enjoyed the Scandinavian countries.
This is written as a historic account because history is important to Joan, as she feels that there is much to be gained from appreciating and learning from the past. She hopes that by documenting some of the history of Sandwich that it will be shared and remembered accurately.
Holly Cook, daughter
September 2020
This is written as a historic account because history is important to Joan, as she feels that there is much to be gained from appreciating and learning from the past. She hopes that by documenting some of the history of Sandwich that it will be shared and remembered accurately.
Holly Cook, daughter
September 2020
Chris was born in 1960 and has spent the vast majority of his life in Sandwich. When asked to to reflect on his memories of women in Sandwich, he commented that when he was growing up most of the women in town were moms. They took care of their families and worked hard - at home..... When asked if any women especially stood out in his mind as being unique, he did recall and then describe two: Judy Coolidge and Joan Cook.
Joan was a lot like most other moms. She raised her kids and had many odd jobs, like driving a school bus. After her kids left home she began engaging in her passion of researching and writing about the history of Sandwich. It was the first time that I ever knew of a local person write for the Sandwich Historical Society with such quality and passion for her hometown and its history.
Chris Read, neighbor
April 2020
Joan was a lot like most other moms. She raised her kids and had many odd jobs, like driving a school bus. After her kids left home she began engaging in her passion of researching and writing about the history of Sandwich. It was the first time that I ever knew of a local person write for the Sandwich Historical Society with such quality and passion for her hometown and its history.
Chris Read, neighbor
April 2020